Saba University School of Medicine
Established in
1992Famous For
Alternative Entry to US & Canadian Medical Schools
- Overview
- Services
- Rankings
- Accommodation
- Location
- Courses
- Scholarships
Overview
Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) is a private medical school offering a compelling alternative route into a US or Canadian medical career, without the intense competition of direct entry into North American medical schools. Founded in 1992, the university is based on Saba, a special municipality of the Netherlands in the Dutch Caribbean, and has since built a strong track record, with more than 3,000 graduates now practising medicine across the US and Canada.
SUSOM's four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme is structured around 20 months of Basic Science study on Saba, followed by clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals across the United States and select sites in Canada. All faculty hold advanced medical or doctoral degrees, and a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures a genuinely personalised, systems-based approach to teaching. This model delivers strong results: between 2015 and 2019, first-time USMLE Step 1 pass rates averaged 99%, and between 2013 and 2018, 94% of eligible graduates secured a residency placement.
Services
Students benefit from a genuinely comprehensive support network throughout their Basic Science years, including academic coaching, career advising, dedicated faculty advisors and access to the Learning Centre. The Road to Residency Program helps guide students through the speciality selection and residency application process, while Speciality Spotlight Series sessions and ongoing counselling and wellness programming support both academic and personal development.
Rankings
Saba University School of Medicine does not appear in mainstream global league tables, but its standing is best reflected in outcomes: first-time USMLE Step 1 pass rates averaging 99% between 2015 and 2019, and a 94% residency placement rate for eligible graduates between 2013 and 2018.
Accommodation
New, unaccompanied first-semester students are encouraged to live in one of three purpose-built dormitories, including the Hillside Dorm, located adjacent to campus. Rooms range from quads to singles and come fully equipped with air conditioning, private bathrooms and on-site laundry facilities, helping new students bond quickly and form study groups.
Location
SUSOM's campus is based in The Bottom, the capital of Saba, a small, quiet and notably safe Caribbean island known for its unique Dutch-inspired architecture and dramatic volcanic scenery. The island offers a close-knit community feel, with grocery stores and well-regarded restaurants in both The Bottom and Windwardside serving cuisines from barbecue to French and Middle Eastern.
Courses offered at Saba University School of Medicine
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