Admission Process for Medical School

Med School Requirements

AUC's Admissions Committee considers many factors when reviewing a med school applicant for consideration. Medical school admissions requirements include undergraduate performance and MCAT score, as well as intellectual and social maturity, critical judgment, adaptability, volunteer work, and life experiences, and graduate school performance (if applicable). Our goal is to provide you with all of the information and guidance you need to explore AUC as a medical school option and make the best decision to suit your career and life objectives.

Medical School Admission Process

The medical school admission process varies from school to school. At AUC, you start by completing an application online. Once you have completed your online application, you will be assigned an admissions ambassador who will reach out for supporting documents. Learn more about the admission process, start date, and deadlines for the AUC School of Medicine.

The AUC Admissions team recommends starting your application as early as possible. Candidates should apply to AUC at least one month prior to their desired start time.

AUC looks at both overall GPA and science GPA. AUC’s Admissions Committee considers many factors when reviewing an applicant for consideration - GPA is only one of them. Depending on the circumstances, a student with a lower GPA may be accepted, especially if the student excels in other aspects of the medical school application evaluation. 

Prerequisite programs' course requirements may vary from institution to institution; however, they typically include the following:

• Biochemistry (one semester)
• Biology (two semesters)
• English (two semesters)
• General chemistry (two semesters)
• Math (two semesters)
• Organic chemistry (one semester)
• Physics (two semesters)
• Psychology and Statistics are sometimes required

At AUC, a bachelor’s degree with a strong science background is preferred. AUC’s course requirements** are as follows:

• Two semesters (8 credit hours) for each of the following:
  • General biology
  • General chemistry
• One semester (4 credit hours) for each of the following:
  • Organic chemistry or biochemistry
  • General physics, calculus, or statistics

**Substitutions and/or exceptions for med school prerequisites are made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Admissions Dean and Faculty Admissions Committee.

While each Caribbean medical school sets its own admission standards, AUC typically requires the following from applicants.

You need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Your undergraduate coursework must include prerequisite science courses: biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry (or biochemistry), and physics (or statistics/calculus).

U.S. applicants submit MCAT scores as part of your application. International students provide equivalent exam results such as UCAT, NEET, or GAMSAT.

Your application package includes a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts.

AUC reviews applications holistically. The admissions team considers your academic performance, test scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation together. Each component provides insight into your readiness for medical school.

Contact AUC's admissions office directly for the most current requirements. Standards and prerequisites change periodically to align with evolving medical education standards.

Required application documents include official undergraduate transcripts showing a completed bachelor's degree, MCAT scores (for U.S. applicants), a personal statement of no more than 750 words, and a minimum of two letters of recommendation. Letters should include one from an academic professor (preferably in science) and one professional reference, though a pre-medical advisory committee letter can substitute for both. Applicants must also submit a professional resume or curriculum vitae (CV) through the online application portal.

AUC operates under rolling admissions with three annual start dates in January, May, and September. Application deadlines typically fall approximately three to four weeks before each semester begins. Admission decisions are made on a first-come, first-served basis, so early application is encouraged. Visit the AUC admissions page for current semester start dates and specific deadlines.

Yes, Caribbean medical schools generally accept international students. While each school sets its own policies, AUC welcomes applicants worldwide.

AUC enrolls students from Canada, the United Kingdom, and numerous other countries, with more than 12% of the student body from Canada. International applicants can submit equivalent medical admissions exams such as UCAT, NEET, or GAMSAT instead of MCAT scores, based on their country's requirements.

AUC provides dedicated support for international students, including the ability for Canadian students to upload OMSAS applications directly. Contact AUC's admissions office for country-specific requirements.

AUC is one of the few Caribbean medical schools offering a fully equipped cadaver dissection laboratory that operates 24/7, featuring medical imaging technology, 3D anatomy applications, and a low student-to-cadaver ratio of 3-4 students per donor across 18 cadavers. Through its partnership with Nuvance Health Network, AUC offers Global Health Electives allowing students to complete six-week rotations in Vietnam, India, Dominican Republic, Uganda, Thailand, or Zimbabwe for exposure to diverse international healthcare systems. AUC also maintains a unique partnership with the University of Lancashire in the UK, established in 2019, enabling non-US citizens to complete part of their medical education in Preston while earning an AUC MD degree. The school reports a 97% first-time residency attainment rate for graduates over the last three years*

*The 3-year first-time residency attainment rate is the weighted average of the 2022-23, through 2024-25 academic years. For each year, the rate is the percent of students attaining a residency out of all graduates or expected graduates in the year who were active applicants in the NRMP match in that year or who attained a residency outside the NRMP match in that year. The 1-year first-time residency attainment rate is 95% for 2024-2025 graduates.

After submitting an application, qualified candidates receive an email invitation to interview, typically conducted one-on-one with an admissions committee member. Interviews last approximately 30 minutes and are often conducted virtually for international applicants. The interviewer evaluates the applicant's motivation for studying medicine in the Caribbean, understanding of the AUC program, personal qualities such as maturity and adaptability, and any gaps in prerequisite coursework. Decisions are typically communicated within approximately three weeks following the interview.

Yes, AUC accepts applicants with bachelor's degrees in any discipline, though a strong science background is preferred. Non-science majors must complete all prerequisite science courses, including two semesters each of biology and general chemistry with laboratories, two semesters of organic chemistry (or biochemistry may substitute), and one semester of physics with laboratory (statistics or calculus may substitute). The Admissions Committee evaluates how your academic background and life experiences prepare you for the rigors of medical education during the holistic review process.