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What Is Med School Like in the Caribbean? FAQs & Resources

As you think about attending a Caribbean medical school, you have many things to consider. Below are some topics that you may want to factor in to your educational decisions. Be sure to ask the questions below when speaking with representatives from international or Caribbean medical schools. We've provided answers as they relate to AUC below as examples.

AUC Campus - aucmed campus building

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. 

View MD Program

AUC School of Medicine is ACCM Accredited

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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.

Learn More About AUC Accreditation
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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.
 

How Do AUC Students Perform on the USMLE?

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.

What Kind of Services Do They Offer Students for Residency Placement? Do They Have Time to Give Me Personal Guidance?

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.

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Residencies & USMLE Performance

Graduates Residency Attainment Rate 

98% First-Time Residency Attainment Rate for 2023-2024 Graduates*

For the 2023-2024, 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 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.

Campus Life

AUC Clubs and Organizations

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.

Learn About AUC Clubs and Organizations

Take a Break From Studying

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.

View AUC's amenities in our virtual tour here.

What Technology Is in Place at the School?

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:

  • Contemporary lecture halls outfitted with audio/visual technology
  • Fully equipped anatomical dissection laboratory featuring medical imaging
  • 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.
  • Applied research laboratory
  • Extensive medical library
  • Campus-wide wireless Internet connectivity
  • High-tech student computer center

Visit our campus page for a full list of AUC’s campus technology.

What Teaching Methods Do They Offer to Students?

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.

Does the University Offer Service Learning or Volunteer Activities?

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.

What Kind of Services Do They Offer to Students in Terms of Counseling?

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.

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.

Full list of AUC’s Hospital Teaching Sites (U.S. and U.K.)

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.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

Does the School Offer 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.

Visit AUC’s Scholarships page for details.

What Are My Financial Aid Options?

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.

AUC Tuition & Financial Aid

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Applying to Medical School

Looking for more information? 
Check out our Course Catalog & Student Handbook here.

I Don't Want to Wait Months to Begin Medical School. I'm Ready Now. What Are My Options?

AUC offers start dates in January, May, and September and we accept applications year round, up to a year in advance of a term.

What If I Need Help During the Application Process?

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. 

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.

Find the full list of AUC’s On-Demand Webinars here.