Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to your application, please ensure that you submit the following documents to complete the application process:

• Transcripts: Official transcript(s) from each college/university or professional school you have attended. Student-issued copies may be acceptable temporarily, but official transcripts are ultimately required. 
• Personal Statement: Your personal statement should address the following points:
  • Your motivation for pursuing a career in medicine.
  • How you believe you can contribute to Saba University School of Medicine.  Any notable achievements, activities, personal interests, or unique aspects of your preparation to become a doctor.
  • Any additional information that you believe would assist the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application. We recommend limiting your personal statement to a maximum of 500 words. You can attach your personal statement to your online application. 
• Letters of recommendation: You are required to submit two letters of recommendation.

As English is the primary language of instruction at Saba, it is crucial for applicants to be academically prepared to engage with the curriculum and communicate effectively. If English is not the applicant’s first language, they may be asked to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or comparable examination.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Applicants can submit their MCAT exam scores through the online THx system as soon as they are available at the AAMC.

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis, meaning we accept applications throughout the year. To ensure a smooth enrollment process, we recommend that students submit their applications at least two months before the January, May, or September semester they intend to join. This time frame allows students to secure a spot in their desired semester. If an application is received after a class has reached its maximum capacity, it will be automatically considered for the next available semester.

After we receive your application and conduct a personal interview, it usually takes approximately two (2) weeks to process your complete application.

The purpose of the Video Interview is to be able to explore more thoroughly the applicant’s presentation of their credentials. The interview also enables the Institution to gauge more about the candidate’s personality and for the candidate to learn more about Saba. This is an opportunity for the candidate to advocate for their credentials and address any items within their application that the student would like to elaborate on. The interview lasts between 30 and 60 minutes.

Upon completion of the Video Interview, the interviewer compiles a synopsis of the interview and forwards it to the Admissions Committee for review. During the review, the Admissions Committee may ask for clarification or follow-up questions. In the event the Committee has additional questions, your interviewer will contact you. Upon final review of the application, the Committee renders their decision and the candidate is contacted via email by the Institution. You will be directed to your student portal within the application module where a formal decision letter will be located. Committee decisions are communicated to candidates within 10 business days of the initial interview. All committee decisions are final.

Upon being accepted into either the medical program, you will find all the information and required paperwork in your student portal. Please be sure to read all materials and note all requirements and deadlines. The first items that will be due are your signed Letter of Intent and your $750 non-refundable Seat Deposit. These items secure your seat in the class and serve as formal notification from the student that the offer of admission is accepted. There is no waiving of the Seat Deposit fee. This seat deposit will be applied to your tuition. Please note that failure to submit your Letter of Intent and Seat Deposit on time may result in the withdrawal of your acceptance. Please also review a complete listing of all conditional and enrollment documents needed as well as tuition deadline dates. Our Admissions office will assist in directing students through the immunization, FBI Background Check, and Visa process.

Since Saba is located outside of the United States and Canada, applicants cannot submit their application materials directly through AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS/OMSAS. Candidates may apply by submitting a PDF of their application directly to Saba University School of Medicine, please click here to upload your common application.

Saba University School of Medicine Admissions Committee takes a 360 view of the candidate. Each application is reviewed on its own merit. While GPA is important, the committee also considers life experience, MCAT scores, and volunteer experience.

Over the last 3 years from 2021 to 2023, Saba students averaged 99% USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate* and a 99% USMLE Step 2 CK first-time pass rate**.

*Based 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 academic years 2021 to 2023.

Our faculty is at the core of what makes the learning experience at Saba different than other medical schools. All faculty members at Saba hold an advanced medical degree or doctorate (MD, MBBS, PhD) in the field they teach, and are experienced teachers. To learn more about our faculty, click here.

A typical Basic Science class at Saba is 40-60 students. This makes it possible for Saba to offer close student-teacher interaction. This is substantially different from other medical schools, particularly other schools located in the Caribbean, that subject their students to large, impersonal classroom experiences.

Students at Saba dissect cadavers in Gross Anatomy. There are typically eight or fewer students assigned per cadaver.

Saba University School of Medicine has three semesters per year.

We have a Fall semester, culminating prior to the middle of December, a Spring semester that ends in mid-April, and a Summer Semester that ends in mid-August. There are approximately two to three weeks for students to have a break between semesters.

The total program consists of ten semesters. The first five semesters of Basic Science courses are taught on the island of Saba. Students then complete their clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the U.S. and Canada.

Saba University School of Medicine makes it possible for students to earn their degree in under 4 years, spending 20 months studying Basic Sciences on the campus in Saba, completing an 8-week research module, and returning to the U.S. or Canada for 72 weeks of clinical rotations. Saba has affiliations with ACGME-approved teaching hospitals in the U.S. (and their equivalent in Canada)—more than enough to ensure timely placement for our students.

To learn more about our curriculum, click here.

For the four-year period from 2020-2024, Saba graduates had a 97% residency placement rate*.

*97% Four Year Residency Placement Rate is the percent 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.

Yes. Saba has placed more graduates in Canadian residency programs than any other Caribbean medical school. 

Saba graduates are eligible to practice medicine in the United States once they pass the requisite licensing examinations. More than one thousand of our graduates are licensed and practicing in the United States.

We accept students from other medical school programs. Transfer students undergo the same admissions process as first-time applicants, in that they must submit a complete application packet to ensure a timely review. Acceptance of transfer credits is at the discretion of the University. 

Saba University School of Medicine is committed to providing facilities that support efficient, effective learning. We offer a modern anatomy lab and a full complement of well-equipped classrooms and auditoriums with the latest multimedia technologies. The entire campus is wireless. First-semester students live in comfortable dorms adjacent to campus.

Saba students complete their core clinical rotations at U.S.-based, ACGME-approved teaching hospitals (and their equivalent in Canada) affiliated with Saba University School of Medicine. 

To learn more about Saba’s clinical rotations, click here.

You can find our tuition & fees schedule here.

Yes, Saba has been approved to participate in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford and Grad PLUS Loan programs, which are both administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Saba University School of Medicine is also approved by the Canadian Ministry of Education entitling most students to receive Canadian Federal and Provincial Loans.

Saba offers various scholarships to students, including Academic Merit Scholarships, the Canadian Citizen Grant, and the International Student Scholarship. Learn more.

Saba University School of Medicine accepts payment for tuition and fees in U.S. dollars via wire, money order, or personal checks.

Saba University School of Medicine is located on the Caribbean island of Saba, in the northeastern Caribbean Sea.

The first twenty months of our medical sciences curriculum are completed on our campus on the island of Saba. Following that, you will spend 72 weeks completing clinical rotations at our affiliated clinical sites in the United States or Canada. 

Yes, you can typically bring your family or a companion with you to Saba while studying at Saba University School of Medicine.

While many of our students are residents of the United States, Saba University School of Medicine takes pride in having a highly diverse student population. Approximately 35% of our students come from Canada, and nearly 10% are from outside North America. 

The island of Saba is convenient to get to—it is 28 miles south of St. Maarten, which is a major point of entry to the Caribbean and is served by direct flights from numerous locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. From St. Maarten, Saba is a 15-minute flight or a 90-minute ferry ride.

The Saba campus is a short ride from either the airport or the ferry.

Many things about Saba, the island, make Saba an extremely desirable place to attend medical school. Saba is a beautiful country—its nickname is the “Unspoiled Queen”—and it’s also extremely safe. Discriminating tourists have long sought out Saba for its diving, restaurants, charming inns, and stunning Caribbean vistas.

Housing and living costs at Saba are significantly lower than you will find at other schools with comparable recognition. Local grocery stores stock food items to meet the full range of dietary needs. The school enjoys good relations with the local population.

Because Saba is small and off the well-worn tourist track, it lacks many of the distractions that can interfere with studying. Still, when not studying, there is always plenty to do, from hiking to deep-sea diving. There is also an on-campus fitness center.

To learn more about life on Saba, click here.

The island of Saba has a well-developed communications infrastructure with landline, cell phone, Internet, and island-wide wi-fi service. To communicate back home, many students take advantage of Internet-based services such as Vonage or Skype.

There are a wide range of housing options for students at Saba.

To ease your transition, unaccompanied first-semester students live in dorms adjacent to the campus, built exclusively for our students. Dorms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

After the first semester, students live off campus—and there are a wide range of options. Housing costs at Saba are significantly less than at other schools with comparable recognition. On average, fully furnished housing prices start at around $675 for a studio/one-bedroom apartment and go up to $1,200–$1,800 for a 3-4 bedroom house. All properties are privately owned, and therefore the price of rentals and utilities varies. Electricity is generally a separate cost.

Click on Housing for more information.

The Saba Housing Coordinator will assist you in finding off-campus housing:

Housing Coordinator

Telephone: 011-599-416-3456
Fax: 011-599-416-3458
Email: housing@saba.edu