
Pre-Med Pathway
Study at the University of Niagara Falls Canada and then begin our MD program while simultaneously completing your undergraduate HBSc degree.
Via the Pre-Med Pathway, University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) students in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (HBSc) degree program have the opportunity to enter the Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) MD Program after their third year of undergraduate studies (having successfully completed 90 credits).
Then, after a student successfully completes the first two semesters of our internationally accredited MD program, UNF will count the completed medical school coursework towards the final 30 credits remaining in their undergraduate program and award them their HBSc degree.
Excitingly, students proceeding to medical school via this unique pathway have the opportunity to save one year’s worth of undergraduate tuition, housing and living costs, and begin their career as a medical doctor one year sooner, which has significant long-term earnings and advancement benefits!

Join the extensive community of medical doctors from Canada who attended SUSOM!
1,200+ Canadian Graduates
UNF Pathway to SUSOM MD Program
After three years at UNF, pathway students transition to Saba University School of Medicine. Our 4-year MD program encompasses 10 semesters and features two years of classroom and lab-based learning on the island of Saba campus for Basic Science, followed by two years of Clinical Medicine rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the U.S. and select elective rotation sites in Canada.
The SUSOM MD program student journey is as follows:

Pathway Benefits
Save Time & Money
Skip an entire year of tuition, housing and living expenses as you proceed to medical school after just three years of undergraduate studies.
Scholarships
Pathway participants are eligible for up to $185K USD in grants and scholarships1, including the pathway specific $20K USD partner scholarship.
Beautiful Location
First study in Niagara Falls, one of Canada’s top tourism destinations, and then transition to the island of Saba, the perfect place to take full advantage of your medical education.
Multiple Start Dates
Students are able to begin the SUSOM MD program in January, May or September, giving you the opportunity to start when you’re completely ready to excel.
Individualized Student Support
Students entering our 4-Year Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program will experience an educational environment designed to help them succeed academically, personally and over the course of their future careers as practicing physicians.
We foster this environment by providing individualized support from our dedicated faculty members and administrative teams, providing resources to meet student needs. From your first day on campus through clinical rotations, SUSOM team members proudly provide the help you need to make the most of your MD program education.
Student Support Services include:
- Academic guidance via flexible and consistent office hours, faculty advisors, teaching assistants, The Learning Center and academic coaching.
- Student counseling in the form of both group activities and one-on-one sessions for assistance with anything hindering your optimal performance as a medical student.
- Career advising through the Road to Residency Program, Specialty Spotlight Series, residency application preparation and mock interviews.
- Personal support through the Stay Healthy at School Program, which offers mental health support, and a variety of wellness programming.

99% First-Time Pass Rates2
USMLE Step 1 and 2 Success

97% from 2020-20243
Residency Placements

7:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio

NVAO
Accreditation
Admissions Requirements
In order to successfully progress into our MD program along this pathway, students must:
- Meet all UNF program requirements
- Complete all pre-requisite courses
- Submit a completed SUSOM application
- Submit two letters of recommendation
- Submit a personal statement (Max. 500 words)
- Submit official UNF transcript(s)
- Successfully complete an admissions interview
In order to enter the Pre-Med Pathway, simply express your interest when applying to the UNF HBSc program via their application portal. You will then be contacted with more information, including pathway requirements and opportunities.
Career Opportunities
At SUSOM, we proudly empower the next generation of medical doctors. Our students achieved a 97% residency placement rate from 2020-20243 and go on to practice across the spectrum of medical specialties in the U.S., Canada and internationally.
To learn more about the residency success of our recent graduates, click here.
Check out this video testimonial from a SUSOM alum who is currently practicing medicine in Niagara Falls:
About Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM)
Founded in 1992 on the island of Saba, SUSOM has delivered rigorous medical education and training for 3,000+ MD program graduates. SUSOM physicians practice in the U.S., Canada and internationally.
The picturesque island of Saba provides an ideal educational environment, delivering peace and quiet for when it’s time to learn and enjoyable outdoor activities, such as tropical hiking and scuba-diving, for when it’s time to unwind.
SUSOM’s MD program accreditor, the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). SUSOM is the only medical school in the Caribbean to meet the rigorous standards of European accreditation. Our school also holds key state approvals in New York, California and Florida.

About University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF)

The University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) is an innovative and digitally oriented institution that prepares graduates for leadership in a digital world. This technology-centred approach puts students first, offering a cutting-edge learning framework that is adapted as technology changes and new processes emerge. Students learn from industry leaders and highly experienced faculty, gain experience through work-integrated learning components, and build a solid foundation that sets them on the right path for success in their careers.
Its downtown campus was designed with students in mind, equipped with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to help them thrive. As a popular tourist destination, Niagara Falls is able to offer big-city amenities while still maintaining its hometown charm. Its natural beauty, thriving arts and culture scene, and proximity to major economic hubs makes it a great place to live, study and work.
FAQs About the Pre-Med Pathway
This pathway allows aspiring physicians in the University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (HBSc) degree program to progress directly to the SUSOM MD program after successfully completing the first three years of their undergrad degree (90 credits). Then, after a student successfully completes the first two semesters of the MD program, UNF will count this coursework as also having completed the remaining 30 credits needed for the pathway student to earn their undergraduate degree. This saves Pre-Med Pathway students a year’s worth of time and money!
In the SUSOM MD program, the Clinical Medicine potion occurs during semesters 6-10. This is when students undertake rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and learning centers in the U.S., and select elective rotation sites in Canada. Learn more.
Yes, Saba University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). The standards set by NVAO have been acknowledged as comparable to those utilized in accrediting medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). SUSOM is the only medical school in the Caribbean to meet the rigorous standards of European accreditation.
From 2020-2024, SUSOM MD program students achieved a 97% Residency Placement Rate3. Learn more.
1Terms and conditions apply.
2Based on 2021-2023 data. 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 during the calendar years 2021 to 2023. | Based on 2021-2023 data. 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 between the calendar years 2021 to 2023.
3Four Year Residency Placement Rate is the percentage 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.