MCAT® Exam for International Students
Eligibility & Application Process

The path to studying and practicing medicine in the United States as an international student can be difficult. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges® (AAMC®), international students make up roughly 0.6% of U.S. medical school matriculants. To help you achieve your goals, we’ll discuss how you can maximize your odds of being accepted with a top MCAT score.

Before conducting research into the MCAT, you should determine if applying to medical school in the United States is a realistic path based on your individual circumstances. You can use the AAMC website to learn more about Medical School Admission Requirements™ (MSAR®), which schools accept international students, available degrees, tuition costs, and other university information.

MCAT Eligibility Requirements for International Students

International students who plan to apply to a health professions school are eligible to take the MCAT. There are no course prerequisites, but it’s suggested to complete introductory science, psychology, and sociology courses at your university before attempting the exam. “Health professions school” is defined by the AAMC as:

M.D.-Granting Programs

Allopathic medical schools that specialize in conventional medical practices.

M.D.-Granting Programs
D.O.-Granting Programs

Osteopathic medical schools that specialize in holistic medical practices.

Podiatric (D.P.M)

Medical schools that specialize in the treatment of the foot and lower leg.

Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M)
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M)

Veterinary medical schools for the treatment of animals.

Other

Health-related programs that accept MCAT exam results to satisfy a test score admissions requirement.

If you’re in an MBBS program, or hold an MBBS degree or equivalent, you do not need to seek special permission to take the exam. Students in need of special permission to take the MCAT must email [email protected] stating why they wish to take the exam.

MCAT Registration for International Students

To register for the MCAT as an international student, you will first need to create an account through the MCAT Registration System. Ensure that you abide by all MCAT registration rules and guidelines set by the AAMC to avoid potential penalties.

MCAT Exam Cost for International Students

Once you’ve registered for the exam, you can schedule your test date and location. Students taking the exam outside of the U.S., Canada, and U.S. territories must pay a nonrefundable $120 fee on top of the standard $330 registration fee, totaling $450 (all fees are in USD).

You should receive an email confirming your appointment within 24 hours. It will contain the details of your appointment and the identifying information you provided. Take a moment to check that the name on your confirmation email matches the ID you will bring to your exam.

Rescheduling and Cancellation

MCAT rescheduling and cancellation for international students follow the same guidelines as for American and Canadian students. The only difference is that international students are subject to losing their $120 fee in the event of cancellation. Nonrefundable rescheduling fees and cancellation refunds are as follows:

Days Out From Exam Date and/or Test Center Rescheduling Fee Cancellation Refund
60 or more days before exam $50 $165
30-59 days before exam $100 $165
10-29 days before exam $200 $0

*All deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. local test-center time and you should receive an email confirmation within 24 hours.

MCAT Testing Centers & Dates for International Students

International MCAT test dates and locations vary by country, but registration deadlines and score release dates correspond to U.S. MCAT test dates. For the latest information on test dates and locations, or to register, visit the MCAT Registration System. Please note that the MCAT is always administered in English.

MCAT International Test Dates 2023

Click on your country to view your testing dates:

January 13 May 12 July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
March 11 May 18 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
April 14 June 16 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8,
April 28 July 15 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
Similar to the United States, Canada offers a large number of testing dates. You can view the full Canadian testing calendar here.
January 13 June 3 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
March 11 June 29 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8
April 14 July 15 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
May 12 July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
January 13 January 27 April 14 May 12 June 16
January 19 May 12 July 28 August 11 August 26 September 9
March 11 May 13 July 29 August 12 August 31
March 24 June 16 August 3 August 19 September 1
April 14 June 29 August 4 August 24 September 2
April 28 July 15 August 5 August 25 September 8
January 19 June 29 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8
March 24* July 15 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
April 28 July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
May 18 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
* Start time is 7:00 a.m. local time
January 13 April 28 July 15 August 5 August 25 September 8
January 19 May 12 July 28 August 11 August 26 September 9
March 11 May 18 July 29 August 12 August 31
March 24 June 3 August 3 August 19 September 1
April 15 June 29 August 4 August 24 September 2
January 19 April 15 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8
January 20 July 15 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
January 21 July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
April 14 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
January 13 June 16 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
January 14 June 17 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8
March 24 July 15 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
March 25 July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
January 13 March 24 June 16 July 29 August 12 August 31
January 14 April 14 June 17 August 3 August 19 September 1
January 19 May 12 June 23 August 4 August 24 September 2
January 27 May 18 July 15 August 5 August 25 September 8
March 11 June 3 July 28 August 11 August 26 September 9
January 19 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
April 14 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8
July 15 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
January 13 June 29 August 3 August 12 August 26 September 8
March 24 June 29 August 4 August 19 August 31 September 9
April 14 July 28 August 5 August 24 September 1
May 12 July 29 August 11 August 25 September 2
January 13 April 28 June 3 July 17 August 11 August 31
January 14 April 29 June 16 July 28 August 12 September 1
January 19 May 12 June 17 July 29 August 19 September 2
January 27 May 13 June 23 August 3 August 24 September 8
March 11 May 18 June 24 August 4 August 25 September 9
March 24 May 26 June 29 August 5 August 26
January 27 May 12 July 28 August 11 August 26 September 9
March 11 May 13 July 29, August 12 August 31
March 24 May 26 August 3 August 19 September 1
April 28 June 23 August 4 August 24 September 2
April 29 July 15 August 5 August 25 September 8

Medical School Application Requirements for International Students

Most U.S. medical schools require students to apply through the American Medical School Application Service (AMCAS®). However, AMCAS does not accept foreign transcripts or verify foreign coursework unless they were accepted by an accredited U.S., Canadian, or U.S. territorial post-secondary institution.

International Student Transcripts & Coursework

Entering coursework and requesting transcripts should be completed using instructions on the AMCAS website.

  • If your transcripts and courses were not accepted by a qualifying institution, then they will not be verified, and an AMCAS GPA will not be calculated. Some medical schools may ask for your transcripts through a secondary application.
  • If courses taken at a foreign institution were accepted by a qualifying institution and appear on that official transcript, then that qualifying institution’s official transcript will be required. AMCAS will then verify and include those courses in your AMCAS GPA. Such a situation may be applicable for study-abroad programs.

Citizenship, Visa Status, and Language Proficiency

When completing your AMCAS and secondary applications, you must clearly and accurately indicate your citizenship status and any relevant visa information. It is also worthwhile to note which languages you are proficient in on your AMCAS application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most medical schools require applicants to take the MCAT and will use it to compare you against your peers. Additionally, U.S. medical schools have varying policies regarding international students. To avoid disappointment, check MSAR in advance.
According to MSAR, 42 U.S. medical schools accept international students as of 2023. Before taking the MCAT, you should research additional information on these schools and their requirements.
Generally speaking, it’s difficult for international students to get accepted into U.S. medical schools. According to the AAMC, only 325 of 1,890 foreign applicants who applied to M.D.-granting programs in the United States in 2019 were accepted, with 272 matriculating (17.2% acceptance rate and 14.4% matriculation rate).
To become doctors in the U.S., international students need to take the MCAT, apply to medical schools through AMCAS, and complete their chosen programs and licensing exams.
Yes, UWorld MCAT prep was recently voted as the #1 most helpful resource for students preparing for the MCAT. With practice questions at or above exam difficulty, research-backed learning tools, and full curriculum coverage, you’ll receive everything you need to achieve a top MCAT score.
Only students with a permanent U.S. address qualify for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program. An equivalent program is also available for Canadian examinees.
To differentiate yourself from other medical school applicants, a high MCAT score is crucial. This varies by university, but a score of 510 or higher is typically considered a “good” score. Although, with relatively low matriculation rates for international students, we encourage you to strive for a better score. After taking the exam, you should receive your score within 30-35 days of your test date.
The best way to prepare for the MCAT is to start early. Many students begin their studying 3 to 6 months or more before their exam, and total 300 hours of dedicated review time. It’s usually worth the investment to practice MCAT-style questions in a realistic exam environment, especially if English isn’t your first language. You should also study the exam format and topics for each MCAT section.

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