Medical schools in the Caribbean can be an alternative to studying medicine in the United States or Canada, either for citizens of those countries or for other international students. Many Caribbean medical schools use a U.S.-style Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum, but admissions requirements vary by school. The MCAT is often required for U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or U.S. nationals, while requirements for Canadian and other international applicants may differ. Clinical rotations may be available through affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or other locations, depending on the university.
Tuition, accreditation, licensing pathways, residency outcomes, and clinical placement options vary widely, so students should always check each school’s current admissions, accreditation, and fees pages before applying. The list below highlights well-known Caribbean medical schools offering MD programs.
Top Medical Schools in the Caribbean
1. St George’s University Grenada
St. George’s University in Grenada offers a Doctor of Medicine program through its School of Medicine and is one of the best-known Caribbean medical schools for students pursuing a U.S.-style medical education.
SGU offers a four-year MD program for applicants who already meet the academic entry requirements, as well as five-, six-, and seven-year MD pathways for students entering with different academic backgrounds. U.S. applicants must submit MCAT scores; Canadian applicants may submit MCAT scores if they have taken or plan to take the exam, and applicants from outside North America are not required to submit MCAT scores. The MD curriculum includes basic sciences followed by clinical training, with clinical studies available at SGU-affiliated hospitals and clinics in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Grenada.
2. Saba University School of Medicine
If you’re looking to study in a quiet Caribbean setting where you can focus on your medicine degree, Saba University School of Medicine may be a strong option. Saba is a small island in the Dutch Caribbean near St. Maarten and is known for its peaceful environment and natural scenery.
Saba University School of Medicine was founded in 1992 and offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine program. The curriculum includes five semesters of Basic Science on Saba followed by five semesters of Clinical Medicine, with rotation opportunities in the United States.
Admission requirements vary depending on your country of origin. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents are required to submit MCAT scores, while other applicants should check the current admissions requirements for their region. Applicants also need to demonstrate English proficiency when required.
After graduation, Saba MD graduates may pursue residency and medical licensure pathways in the United States, Canada, and other jurisdictions, provided they meet the relevant licensing, examination, and residency requirements.
3. Ross University School of Medicine
Ross University School of Medicine is a private medical school with its medical sciences campus in Barbados and admissions operations in Florida, United States. Students complete the medical sciences portion of the curriculum in Barbados before moving into clinical training.
The MD curriculum is divided into five semesters of medical sciences in Barbados followed by clinical rotations in the United States. Ross Med has affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States where eligible students complete clinical clerkships. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents must submit MCAT scores as part of the admissions process, while international applicants are not required to submit MCAT scores.
4. American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, part of Adtalem Global Education, has a medical sciences campus in Sint Maarten and also offers a Preston, United Kingdom, program option for eligible non-U.S. students. AUC’s MD program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine.
The standard MD program includes five semesters of Medical Sciences followed by clinical clerkships. Clinical training includes 80 weeks of patient care experience at AUC-affiliated hospitals, with clinical training options in the United States and the United Kingdom. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents must submit MCAT scores before an admissions interview; non-U.S. applicants are not required to submit MCAT scores.
5. St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine
Located in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, St. Matthew’s University has a School of Medicine and a School of Veterinary Medicine. Its medical school offers a Doctor of Medicine degree through a four-year, 10-semester program.
The MD program is divided into five semesters of Basic Science in Grand Cayman and five semesters of Clinical Medicine. During the clinical phase, students complete rotations at teaching hospitals, clinics, and medical centers in the United States, with select elective rotation opportunities in Canada. Students may also gain clinical exposure in Grand Cayman through local hospital connections.
St. Matthew’s lists Basic Science tuition at $18,202 per term, plus an administrative fee of $7,570 for terms 1–5. Clinical Medicine tuition is listed at $24,406 per term, plus an administrative fee of $5,794 for terms 6–10. Fees are listed in U.S. dollars and are subject to change.
6. American University of Antigua – Caribbean Medical School
American University of Antigua College of Medicine is based in Antigua and Barbuda. It is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions, and its graduates may pursue licensing pathways in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other jurisdictions after meeting the relevant examination and licensing requirements.
The MD program consists of Preclinical Sciences and Clinical Sciences. Students complete the preclinical portion in Antigua, including training in simulation and clinical skills environments. The Clinical Sciences portion includes 84 weeks of clerkships, primarily in the United States, with elective rotation opportunities also available in locations such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and India. MCAT scores are required for acceptance, and U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents must submit MCAT scores. Canadian and other non-U.S. applicants are not required to submit MCAT scores.
7. Trinity Medical Sciences University
Next on our list of Caribbean medical schools is Trinity Medical Sciences University. Trinity is based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where students complete the Caribbean-based portion of the MD curriculum. The university also has administrative operations in Georgia, United States.
Trinity’s four-year MD program follows a U.S.-style medical education model. Students begin with basic sciences in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then continue with a clinical transition term and clinical clerkships in the United States. Trinity also has a partnership with Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Kingstown, which provides early clinical exposure during the basic sciences phase. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and eligible permanent residents must submit MCAT scores; other applicants are encouraged to submit them.
8. University of Medicine and Health Sciences
The University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) is based in Basseterre, St. Kitts, and prepares students for medical careers in the United States, Canada, and beyond. UMHS describes itself as a “boutique medical school.”
The MD program follows a 10-semester curriculum that can be completed in about four years. The Basic Science program covers semesters 1 through 4 on the St. Kitts campus. In semester 5, students transition to the UMHS campus in Portland, Maine. Semesters 6 through 10 consist of clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada, including core and elective rotations. U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents must submit MCAT scores, while MCAT scores are recommended for other applicants.
9. Xavier University School of Medicine
Located in Aruba, Xavier University School of Medicine offers a Doctor of Medicine program and a pre-health pathway for students who need additional preparation before beginning the MD curriculum. The MD program is four years in duration. The first two years focus on basic sciences at the Aruba campus, while the final two years consist of supervised clinical clerkships at affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States.
Xavier University School of Medicine reviews applications holistically and does not require the MCAT for admission. Applications are accepted year-round, and students may start in January, May, or September.
10. Medical University of the Americas
Medical University of the Americas, located on Nevis in the West Indies, is a medical school that offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine program for students seeking medical careers in the United States, Canada, and internationally. MUA’s MD program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine.
The MD program runs over 10 semesters. The first five semesters cover Basic Science on the island of Nevis, and semesters 6 through 10 focus on Clinical Medicine rotations in North America. Clinical training includes core rotations in the United States and elective opportunities in the United States and Canada.
U.S. applicants are required to submit MCAT scores, along with official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. MUA also offers pre-medical pathways for students who need additional academic preparation before starting the MD program.
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