American University of Antigua MD — Fees & Admission 2026

American University of Antigua at a glance

• Location: University Park, Jabberwock Road, Osbourn, Antigua
• Established: 2004
• University Type: Private international medical school
• Flagship Course: Doctor of Medicine (MD) — not an MBBS
• Course Duration: 4 years (plus pre-med if you enter from school)
• Medium: English
• Intake: Three trimesters a year (Fall, Winter, Spring)
• Tuition Fee: US$20,335/trimester basic sciences; US$22,850 clinical
• Entrance Exam: MCAT for US applicants; NEET-UG for Indians via NMC

About American University of Antigua

American University of Antigua College of Medicine is a private medical school at University Park, Jabberwock Road, Osbourn, Antigua, awarding a Doctor of Medicine (MD) rather than an MBBS. Its four-year MD splits in two: pre-clinical sciences in Years 1–2 on the Antigua campus, then clinical rotations in Years 3–4 at affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States. CAAM-HP records AUA as holding "Accreditation with Conditions for 4 years, 2024-2028". In 2013 the US Department of Education, through the NCFMEA, found that Antigua and Barbuda's appointment of CAAM-HP as its sole medical school accreditor employs standards comparable to the LCME, which is what makes qualified AUA students eligible for US Title IV loans.

AUA requires a minimum of 90 college credit hours for entry to the College of Medicine, so it is not a direct-from-Class-12 route. Applicants coming straight from school go through the AUA College of Arts and Sciences (AUACAS) — a two-year, 60-credit Associate of Science in Health Science — or the Manipal Academy of Higher Education BSc Health Science programme, both of which are tailored to the preclinical curriculum and carry preferential admission status to the College of Medicine.

Periods run as trimesters of 15 credit-weeks, and the university publishes a cost of attendance for a named session — currently Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 / Spring 2027. Tuition is described as cohort-locked, which the university presents as giving cost predictability across the programme.

Why choose American University of Antigua?

What AUA and the regulators put on the record:

• CAAM-HP Accreditation And NCFMEA Comparability: CAAM-HP lists AUA as holding "Accreditation with Conditions for 4 years, 2024-2028". The NCFMEA determined in 2013 that Antigua and Barbuda's accreditation standards, applied through CAAM-HP, are comparable to those the LCME uses in the United States — the basis for AUA students' Title IV loan eligibility.
• US State-Level Clerkship And Licensure Approvals: AUA publishes approvals it holds at state level: the Texas Medical Board's Substantial Equivalence List; recognition by the Medical Board of California after a review including a site visit; a Florida Department of Education licence to conduct clinical clerkships in Florida; a New York Board of Regents vote in July 2024 extending long-term clerkship placement approval in New York for seven years; and a Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine finding of substantial equivalence.
• Clinical Years At US Teaching Hospitals: Years 3–4 are clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals across the United States, in core and elective specialties, with USMLE Step 2 preparation and residency matching support.
• Cohort-Locked Tuition: The university states that tuition is locked by cohort, so the per-trimester rate you enter on is the rate you continue on. Get that in writing for your own cohort.
• A Structured Route In From School: AUA requires 90 college credit hours for MD entry. School leavers use the AUACAS two-year, 60-credit Associate of Science in Health Science, or the MAHE BSc Health Science programme, both giving preferential admission to the College of Medicine.
• MCAT Collected But Not Used To Decide: AUA states that it collects MCAT scores from US citizens and permanent residents because the US Department of Education requires it, but does not consider the score when deciding to admit or deny — though it does use scores for some scholarships.

MBBS course overview

AUA awards a Doctor of Medicine (MD) over four years: pre-clinical sciences in Antigua, then clinical rotations at affiliated US teaching hospitals.

Entry to the College of Medicine needs a minimum of 90 college credit hours, unless you complete the AUACAS fast track or the MAHE BSc Health Science programme (minimum 60 credits). A BSc from an accredited undergraduate institution is strongly recommended.

All periods operate as trimesters. Tuition and administrative fees for a standard trimester are based on 15 credit-weeks, and the clinical sciences phase is built on five 15-week trimesters plus one 9-week trimester.

• Degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Duration: 4 Years (plus 2 years of pre-med at AUACAS if you enter from school)
• Medium of instruction: English
• Intake: Fall, Winter and Spring trimesters

Year-wise curriculum

• Pre-Med at AUACAS (optional route, 2 years): 60 undergraduate credits leading to an Associate of Science in Health Science, covering the medical school prerequisites; qualified graduates get preferential admission to the College of Medicine
• Pre-Clinical Sciences (Years 1–2, MED 1–MED 5/6): Basic medical sciences on the Antigua campus with small-group active learning, anatomy labs, a simulated learning centre and clinical skills development
• Clinical Sciences (Years 3–4, CLN 7–CLN 12): Core and elective clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States, alongside practising physicians, with USMLE Step 2 preparation and residency matching support

Courses offered

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) — 4 Years
• Associate of Science in Health Science (AUACAS pre-med) — 2 Years
• MAHE BSc Health Science pathway — Per MAHE's published programme

American University of Antigua fee structure

AUA publishes an estimated cost of attendance for the Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 / Spring 2027 session. Tuition is charged per trimester, based on 15 credit-weeks.

Source: AUA's own cost of attendance page (auamed.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/tuition-cost-of-attendance/), for the session it labels Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 / Spring 2027, read on 26 September 2026. Tuition is billed per trimester of 15 credit-weeks; in the clinical phase it is billed on your actual schedule at US$1,523.33 per credit-week plus a US$228.33 per credit-week administrative fee. Excluded from tuition and charged or estimated separately: health insurance at US$1,100 a trimester (waivable with proof of adequate private cover), a mandatory US$85 Basic Life Support fee in Pre-Clinical Term 1 and US$250 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support fee in Term 4 (both waivable with valid prior certification), a US$450 per credit-week surcharge for rotations at FIU HWCOM, and the university's estimates for room, board, transportation, exams and personal expenses — which are estimated outside-provider charges, not obligations to the university. The administrative fee covers required educational resources, so no additional textbook purchase is expected. AUA states the figures are subject to change; confirm your cohort's locked rate in writing. No rupee figure is published and this page does not invent one.

• MED 1 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$20,335 tuition + US$4,085 fees — hostel US$6,006 room (estimate)
• MED 2 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$20,335 tuition + US$4,000 fees — hostel US$6,006 room (estimate)
• MED 3 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$20,335 tuition + US$4,000 fees — hostel US$6,006 room (estimate)
• MED 4 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$20,335 tuition + US$4,250 fees — hostel US$6,006 room (estimate)
• MED 5 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$20,335 tuition + US$4,000 fees — hostel US$6,006 room (estimate)
• MED 6 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$20,335 tuition + US$4,000 fees — hostel US$6,006 room (estimate)
• CLN 7–CLN 11 (per trimester, 2026-27): US$22,850 tuition + US$3,425 fees, each — hostel US$7,272 room (estimate)
• CLN 12 (9-week trimester, 2026-27): US$13,710 tuition + US$2,050 fees — hostel US$5,250 room (estimate)
• Whole MD programme (institutional): US$258,104 tuition + US$45,110 fees — hostel US$79,186 room (estimate)

Eligibility criteria

What AUA requires, plus the rule India applies to its own students:

• College Credits: A minimum of 90 credit hours of college courses for admission to the College of Medicine, unless you complete the AUACAS fast track or the MAHE BSc Health Science programme (minimum 60 credits). A BSc from an accredited undergraduate institution is strongly recommended.
• Recommended Prerequisites: General Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II and Physics I (3 credits plus 1 lab credit each), plus English I; mathematics (calculus or statistics) optional. AUA describes these as highly recommended rather than mandatory.
• MCAT: Required of US citizens and permanent residents because the US Department of Education requires AUA to collect it, but not considered when deciding to admit or deny. Scores are accepted for up to seven years and are used for some scholarships.
• NEET-UG: India's National Medical Commission requires Indian nationals to have qualified in NEET-UG to study medicine abroad and to register in India afterwards, whether or not AUA asks for it.
• Selection Approach: AUA states it uses a holistic approach and will consider applicants who work hard and show interest in science, medicine and service even without high test scores.
• Pre-Med Entry (AUACAS): A high school degree, a personal statement, official transcripts from all secondary and postsecondary schools, two official letters of recommendation (one academic) and a non-refundable US$75 application fee. The MCAT is not required for AUACAS itself.

Admission process 2026

How AUA describes the route in:

• Apply through AUA's application portal (app.auamed.org); you can submit before your MCAT score arrives if a score is required of you.
• Submit an up-to-date resume or CV covering education, degrees, professional experience, licences, certifications and awards.
• Send official transcripts from every undergraduate, graduate, medical or professional school attended — electronically where your institution supports it.
• For US citizens and permanent residents, have the MCAT score sent directly to AUA (select "American University of Antigua" when registering).
• Complete the admissions interview and review by the admissions committee, which applies AUA's holistic approach.
• On acceptance, pay the deposit, complete the health and background requirements, and arrange your Antigua entry paperwork.
• If you are coming straight from school, apply instead to AUACAS with the US$75 application fee, personal statement, transcripts and two letters of recommendation.

Documents required

The documents AUA's admission pages call for:

• Official transcripts from every undergraduate, graduate, medical or professional school attended (electronic official transcripts preferred)
• Up-to-date resume or CV
• MCAT score, for US citizens and permanent residents
• Personal statement and two official letters of recommendation, one academic (required for the AUACAS pre-med route)
• Valid passport
• NEET-UG scorecard — required of Indian students by the NMC rather than by AUA
• Health clearances and background check documentation as requested before enrolment
• Proof of health insurance, or a waiver request with proof of adequate private cover

Hostel & accommodation

AUA publishes room and board as cost-of-attendance estimates rather than as a fixed hostel charge, and notes that these are estimated outside-provider charges rather than obligations to the university.

• Room (Basic Sciences): Estimated at US$6,006 per trimester in the pre-clinical phase, rising to US$7,272 per trimester during clinical rotations.
• Board (Food): Estimated at US$3,024 per trimester in the pre-clinical phase and US$3,780 per trimester in the clinical phase.
• Transportation: Estimated at US$1,602 per trimester pre-clinical and US$2,064 per trimester clinical.
• Health Insurance: US$1,100 per trimester for the university's plan. Students may request a waiver with proof of adequate private cover.
• What To Get In Writing: Which housing is actually available for your cohort, whether it is on or off campus, the lease terms, and what the charge covers. The university's figures are budgeting estimates, not a quoted rent.

Clinical training

Years 3–4 are the clinical sciences phase. AUA describes it as follows:

• Clinical rotations take place at affiliated teaching hospitals across the United States, exposing students to a range of specialties and patient populations.
• Core and elective rotations are supervised by practising physicians, with USMLE Step 2 preparation and residency matching support built in.
• The phase is structured as five 15-week trimesters plus one 9-week trimester, and actual scheduling may vary with enrolment.
• Rotations at FIU HWCOM carry a tuition surcharge of US$450 per credit-week, on top of the clinical rate.
• State-level clerkship approvals AUA publishes cover Florida (a Florida Department of Education licence to conduct clerkships), New York (Board of Regents approval for long-term clerkship placement, extended for seven years in July 2024) and California (recognition by the Medical Board of California).
• Ask specifically whether your course includes a 12-month internship at the same institution, which India's FMGL Regulations, 2021 require of an Indian student who wants to register in India.

Recognition & accreditation

The National Medical Commission states that it "does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/ Universities for MBBS or equivalent course", so no foreign medical university is "NMC approved". What decides your eligibility to register in India is the course you take. What the registers and AUA's own accreditation page record, checked 26 September 2026:

• CAAM-HP lists American University of Antigua College of Medicine as holding "Accreditation with Conditions for 4 years, 2024-2028" in its register of assessed programmes (last updated January 2026).
• In 2013 the US Department of Education, through the NCFMEA, determined that Antigua and Barbuda — through its appointment of CAAM-HP as its sole authorised medical school accreditor — employs standards and procedures comparable to those the LCME uses in the United States. AUA states this is what makes qualified AUA students eligible for US Title IV loans.
• AUA publishes inclusion on the Texas Medical Board's Substantial Equivalence List, with students who graduated after 31 December 2017 grandfathered into eligibility.
• AUA publishes recognition by the Medical Board of California following a review that included a site visit, allowing clerkships, residency training and licensure in California.
• The Commission for Independent Education of the Florida Department of Education licenses AUA to conduct clinical clerkships in Florida; in July 2024 the New York Board of Regents extended approval for long-term clerkship placement in New York State for seven years.
• The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine has determined AUA's medical education to be substantially equivalent to US medical school training, so graduates do not need a waiver of substantial equivalency there.
• AUA states that, on passing the necessary licensure exams, its graduates are eligible to practise in all 50 US states, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries. That is the university's own statement about exam-dependent eligibility, not a guarantee of a licence — verify the current position with each board yourself.
• Check the course against the NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 — at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution, and English as the medium of instruction throughout.
• Look the university up yourself in the World Directory of Medical Schools (wdoms.org) and check for an ECFMG Sponsor Note under Intealth's Recognized Accreditation Policy. A listing records that a school exists — it is not an accreditation or an endorsement.

Career opportunities

An MD from Antigua is the entry point to a licensing route, not a licence:

• For the United States, eligibility runs through ECFMG certification, the USMLE and the National Resident Matching Program. AUA's state-level approvals affect where you can do clerkships and seek licensure, not whether you pass.
• To practise in India you must meet the NMC's FMGL Regulations, 2021, pass the screening examination and complete a further 12 months of supervised internship in India.
• Other routes — the UKMLA/PLAB pathway in the United Kingdom, Canadian licensing, the AMC in Australia — each set their own eligibility rules. Check them directly rather than relying on a summary.

Student life

Life on the Antigua campus, as AUA describes it:

• A campus at University Park on Jabberwock Road, with anatomy labs, a simulated learning centre and academic facilities.
• Student support services, faculty mentorship and small-group case-based learning.
• An English-speaking Caribbean island setting, with campus life and student organisations run through the university.

American University of Antigua (AUA College of Medicine) — frequently asked questions

What is the tuition fee at American University of Antigua?

For the session AUA labels Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 / Spring 2027, tuition is US$20,335 per trimester through the basic sciences periods MED 1 to MED 6, and US$22,850 per trimester for clinical periods CLN 7 to CLN 11, with the 9-week CLN 12 period at US$13,710. Institutional tuition across the whole MD comes to US$258,104, plus US$45,110 in fees. AUA states the figures are subject to change, and describes tuition as cohort-locked — get your cohort's rate in writing.

What is excluded from AUA's tuition?

Administrative fees of US$4,000 a trimester in the pre-clinical phase (US$4,085 in MED 1, US$4,250 in MED 4) and US$3,425 in the clinical phase; health insurance at US$1,100 a trimester, waivable with proof of adequate private cover; a US$85 Basic Life Support fee in Term 1 and US$250 ACLS fee in Term 4, both waivable with valid prior certification; and a US$450 per credit-week surcharge for rotations at FIU HWCOM. Room, board, transportation and personal expenses are cost-of-attendance estimates of outside-provider charges, not bills from the university. The administrative fee does cover required educational resources, so no additional textbooks are expected.

Is AUA accredited, and is it NMC approved?

CAAM-HP lists AUA as holding "Accreditation with Conditions for 4 years, 2024-2028", and the NCFMEA determined in 2013 that Antigua and Barbuda's standards, applied through CAAM-HP, are comparable to the LCME's. No foreign medical university is "NMC approved" — the National Medical Commission does not endorse any list of foreign institutions. What decides Indian registration is whether the course meets the FMGL Regulations, 2021, followed by the screening examination and a further 12 months of supervised internship in India.

Is NEET compulsory for Indian students at AUA?

Yes, in practice. AUA's own admission requirements do not list NEET, but India's National Medical Commission requires an Indian national to have qualified in NEET-UG in order to study medicine abroad and to register in India afterwards. Without it, the degree will not get you an Indian licence.

Can I join AUA straight after Class 12?

Not the MD directly. AUA requires a minimum of 90 college credit hours for admission to the College of Medicine. School leavers go through the AUA College of Arts and Sciences — a two-year, 60-credit Associate of Science in Health Science — or the Manipal Academy of Higher Education BSc Health Science programme, both of which carry preferential admission status to the College of Medicine.

How long is the programme and what degree is awarded?

AUA awards a Doctor of Medicine (MD), not an MBBS. The MD itself runs four years: pre-clinical sciences in Years 1–2 in Antigua, clinical rotations in Years 3–4 in the United States. If you enter from school, add roughly two years of pre-med at AUACAS first. Periods run as trimesters of 15 credit-weeks.

Where do AUA students do their clinical rotations?

At affiliated teaching hospitals across the United States, in core and elective specialties, supervised by practising physicians, with USMLE Step 2 preparation and residency matching support. Rotations at FIU HWCOM carry a US$450 per credit-week surcharge. AUA's clerkship approvals include Florida, New York (extended for seven years in July 2024) and California.

Is the MCAT required?

AUA requires MCAT scores from US citizens and permanent residents because the US Department of Education requires it to collect them, but states it does not consider the score when deciding to admit or deny. Scores are accepted for up to seven years and are used in deciding eligibility for some scholarships. The MCAT is not required for the AUACAS pre-med programme.

What is the admission process?

Apply through AUA's portal, submitting an up-to-date resume or CV and official transcripts from every institution attended; US applicants also have the MCAT sent directly. The admissions committee reviews the application holistically, including an interview. On acceptance you pay the deposit and complete health clearances, background checks and your Antigua entry paperwork. School leavers apply to AUACAS instead, with a US$75 application fee, personal statement, transcripts and two letters of recommendation.

What documents do I need?

Official transcripts from every undergraduate, graduate, medical or professional school attended, an up-to-date resume or CV, an MCAT score if you are a US citizen or permanent resident, a personal statement and two letters of recommendation (one academic) for the pre-med route, a valid passport, health clearances and background check documents, and proof of health insurance or a waiver request. Indian students should also hold their NEET-UG scorecard.

What does accommodation cost at AUA?

AUA publishes room as a cost-of-attendance estimate — US$6,006 a trimester during basic sciences and US$7,272 during clinical rotations — with board estimated at US$3,024 and US$3,780 respectively. The university notes these are estimated outside-provider charges rather than obligations to the university, so they are budgeting figures, not a quoted rent. Ask which housing is actually available to your cohort and on what lease terms.