About the Island
The location of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine shares many of the same qualities as the academic experience itself. St. Maarten is vibrant, community-minded, exciting, friendly, and intimate. Island life provides an ideal setting for students to get away from the stresses of everyday life and focus on their classes and medical preparation.
The Island
St. Maarten is an island in the Caribbean encompassing 37 square miles and located approximately 150 miles from Puerto Rico. The island is shared by the governments of France and the Netherlands Antilles. Although English is spoken everywhere on St. Maarten and the U.S. dollar is an accepted currency, the island as a whole retains many elements of its French and Dutch culture and heritage. St. Maarten’s central mountain range is complemented by pristine beaches, winding mountain roads, and small villages.
The Campus
The AUC campus overlooks St. Maarten’s beautiful Simpson Bay Lagoon and is adjacent to the 18-hole championship Mullet Bay Golf Course and Mullet Bay Beach. Our campus location enables AUC students to access stunning beaches, excellent diving, sailing and sports activities, and countless local markets and duty-free shopping.
The Beaches
With 37 beaches on St. Maarten, there is a beach for every square mile on the island. Some of the more popular beaches for students include Sunset Beach, Mullet Bay Beach, and Orient Beach where you will find people snorkeling, jet skiing, kite surfing, wind surfing, and parasailing.
The Diversity
St. Maarten is an exciting blend of Dutch, French, African, and American culture. With residents from more than 90 different nations, art and music from around the world, and cuisine ranging from French to Vietnamese to American fast food, daily life is as diverse and vibrant as you want it to be.
The Shopping
Shopping is one of the most popular past times on St. Maarten, thanks in large part to the island’s completely duty free status. Whether you’re strolling down Front Street in Philipsburg, in a boutique in Marigot, or at a shopping center on the Dutch side of the island, you will enjoy great bargains on anything from cosmetics and jewelry to cigars and electronics.
The Restaurants
With more than 400 restaurants on the island, you could eat out every day of the year and never dine at the same place twice. In fact, with cuisine offerings that include first class French fare, Italian, Tex-Mex, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, as well as local BBQ ribs and chicken, St. Maarten features the widest array of cuisine and prices of any other island in the world.
The Nightlife
Live entertainment from around the world can be found on the island: Simpson Bay Lagoon, discos, bars, movie theatres, mini golf, nightclubs featuring the rhythms of techno, rock and roll, classic Jamaican reggae, merengue, and soul. These are just a few examples of how St. Maarten comes to life after dark.
