Did You Know: Studying Medicine in the Caribbean
Information and Insights Into MD Student Benefits and Challenges
Preparing for medical school can be time consuming and sometimes confusing, after all there’s so much to consider from many different sources.
That’s why at Medical University of the Americas (MUA), we want to ensure you have all the information you need to make the right choice. In the following sections, we’ll aim to provide clarity regarding some common questions and assumptions that people have about attending medical school in the Caribbean, which will help inform and support your journey.
So read on and gain the insights you need to successfully plan your impactful career as a practicing physician!
Location, Location, Location
Studying in the Caribbean often raises a variety of location related questions, from “will I be able to practice in the U.S. or Canada” to “what is student life like on a Caribbean island,” and touching on everything in between. So let’s dive right in and tackle some key topics.
Accreditation
First and foremost, in order to ensure that you can use your medical education to subsequently practice as a doctor in the U.S., Canada or another country of your choosing, you must verify that the medical school you’re considering is appropriately accredited. Luckily, some Caribbean institutions have met North American and international requirements for medical school accreditation and help their students go on to practice where they choose.
Speaking for ourselves, MUA is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). Its standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). This, along with our key state approvals and recognition status, makes our students eligible to practice in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and many other countries.
MD Practice and Residency
Beyond accreditation, the ability of Caribbean medical students to transition back to the United States or Canada for work can depend on the quality and benefits of the MD program they enter. Most MD programs are divided into two parts and include classroom and clinical (in-hospital) learning components, but where that clinical instruction occurs can make a huge difference.
At MUA, the first two years (semesters 1-5) of medical school are called Basic Sciences and encompass the time when students study on our academic campus on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. During the second half of medical school (semesters 6-10), our students transition into the Clinical Medicine portion, when they will move to the U.S. and Canada for clinical rotations at ACGME-approved teaching hospitals that partner with our program. This is a hugely important benefit for students, as it allows them to make connections in places where they may wish to enter residency and eventually practice, while receiving impactful instruction and hands-on medical experiences.
The MUA MD program also features a strong academic curriculum, expert faculty and a commitment to providing individualized support, which, in concert with our clinical medicine partnerships at excellent teaching hospitals, foster excellent long-term career results for our students.
We are proud to share that MUA students have achieved an exceptional 98% residency placement rate from 2020-2024*, demonstrating the strength of our MD program and the exceptional opportunity available for students considering this Caribbean medical education.
Island Life and Studies
As noted in the previous section, MUA students will spend two years studying at our campus on the island of Nevis. Students are required to attend these classes in person and on a full-time basis, in order to ensure they can fully immerse themselves in their medical studies and receive the hands-on training they need to become excellent doctors. This raises questions about traveling, living and studying in the Caribbean.
Nevis is part of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and is located where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. With its tropical vistas, beautiful beaches, safe environment and rich culture, it’s what you picture when you think of a wonderful Caribbean island.
When in school, MUA instructors take full advantage of our excellent academic facilities to deliver impactful instruction and support. Wireless internet is available throughout campus, and students have access to a variety of digital support tools.
The academic day begins at 9 a.m. and usually ends between 3-5 p.m. Throughout the day, students attend classroom sessions, engage with faculty, participate in laboratory work or skills labs, and spend time doing group work with peers. While the amount of time on-campus can vary from school to school, MUA firmly believes that a largely in-person, hands-on education helps students make the most of their academic experience and become the best doctors they can possibly be.
Students also benefit from our 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which ensures instructors can deliver individualized support that helps students grasp and engage with the material in the manner that works best for them. This combination of intentionally small class sizes and in-person participation truly enriches the medical school experience for our aspiring doctors.
MD Program Costs
Another aspect of Caribbean medical education that can raise questions relates to tuition, fees and associated costs. Many Caribbean medical schools offer lower tuition rates than U.S. and Canadian medical schools, which understandably causes some potential students to wonder why that is.
Again, you must first consider accreditation and whether the medical school in question consistently helps their students become future practitioners in the country of their choosing. If the school meets these essential pre-conditions, you can be confident that a lower tuition will not only help you achieve your goals but will also facilitate and enhance your journey.
At Medical University of the Americas, we are extremely proud of our competitive tuition rates and work hard to maintain our offerings. In fact, we’ve recently lowered them and now allow Canadian students to pay in CAD!
This is an important part of our commitment to making excellent medical education more accessible for students from around the world. We truly believe that the world needs more doctors, and know that the financial commitment associated with medical school can be prohibitive for some people who may otherwise be very passionate about medicine. For that reason, we work hard to efficiently allocate resources, invest wisely and strategically manage costs, which allows us to offer a quality education at extremely cost-effective tuition rates.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The effectiveness of our commitment is demonstrated by the fact that we currently provide some of the most competitive tuition costs among the seven Caribbean medical schools approved for U.S. Title IV federal student aid funding. This means our U.S. students benefit from both excellent tuition rates and eligibility for meaningful financial aid. Canadian students are also eligible for provincial financial aid, along with the exciting opportunity to pay their tuition in CAD. Learn more about financial aid at Medical University of the Americas.
Finally, on top of everything we’ve highlighted, MUA also offers helpful scholarships for U.S., Canadian and international students. This is all part of our belief that an excellent educational opportunity should be accessible for every person who feels the calling of a career as a practicing physician.
Extensive Support for Big Dreams
Beyond location-related questions, aspiring doctors considering Caribbean medical schools can also wonder about existing support systems. So let’s discuss!
Pre-Med and Direct Entry Programs
At MUA, we are extremely proud of our diverse and accessible pre-med pathways for students who aspire to be doctors but who may not be quite ready to enter a 4-Year MD Program. Read more about each of our pre-med and direct entry offerings by clicking the links below:
Residency Success Support
Residency is one of the most important parts of your medical career development journey. Residency begins after graduation, but applying for residency happens during medical school. In fact, Residency Match Day is one of the most anticipated times of a medical student’s academic career.
Given its importance, many students wonder what support is in place to help them find the right residency to achieve their career goals. Well as you might expect, we’ve got you covered…
In addition to a strong curriculum designed to help you succeed on required examinations such as the USMLE, MUA staff and faculty teams are focused on helping you achieve the residency you want. They will work closely with you, provide insights and advice, and help ensure you’re ready for that step. Furthermore, there are also Student Support Services to help with your residency goals, including the Road to Residency Program, designed to guide you through the complex residency application process, and the Residency Application Preparation program, designed to help you strengthen the application itself.
At MUA, we are committed to supporting our students throughout their journeys, and our focus on individually tailored residency preparation is a perfect example of that!
Next Steps
It’s time to wrap things up for today, but we hope this helps with your choice of a medical study-abroad destination.
No matter what you want to achieve in medical school and beyond, we truly believe that MUA can help you get there!
If you have any questions at all, please be sure to contact us.
Good luck, and we hope to see you around campus.
*Four Year Residency Placement Rate is the percentage of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in
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