Laval Medicine Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Université Laval’s Faculty of Medicine conducts its admissions interviews through a rigorous multiple mini-interview (MMI) process that is unique in Quebec. Applicants complete a series of short, scenario-based stations as part of a joint MMI circuit shared by all three French-language medical schools in the province astroffconsultants.com. This interview approach, combined with Laval’s emphasis on holistic selection, means that candidates are evaluated not just on academics but on their personal qualities, ethical reasoning, and communication skills. Laval’s institutional mission – centered on social accountability, community well-being, and excellence – shines through in the program’s design and the attributes sought in future medical students ulaval.ca. The MD program offers distinctive features like early clinical exposure, opportunities for research or global health experiences, and a province-wide clinical training network, all of which can serve as talking points during interviews fr.readkong.com ulaval.ca.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview to help you prepare for a ULaval medical school interview. It covers the interview format and style, the faculty’s mission and values, and key facts about the MD program (including unique curriculum profiles you might inquire about). It also discusses relevant healthcare policy topics in Quebec and Canada, the non-academic criteria that Laval considers in selecting applicants, and the competency frameworks underlying the program. Additionally, you’ll find common themes from past interview questions and a timeline of important dates for the 2025–2026 admissions cycle. Understanding these elements will help you approach your interview with context and confidence, focusing on thoughtful preparation rather than memorized responses.

Laval’s medical school uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for candidate selection. In fact, the French-language medical faculties of Quebec (Laval, Montréal, and Sherbrooke) coordinate a single integrated MMI – meaning if you apply to more than one, you attend one common interview circuit for all astroffconsultants.com. The MMI typically consists of about 12 short stations, each around 7 minutes long forums.premed101.com. Approximately half of these stations involve role-play with an actor, while the others are traditional question/answer or scenario discussions forums.premed101.com. This fast-paced series of interviews is often described as an “endurance race,” so be prepared for quick transitions and time constraints at each station.

The interview style is generally scenario-based and closed-file – interviewers do not have access to your academic file during the MMI. Instead, they focus on how you think on your feet, communicate, and handle ethical or interpersonal dilemmas. Some stations may feel conversational, but many are structured around a specific task or problem. In recent cycles (including virtual formats during the pandemic), Laval’s MMI stations have even included a self-reflection component, where interviewers ask candidates to assess their own performance or reasoning astroffconsultants.com. This is designed to test your self-awareness and adaptability under pressure.

Notably, post-interview outcomes at Laval are largely determined by MMI performance. Once you reach the interview stage, everyone is on relatively even footing academically – final admission offers depend almost entirely on how you score in the MMI (each medical school weights the shared stations in its own way) forums.premed101.com. The upside is that the post-interview acceptance rate is quite high: historically, a majority of those who interview at Laval do receive an offer. For example, one admissions cycle saw around 192 university-category applicants interviewed, resulting in 154 offers and over 115 eventual matriculants forums.premed101.com. In other words, if you’ve made it to the MMI, your chances of admission are better than 50/50 – a strong incentive to focus on doing as well as possible in each station.

The Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval prides itself on a mission of social accountability and service to society. The school’s guiding vision puts the “health and sustainable well-being of individuals and populations” at the center of all its actions ulaval.ca. This means the program is not only about training excellent clinicians, but also about developing professionals who are mindful of community health needs, equity, and ethical practice. The faculty works to provide a healthy, supportive, and safe learning environment, emphasizing humanistic values and enriched human relationships among students and teachers ulaval.ca.

Laval’s commitment to social responsibility has earned it international recognition. It was the first Francophone medical faculty (and third in Canada) to receive an ASPIRE award for excellence in social accountability in medical education fr.readkong.com. The school also leads on sustainability – Université Laval is Canada’s first carbon-neutral university campus fr.readkong.com – reflecting a value for environmental stewardship that aligns with healthcare’s role in society. Diversity and intercultural respect are likewise core values: the faculty encourages global exposure and local intercultural engagement to train future physicians who are culturally competent and respectful of diversity in their patient populations fr.readkong.com. Underlying everything is a drive for engagement and excellence in teaching and research, with each member of the faculty contributing to advancing knowledge for the betterment of society fr.readkong.com. When preparing for the interview, understanding Laval’s values can help you frame your experiences and motivations in a way that resonates with the school’s mission.

Laval’s M.D. program (Doctorat de 1er cycle en médecine) is a four- to five-year undergraduate medical degree taught primarily in French. Each year, roughly 300 new students begin the program ulaval.ca, the majority being Quebec residents (as provincial policy caps these seats for local applicants). The curriculum is structured in two phases: a pre-clinical or “préexternat” phase followed by a clinical “externat” phase. Pre-clinical coursework typically spans three years and can be completed at the Quebec City campus or at satellite teaching sites in Lévis or Rimouski ulaval.ca. For students with advanced standing or certain backgrounds, there are options to accelerate this phase to 2 or 2.5 years in Quebec City ulaval.ca. After that, all students undertake approximately two years of clinical rotations (clerkship). Notably, Laval offers an Externat Longitudinal Intégré (ELI) – an integrated longitudinal clerkship – in partnership with regional hospitals for those who want immersive training in a community setting ulaval.ca.

A distinctive aspect of Laval’s program is the ability for students to personalize their education through various “profils” (profiles). These are optional enrichment streams that run in parallel with the MD curriculum, allowing students to explore an area of interest in greater depth. For example, there is a Sustainable Development profile for those interested in planetary health, an Entrepreneurial profile to develop innovation and leadership skills, an International profile that enables one or two semesters of study at a partner university abroad ulaval.ca, and a Research profile which integrates about 12 credits of research work into the program ulaval.ca. There’s also a “Profil distinction” aimed at accelerating entry into graduate research for students who excel academically ulaval.ca. These profiles are a unique feature at ULaval – they “modulate your path” and open a “world of possibilities,” as one student described combining the MD with a master’s degree through the research profile fr.readkong.com fr.readkong.com. You can consider asking about these opportunities during your interview (for instance, if you have an interest in global health or research, it’s natural to inquire how the profile works).

Other program highlights include early and extensive clinical exposure and a broad teaching network. Students begin clinical stages (placements) in their first year of med school fr.readkong.com, which helps ground classroom learning in real patient care early on. The faculty has the largest clinical training network in Quebec ulaval.ca, with over 470 affiliated training sites ranging from major urban hospitals to smaller community clinics. This reflects ULaval’s commitment to training physicians to serve across the province, including in rural areas. The program is also known for fostering interprofessional collaboration – medical students train alongside peers in other health disciplines during certain modules, mirroring team-based healthcare. Given that instruction is in French, all students must demonstrate French language proficiency (non-francophone applicants have to meet specific French language criteria for admission) ulaval.ca. If you’re not from a French educational background, it might be wise to discuss how you’ve prepared to study and work in French, as the interviewers will expect comfort with the language.

Laval’s social accountability focus means interview conversations may touch on broader healthcare issues. Below are some policy and healthcare topics relevant to the school’s context in the region and country, which you should be aware of (not to memorize answers, but to have an informed perspective):

• Quebec healthcare system & physician distribution: Quebec faces ongoing challenges with family physician shortages and healthcare access. For instance, the proportion of Quebec residents with a family doctor dropped from about 82% in 2019 to 73% in 2023 hcamag.com – one of the lowest rates in Canada. Laval’s program, with its extensive clinical network, is part of provincial efforts to train doctors for underserved regions. The school even implements a “boni région” in admissions – giving regional applicants or those choosing training sites like Rimouski a slight advantage – to encourage future physicians to serve outside urban centers ulaval.ca.
• Language and cultural competency: Being a Francophone medical program, ULaval contributes to ensuring healthcare is delivered in French in Quebec. This aligns with provincial language policies and the need for doctors who can serve French-speaking communities. At the same time, Canada is multicultural and bilingual, so cultural competency is paramount. The faculty promotes intercultural training and diversity awareness in its curriculum fr.readkong.com. Interviewers might gauge your sensitivity to treating patients from different cultures or your thoughts on offering care in a patient’s preferred language.
• Indigenous health and reconciliation: Across Canada – including Quebec – there is a strong push to improve Indigenous healthcare and increase Indigenous representation in medicine. ULaval has a designated admissions category for First Nations and Inuit (PNIQ) applicants and reserves a number of seats for Indigenous students ulaval.ca. The program also integrates Indigenous health content to prepare students to work respectfully with Indigenous communities. You should be aware of issues like healthcare gaps for Indigenous populations, cultural safety, and the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as they relate to medical care.
• Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID): Canada’s MAID legislation is a prominent national policy topic. Since 2016, assisted dying is legal under specific conditions, and Quebec was an early adopter with its own law. A current debate is the expansion of MAID to patients with mental illness. (Originally, an eligibility extension to severe mental illness was planned for 2023 but has been postponed to 2027 amid concerns over safeguards reuters.com.) Interviewers may not ask for your personal stance, but they could present an ethical scenario related to end-of-life decisions or patient autonomy, expecting you to discuss considerations on both sides.
• Public health and healthcare reforms: Be prepared to talk about challenges in the healthcare system such as long wait times for surgeries, emergency room overcrowding, or funding for preventative care. Quebec, like the rest of Canada, is grappling with how to innovate within a publicly funded healthcare model. Topics like the role of private clinics, investment in primary care, or use of technology (telemedicine, electronic health records) could come up. Laval’s focus on population well-being means they value awareness of social determinants of health – for example, how factors like poverty, housing, or education affect patient outcomes. Demonstrating a broad understanding of the healthcare landscape in Quebec/Canada, even at a high level, shows that you are an informed and socially conscious applicant.

When discussing any policy or hot-topic issue, remember that the interview isn’t testing you on policy details per se, but on qualities like ethical reasoning, empathy, awareness, and judgment. It’s fine to admit what you don’t know; focus on how you think through the issues and relate them to patient care or a physician’s responsibilities.

Like all medical schools, Laval looks for well-rounded candidates. Beyond strong grades, the non-academic criteria play a significant role in admissions. One key component is the CASPer test (situational judgment test), which all applicants must take in French as part of the selection process ulaval.ca. The CASPer is used to evaluate personal and professional attributes; at Laval, your CASPer performance is weighed alongside academics to determine if you’re invited to interview ulaval.ca. (In fact, for some applicant categories, CASPer can comprise around 30% of the pre-interview score ulaval.ca.) This reflects the school’s desire to assess qualities like ethics, communication, empathy, and decision-making early on.

In the interview (MMI) itself, Laval explicitly aims to measure “certain personal characteristics deemed necessary for success in the program and the practice of medicine” usherbrooke.ca. These likely include your interpersonal skills, ethical judgment, ability to collaborate, resilience, and self-reflection. Laval’s approach to selection is holistic: they want to see evidence of traits that align with the CanMEDS roles (for example, communication skills, professionalism, empathy as part of health advocacy, etc.) and with the faculty’s values (like social responsibility and teamwork). Every station of the MMI is designed to probe one or more of these areas, so consider how your experiences demonstrate qualities like leadership, cultural sensitivity, or integrity.

It’s also worth noting Laval’s nuanced approach to evaluating background and life experience. The admissions process has different streams or “contingents,” and certain non-academic elements are considered depending on your category. For instance, an applicant who has been in the workforce (not straight from school) may be asked to submit a “note autobiographique” (a short autobiographical statement) about their journey, which the committee can review ulaval.ca. Candidates who already hold advanced degrees (like a Ph.D.) can have their research accomplishments factored in by submitting a research portfolio ulaval.ca. There’s also a pathway to encourage socio-economically disadvantaged students (the Voie médecine pour la diversité socioéconomique, linked to the Programme Envol bursary we’ll mention later) – these applicants from lower-income backgrounds may get special consideration, reflecting Laval’s commitment to socioeconomic diversity in medicine ulaval.ca. Additionally, significant extracurricular involvements, leadership positions, community service, and other experiences can bolster your application, even if Laval doesn’t require a formal ABS (autobiographical sketch) like some schools. Essentially, who you are beyond your GPA is crucial: the committee values leadership, altruism, research interest, perseverance, and other attributes that predict a compassionate, engaged physician.

Université Laval’s MD curriculum is organized around a set of core competencies that every graduating physician should possess. Officially, the program has identified seven key competencies to be developed during training ulaval.ca. These mirror the widely-used CanMEDS physician competency framework (adapted to the undergraduate level). In Laval’s terminology, the competencies are:

• Clinical expertise – the ability to assess patients, make diagnoses, and plan treatments holistically (the “medical expert” role) ulaval.ca
• Communication – building professional, patient-centered relationships and communicating effectively with patients and families ulaval.ca
• Collaboration – working respectfully and efficiently within intra- and inter-professional teams, including shared decision-making with colleagues and patients ulaval.ca
• Scholarship – engaging in continuous learning and self-improvement (personal and professional development through lifelong learning) ulaval.ca
• Professionalism – acting with integrity, ethics, and responsibility, and upholding the high standards of the profession ulaval.ca
• Health promotion (Health advocacy) – using one’s expertise responsibly to promote health and prevent illness at both individual and community levels ulaval.ca
• Leadership – effectively managing one’s personal, academic, and professional activities and resources in the healthcare system (e.g., time management, system thinking, advocacy for system improvements) ulaval.ca

Laval’s program objectives explicitly reference these areas, and students are expected to achieve competence in all seven by graduation ulaval.ca ulaval.ca. This means your training will touch not only the scientific and clinical aspects of medicine, but also things like teamwork, ethics, communication, and leadership. For interview prep, it’s useful to recognize that many interview stations correspond to these competencies. For example, a scenario may test your communication and professionalism, or a policy question may gauge your understanding of health advocacy. Being familiar with the competency framework can help you identify what an interviewer might be looking for in your response (even if they don’t mention CanMEDS by name).

While specific interview questions vary year to year (and Laval does not release official questions), reports from past candidates and general trends in MMIs point to several recurring themes:

• Ethical dilemmas and social issues: Many stations focus on ethics or decisions in healthcare. Past students noted a “high percentage of questions” on topics like medical ethics, patient confidentiality, resource allocation, or public health ethics astroffconsultants.com. For instance, you might be asked to discuss how to prioritize patients for an organ transplant or to respond to a scenario involving honesty with a patient. Laval’s social accountability ethos means scenarios might also touch on social issues (e.g. responding to a patient facing homelessness or substance abuse). The key is to articulate a balanced, compassionate reasoning process rather than a “right” answer.
• Personal motivation and self-reflection: Expect classic personal questions as well. In traditional interviews or integrated into MMI stations, “Why do you want to be a doctor?” is almost guaranteed to come up astroffconsultants.com. Laval’s interviewers may ask about your experiences or what you will contribute to the school. Uniquely, some MMI stations have asked candidates to assess their own performance or thought process after tackling a question astroffconsultants.com. For example, you might explain what you think you did well and what you could improve. This theme of self-reflection tests humility and the ability to learn from critique, so it’s good to practice thinking aloud about your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Communication and interpersonal scenarios: Given half the stations use actors forums.premed101.com, you will likely encounter role-play situations. These could involve breaking bad news to a patient (or their family), resolving a conflict with a colleague, or comforting a friend in distress. Such stations evaluate how you communicate under stress, your empathy, and your listening skills. Laval’s selection committee will be asking: can this person show warmth, respect, and clarity when interacting with others? Remember to stay in the moment with the actor and respond naturally – the content matters less than your demeanor and process.
• Critical thinking on healthcare challenges: Some stations may present a policy or system problem – for example, long wait times, vaccination uptake, or healthcare resource distribution – and ask for your thoughts or a solution. You might be asked to argue one side of a debate (e.g. whether the government should take a certain action in healthcare) to test your ability to form a reasoned argument. The confederation of Quebec schools’ MMI has been known to include such prompts that take you out of your comfort zone. While specific knowledge helps, interviewers care more about how you reason: do you consider multiple perspectives, underlying causes, and the human impact of the issue?

Across all these themes, practice articulating your thinking process clearly. Laval’s interviewers might sometimes play “devil’s advocate” – challenging your answer or asking follow-ups to probe deeper (students have reported interviewers sometimes seeming critical to see how you handle it astroffconsultants.com). Don’t be thrown off by that; they want to see how you respond to pressure or critique. Stay calm, be honest if you need to adjust your stance, and remember the qualities they are evaluating (not just the facts you assert).

Lastly, keep in mind the key dates for the upcoming admissions cycle. For the 2025–2026 cycle (entry in Fall 2026), the application opens in early September 2025 (applications are typically allowed starting around September 1) usherbrooke.ca. The deadlines depend on your academic background:

• If you have any university credits by the deadline (i.e., you’re in university or have a degree), you must apply by November 1, 2025 usherbrooke.ca.
• If you are coming directly from CEGEP (no university credits by November), you have a later deadline of March 1, 2026 usherbrooke.ca.
• All applicants need to complete the CASPer test (French version for healthcare) before the application deadlines. For example, those applying by Nov 1 must take CASPer by mid-October 2025 usherbrooke.ca, and those applying by Mar 1 should take it by late February 2026.
• After submitting your application, you’ll wait for interview invitations. Interview invites are typically sent in late March or early April forums.premed101.com usherbrooke.ca (once both the university and CEGEP applicant pools have been assessed). In 2024, for instance, invitations were emailed on March 25th for the April MMI.
• The MMI interviews are held in April (exact dates vary year to year, often on weekends). Laval coordinates with Sherbrooke and Montréal, so the MEM (mini-entrevues multiples) usually occur over a few days in mid to late April.
• Admission offers are released by around mid-May 2026 for the first round usherbrooke.ca. In a typical year, initial offers to successful candidates go out in May (after all Canadian schools have held interviews).
• If you’re placed on a waitlist, don’t lose hope – movement can happen through June, July, and even into August. Offers will continue to be made off the waiting list until the class is full (sometimes up to the first week of classes) usherbrooke.ca. It’s not uncommon for some candidates to get an acceptance in the summer as others decline in favor of other schools.

Make sure to double-check the official admissions webpage for any updates to these dates. Also note that some categories of applicants (like certain out-of-province or international agreements) might have slightly different timelines or additional requirements. But in general, the timeline above will apply to most applicants entering the 2025–2026 cycle at ULaval.

In summary, preparing for an interview at Laval University’s Faculty of Medicine means understanding more than just the format of the questions – it’s about appreciating the school’s values, the structure of its program, and the context in which you’ll be trained. Laval’s admissions process, from CASPer through the MMI, is designed to identify future physicians who not only have strong intellectual abilities but also the personal qualities and social awareness to uphold the faculty’s mission. By familiarizing yourself with the interview format, reflecting on how your own experiences align with Laval’s mission of social responsibility and excellence, and staying informed on healthcare issues relevant to Quebec and Canada, you will be well-equipped to present your best self on interview day. Good luck as you take this important step toward a career in medicine!