Basic Science

MUA has an integrated, systems-based curriculum that parallels the training you would receive at a top U.S. or Canadian medical school

MUA has an integrated, systems-based curriculum that parallels the training you would receive at a top U.S. medical school. This curriculum, in collaboration with our excellent faculty (all of whom have either an MD or a PhD in the field they teach), small class sizes and a focused emphasis on preparing you for Step 1 of the USMLE, will set you on the best course possible to becoming a doctor.

Key facts

Location: Located on the beautiful island of Nevis, MUA’s 10-acre basic science campus boasts modern classrooms, fully equipped laboratories, an extensive library and a nearby island hospital offering students early clinical experience.
The Curriculum: The curriculum is designed with your success in mind, emphasizing small class sizes and personalized instruction.
Residency Success: Three Years of Competitive Excellence with 98% Average Residency Attainment 2020-2024*.
Tuition for Students Entering on or after January 2024: Basic Science per semester tuition is $14,450 and Clinical Medicine is $21,506 per semester.
Class Size: Our Basic Science students benefit from a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, allowing one-to-one instruction.

*98% Four Year Residency Placement Rate is the percent of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 who were active applicants in the NRMP match or attained a residency outside the NRMP match.

Grail Sisters

Two sisters graduate from MUA and had an amazing experience. Hear about their experiences and why they chose medical school.

Ronald Russo

Discover how Ronald found his passion from a young age for medicine and join him on his journey as he found MUA and really furthered his passion.

Lavaniya Sreetharan

Hear from Lavaniya as she talks about her experience of MUA. Hear first hand how she believes MUA gave her an upper edge against the competition.

Jennifer Ingersoll

Jennifer now has a residency at Vidant Medical Centre in Greenville. Hear her experience of studying with MUA and why she chose to study in the Caribbean.

A Day in the Life of a MUA Student

Camellia Srikanthan’s dream was to become a physician, follow along, and see what a typical day is like in medical school.

Curriculum and Academic Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

USMLE Step 1 Exam Preparation

Preparation for the USMLE Step 1 exam is an important part of the Medical University of the Americas Basic Sciences curriculum.

The USMLE Step 1 exam is widely considered one of the most difficult of all professional licensing evaluations, comprising about 350 multiple-choice questions in seven one-hour test blocks.

MUA provides extensive preparation in the fifth semester course “Foundations of Clinical Medicine.” At the beginning of this course, you are given a diagnostic pretest to help identify problem areas and individualize learning goals. At the end of the course, you are administered a full-length simulated comprehensive exam. This exam takes place in a state-of-the-art test center on the MUA campus that was specifically designed to simulate the conditions under which you will take the USMLE Step 1 Exam.

In short, MUA is committed to doing everything possible to help ensure your success on this all important exam.

Learning Facilities

Throughout its campus, Medical University of the Americas makes effective use of high-tech classrooms and hands-on laboratories with the latest multimedia instructional technology.

Campus Facilities

A modern Gross Anatomy laboratory with cadavers
Nine additional laboratories and learning areas
Classrooms and lecture halls equipped with the latest multimedia learning systems
A fully equipped Clinical Skills Training Center
A fully equipped test center for simulating the actual test conditions of the USMLE Step 1 Exam
A fully equipped Medical Library with thousands of titles, print-journals, online journals and more
Broadband wireless internet connectivity is available throughout the campus

MUA continually invests in its campus and is committed to implementing the latest instructional technologies and information systems. Recent years have seen significant campus expansion, including new buildings and the addition of faculty and administrative resources.

Research: Literature Review and Analysis

A unique and integral part of the MUA curriculum is our “Research: Literature Review and Analysis” module. Its purpose is to further develop students’ abilities to evaluate and assimilate scientific evidence and to reinforce the skills required to critically appraise the ever-changing body of medical knowledge.

Consistent with the university’s goals and objectives, these skills are essential to modern practicing physicians who will have to continuously improve their medical knowledge and clinical skills over the course of their careers.

In addition, MUA students find that gaining formal research skills during their medical school studies helps distinguish them from other applicants when they enter the residency match program.

During the research module, students are expected to apply the knowledge and understanding from their Basic Sciences courses to analyze a current and complex medical care question, using evidence from published medical literature. As part of this course, students are required to develop a hypothesis based on the research questions, critically analyze the literature, and write a paper that is evaluated by a faculty committee.

While working independently, students will interact on a regular basis with a faculty research mentor who provides oversight throughout the project, including selection of an appropriate topic, identification of relevant literature, formulating conclusions, and the preparation of a final paper. The mentor will also review the written paper to ensure that it meets university standards prior to submission to the faculty committee for review.

Recent Research Projects Undertaken Have Included:

The effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in treating Parkinson’s related depression
Glycemic control for treatment of type 2 diabetes
Diagnosis of H. pylori infections leading to peptic ulcers
The relationship between long-term cellphone use and brain tumors
Resident fatigue and its impact on quality of care
Surgical treatments of patients with early prostate cancer