Admissions FAQ

Due to the number of applicants received, UHSA has reinstated the 50 USD application fee to give students a fair chance of being reviewed in a timely manner.

Applications are evaluated weekly.

An MCAT score is not required for 2023-2024 applicants. Applicants who have already taken and received scores for the MCAT are encouraged to submit them.

UHSA filed for accreditation by The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). A site visit is pending, which we anticipate will be in 2023. Since 1983, UHSA has been listed in the Avicenna Directory of Medical Schools, formerly the World Health Organization (WHO).

UHSA is:

  • Recognized by The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
  • Listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED)
  • Listed in Avicenna Directory of Medical Schools (Formerly, World Health Organization)
  • Recognized by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
  • Recognized by the General Medical Council (GMC)
  • Recognized by the Antigua & Barbuda National Accreditation Board (ABNAB)

The LCME only accredits medical schools in the United States and Canada, not international institutions.

You will be awarded a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

The MD program at UHSA is a 4-year program. The first six terms of the program are dedicated to completing the Basic Sciences, followed by a Review of the Basic Sciences.
The final four terms of the program are spent completing the Clinical Sciences at our affiliate teaching hospitals. Our MD program is based on the curriculum standards of US medical schools by fully integrating the basic sciences and clinical sciences throughout the entire MD program.

Designed for high school graduates, the two-year 96-credit-hour Premedical Sciences Program offers students direct entry into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program upon completing the four premedical academic terms.

For the Medical Doctor Program, you will be in Antigua for the first two years, completing the Basic Sciences portion of the program.
For the Premedical Sciences Program, you will be in Antigua for two years.
Yes. Students are exposed to cadavers during the curriculum.
Core and elective rotations are conducted at UHSA’s affiliated teaching hospitals. Please visit the Hospital Affiliations webpage for an updated list.

After passing the USMLE Step 1, students will be assigned a clinical coordinator to develop a clinical rotation schedule and guide them through their clinical clerkships.

Yes. Once you successfully pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination requirements, you will have the opportunity to apply for residency in the United States.
You should check with the State Medical Board of the state where you would like to practice medicine for their specific medical licensure requirements.

Students wishing to practice in Canada must sit for the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE). The MCCEE is a four-hour, computer-based examination offered in English and French at more than 500 centers in 80 countries worldwide.

International medical students in their final clinical year must take the MCCEE as a prerequisite for eligibility for the MCC Qualifying Examinations.

Your MD degree is recognized globally. However, it is your responsibility to check with the Medical Board of the country where you wish to practice medicine for their specific requirements regarding medical licensure.
Yes. Visit the Transferring to UHSA for more information.

No. Students who were previously dismissed will need to start the medical program as new students.

Yes. Individuals with a B.S. degree in other disciplines but lacking science requirements may be considered for the M.D. program, however, the necessary prerequisites would need to be completed for admission.
Experience in the healthcare field, definitely will be considered. However you would still be expected to have all the prerequisites as well as the required competitive grades.
UHSA can only accept as transfer credits, courses earned at another medical school listed in IMED. The ECFMG does not recognize credits awarded at a DC, DPM or DDS School and therefore will not grant certification to graduates who have not obtained all of their Basic Sciences credits at an IMED listed medical school.

Program Requirements

Yes. Books are included in the tuition and fees.
Yes. Many of our graduates who completed our medical programs have passed the United States Licensing Examinations (USMLE) and consequently have been accepted into residency positions as well as practicing in the United States.
Once completing the Review of the Basic Sciences, students are required to complete the Review of the Basic Sciences. Students are then required to take the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and pass with satisfactory results. Upon successful completion, you will be granted the opportunity to take United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step I.
Yes. During visitations to Hospitals, Clinics, and Classrooms, as well as during the Laboratory periods, medical students must wear their scrubs (burgundy) or white lab coats. Students are expected to bring scrubs, but a limited number of scrubs will be available for purchase in Antigua.