Atlantic University School of Medicine (AUSOM), Saint Lucia
Location: Saint Lucia, Caribbean
Premed total: $17,900
4-Year M.D. total: $82,850
6-Year M.D. total: $100,750
Time required for MD: 4 & 6 year programs
About Us
There are many reasons to choose Atlantic University School of Medicine for your medical education: the quality of education in a stress-free environment, our commitment to students, the dedication of our faculty, the affordability of a complete medical education, and the supportive academic community we’ve built.
We’ve always emphasized academic excellence and strong teaching, making us a top choice for students who want to become physicians. Our goal is to keep improving the medical education experience for every student, reflected in our fifth semester program conducted at a teaching hospital in the United States. Combined with our clinical program at teaching hospitals in the US and UK, this provides a strong learning environment for the next generation of physicians.
We recommend visiting each campus you’re considering before applying, sitting in on classes, and speaking with faculty and students. We’re proud to say we see a 99% enrollment rate among students who take this advice. When you’re ready to apply, take a close look at what AUSOM has to offer, and when you’ve made your decision, you can begin your application online in just a few simple steps.
Accreditations
The Ministry of Education, Government of Saint Lucia
Atlantic University School of Medicine was issued a Charter granting the right to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine, carrying eligibility for licensure for its graduates. The charter was signed by the Minister of Education and Culture for the Government of Saint Lucia, the Honourable Minister Arsene James, and ratified by the Cabinet of Ministers for Saint Lucia.
The World Health Organization
The Ministry of Education in Saint Lucia has requested that Atlantic University School of Medicine be listed with both the World Health Organization and the Avicenna Directory.
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Ministry of Education has notified the FAIMER International Medical Education Directory of the Charter and License granted to Atlantic University School of Medicine, and IMED has listed the University within its International Medical Education Directory.
Qualified students sponsored by Atlantic University School of Medicine are permitted to register for and complete the United States Medical Licensing Examination(s) required for ECFMG certification. Upon successful completion of the ECFMG examinations and certification, students are eligible to apply to the National Residency Match Program and enter postgraduate training in the United States.
The General Medical Council, United Kingdom
Upon successful completion of the four-year medical training program at Atlantic University School of Medicine, interested students are eligible to register for the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) examination, sponsored by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. Refer to the GMC website for detailed requirements.
Our Programs
AUSOM’s administrative team, made up of business executives, accomplished physicians, research scientists, and senior administrators, has worked collectively to develop the academic programs available through the School of Medicine.
Pre-Med Program
Students wishing to enter Atlantic University School of Medicine straight out of high school must complete a minimum of 90 semester credit hours to be eligible for residency and licensure in the United States. Premed requirements include one year (2 semesters) each of college-level English, college-level math, college-level Physics with lab, college-level Biology with lab, General (Inorganic) Chemistry with lab, and Organic Chemistry with lab.
Pre-Med curriculum: The Pre-Medical Program consists of courses specifically designed to prepare students for the rigorous academic work of medical school. Students who successfully complete the accelerated premed program are automatically enrolled in the 4-year MD program. Students can complete both the Premed and MD program either as a six-year MD program, or in an accelerated 4 years and 4 months. Students spend approximately two years in St. Lucia before returning to the United States to complete the fifth semester of the MD program at a US teaching hospital, followed by six semesters of clinical rotations.
Six-Year M.D. Program
High school graduates are welcome to explore the pre-medical program, which, upon successful completion, leads directly into the medical program. Our six-year MD program combines two years of pre-medical studies with our four-year MD program.
The administration has also designed a comprehensive basic medical science and clinical medical science program for qualified students. The basic medical science program covers all aspects of the medical sciences using modern educational techniques, current textbooks, audio and visual aids, and anatomical specimens for real-world understanding of the human body, alongside comprehensive theoretical study in areas such as physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. The fifth term is completed at a US affiliate teaching hospital, where students are instructed by hospital physicians and staff. Physical diagnosis is taught in real time with patients in a clinical setting, and residents help AUSOM students understand basic medical science as a stepping stone to clinical clerkship training, together forming a thorough and challenging educational experience.
The Department of Clinical Medicine provides all qualified students with clinical clerkship training. Each student rotates through accredited teaching hospitals in the US or UK. Since acceptance into some clinical programs requires successful completion of USMLE Step 1, the administrative team works closely with the basic science and clinical science teams to ensure continuity and up-to-date delivery of medical science information, giving each student the best opportunity to pass Step 1. Whether a clerkship is completed in the US or UK, the administration and the Dean of Clinical Medicine work to ensure that each student’s experience, education, and training meet the requirements for entry into graduate training programs in both countries.
Four-Year M.D. Program
Atlantic University School of Medicine offers a 4-year MD program for students who have completed a minimum of 90 semester credit hours of college-level study, including one year each of college-level English, Math, Biology with lab, General Chemistry with lab, Physics with lab, and Organic Chemistry with lab.
Students in this program spend four semesters (16 months) on campus in St. Lucia before completing the fifth semester at a teaching hospital in the United States, followed by six semesters of clinical clerkships.
Fifth semester (completed in the USA): The fifth semester at AUSOM bridges pre-clinical and clinical sciences, completed in the USA with one of our affiliate teaching hospitals. Courses are taught by US medical school and residency teaching faculty, with emphasis on anatomic and pathophysiological correlation to clinical signs and symptoms. Daily progress notes, diagnostic hypothesis generation, differential diagnosis, and appropriate lab test ordering are taught and critiqued by specialists in the relevant fields.
OSCE assessments are used as both an educational and evaluative tool, with competency-based learning objectives guiding students until they achieve competency in both didactic and clinical settings. By the end of the course, students are expected to begin six semesters of clinical rotations with comprehensive history-taking and physical examination skills across Medicine, Surgery, Ob/Gyn, and Pediatrics. Students who pass USMLE Step 1 go on to complete their clerkships at US teaching hospitals.
Clinical Rotations
Clinical terms include 48 weeks of clinical clerkships in core rotations, 12 weeks of additional required rotations, and 12 weeks of electives. Core rotations consist of 12 weeks each in Medicine and Surgery, and 6 weeks each in Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Psychiatry. Additional requirements include 8 weeks of a sub-internship and 6 weeks in family medicine. Each student schedules their elective program individually with the Dean of Clinical Medicine or a Director of Medical Education.
Externship Program
Our Externship Program is a non-degree program, specifically designed to benefit International/Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) seeking US clinical experience as a prerequisite for residency appointments, since many residency programs prefer FMGs with some US clinical experience.
This program benefits FMGs applying to US residency programs by providing meaningful clinical experience and an overview of the US healthcare system. Externs carry the same responsibilities as first-year residents and gain hands-on experience; this is a hands-on externship, not an observership.
Six-month program: Offers one clinical rotation of your choice, with Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics the most popular choices. Cost is $18,500 USD and does not include malpractice insurance. Living and travel expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.
Twelve-month program: Offers two clinical rotations of your choice, with Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics the most popular choices. Cost is $33,000 and does not include malpractice insurance. Living and travel expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.
Specialized clinical training: Offered to practicing physicians outside the US who wish to gain additional clinical training in specialized areas unavailable in their home countries. Contact the Office of the Externship Program for more information.
Prospective Students
The Administration, Faculty, and Staff of Atlantic University welcome your interest in our academic programs. Choosing a university is always exciting, and we hope these pages answer your questions and help guide your decision.
The School of Medicine gives students every opportunity to succeed in their education and career goals. With highly experienced faculty, small class sizes, affordable tuition, and a comfortable environment to live and study, the AUSOM team helps each student work through their decisions and reach their individual career goals. Our students come from fifteen different countries around the world, including India, Africa, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the US, the UK, and St. Lucia, and just over half of our student population is female.
Recognizing that every student has different goals in medicine, whether in clinical practice, research and publication, or teaching, AUSOM supports each student through a highly competitive didactic program followed by comprehensive clinical education. We aim for every graduate to leave with knowledge, skill, and qualifications that are competitive and respected across every area of medicine.
We invite you to explore the pages designed for prospective students, and to contact our admissions office with any questions about how our program may suit your needs. Prospective students are welcome to reach us by phone, email, or mail.
Interested students can apply in one of two ways: through our online application, followed by submission of supporting documentation by mail, or by downloading, printing, and completing an application to submit by mail along with all supporting documentation. Refer to our online or downloadable application for a detailed list of required documents. We look forward to working with each interested student.
Enrollment Information
Atlantic University School of Medicine (AUSOM) enrollment is open to all persons regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, or age who are prepared to devote the time and effort necessary to practice medicine. Our program provides a comprehensive basic science and clinical medicine education leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree.
AUSOM’s curriculum incorporates academic and clinical standards that parallel those of medical education licensing bodies in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. All classes are taught in English by experienced medical educators from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and abroad.
Candidates applying to AUSOM are expected to possess the intellectual, ethical, physical, and emotional capabilities required to complete the full curriculum and meet the competence levels set by the faculty. Once enrolled, each MD candidate must demonstrate the ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize information and data. AUSOM makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for physically challenged students, while maintaining the integrity of its curriculum and preserving the elements essential to acquiring knowledge across all areas of medicine, including demonstration of the basic skills required to practice medicine.
Acceptance to Atlantic University is granted on the presumption by the Admissions Committee that all statements made by the applicant, oral and written, are true, and that all documents are authentic. If false or inaccurate information is later discovered, the school may nullify the student’s acceptance or, if already enrolled, dismiss the student.
Applicants must provide official transcripts documenting the required pre-medical science coursework, completed at regionally accredited schools; all coursework is verified by the office of admissions. Refer to the admissions requirements for a detailed list of basic course requirements. Students transferring to AUSOM must provide the same documentation required of any new applicant, and all transfer students must have completed their prior education at accredited institutions.
Tuition & Fee Schedule
One-time fees:
- Application Fee: $90 (non-refundable)
- Deposit: $1,000 (applied toward tuition, non-refundable)
- Graduation Fee: $1,200
Program totals (excluding malpractice insurance):
- Premed total: $17,900
- 4-Year M.D. total: $80,400
- 6-Year M.D. total: $98,300
Breakdown by semester:
- PM1 to PM4: Tuition $3,300 + Student Services Fee $875 = $4,475 per semester (PM1-PM4 total: $17,900)
- MD1: Tuition $3,800 + Gross Dissection Fee $1,650 + Student Services Fee $875 = $6,325 total
- MD2 to MD4: Tuition $3,800 + Student Services Fee $875 = $4,675 per semester (MD2-MD4 total: $14,025)
- MD5: Tuition $7,900 + Student Services Fee $250 = $8,150 total, plus malpractice insurance
- CS1 to CS6: Tuition $8,400 + Student Services Fee $250 = $8,650 per semester (CS1-CS6 total: $51,900), plus malpractice insurance
Malpractice insurance is arranged through Atlantic University as a separate charge of $1,400 USD once per 3 trimesters of clinical rotations, or a single charge of $500 for MD5.
Want to Know More?
Weighing AUSOM’s 4-year and 6-year MD tracks, or curious about the externship option for foreign medical graduates? Visit our forum to hear from current and former AUSOM students about studying in St. Lucia and completing clinical rotations at US and UK teaching hospitals.
