St. Matthew’s Frequently Asked Questions

St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine is situated on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, located in the Caribbean. 

The first two years of our medical sciences curriculum are completed on our campus in Grand Cayman. Following that, you will spend two years completing clinicals at our affiliated clinical sites in the United States and Canada. 

Incoming students are expected to arrive on the island approximately one week prior to the start of classes. During this week, you will complete the necessary check-in procedures for your classes, explore your new home and participate in an orientation program where you will have the opportunity to meet your classmates, faculty, and staff and other members of our community.

Many family members and companions choose to accompany their loved ones to the Cayman Islands. Children of various ages, from infants to late adolescents, are welcome. The Cayman Islands can issue a visa that allows companions to work and reside there. There is a range of housing options available for couples and families, both in close proximity to the campus and centrally located in Georgetown. 

Grand Cayman boasts some of the best primary school options in the Caribbean. For further information regarding primary schools, contact the Cayman Island Ministry of Education.

Bringing pets to the Cayman Islands is permitted. However, you will need an import permit, or a valid animal passport issued by the Department of Agriculture, along with an official health certificate issued by a government-employed or accredited veterinary inspector in the country of origin, for the importation of dogs and cats. Since Grand Cayman is a rabies-free area, all pets must have proof of regular vaccination and a demonstrated rabies titer.

New students are assigned to either of our two student residencies, Residence Hall or Residence Suites. New students arriving on the island live in a Residence Hall for at least one semester, and frequently stay as many semesters as they like. This arrangement makes your arrival and transition to living in another country smooth and comfortable. Single and double rooms are available.

The housing market on Grand Cayman is strong and presents many opportunities for student tenants to find homes.

Most rental units come furnished (i.e., stocked with standard hard and soft furnishings, such as beds, tables, appliances, couches, window dressings, etc.) or fully furnished (i.e., everything but your own clothes and personal belongings is included).

Off-campus housing advice and support is available to all St. Matthew’s University students. The Office of Student Services provides all prospective and enrolled students with 24-hour 7-days-a-week access to an online housing service that they can use to help find the perfect home. Off-campus housing resource lists are also available for students who want to search the rental market on their own.

The Associate Dean of Student Affairs works closely with the Dean of Basic Sciences as well as with all faculty to provide support to students experiencing academic and/or personal difficulties.

Short-term counseling, crisis counseling and general counseling relating to academic difficulties are available. If longer-term counseling and support is required, referrals can be made to professionals in the community. Academic counseling, including test-taking skills, time management skills and study skills are available through the Center for Learning Enhancement.

St. Matthew’s 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 which ends in mid-August. There are approximately two to three weeks for students to have a break between semesters.

The program consists of ten semesters. The first five semesters of Basic Science courses are taught on the island of Grand Cayman. Medical students then complete their clinical rotations at one of more than 100 affiliated hospitals in the U.S., Canada, or United Kingdom.

While the majority of our students are residents of the United States, St. Matthew’s University takes pride in having a highly diverse student population. Approximately 10% of our students come from Canada, and nearly 5% are from Europe. SMUSOM has graduates from more than 40 countries.

Our students’ USMLE pass rates are comparable to the pass rates of students from U.S. medical schools and significantly above the average level of students from other non-U.S. schools. From 2018-2022, St. Matthews University has achieved a First-Time Pass Rates average of 92% and 94% for USMLE Step 1 and 2 respectively¹.

¹ For first-time test takers over the last 5 years.  First-time pass rate is the number of students passing the USMLE Step Exam on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking the exam for the first time. 

Yes. St. Matthew’s University is authorized by the National Board of Medical Examiners to provide students with both subject specific and comprehensive shelf examinations.

To ensure individual attention, the ratio of students to full-time faculty is six to one, allowing for a high level of support and attention. 

Graduates of St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine have obtained clinical placements throughout the United States and Canada.

School officials work closely with students to place them into a clinical program at one of their U.S. or Canadian affiliate schools prior to your clinical practice. 

We have had numerous graduates obtain residency in Canada. For additional information regarding residency and clerkship placements in Canada, please contact our Clinical Sciences department via email at clinical_coordinators@stmatthews.edu

St. Matthew’s University graduates are eligible to practice medicine in the United States once they pass the requisite licensing examinations. More than a thousand of our graduates are licensed and practicing or in residency in the United States.

St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine has affiliation agreements for clerkships with numerous teaching hospitals in Canada, the United States, and United Kingdom.

View clinical clerkship sites

No. St. Matthew’s students study a comprehensive medical curriculum and go on to practice in all areas of medicine.

In order to be licensed and practice medicine in the United States, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) requires students to take and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

St. Matthew’s University students and graduates are eligible to sit for these exams. The USMLE has three steps, two of which are taken by students while in medical school. Students must take and pass USMLE Step 1 prior to beginning the Clinical Sciences curriculum. USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (Step 2 CK) is taken prior to graduation. Step 3 of the USMLE, the final step for licensing, is taken after graduation, during, or at the conclusion of residency training.

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. St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine only provides advance standing to qualified transfer students from medical schools recognized by the World Health Organization.

St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine faculty is focused on providing the highest quality education for our students. The importance of research to our educational mission is emphasized in our Mission Statement. We encourage both faculty and students to engage in research activities which further their knowledge of the process of science, improve the art of medicine, and increase their appreciation of the balance between research and the artful practice of medicine.

You can find our tuition & fees schedule

St. Matthew University School of Medicine’s MD program 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.

Canadian students are eligible for Federal Loans through the Ministry of Education Student Support Branch in the province of residence. (For example, Ontario residents are eligible for OSAP loan.) Students may apply for up to 52 weeks of financial assistance annually. Canadian students should contact their individual province directly for information regarding additional requirements. 

St. Matthew’s University offers various scholarships to students, including Academic Scholarships, Cayman Islands Scholarships, Transfer Scholarships, and Canadian Grants.

The MD program has specific requirements that need to be fulfilled to apply. These include having a bachelor’s degree or higher, completing the necessary prerequisite coursework, providing two letters of recommendation, and writing a personal statement. 

You can submit your application even if you need a document or two. You have the option to send any additional materials or updated transcripts later to admissions@stmatthews.edu

Undergraduate coursework can be taken at any accredited college or university in the world.

Students with academic transcripts from outside the United States and Canada must have them evaluated on a course-by-course basis by an evaluation service such as World Evaluation Services, Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. or a service that is a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member.

St. Matthew’s University is not affiliated with the AMCAS application process.  However, you can email or fax the AMCAS application in lieu of our online application.

No. The minimum requirement for admission in this regard is 90 semester credit hours of college courses. Most candidates have, however, earned an undergraduate degree.

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 St. Matthew’s 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 SMUSOM, 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).

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. In addition, it is strongly encouraged for all other applicants and specifically required from those students who meet any of the following three conditions:

• Students with outdated required science coursework (>5 years old) 
• Students who completed required science coursework at a community college
• Students with “C” grades or lower in the required science courses
• SMUSOM’s MCAT code is 919. More information about the MCAT is available at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website.
• Applicants can send SMUSOM their MCAT exam scores through the online THx system as soon as they are available at the AAMC.

You may take the MCAT exam as many times as you like. However, any applicant who has taken the test more than once must submit all results prior to enrollment.

No, however it is helpful if letters of recommendation are written by a pre-medical professor acquainted with the applicant’s academic and research background or by a physician who is familiar with the applicant’s experience in a health care setting, if available. All letters can be mailed, emailed or faxed to St. Matthew’s University as long as they are written on letterhead and include a signature and contact information.

Applicants invited for an interview are selected from a pool of those applicants the committee deems to be promising candidates. If you are invited for an interview, it is likely that you are being strongly considered for admission. However, an interview is not a guarantee of admission.

Yes. St. Matthew’s University will consider any qualified applicant for admission, regardless of age. Some of our most successful students and graduates have had prior careers.

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 around two (2) weeks to process your complete application.

In order to obtain accurate information about the status of your file, you can log into your online account 24-hours a day, seven days a week. If you need assistance, call our Admissions Office toll-free at 407-488-1718. Our Enrollment Specialists are available to assist you Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm (Eastern Time).

The successful completion of all pre-requisite coursework is required prior to enrollment.

If you are missing only one pre-requisite course, or you are in the process of completing coursework, you may apply now. Simply indicate the course(s) in-progress upon submission of your application. This will be taken into consideration while reviewing your application.

Often, if the remainder of the application (overall academic performance, recommendation letters, personal interview, etc.) is acceptable, the student is admitted and his or her file is placed on “Academic Hold” until he or she has submitted the grade(s) for the missing coursework. The student, although admitted, is not permitted to enroll in St. Matthew’s University courses until all coursework requirements are fulfilled.

If you have additional questions, contact an Admissions Counselor, toll-free at 407-488-1718.