Medical University of the Americas Admissions Requirements
Find out more about medical school admission requirements, including key prerequisites and MCAT information.
Students and graduates of any accredited college or university in the world are invited to apply for the Medical University of the Americas (MUA) MD program or a pre-med program. In seeking to support the international healthcare system and advance the diversity of our student body, MUA considers a variety of scholastic experiences from around the globe. The Admissions Committee actively seeks individuals who are passionate about a career as a practicing physician and display a commitment to care.
Medical School Admissions Process
The MUA admissions team considers applications holistically and wants to know as much about you, the person, as they do about your academic outcomes and volunteer/work experience in healthcare. Take every opportunity to highlight why you would be a good fit at MUA, what personal abilities you possess that will help you succeed and why you are passionate about a career as a medical doctor.
MUA offers a 4-year Doctor of Medicine program and several pre-med programs for aspiring physicians. Please contact our admissions team if you’d like to know more about any of our offerings. Once you have selected a program of interest, the general application process will look like this:
- Gather required support documents
- Submit your application*
- Eligible candidates will undertake a video interview
- A decision will be tendered
Our admissions team will work closely with you to provide support throughout this process. They will also help successful candidates prepare for their program by providing housing, travel and visa application guidance.
*Please note you can apply via our portal or by submitting a verified copy of your AMCAS, OMSAS, AACOMAS or TMDSAS application via our common app form.
MUA MD Program Prerequisite Courses
As part of our medical school requirements, applicants for the 4-year MD degree program (10 semesters) should have completed the following undergraduate coursework:
- General Biology: One academic year with a laboratory component; applicants can substitute a biology-related course for ½ year of general biology. Students who pursue additional courses in the biological sciences should consider genetics, embryology, cell and molecular biology, or comparative anatomy.
- General Chemistry: One academic year with a laboratory component.
- Organic Chemistry: One academic year with a laboratory component.*
- *An applicant may substitute ½ year of Biochemistry for ½ year of Organic Chemistry.
- English: One year of college-level English literature or composition. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in writing, reading and oral communication.
Exceptions and substitutions of prerequisite courses will be considered on an individual basis.
Are you missing med school prerequisites? Please consider the 8-month Pre-Medical Master’s Program, which is an accelerated medical education program for career changers with an undergraduate-level degree and some foundational science coursework. Graduates earn a Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Science degree and become eligible for our 4-Year MD program.
Medical School Application Requirements
Required Application Support Documents
After submitting your application, you must upload the following documentation as soon as possible. Unofficial documents (e.g. transcripts) can be uploaded with the original application, and then replaced with official documents as they arrive. This helps accelerate the review process.
Eligible applicants will be required to complete an interview, either in-person or via video call.
- MCAT scores (required for U.S. students)
- Official transcript(s) from each college, university and/or professional school attended
- Two letters of recommendation*
- Personal statement (500 words or less)
*For recent graduates, it is highly recommended that at least one letter is from a professional supervisor/co-worker and the other be from an academic professor/instructor.
MCAT Requirements for U.S. Students
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Canadian and international applicants are encouraged to take the MCAT and submit their scores as well, although they are not required to do so.
More information about the MCAT is available at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. Applicants can send MUA their MCAT exam scores through the AAMC’s online THx system as soon as they are available to the AAMC.
English Language Requirements
Since English is the language of instruction at MUA, it is important that applicants be prepared to understand the curriculum and be able to communicate effectively.
Applicants whose principal language is not English may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other comparable examination.
Letters of Recommendation
Successful MUA applications must include two letters of recommendation.
For new graduates, one should be sourced from a professor or academic advisor, ideally from your pre-med courses, and the other should be from a medical work or volunteer supervisor/coworker. Experienced professionals who no longer have academic contacts may submit letters from two work-related contacts.
When selecting individuals to ask for a recommendation, choose those who know you well and can speak knowledgeably about your abilities, experiences and achievements.
Interested in Medical University of the Americas?
Contact our admissions team to ask questions and explore our programs.
Transfer Student Admissions
If you are currently attending medical school, but are looking for a better fit, consider applying for transfer admission to MUA. Our close-knit learning community provides individualized support, early hands-on training and extensive Support Services. No matter what you hope to achieve in medicine, we can help you get there!
MUA welcomes applications from qualified transfer students attending medical schools recognized in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Acceptance of transfer credits is at the discretion of MUA.
Technical Standards Requirements
A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) must have the ability to complete the entire program, achieve academic success and go on to practice medicine as a physician. This is why we look for candidates with demonstrated competency in the following five areas:
- Observation
- Communication
- Motor skills
- Intellectual-Conceptual
- Behavioural and Social
All successful candidates must be able to meet MUA’s technical standards, either without accommodation or with those limited, reasonable accommodations that the school agrees to make at its sole discretion.
Next Steps After Your Application
After you submit your application, be sure to continue uploading official documents as they arrive. An official offer cannot be tendered until all required support documents are received.
Our admissions team will be in contact with you if the application review committee has any questions or if any documentation is required before the process can continue.
If at any point during the application process a candidate is not selected to proceed, they will be notified as soon as possible. Our admissions team will then be available to provide support as applicants consider next steps or other program options.
Personal Interview for Applicants
After applying, eligible candidates will be informed if they have been selected for an interview. This involves meeting with a member of the admissions team, either in-person (if possible) or via video call. The interview will last for approximately 45-60 minutes.
Please come prepared to answer questions about your career goals, academic and work experience, interest in MUA, and more. It is also a good idea to prepare 3-4 questions of your own, to demonstrate your interest in medicine and the school. Our admissions team will be available before the interview to provide guidance and insights if you have any questions.
Contact admissions: admissions@mua.edu.
MUA Start Dates
Medical University of the Americas offers start dates in January, May and September, which provides more options and added flexibility as students plan their medical school journeys.
In addition, MUA operates on a rolling admissions cycle, meaning students can apply at any time throughout the year and begin with the next available cohort (if accepted).
FAQs About MUA Admissions
While an undergraduate degree is necessary to apply for the 4-year MD program, MUA also offers the pre-med 5-year BSc/MD program and 6-year BSc/MD program, which both help successful participants earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biomedical Science degree before progressing directly into the MD program.
After submitting your application, the admissions committee reviews your qualifications and decides if you’re eligible for an interview. After the interview, an official decision is provided in writing.
There is no minimum GPA to apply for the MUA MD program. We consider applications holistically and take into account more than just your academic performance. Your passion, experience and soft skills all impact your capacity to perform well in medical school.
MCAT scores are required for all citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States. All other applicants are encouraged to submit their MCAT scores, but are not required to do so.