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 · Tuition schedule freeze from Spring 2026* *Conditions apply - see website
*95% four-year residency placement rate is the percent of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 who were active applicants in the NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match. USMLE figure is the 2025 first-time pass rate.
Modern facilities, simulation labs, and an island that becomes your backyard for the first two years of your MD.
Discover our state-of-the-art facilities and experience what it's like to be part of the AUA community.
Experience AUA firsthand with a guided tour of our state-of-the-art facilities.
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Explore our simulation centers, lecture halls, library, and student resources.
Learn MoreYour 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 free housing during their pre-clinical term - 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 January 2027 term.
Start your transfer review →Our comprehensive medical program is designed to prepare students for successful careers in medicine through a structured three-phase approach.
A comprehensive premedical foundation emphasizing critical thinking. Not required if you already hold 90 college credits.
A U.S.-modeled curriculum: discipline-based fundamentals leading into integrated, organ-systems-based courses.
Core and elective rotations with direct patient care, learning from residents and attending physicians as part of a hospital team.
Students can opt to complete the 2-year pre-medical program in the AUA College of Arts and Sciences (AUACAS), Antigua. The curriculum provides a comprehensive approach to premedical training, emphasizing the development of critical thinking skills. The Pre-Med Program is not required if you have 90 credits for the College of Medicine.
Upon completion of the pre-med program, students transition into the pre-clinical sciences program in Antigua, which operates on a trimester-based academic calendar consisting of six 15-week terms. AUA uses a U.S.-modeled curriculum based on recent developments in U.S. medical education. Students first progress through a fundamentals phase focusing on the discipline-based sciences, which lay the groundwork for the subsequent organ-systems-based courses. This program is taught entirely at AUA's high-tech campus in Antigua.
Students then complete the Clinical Sciences curriculum at any of the AUA-affiliated teaching hospitals, where they interact directly with patients and learn from residents and attending physicians to care for these patients as part of a hospital team. Core and elective rotations are conducted at these affiliated teaching hospitals, most of which are affiliated with U.S. medical schools. Students can opt for 4–8 weeks of electives in the UK, Canada, or India. After completing clinicals, students officially graduate as doctors from American University of Antigua and begin applying for residency positions in the USA, UK, or Canada, depending on their preference.
Day-in-the-life reels from students studying, matching, and building white-coat memories.
AUA offers numerous opportunities to help students become successful physicians. Our Simulation Center is equipped with sophisticated training simulators for students and physicians, including SimMan 3G®, SimBaby™, Harvey®, and Noelle®.
A cardiopulmonary simulator, known as the gold standard of educational tools for first responders, physicians, and military personnel. It includes 25 different cardiac functions, including varying blood pressure, pulse, heart sounds, and murmurs.
A birthing simulator that provides the complete birthing experience from prenatal to birth. It provides students with the skills they need for OB/GYN clinical rotations.
A lifelike simulation tool used to help medical students learn to treat patients in dozens of clinical scenarios. SimMan includes a controllable open/closed airway passage, realistic breathing and pulse, bilateral chest tube insertion, and simulated hemorrhaging - he even sheds tears.
An advanced infant patient simulator used to help train students and physicians in infant care. SimBaby's lifelike anatomy includes realistic breathing, circulation, and vascular access points.
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.
AUA fosters an academically rigorous learning environment that emphasizes experiential education, critical thinking, and professional excellence in preparation for future clinical practice.
A modern 150,000 sq. ft. technologically advanced campus
Tech-enabled anatomy labs
Strong student communities & resource groups
Strong growing alumni network
Beautiful & serene island of Antigua
#MadeForMedicine
Small-group training rooms for team and case-based learning
24/7 multi-story library with 800 seats
Fully equipped Simulation Center with sophisticated training simulators
Diverse selection of comfortable on & off campus student housing
Connect with like-minded peers through AUA's student organizations
Recreational facilities for healthy work-life balance
Experience a positive and diverse campus community
Quiet study areas plus group rooms for collaboration
Homeroom Concept classrooms with a smaller student-to-facilitator ratio
#AUAProud #MadeForMedicine
Celebrate #GirlPower at AUA with a predominantly female student body
Give back to the community with AUA's volunteering opportunities
Affordable & upscale housing options with modern amenities & comforts of home
At AUA, student life is a vibrant and enriching experience, that offers a dynamic and supportive environment where students engage in diverse extracurricular activities, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie. Our facilities include athletic fields for soccer, basketball, beach volleyball, flag football, cricket, tennis and more.
Take a walk on Jabberwock Beach. This mile-long, white-sand beach provides respite from the challenge of your studies. A short walk from campus, Jabberwock Beach offers a secluded haven to study or play.
Explore the island of Antigua by taking part in countless activities such as snorkeling or seeing natural sights such as Shirley Heights or Half Moon Bay. Antigua is a playground of adventure and exploration.
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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 the January 2027 class, 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 January 2027 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 enrolls three classes per year. Applications are currently being accepted for the January 2027 (Winter) class. Qualified candidates are being interviewed daily.