Cuba has long been known internationally for medical education, especially through Spanish-language medical programs and government-scholarship routes such as the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM). Some students attend through scholarships, while international self-funded applicants can also apply through Servicios Médicos Cubanos.
The country continues to stand out for its large medical workforce: the WHO Strategic Partnership for Health Security portal lists Cuba at 84.273 medical doctors per 10,000 people. At the same time, current PAHO/WHO reporting notes that medicine and supply shortages, economic pressure, and migration of health personnel have strained the Cuban health system.
How long do you need to study Medicine in Cuba?
It takes six years to complete the medical degree in Cuba. The program leads to the title of Doctor en Medicina and is generally organized as five years of coursework and clinical training followed by a one-year rotating internship.
What are the general requirements to study in Cuban medical schools?
Applicants generally need to have completed pre-university, baccalaureate, high school, or an equivalent level of education. For full undergraduate programs, Cuban medical institutions commonly require legalized academic documents such as a diploma and a transcript.
Other commonly required documents include a health certificate stating that the applicant does not have communicable diseases, specifically HIV; proof of no physical or mental impediment that would prevent practice in the chosen profession; a pregnancy certificate for female applicants; passport-style photos; a criminal-record certificate; a birth certificate; proof of admission; payment documentation when applicable; and Cuban health insurance or compatible coverage accepted by ASISTUR.
Some Cuban medical-program pages list the standard entry age as 18 to 25, along with a pre-university education requirement. Requirements can vary by the applicant’s route, so scholarship applicants should also check the Cuban diplomatic mission or organization handling their nomination, while self-funded applicants should contact Servicios Médicos Cubanos.
Top Medical Schools in Cuba
1. Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM)
Known to many as the Latin American School of Medicine, ELAM is a public Cuban medical school in Havana. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists it as public, currently operational, and beginning medical instruction in 1999. ELAM states that since its creation in 1999 it has graduated 31,235 doctors from 122 countries.
ELAM accepts students through two routes: a scholarship offered by the Cuban government to the applicant’s country, usually handled through Cuban diplomatic missions or consular offices and partner organizations; or a self-funded route through Servicios Médicos Cubanos. Scholarship applicants are required to enroll in and pass ELAM’s preparatory course for medical-sciences students.
Scholarship benefits and monthly support can vary by country or agreement, so applicants should confirm the current package with the Cuban mission or sponsoring organization. Self-funded applicants should contact Servicios Médicos Cubanos directly.
ELAM is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, which states that eligible students and graduates for graduation years 1999 to current may apply for ECFMG Certification if all other requirements are met. It is also listed by the Medical Board of California among recognized Cuban medical schools. A World Directory listing by itself does not mean endorsement or accreditation by the World Directory, WFME, FAIMER, or the World Health Organization.
2. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana
The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana is a public medical university in Cuba’s capital. Its official site describes it as the lead center for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Cuba’s medical sciences and as the continuation of medical training begun at the University of Havana. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists the current institution as public and currently operational, with the former name Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de la Habana used from 1976 to 2009.
The university offers the Doctor en Medicina program, which the World Directory lists as a six-year Spanish-language medical degree. Its official undergraduate page notes more than 285 years of inherited medical-training experience and reports more than 100,000 doctors trained in the last 50 years, including Cuban graduates and graduates from more than 80 countries.
The Cuban medical curriculum, commonly referred to as the PENSUM, is a national plan designed to form general physicians with comprehensive clinical, preventive, rehabilitation, research, health-education, and administrative skills.
The final year is a rotating internship. Current Cuban medical-education pages describe the rotating internship as including five rotations: Medicine/Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Comprehensive General Medicine.
The World Directory lists UCMH students and graduates for graduation years 1953 to current as eligible to apply for ECFMG Certification, provided all other requirements are met.
3. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Holguín – Mariana Grajales Coello
The World Directory of Medical Schools lists Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Holguín as a public, currently operational Cuban medical school. Its alternate names include Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Mariana Grajales Coello,” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Holguín, and Universidad de Oriente Facultad de Ciencias Médicas.
The World Directory lists its Doctor en Medicina program as a six-year Spanish-language medical degree that follows completion of secondary education. Students should confirm the current admissions process through the university or Servicios Médicos Cubanos.
Today, the university is part of Cuba’s public medical-education network and continues to train health professionals at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
4. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara
The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara is a public Cuban medical institution. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists its Faculty of Medicine as currently operational, with medical instruction beginning in 1966.
Its Medicine page describes Cuba’s medical curriculum as a national PENSUM used throughout the higher medical-education system. The program lasts six years: the first five years are organized into ten semesters, followed by one year of rotating internship.
Following the national curriculum, Villa Clara students study subjects such as health promotion, prevention, research methods, community medicine, genetics, psychology, microbiology, pharmacology, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, public health, and other clinical fields.
The university page states that the program prepares general physicians to provide comprehensive care to individuals, families, and communities through health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, research, and health-environment work.
5. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba
The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba is a public Cuban medical institution. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists it as currently operational, with medical instruction beginning in 1962, and notes that the institute has two medical faculties, Facultad No. 1 and Facultad No. 2.
The World Directory lists its Doctor en Medicina program as a six-year Spanish-language medical degree. As with other Cuban medical programs, applicants should verify the current admissions route and documentation requirements before applying.
6. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Ciego de Ávila
The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Ciego de Ávila is a public Cuban medical institution. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists it as currently operational and identifies its alternate names as Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Ciego de Ávila “Dr. José Assef Yara” and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Morón.
Its official Medicine page states that the medical program is based on Cuba’s national curriculum, lasts six years, and is organized into five years of academic semesters followed by one year of pre-professional practice or internship. It lists the entry requirement as pre-university education and an age range of 18 to 25.
The same page describes the study plan as 66 curricular units totaling 10,840 hours, including 2,784 internship hours, and notes that students must complete five internship rotations before taking the national state examination.
7. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo
The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo is a public Cuban medical institution. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists it as currently operational, with medical instruction beginning in 1982, and notes that it was previously affiliated with the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba.
The World Directory lists its Doctor en Medicina as a six-year Spanish-language medical degree that follows completion of secondary education.
The institution forms part of Cuba’s public medical-education system and trains health professionals in medicine and related health sciences.
8. Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Cienfuegos
The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos is a public Cuban medical institution. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists it as currently operational, with medical instruction beginning in 1979, and gives Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Cienfuegos “Raúl Dorticós Torrado” as an alternate name.
The World Directory lists its Doctor en Medicina program as a six-year Spanish-language medical degree, with admission following completion of secondary education.
As with other Cuban medical schools, students in the Medicine program complete a national curriculum that culminates in a pre-professional rotating internship.
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