The Caribbean is one of the best places to study medicine. With so many medical schools listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED), the Caribbean has increasingly become the preferred destination for students seeking alternatives to their domestic.
1. DO I NEED TO TAKE AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING TEST FOR ADMISSION?
If you want to study in the Caribbean and your first language is not English, you will probably need to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test. These tests access how well an international student understands and speak English to gauge whether or not this person should be enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Depending on the scores from the tests, a student may also be refused admission due to their lack of sufficient English-speaking proficiency. Many ELP tests, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are not required for students from English-speaking countries, because English is the primary language spoken in the majority of Caribbean countries.
Finding a program that is entirely taught in English, however, will be dependent on the country you choose to study in. Students who enroll at a university in a Caribbean country that does not speak English may be required to be fluent in the official language of that country. For instance, if you do not speak Spanish but wish to study in a Spanish-speaking country like Cuba, the Universidad de la Habana has the Faculty of Spanish for Non-Spanish Speakers (FENHI) that provides intensive Spanish language courses to students who want to learn or improve their Spanish.
This would be beneficial not only for academics but also for social interaction outside of school.
2. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF A CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY?
International students can get quality education in Caribbean universities for as low as 5,000 USD per semester. For instance, tuition fees at affordable universities in Cuba range from 20,000 USD to 40,000 USD for the whole program, depending on the university or course of study. Medical schools, on the other hand, are much more expensive than regular degree programs with tuition fees as high as 20,000 per semester.
With so much difference in figures, calculating an overall average for tuition fees in the various Caribbean countries is difficult, because it depends on your selected program or the university you choose to attend. To get an estimate, you will need to do some research on how much it costs to school in a particular university.
3. DO I HAVE TO GET A WORK VISA TO WORK WHILE I STUDY?
Yes. To work in the Caribbean, you will need a valid work visa. Students, however, are not permitted to work while on a student visa. In countries like Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic, for instance, students can work on a work visa after finishing their studies. But, they are not permitted to work throughout their studies in order to allow them to concentrate without having to deal with the distractions of a job.
Some countries, though, allow on-campus employment as the only legal job option for international students. On-campus jobs include working at the cafeteria, library, bookstores, or
departmental offices. These part-time jobs can provide valuable experience to international students in the Caribbean, as well as financial support.
4. WHAT DO I NEED TO GET A VISA TO STUDY IN THE CARIBBEAN?
To apply for a visa to study in the Caribbean, you will be required to provide the following:
- Letter of acceptance from the Institution
- Proof of adequate financial resources to support yourself during the period of study
- Proof of payment of tuition fees
- Proof of a reservation
- Completed application forms; and processing fees
- At least two recent coloured passport photographs
- Valid passport
- Photocopy of birth certificate
- Medical exam records
- Academic credentials
- Health insurance documents
This information is provided as a guide only, and it may differ from one Caribbean country to the other.
For more detailed information on visa requirements, check with the embassy of the country you plan to study in. Also, do all necessary research to obtain the most current information, as it is susceptible to change.
5. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE CARIBBEAN?
- The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
- Saint George’s University, Grenada
- University of the Virgin Islands
- Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Dominican Republic
- Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)
- Universidad de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
- Universidad de Oriente Santiago de Cuba
- Ciudad Universitaria Jose Antonio Echeverria
- Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba
- University de Puerto Rico Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
- Windsor university (school of Medicine)
6. WHAT ARE THE CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE (CSEC) REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER MOST CARIBBEAN COLLEGES?
The CSEC requirements for Caribbean colleges typically depends on your field of study. A minimum of five (5) CSEC passes (Grades I-III) is required for undergraduate program at Caribbean universities, including English Language and Mathematics, which are mandatory. The specific admission requirements for some faculties are as follows:
- For admission to the Faculty of Medical Science, a minimum of five (5) CSEC passes (Grades I-III) in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are required.
7. CAN I GET A SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY INTERNATIONALLY IN THE CARIBBEAN?
Yes, there are several scholarships available in the Caribbean for international students. These scholarships are usually granted in collaboration with other national governments or by private organisations. For example, the Cuban government offers merit-based scholarships to Cuban university students as well as qualified international students. In Barbados, universities, the government, and other institutions offer a variety of scholarships to international students, national students, and citizens of Barbados.
The best way to find these scholarships is by doing research on the available scholarships in your home country. Most of these scholarships advertise their application periods on their websites, so be sure to check back frequently for up-to-date information on application deadlines and other important information.
