Applying to medical school is an almost universally complex process, usually made more difficult by applying to an international medical school. Most of the time, students apply only to medical schools within their own countries. Looking abroad can be an appealing option if you hope one day to practice medicine in another country, or if you are having trouble getting accepted into medical schools at home. There are almost always additional requirements and burdens placed on international medical school applicants, however. Most international applicants must prove that they will be able to pay for their foreign education, that they will be able to legally reside in the medical school’s jurisdiction, and that they are fluent in the language in which classes will be taught, among other things.
The specific requirements for what a medical school application looks like depends very much on the school. Typically, application packets must include college transcripts showing a certain number of math and science classes; exam scores from a standardized, and usually jurisdiction-specific, medical college entrance exam; letters of reference; and personal essays. Many schools also require proof of citizenship or permanent resident status, particularly if the medical school receives any amount of public funding.
Students who seek to become a doctor abroad at an international medical school must usually first prove that they will be able to legally live and study in the host country. This typically involves the procurement of a student visa. Most schools also want proof that international applicants have the financial resources to pay for their medical education. Medical school can be quite expensive, and while most countries have financial aid programs for students, foreigners are generally barred from receiving any sort of aid packages. Finally, international medical schools usually want documented proof that an applicant is fluent in the primary language of instruction before they will consider the application.
Applicants interested in international medical schools would be wise to check with the schools in which they are interested about specific international student requirements well before the application deadline. Sitting for entrance and language exams, pulling together financial documentation, and procuring necessary visas can take months to complete. Different schools have different requirements, as well, which makes it imperative to have a defined application strategy.
It is typically also a good idea to speak with an admissions representative at any international medical school you are considering. An admissions representative will be able to tell you more about the school’s stance on international applicants, as well as whether any international students are currently enrolled. Depending on the school, you may be one of only two or three international students, which may be an important consideration.
Other medical schools are composed entirely of international students, and in many respects are designed to train students who were unable to gain admittance to schools in their own countries. The majority of these kinds of schools are in located in the Caribbean islands. A Caribbean medical school usually operates very much like a U.S. medical school, following the U.S. model and teaching courses in English.
Visa requirements to enter the Caribbean are relatively low for the citizens of most countries, and the climate can make the islands an attractive place to spend several years studying. Most Caribbean medical students intend to return to their home countries after graduation. Not all such medical schools are well-respected, however. It is generally thought in the medical community that Caribbean schools offer a lower-caliber education, and it can be difficult — or at least more challenging — for graduates of this kind of international medical school to find work or get licensed back in their home countries. Before applying to any international medical school, it is a very good idea to be sure that the degree will actually enable you to get where you want to go professionally.
