Frequently
Asked Questions

Currently there is no special program for students holding a PhD.

Unfortunately, most licensing boards in the United States do not allow advanced standing to be granted to allied health professions such as chiropractic medicine, podiatry and acupuncture. Students from these areas are welcome to apply for the basic sciences program.

Yes. However, each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In general, a student must be transferring from an accredited medical school. If you’re applying for a transfer to Saint James School of Medicine please include a copy of your current medical school’s curriculum to assist us in determining eligibility for transfer.

We do not require the MCAT. When we evaluate your application to Saint James School of Medicine we consider a number of factors; including your undergraduate GPA, your volunteer and/or work experience, your letters of recommendation, your personal essay, your interview and your motivations for studying medicine. We take a broad overview of our potential medical students’ abilities and motivations. This enables us to accurately determine those likely to succeed in medicine.

Generally, applicants with three years of college education are eligible to apply.

• Applicants from the United States require a bachelor’s degree or at least 90 credit hours of undergraduate education.
• Applicants from Canada require a bachelor’s degree or at least 90 credit hours of undergraduate education.

Yes. Provided you apply early and are accepted, you may reserve a place in a semester of your choice with a deposit of $1000. This amount is credited towards your tuition when you are enrolled.

You should have a decision within three weeks from receipt of your application.

You require the following documents:

• A completed application form
• Official transcripts documenting all coursework covered to date
• Two letters of recommendation
• A one page resumé
• A personal essay explaining your reasons for wanting to be a physician

Saint James School of Medicine accepts students into our MD Program three times a year, in January, May and September.

The Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) handles residency applications.

The National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) processes the majority of residency placements in the U.S. NRMP is a computerized matching program which matches medical students to available residency slots based on each student’s credentials and the requirements of residency programs.

Medical students may be granted several residency interviews. Final selection is made by the individual residency program directors.

There is a wealth of information on the internet concerning residency, the NRPM and ERAS. The following sites may help you learn more about the residency application procedure.

www.aamc.org/students/eras

www.nrmp.org

You should start planning for your residency in the third year of medical school. By then you will have narrowed down the areas of medicine in which you would like to apply for residency.

Mains electricity in St. Vincent is 220 volts. U.S. standard appliances (110 V) work with a transformer.

St. Vincent is only 18 miles long, so everything is in close proximity, and it’s easy to get around. Saint James School of Medicine runs a bus for students. We can pick you up near your accommodation in the morning and drop you home at night.

There are car rental agencies on St. Vincent and rentals cost approximately U.S. $50 a day. Taxis are plentiful and fares are reasonable for short trips. We recommend you negotiate your fare before you set off. The local bus service is regular, but it’s also busy, so it can be a bit overcrowded. You can rent a bike, or buy one for the duration of your stay, but you’d better like cycling up hills!

Please check with your health insurance provider to see whether they will cover you while out of the United States or Canada.

A round trip ticket costs between $400 and $800. This may vary according to season and availability.

We recommend you budget around $1,500 dollars a month to cover your costs, including rent.

Foreign medical graduates are monitored by the ECFMG in the U.S. and the MCC in Canada.

The examinations conducted by the USMLE and the MCCEE, respectively, are a very effective regulatory mechanism of the quality of medical training. No student will be allowed to practice in these countries unless these examinations are cleared.

The entire curriculum at Saint James School of Medicine and our problem-solving teaching methods are especially designed to prepare students to pass these licensing examinations. Any student who passes these tests meets the standards of the U.S. and Canada and is therefore eligible to compete for residency slots and internships in these countries. We are the first Caribbean medical school to provide a USMLE Step 1 Pass Guarantee.

1. Saint James School of Medicine has a historical residency attainment rate of over 75% (2007-2022), which means that over 75% of our graduates are currently licensed in either United States or Canada.

2. Please see our list of residents by clicking here.

3. As a top Caribbean Medical School with accreditation, the Saint James School of Medicine offers a top quality MD Program and an affordable alternative to American and Canadian medical schools.

Only students from an accredited medical school may be accepted for transfer. An opinion on whether a direct transfer into the clinical program is possible only after reviewing official transcripts from your current medical institution.

Students can be placed in several states across the U.S. for their clinical rotations. Please contact our offices for up to date information regarding which states currently have available rotations.

No. Saint James School of Medicine is responsible for setting up all of your rotations. However, if you would like to do a rotation in a particular hospital where you know a physician who might be interested in working with you, you may inform the Office of the Dean of Clinical Affairs, and they will work with you to arrange your request.

The program runs for five semesters (80 weeks). This includes 48 weeks of core clinical rotations and 48 weeks of elective clinical rotations. The clinical sciences page has more details.

Students can have the option of taking a lighter course load.

The Basic Science courses have been designed with the USMLE in mind, particularly the USMLE Step 1. Most students take the USMLE Step 1 within the first four months of completing the Basic Sciences program. The USMLE Step 2 is a clinically oriented exam and is usually taken towards the middle or end of the Clinical Sciences program.

We want to make sure you have the best chance for success in Saint James Medical School. Find out about our USMLE Step 1 Pass Guarantee..

Each semester runs for 16 weeks (four months) with 10-14 days of vacation between semesters.

The Saint James MD Program lasts ten semesters. This includes five semesters of Basic Sciences taught at our Caribbean medical campus and five semesters of Clinical Sciences, comprising clinical rotations completed in affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities in the United States.

The MD Program can be completed in as little as three years and four months if breaks are restricted to 8-10 weeks for the entire duration of the program. Most students complete the MD Program in four years.

The USMLE Step 1 is taken by students within four months of completing the Basic Sciences program. Step 2 is taken towards the end of the clinical rotation program.

We want to make sure you have the best chance for success in Saint James Medical School. Find out about our USMLE Step 1 Pass Guarantee..

Yes. The ECFMG, which is the regulatory body for all foreign medical graduates, has granted students of Saint James School of Medicine eligibility to take the USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3.