Medical School Requirements & Prerequisites

Medical School Requirements & Prerequisites

Using a comprehensive approach to the selection of students for admission, Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) seeks to identify those students who have the potential for success both in medical school and as physicians. If you have a compelling interest in medicine, a commitment to serving others and a strong work ethic, we welcome you to apply.

Applicants from the United States (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) or Canada are expected to have a minimum of three years of undergraduate studies, or the equivalent of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours from an accredited college or university. Note that preference will be given to applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Prerequisite Courses

  • 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.*
  • English: One year of college-level English literature or composition. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in writing, reading and oral communication.

    * An applicant may substitute ½ year of Biochemistry for ½ year of Organic Chemistry.

Exceptions and substitutions to prerequisite courses will be considered on an individual basis.

Are you missing any prerequisite courses? Please consider the 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. The program is delivered through Medical University of the Americas (MUA), our fellow GUS Medical and Veterinary Schools institution. Participants who successfully complete this 8-month program receive an MSc in Biological Science from MUA and become eligible to apply for acceptance to the Saba University School of Medicine 4-Year MD Program.

Required Application Support Documents

After submitting your application, you must upload the following documentation as it becomes available. As part of the application process, you will also need to complete an admissions interview, either in-person or via video-call.

  • MCAT scores
  • 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 acquaintance and the other is academic related.

MCAT (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 students are not required to submit MCAT scores, although it is recommended to still do so.

More information about the MCAT is available at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. Applicants can send SUSOM their MCAT exam scores through the AAMC’s online THx system as soon as they are available to the AAMC.

English Proficiency

Since English is the language of instruction at SUSOM, 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). These requirements are not applicable for all prospective students.

Patient Care Experience

Applicants are encouraged to have 50 hours or more of direct patient care experience. This experience can come from volunteering in a hospital setting, shadowing physicians, working as an EMT, etc.

Transfer Applicants

Please contact the Admissions Office before submitting an application for transfer. Students with unsatisfactory records or dismissal for any reason from other medical schools are not considered for transfer. Saba University School of Medicine does not offer advanced standing credit for coursework completed through a distance learning program or for courses taken in graduate or other professional degree programs.

Technical Standards

A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Medicine must have abilities and skills in the five broad areas of observation, communication, motor function, intellectual-conceptual, and behavioral and social. Learn more here.

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