Benefits of Going to a Caribbean Medical School
School Overview
AUC offers the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree to students who complete our program. AUC is listed in the World Health Organization's verified registry of verified medical education providers.
AUC was established in 1978, and is one of the oldest Caribbean medical schools.
AUC’s Medical Doctorate program and medical school facilities are accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM). The US Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) has determined the standards employed by the ACCM are comparable to those used by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body that accredits US medical education programs.
Sint Maarten, where our Medical Sciences campus is located, is a beautiful 37-square-mile Caribbean island. English is spoken everywhere and the US dollar is the accepted currency. AUC students enjoy a variety of beaches as well as water sports activities. Clinical rotations take place at US teaching sites or, optionally, in the United Kingdom.
We keep our class sizes small, helping us to personalize the educational experience to fit your unique learning style. AUC’s close-knit community enables enhanced relationships with our expert faculty, and with your fellow students of diverse backgrounds.
Since AUC alumni are eligible for licensure in all US states, Canada, and Puerto Rico, they can be found practicing throughout North America, Canada, and beyond. Alumni can tap into a network of 7,500+ (and growing) AUC graduates to potentially unlock new career opportunities, promote your practice, get advice, or just enjoy the lifelong connections and friendships you will make.
Residencies & USMLE Performance
285 AUC students and graduates attained residency positions through The Match. AUC graduates will enter primary care residencies at about twice the rate of their US medical school graduate counterparts. Students and graduates earned positions in 24 specialties, including Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Psychiatry. 39 US states and territories will welcome AUC graduates into their residency programs this year – our impact on patients and communities is widespread.
98% First-Time Residency Attainment Rate for 2023-2024 Graduates*
First time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2024-25 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2023-24 who were active applicants in the 2024 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.
AUC students’ five-year cumulative first-time pass rate* for the USMLE Step 1 exam is 88.5% from 2018-2022.
*First-time pass rate is the number of students passing the USMLE Step 1 exam on the first attempt divided by the number of students whose first attempt was in 2018-2022. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 exam students must successfully complete the Medical Sciences curriculum.
Residency directors look closely at a student's USMLE scores when making a residency decision.
Our residency preparation doesn’t start in the final year of medical school—it’s begins the moment our students set foot on campus. The Office of Career Advisement (OCA) offers resources, workshops, and one-on-one advising to help students develop a residency match plan, decide on a specialty, and understand the application process.
Campus Life
Over the last few years, the campus has incorporated new technology and enhanced study and learning space to complement the close faculty-student interaction. The medical school campus features:
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Contemporary lecture halls outfitted with audio/visual technology
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Fully equipped anatomical dissection laboratory featuring medical imaging
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Clinical Skills Simulation Center providing a realistic emergency room and examination room environment. The Center is equipped with high-fidelity human patient simulators and provides a robust standardized patient program.
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Applied research laboratory
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Extensive medical library
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Campus-wide wireless Internet connectivity
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High-tech student computer center
AUC leadership and faculty hail from US and international medical schools—and they’re always willing to provide support to students who need it. We know that students learn differently, so AUC offers a wide variety of classroom technology to supplement traditional academic lectures.
Members of AUC’s diverse student body have a wide variety of interests and backgrounds, which help to shape our institution. With so many options at AUC, you’ll be able to find the right student organization for you. Students are encouraged to explore options for involvement in campus and community life by joining one or more of our 24 student organizations or student interest groups including medical, religious, ethnic groups and more.
Many students decide to become physicians as a way of giving back. Community service is deeply interwoven into AUC’s educational philosophy. Students have access to volunteer opportunities that can help physicians-in-training become more empathetic, raise their cultural awareness, and prepare them to serve diverse patient populations.
AUC offers wellness counseling services to assist students in managing issues related to their well-being. These services include financial, mental health counseling, tutoring, test taking strategies, and more.
AUC offers a full gym that includes activity rooms for free classes like yoga for students and a game room, including table tennis. There are many outdoor activities like basketball, beach volleyball, and water sports like snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing to help relax. There are many different types of restaurants on the island where you can enjoy a meal and a nice evening out with your friends.
Medical Sciences/Clinical Sciences
The first five semesters at AUC involve a concentrated study of the medical sciences through AUC's US-modeled medical school curriculum. Students are introduced to clinical medicine in first semester with an increased emphasis in fifth semester, which allows them to experience the clinical application of the medical sciences well before they advance to the clinical portion of the program. AUC’s medical sciences program is designed to help prepare them for the USMLE and match students’ needs, with faculty easily accessible for assistance and students provided with adequate opportunity for self-directed study.
Students can complete clinical rotations at United States clinical sites, with an option to complete them in the United Kingdom. In addition, AUC students can participate in Global Health Electives, which includes clinical experiences in places like the Dominican Republic, India, Uganda, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. We're proud that we give students the opportunity to explore and engage in other countries' healthcare systems.
Students at AUC have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of research interests under faculty membership, beginning in their second semester. Students have the opportunity to present their work at international meetings.
Financial Aid/Scholarships
AUC invites all prospective students to explore and apply for the scholarships, regardless of where they stand in the medical school enrollment process. Qualified students could gain access to thousands of dollars to help fund his or her medical education. AUC offers scholarships recognizing academic achievement, community service, and more.
AUC is approved for participation in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans). Qualified citizens and eligible non-citizens of the United States may be eligible to receive medical school financial aid from the Direct Loan programs up to the cost of attendance (tuition, books & supplies, accommodation and travel).
Canadian students can obtain a substantial amount of financing for education through student lines of credit offered by Canadian chartered banks.
