School Overview
American University of the Caribbean (AUC) was established in 1978, and is one of the oldest Caribbean medical schools.
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 Medical Sciences campus is located in Sint Maarten, 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 U.S. teaching sites or, optionally, in the United Kingdom.
AUC School of Medicine is ACCM Accredited
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.
AUC Classes
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.
AUC Alumni Network
Since AUC alumni are eligible for licensure in all U.S. 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.
AUC students’ five-year cumulative first-time pass rate* for the USMLE Step 1 exam is 84% from 2019-2023.
Residency directors look closely at a student's USMLE scores when making a residency decision.
*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 2019-2023. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 exam students must successfully complete the Medical Sciences curriculum.
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.
Residencies & USMLE Performance
Graduates Residency Attainment Rate
95% First-Time Residency Attainment Rate for 2024-2025 Graduates*
For the 2024-2025, 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.
View AUC's Residency Placements page for more details.
*First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2025-26 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2024-25 who were active applicants in the 2025 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.
Medical Sciences/Clinical Sciences
What Is the Curriculum Like?
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 the first semester with an increased emphasis in the 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.
AUC Resources:
Where Can Students Complete Clinical Rotations?
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.
Do They Offer Research Opportunities?
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.
Applying to Medical School
Looking for more information?
Check out our Course Catalog & Student Handbook here.
AUC offers start dates in January, May, and September and we accept applications year round, up to a year in advance of a term.
AUC’s regional admissions colleagues take the time to get to know you, and work closely with applicants to guide them through the application process—from start to finish—while providing helpful tips so students can put their best foot forward. They are based throughout the US and Canada to provide personalized support.
- Application checklist: See Admissions Requirements page
- Application requirements & documents: See Apply page
AUC's website also features several webinars that may come in handy as you apply to medical schools, including sessions on personal statements, the MCAT, and more.