The Simon Fraser University (SFU) school of medicine is accepting applications for its first class of future doctors, marking the launch of the first new medical school in Western Canada in nearly 60 years.

Designed specifically to address B.C.’s urgent need for primary-care physicians, the new school will begin instruction at an interim location in August 2026. A location in Surrey City Centre has been secured for the permanent school.

“These two major milestones bring us closer to training the next generation of doctors right here in Surrey where they are urgently needed,” said Premier David Eby. “The new state-of-the-art SFU medical school, along with the new Surrey hospital and B.C. Cancer Centre, will make this city a hub of innovative, high-quality health care. This is just one way our government is improving health care in British Columbia and helping more people find a family doctor close to home.”

The first class of 48 medical students will begin their studies at the interim location, the SFU Surrey campus. Students will receive ongoing clinical training, starting in the second month of their studies and continuing throughout their three-year program. Students will work directly with patients in community-based offices, clinics and hospitals throughout B.C. This includes providing care at an outpatient clinic at the permanent school, which will serve patients in the Surrey community.

“The opening of the new SFU school of medicine marks a historic moment for Surrey. It is more than a medical school, it’s an investment in our people, our city and our province,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Education works best when it responds to people’s needs. By training the next generation of family doctors right here in our community, and creating an outpatient clinic to support training and service delivery, we’re ensuring that more families have access to the care they need, closer to home.”

The permanent home for the school of medicine will be part of the Centre Block project, a mixed-use development located in Surrey City Centre next to the SFU Surrey campus and the Surrey Central SkyTrain station. 

The facility will occupy eight floors of the planned 12-storey building and include:

• classrooms, clinical-skills spaces, research labs, administrative offices and support areas;
• an outpatient clinic that will deliver direct health-care services for Surrey residents and provide a practical and accessible experience for students; and
• a child care centre with 49 spaces to support the SFU Surrey community.

“We’re building the future of health care in B.C., and establishing this new medical school is at the heart of that work,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Through this unique partnership, we’re training future family doctors and strengthening care for people in Surrey and across the province.”

The new medical school is being developed through collaboration between the Province, Simon Fraser University, City of Surrey, First Nations Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority and the medical community.

Students can apply to the SFU medical school here: https://www.sfu.ca/medicine.html

“The news that the SFU school of medicine is accepting applications for the class of 2026 is incredibly exciting as a prospective student,” said Owen Gudmundson, an SFU undergraduate student. “Considering the extremely competitive nature of the medical school application process, the opening of a new medical school in B.C. provides students like me a greater opportunity to pursue our dreams of becoming doctors, while also providing British Columbians with more physicians to care for them.”

Students accepted into the first 48-student class can expect to hear if they are accepted in May or June 2026. The cohort is expected to increase every year until it reaches 120 students by 2035.

“SFU is committed to making a difference for B.C. and the communities we serve through education and research,” said Joy Johnson, president, SFU. “The new school of medicine will exemplify that strong commitment by training future physicians to deliver community-embedded, socially accountable and culturally safe primary health care.”

The anticipated capital cost of the permanent school is approximately $520 million, shared between the Province and SFU. Construction is on track to begin in late 2026, with the permanent school expected to be ready for students in fall 2030.

The SFU school of medicine is part of the government’s work to improve access to health care for people throughout B.C.

Learn More:

To learn more about the SFU school of medicine, visit: https://www.sfu.ca/medicine.html

To learn more about the Surrey Centre Block development, visit: https://www.scdc.ca/2023onwards/centreblock

A backgrounder follows.