Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The MUA Basic Science campus is located on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. Nevis is part of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The first twenty months of our MD program curriculum are completed on our campus on the island of Nevis. Following that, you will spend 72 weeks completing clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals, clinics and medical centres in the United States, and at select elective rotation sites in Canada.

There are two primary options for travelling to the MUA Basic Science campus on Nevis.

Through St. Kitts: St. Kitts, Nevis’ sister island, is a popular Caribbean destination that can be reached by direct flights from Puerto Rico, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, New York and other major travel hubs. Once on St. Kitts, you can get to Nevis by air (Liat) or by taking the Sea Bridge ferry across The Narrows, which has regularly scheduled crossings throughout the day. Water taxis are also available.

Through Antigua or St. Maarten: Antigua and St. Maarten are both gateways to the Caribbean that are served by major air carriers. Once there, you can take a connecting flight to Nevis on Liat (Antigua) or Winair (St. Maarten).

Upon arrival on Nevis, the school is a short distance from either the airport or ferry. 

The MUA Housing Coordinator is available to assist with your travel plans. Please contact them as soon as possible when preparing for your journey.

Many things about Nevis make it an extremely desirable place to attend medical school. Nevis is a safe and beautiful location in the Caribbean, with wonderful beaches, historic inns and enjoyable restaurants. The school enjoys good relations with the local population and locals are very welcoming of medical students. When not studying, there is always plenty to do, from hiking to deep sea diving.

Yes, you can typically bring your family or a companion with you to Nevis while studying at MUA. If needed, contact the admissions team for support.

While the majority of our students are from the United States and Canada, MUA takes pride in having a diverse and welcoming student population. Students come to our Caribbean medical school from Africa, Europe, Asia and around the world.

Housing and living costs on Nevis are very reasonable. Local stores stock food items to meet the full range of dietary needs. 

View the MUA Housing Guide for standard costs of some common grocery and household items on Nevis.

MUA students living on Nevis have a range of rental options, ranging from single to multi-bedroom spaces. Many are walkable from campus, while others can be accessed with the school’s transport van that operates throughout the week. All properties are privately owned.

View the MUA Housing Guide to check out the various housing options and their associated rental prices.

Students at Medical University of the Americas dissect real human cadavers in Gross Anatomy. There are typically eight or fewer students assigned per cadaver.

Medical University of the Americas has three semesters per year. 

We have a Fall semester, culminating prior to the middle of December, a Spring semester that ends in mid-April and a Summer semester that ends in mid-August. There are approximately two to three weeks for students to have a break between semesters. 

The 4-year MD program consists of ten semesters. The first five semesters of Basic Science courses are taught on the island of Nevis. Students then complete their clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the U.S. (core and electives) and Canada (select electives).

The Medical University of the Americas student-to-faculty ratio in the MD program is 5:1. This makes it possible for MUA to offer personalized guidance and support for each student, which is substantially different from other medical schools that subject their students to large, impersonal classroom experiences.

MUA MD program students undertake clinical rotations at associated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the U.S. (including ACGME-approved locations), and at select elective rotation sites in Canada.

Yes, MUA graduates are eligible to enter a U.S. residency and eventually practice medicine in the United States, once they pass the requisite licensing examinations.

Yes, the MUA MD program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). 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).

The MUA MD program and pre-med programs are accredited by the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Education.

Learn more about our accreditation and approvals.

Yes, MUA offers four pre-med entry points into our MD program – the Pre-Medical Master’s, 5-year BSc/MD, 6-year BSc/MD and Gateway programs – which help people with different knowledge levels begin their medical school journeys. Learn more.

In our supportive academic environment, MUA students achieve strong USMLE results:

• 85% USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate in 2024.¹
• 96% USMLE Step 2 CK first-time pass rate in 2024.²

1. First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time in calendar year 2024. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 exam, the student must successfully complete the Basic Science curriculum and such other prerequisites as the school may establish at its discretion.

2. First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time in calendar year 2024. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 2 CK exam, the student must successfully complete the Clinical Medicine curriculum and such other prerequisites as the school may establish at its discretion.

The 4-year MUA MD program features five semesters of classroom and lab-based learning on our Nevis campus, followed by five semesters of clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the U.S., and select elective rotation sites in Canada.

Eligible students who hold a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree have the opportunity to apply for transfer admission to the MUA Doctor of Medicine (MD) program with advanced standing. Our expansive curriculum and support services prepare graduates to become practicing physicians in the U.S. and Canada. Successful students undertake North American clinical rotations and go on to achieve residency placements across a wide range of medical specialties.

You can find our tuition and fees information here.

Yes, eligible U.S. students enrolled in the 4-year MD program benefit from U.S. federal student aid availability from the Department of Education. Eligible Canadian students enrolled in the 4-year MD program benefit from provincial student loan opportunities, such as OSAP in Ontario. Learn more.

MUA offers numerous medical school scholarships to students, including U.S. and Canadian Academic Scholarships, and the Opportunity Grant. Learn more.

Medical school tuition and required fees can be paid via bank transfer or credit card. Learn more.

Yes, a signed Letter of Intent and $500 USD seat deposit must be submitted in order for accepted applicants to secure their seat. The deposit will then be applied against the first semester’s tuition total.

In addition to your application, which can be completed online, please ensure that you submit the following documents to complete the application process: 

Transcripts: Official transcript(s) from each college/university or professional school you have attended. Student-issued copies can be submitted along with your initial application, however official copies must be received before MUA can tender an offer of acceptance.

Personal Statement: Your personal statement should address the following points: 

• Your motivation for pursuing a career in medicine. 
• How you can contribute to MUA. Include any notable achievements, activities, personal interests or unique aspects of your preparation to become a medical doctor. 
• Any additional information that you believe would assist the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application. 
• Please limit your personal statement to a maximum of 500 words. You can include your personal statement with your online application. 

Letters of recommendation: You are required to submit two letters of recommendation. For new graduates, one should be sourced from a professor or academic advisor and the other should be from a supervisor/coworker. Experienced professionals may submit letters from two work-related contacts.

Since English is the language of instruction at MUA, it is important that applicants be prepared to understand the curriculum and are 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.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents. Applicants can submit their MCAT exam scores through the online THx system as soon as they are available at the AAMC.

All other applicants are encouraged to submit their scores as well, however there are no MCAT requirements for these groups.

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis, meaning we accept applications throughout the year. Applicants can apply at any time to begin in January, May or September. If an application is received after a class has reached its maximum capacity, it will be automatically considered for the next available semester.

After we receive your application and conduct a personal interview, it usually takes approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks to process your complete application.

Yes, we accept eligible students from other accredited medical school MD programs. Learn more.

No, there is no minimum GPA requirement in order to apply to Medical University of the Americas. We evaluate applications holistically and consider your passion for medicine, experiences and soft skills, along with your academic history.

There are two simple ways to submit an application for the MUA MD program. You can apply via our online portal or by submitting a verified copy of your AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS/OMSAS application via our common app.

There is no application fee at Medical University of the Americas. We are proud to increase the accessibility of our medical programs by removing this financial barrier.

During the interview, an applicant meets with a member of our admissions team for approximately 45-60 minutes, usually via an online video-call. During this time, the interviewer will ask questions about the applicant’s skills, credentials and passion for medicine. The interview also enables the candidate to learn more about MUA by asking their own questions.