Western Canada to get 1st new medical school in 60 years as SFU launches applications

October 14, 2025

RED FM News Desk

Simon Fraser University (SFU)’s School of Medicine has started accepting applications for its first class of aspiring doctors, marking the launch of the first new medical school in Western Canada in nearly 60 years. This new school is specifically designed to address B.C.’s critical need for primary-care physicians. Instruction for the first cohort of 48 students will begin in August 2026 at an interim location on the SFU Surrey campus, with the permanent school to be located in Surrey City Centre.

Premier David Eby commented that these milestones bring the province closer to training the next generation of doctors in Surrey where they are urgently needed. He added that the SFU medical school, along with the new Surrey hospital and B.C. Cancer Centre, will establish Surrey as a hub for innovative, high-quality health care. The inaugural class of 48 students will start their studies at the SFU Surrey campus and will receive ongoing clinical training throughout their three-year program, working directly with patients in community-based clinics and hospitals across B.C.

Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, emphasized that by training the next generation of family doctors locally, the government is ensuring that more families have access to the care they need closer to home. The permanent school will be part of the Centre Block project, situated next to the SFU Surrey campus and the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. The facility will occupy eight floors of a 12-storey building, featuring an outpatient clinic to serve Surrey residents and a child care centre with 49 spaces.

Joy Johnson, President of SFU, stated that the new school of medicine will fulfill SFU’s commitment by training future physicians to deliver “community-embedded, socially accountable and culturally safe primary health care.” Students accepted into the first class can expect to receive notification in May or June 2026.

The student body is expected to grow annually, reaching 120 students by 2035. The estimated capital cost of the permanent school is approximately $520 million, and it is expected to be ready in fall 2030.