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Studying Medicine in the Caribbean for U.S. Students
Aspiring medical doctors from the United States find academic and personal success at St. Matthew’s University.
St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (SMUSOM) educates and trains U.S. students who dream of becoming Doctors of Medicine.
If you are considering Caribbean institutions for your medical school journey, read on to explore how we can help you achieve your USMLE, residency and career practice goals.
Why Choose the Caribbean for Your Medical Studies?
Accessible Costs
At SMUSOM, we are committed to supporting future doctors by offering an expansive Caribbean medical school education that is financially accessible for students from across the United States.
We proudly offer a 4-Year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program that features cost-effective tuition and fees（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/tuition-and-fees）, and financial support is available for eligible U.S. students via St. Matthews University scholarships（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/scholarships） and federal financial aid（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/financial-aid）.
Admissions Cycle With Three Intakes Each Year
SMUSOM operates a rolling admissions cycle, with new incoming classes beginning three times per year, in January, May or September. This means you can apply at any time and enroll shortly thereafter. Future MD program（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/md-program） participants never have to wait long to begin their journey to medical school and residency success!
Importantly, applications are considered holistically, meaning we want to know as much about our applicants as individuals as we do about their academic achievements and medical experience. Highlighting personal passions, goals and motivations is a great way to have your personal statement and letters of recommendation stand out.
Personalized Support
At St. Matthew’s University, our dedicated faculty members and Student Support Services（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/student-support） work in concert to provide students with any academic and personal guidance they need to achieve their goals. From your first day at medical school in the Caribbean, through clinical rotations in the United States, our team will be invested and committed to your success.
U.S.-Style Curriculum with Instruction in English
Our MD program curriculum was created by faculty who were trained in the United States. It has been designed to foster success in USMLE examinations, on-site rotations, residency placements and clinical practice.
Delivered over 10 semesters, it features classroom and lab-based learning on our Basic Science campus (semesters 1-5), and Clinical Medicine rotation opportunities in the U.S. (semesters 6-10). Successful MD students take the USMLE Step 1 after Basic Science and the USMLE Step 2 CK after Clinical Medicine. Step 3 occurs during residency in the United States.
English is our language of instruction – future students must be prepared to understand faculty members and be able to communicate effectively. English is also the official language of the Cayman Islands and is widely used throughout Grand Cayman (our campus home). This is another appealing reason for U.S. students to study medicine in the Caribbean.
Interested in Learning More?
Contact our expert admissions team to ask any questions you may have and gain valuable guidance.
inquire today（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/why-stmatthews/study-medicine-in-caribbean-for-us-students#inquiretoday）
Why Choose St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine?
International Accreditation
SMUSOM is an accredited（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/why-stmatthews/accreditation-and-approvals） Caribbean medical school, with recognition by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM). The ACCM is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and WFME 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). St. Matthew’s University also holds key state approvals, and our students can undertake clerkships and pursue licensure in the United States.
USMLE Success Rates
St. Matthew’s University is dedicated to fostering MD student success on the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK. Exam preparation is an essential part of the curriculum and there are a variety of support services available to help our community members study effectively, manage exam challenges and more.
Notably, our MD program students have recently achieved 90% USMLE Step 1 1 and 97% Step 2 CK 2 first-time pass rates.
Residency Placement Outcomes
We know that earning your place in a U.S. residency program and going on to practice is the long-term goal. That’s why we are pleased to share that St. Matthew’s University MD program participants have achieved a 100% Three-Year Residency Placement Rate ! 1
Our residency placements（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/graduate-success/residency-match-day） are achieved at teaching hospitals and medical centers across the United States, and specialties range from Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine to competitive placements like Diagnostic Radiology and Otolaryngology.
Clinical Medicine Rotations in the U.S.
Over the second half of our 4-year MD program, successful students undertake five semesters of Clinical Medicine rotations at hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the United States (with elective options in Canada). This period features 42 weeks of core rotations and 30 weeks of elective rotations. Core rotations include:
Internal Medicine – 12 Weeks
Surgery – 12 Weeks
OB/GYN – 6 Weeks
Pediatrics – 6 Weeks
Psychiatry – 6 Weeks
Explore our partial list of affiliated hospitals（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/md-program/clinical-medicine） to learn where you may be able to experience your own rotations in the U.S.
100%
Three-Year Residency Placement Rate 1
90%
USMLE Step 1 First-Time Pass Rate Over Three Years 2
97%
USMLE Step 2 CK First-Time Pass Rate (2024) 3
ACCM
Accreditation
St. Matthew’s University Programs
Explore our Caribbean MD program and pre-medical programs for aspiring U.S. physicians.
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
2,300+ alumni have achieved success in our Caribbean MD program. Alumni practice in the U.S., Canada and internationally.
Four years (10 semesters) of full-time, in-person instruction and training.
Basic Science (semesters 1-5) on the island of Grand Cayman.
Clinical Medicine rotations (semesters 6-10) in the U.S. (core and electives) and Canada (select electives).
Program overview（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/md-program）
Pre-Med Master’s
Experience an accelerated medical education program for career changers with an undergraduate-level degree and some foundational science coursework.
8 months (2 semesters) of full-time studies, or part-time over a longer timeline.
In-person or online attendance options.
Delivered through Medical University of the Americas (our fellow GUS Med & Vet institution).
Program overview（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/pre-med-masters-program）
Gateway Medical
Prepare for the MD program with the Gateway Medical Program, a preparatory course for students who have received conditional MD program acceptance.
15 weeks of full-time studies.
In-person or online attendance options.
Delivered through Medical University of the Americas (our fellow GUS Med & Vet institution).
Program overview（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/gateway-medical-program）
SMUSOM Admissions Process for U.S Students
Submitting An Application
Future medical doctors from the United States are encouraged to explore our Caribbean medical school admissions process by exploring our application requirements（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/admissions-requirements）. Importantly, you can submit an incomplete SMUSOM application and then upload outstanding documentation (such as official transcripts) as it becomes available. This early submission option provides you with a decision sooner by accelerating the review process.
To further support your application efforts, you can either apply（https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply） through our portal or by simply submitting a verified copy of your AMCAS, AACOMAS or TMDSAS application via our common app form（https://r3edu.my.site.com/smumedcommonapp/s/）.*