A U.S.-modeled MD curriculum with clinical rotations in U.S. hospitals, federal loan eligibility, and a proven record of residency placement — answer a few questions to see if you qualify.
Federal loan eligible · Housing grants up to $4,167/trimester* · Tuition schedule freeze from Spring 2026* *Conditions apply — see website
Modern facilities, simulation labs, and an island that becomes your backyard for the first two years of your MD.
Your MCAT score band doesn't define you, and at AUA it doesn't decide your future: the MCAT is required for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, but AUA does not use the score to admit or deny any applicant.
Our admissions committee takes a 360° view of the candidate — your coursework, your trajectory, your letters, your interview, your resilience. Thousands of practicing physicians started with a medical school application that a score-cutoff system would have screened out.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for three flexible start dates each year.
U.S.-modeled curriculum, taught by faculty who know your name — not just your student ID.
Medical school tuition rises almost everywhere, almost every year. AUA's tuition schedule freeze means the class that starts now knows exactly what their MD will cost — with housing support and federal loans to make it manageable.
Tuition schedule is frozen effective Spring 2026. Current per-trimester rates: $20,335 pre-clinical sciences and $22,850 clinical sciences — no annual increases eroding your budget mid-program.
Qualifying students receive a housing grant of up to $4,167 per trimester — covering a substantial share of estimated housing costs while you study in Antigua.
The MD program is eligible for U.S. federal student loans, so eligible U.S. students can finance their education the same way they would at a U.S. medical school.
*Conditions apply — see auamed.org for full tuition schedule freeze and housing grant terms.
Already in medical school? AUA considers transfer applicants from other medical schools, with completed coursework evaluated individually for advanced standing — transfer applications are being reviewed for the September 2026 term.
Start your transfer review →Day-in-the-life reels from students studying, matching, and building white-coat memories.
Prestige at AUA comes from substance — our approvals, accreditations, and the success of our alumni.
At AUA, research is not an elective — it's woven into every year of your medical education. From foundational science to clinical rotations, our students engage with meaningful inquiry that shapes better physicians.
"Research literacy is not optional for the modern physician. It is the difference between practicing medicine and advancing it."
Dr. Juan Acuna serves as the Professor and Dean of Research at AUA College of Medicine, where he has championed the integration of research into every stage of medical training. With decades of experience in academic medicine, he has mentored hundreds of students through their first research publications and helped shape AUA's research infrastructure into one of the most robust in Caribbean medical education.
Students present alongside faculty and McMaster University researchers — sharing work, exchanging ideas, and building the regional research community from day one.
Capacity-building tracks in public health research, evidence-based clinical decision-making, and the Global Burden of Disease Study.
A dedicated research center connecting AUA students with internationally recognized leaders in public health, environmental health, and global health policy.
AUA is a U.S.-style MD program that happens to be located in Antigua. The difference is in the accreditation, the outcomes, and the support.
Accredited by CAAM-HP, recognized by the UK GMC, and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools — graduates are ECFMG-eligible and can pursue residency in all 50 U.S. states.
A 95% four-year residency placement rate and 4,000+ alumni practicing — including in competitive specialties like dermatology, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology.
Holistic admissions with no GPA minimum and no MCAT requirement, U.S. federal Direct Loans, and 18+ scholarships — for a diverse student body trained to serve where physicians are needed most.
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Join a community of 4,000+ physicians who started exactly where you are right now.
Searching for a medical school in Barbados (home of Ross University / RUSM), Nevis (Medical University of the Americas / MUA), Grenada (St. George's University / SGU), Sint Maarten (AUC), or Saba? Add Antigua to your list.
Schools describe their outcomes differently — "first-time residency attainment rate," "clinical home offer," "4-, 5-, or 6-year MD program" — so compare the same underlying numbers at every accredited Caribbean medical school you're considering.
Here's how American University of Antigua answers them.
| What to compare at any Caribbean medical school | AUA's answer |
|---|---|
| USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate | 91% (2025) |
| USMLE Step 2 CK pass rate | 93% (2025) |
| Residency placement (vs. "first-time residency attainment rate") | 95% four-year residency placement rate |
| Program length & start dates | Four-year MD program with three flexible start dates per year |
| ECFMG certification pathway for graduates | CAAM-HP accreditation supports graduates pursuing ECFMG certification for U.S. residency as International Medical Graduates |
| Physician graduates | 4,000+ |
| U.S. federal student loan eligibility | Yes — MD program is federal loan eligible |
| Accreditation & U.S. state approvals | CAAM-HP accredited; approved by NYSED; recognized by the Medical Board of California; licensed in Florida |
| Clinical rotations | Affiliated teaching hospitals across the United States |
| Cost predictability | Tuition schedule freeze from Spring 2026; housing grants up to $4,167/trimester (conditions apply — see website) |
AUA figures are self-reported by the university. When comparing schools, always verify each institution's published USMLE performance, attrition, and residency match data for the same years.
American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine is a Caribbean medical school offering a U.S.-modeled Doctor of Medicine program, accredited by CAAM-HP and approved by the New York State Education Department, with clinical rotations at affiliated U.S. teaching hospitals.
A complete medical school application to AUA requires a minimum of 90 college credit hours (a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended), official transcripts, a 1–2 page personal statement, two letters of recommendation (at least one from a science professor), a background check, and an admissions interview. Graduates of AUA's fast-track program or Manipal's BSc Health Science pathway qualify with 60 credits.
No — prerequisite coursework is recommended, not required. The recommended courses are General Biology I & II with labs, General Chemistry I & II with labs, Organic Chemistry I & II with labs, Physics with lab, English I, and Mathematics (calculus or statistics). You can still qualify without completing them.
The MCAT is required for U.S. citizens and permanent residents per Department of Education guidelines, but AUA does not consider the score when deciding to admit or deny an applicant. Scores are accepted up to seven years after the test date. International applicants are not required to take the MCAT.
At AUA, yes — no MCAT score band disqualifies you. AUA practices holistic admissions, taking a 360° view of the candidate: coursework, academic trajectory, letters of recommendation, and the interview all carry weight, and the MCAT score itself is not used in the admit-or-deny decision. It's a different starting point with the same MD destination — the same USMLE Steps, the same U.S. residency match.
AUA graduates enter U.S. residency as International Medical Graduates (IMGs) through ECFMG certification, which requires passing the USMLE Steps and graduating from a qualifying medical school. AUA's accreditation by CAAM-HP supports its graduates in pursuing ECFMG certification — AUA reports a 95% four-year residency placement rate and more than 4,000 physician graduates practicing today.
Yes — applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the four-year MD program offers three flexible start dates per year. Applications are currently being accepted for September 2026, with January 2027 as the following intake, and qualified candidates are interviewed daily. Applying earlier in the cycle means more seat availability and more time to arrange financing.
Yes — AUA is a fully accredited Caribbean medical school: accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Sciences (CAAM-HP), approved by the New York State Education Department, recognized by the Medical Board of California, and licensed by the Commission for Independent Education of the Florida Department of Education.
Yes — AUA's Doctor of Medicine program is eligible for U.S. federal loans. Qualifying students may also receive housing grants of up to $4,167 per trimester, and the tuition schedule is frozen effective Spring 2026. Conditions apply to the housing grant and tuition schedule freeze — see the AUA website for details.
AUA students achieved a 91% first-time USMLE Step 1 pass rate and a 93% Step 2 CK pass rate in 2025. The university reports a 95% four-year residency placement rate, with more than 4,000 physician graduates.
Tuition is $20,335 per trimester for pre-clinical sciences and $22,850 per trimester for clinical sciences, and AUA's tuition schedule is frozen effective Spring 2026 — so students who enroll now lock in current rates. Qualifying students also receive housing grants of up to $4,167 per trimester, and the MD program is eligible for U.S. federal student loans.
Yes — AUA considers transfer applicants from other medical schools. Completed coursework is evaluated individually for advanced-standing credit, and transfer applications are being reviewed for the September 2026 term. Submit the qualification form on this page and an admissions counselor will begin your credit evaluation.
AUA is one of the leading Caribbean medical schools and is frequently compared with St. George's University (SGU, in Grenada), Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM, in Barbados), Saba University School of Medicine (on Saba), and the Medical University of the Americas (MUA, in Nevis) — AUA's campus is in Antigua. When comparing programs, look at first-time USMLE pass rates, four-year residency placement, accreditation, U.S. clinical rotation networks, and federal loan eligibility. AUA reports a 91% first-time USMLE Step 1 pass rate (2025), a 93% Step 2 CK pass rate, a 95% four-year residency placement rate, CAAM-HP accreditation with New York, California, and Florida approvals, and U.S. federal loan eligibility — verify each school's published data for the same years when you compare.
AUA is hosting a free live admissions webinar on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT, featuring the admissions team, financial aid office, and current MD students, with live Q&A about the September 2026 class. Registration is exclusively for applicants who have taken the MCAT and received their score. Register through the Save My Seat link on this page.
AUA enrolls three classes per year. Applications are currently still being accepted for the September 2026 (Fall) class, with January 2027 (Winter) as the following intake. Qualified candidates are being interviewed daily.
