St. George’s University was founded as an independent School of Medicine in 1976, St. George’s University opened its doors to students beginning in January 1977. It has evolved into a top center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the Caribbean island of Grenada, in the West Indies. Students attending SGU enjoy the benefits of a thriving multicultural environment on the True Blue campus, offering all the amenities and technologically advanced facilities of a world-class institution.
The University’s more than 17,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. The University offers medical and veterinary medical degrees in the Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, and independent and dual graduate degrees in the sciences, public health, and business. Undergraduate degree programs are also available through its School of Arts and Sciences, and students may build on their education by pursuing a degree in the School of Graduate Studies. The University programs are accredited and approved by many governing authorities, and SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
An overview of St George’s University, Grenada
St George’s University was first established as St George’s University School of Medicine in 1976. In 1996, they founded the School of Arts and Science and a Veterinary school in 1999.
Over 14 000 physicians have graduated from St George’s University and is now practising in over 50 countries. St George’s is also affiliated with over 70 hospitals and clinics across the USA, Canada, UK and Grenada where Medical students undertake their final 2 years of study.
St George’s University is in the capital centre of Grenada and is close to everything.
Students can dine in casual restaurants to fancier restaurants. They can hike and swim in waterfalls nearby, as well as exploring the local bushland for their unique flora and fauna. In addition to this, students can also go scuba diving in the local coral reefs, parasail, snorkel, kayak and windsurf!
Why is St. George’s the Caribbean Leader?
FIRST private medical school in the Caribbean.
- Established in 1976
- First Entering Class: January of 1977
- First Affiliation between NY Hospital and Private International Medical School for conducting clinical training.
- First Graduating Class: May 1981
Recognized International Leader in US Licensing Examinations over the University’s lifetime.
- 2015: St. George’s University’s US and Canadian Students achieved a 97% first-time pass rate on the USMLE I, surpassing students from US and Canadian Schools 6 years in a row. (http://www.usmle.org/performance-data)
- 2012: USMLE Step 1 First-Time Test Takers Achieve 97% Pass Rate St. George’s University students who took the USMLE 1 for the first time in 2012 achieved a 97 percent pass rate, marking the fourth consecutive year that SGU’s overall first-time pass rate on the examination surpassed 90 percent. These students have come to SGU from 37 countries, with Canadian students achieving an impressive 100 percent pass rate.
- 2011: Top Performance on USMLE Board Exams St. George’s University students who took the USMLE 1 for the first time in 2011 achieved a 95% pass rate. The first-time taker pass rate posted on the USMLE website for students at US and Canadian schools for this same period is 94%. SGU’s US and Canadian students who took this examination for the first time in 2011 achieved a 96% pass rate.
- 2008: 15-year Leader in Caribbean USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step II/CK first time pass rate. An article in Academic Medicine cited Grenada (SGU is the only medical school in Grenada) as the 15 year leader in USMLE Part 1 and 2 first time pass rates. This article puts Grenada 14.7% ahead of the closest country, Dominica. (Academic Medicine, Vol 83, No. 10/October 2008 Supplement).
- 1985: Leader in ECFMG examination results. An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association cited St. George’s University as having the highest initial pass rate on the ECFMG examination of any non-US medical school with a significant number of US medical students (100+ over the studied period of 1969–1982).
Recognition And Accreditation: A World Of Firsts
- 2016: SGU re-designated at the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Environmental and Occupational Health.
- 2015: SGU MPH program is re-accredited by CEPH for a full seven-year period into 2022. SGU MPH program remains the only CEPH accredited program in the English-speaking Caribbean and one of six programs outside the United States.
- 2013: SGU/WINDREF approved as the first and only United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Regional Collaborating Center in the English-speaking Caribbean to focus on mitigating the effects of climate change in small island states
- 2013: SGU selected to host the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Delta Omega Honors Society, the oldest professional public health society in the world and the first for the Caribbean region.
- 2012: SGU was selected to serve as the first and only World Health Organization Collaborating Center (WHO CC) for the English-speaking Caribbean in the area of Environmental and Occupational Health.
- 2010: FIRST Caribbean school to earn accreditation for its Master of Public Health Degree by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
- 2009 FIRST private medical school to be accredited by The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)
- 2007: FIRST existing private medical school to receive provisional accreditation by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP).
- 1987: FIRST private medical school in the Caribbean to be approved by the New York Education Department for the purpose of placing long-term clinical clerks in New York hospitals. This approval was a full decade before any other private medical school in the Caribbean was approved.
- 1984: FIRST private medical school in the Caribbean to be approved by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners for the purpose of placing long-term clinical clerks in New Jersey hospitals.
Accreditations And Approvals
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at St. George’s University School of Medicine has been accredited and/or approved by many external bodies.
- Accredited by the Government of Grenada
- Accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), which is recognized by the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK and by the World Federation for Medical Education/Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (WFME/FAIMER). After 2023, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will issue an ECFMG certification only for degrees obtained from a medical school with an accreditation recognized by the WFME.
- In March 2015, St. George’s University School of Medicine’s MD program was approved by the New York State Education Department for long-term clinical clerkships in New York for a period of seven years, subject to standard reporting requirements.
- Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners to conduct clinical clerkship programs at SGU-affiliated New Jersey teaching hospitals and an alternatively accredited medical school by the Advisory Graduate Medical Education Council of New Jersey (AGMEC) within the New Jersey Commission of Higher Education
- Approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board for clinical clerkships
- Included on the list of medical schools recognized by the Medical Board of California
- Licensed by the Florida Commission on Independent Education
- The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (of the US Department of Education), for the purpose of conferring student loans, has deemed Grenada’s accreditation standards to be comparable to those utilized by the United States.
St. George’s University’s Master of Public Health degree has been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
The US Accreditation authority for public health programs, CEPH has granted full accreditation to St. George’s University’s Master of Public Health degree program through 2022. The program originally gained accreditation in 2010, and was re-accredited in 2015 for seven more years, the maximum term for re-accreditation. SGU is one of only a few non-US institutions approved by the CEPH to hold this coveted distinction.
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Designated as World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Environmental and Occupational Health
SGU School of Medicine has been reviewed and approved by the following bodies internationally:
- The Bahamas Medical Council
- The Bermuda Medical Council
- The Sri Lankan Medical Council
- The Thailand Medical Council
- The Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago
| Australia Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belize Bermuda Botswana British Virgin Islands Canada Colombia Cyprus Dutch Antilles Germany Great Britain Greece Grenada | Haiti Hong Kong Iceland Ireland Israel Kenya Lebanon Madagascar Malaysia Mali Mauritius Namibia Nigeria Pakistan Saudi Arabia Senegal | Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa Sri Lanka St. Lucia St. Vincent Taiwan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Uganda United Arab Emirates United States Vietnam Zimbabwe |
US Department of Education
In 1996, the US Department of Education reviewed the standards of medical education in 30 countries for the purpose of conferring student loans. Grenada was one of four countries approved during the initial review: the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada were the other three. Other countries have subsequently been approved.
World Health Organization
St. George’s University School of Medicine is listed with the World Health Organization.
The School of Veterinary Medicine
- The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program has been granted Full Accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE).
- The Government of Grenada continued the accreditation of St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in February 2010. The School of Veterinary Medicine is fully authorized by the government of Grenada to confer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree upon those candidates who successfully complete its academic requirements.
- In October 2016, the St. George’s University Small Animal Clinic (SAC) was accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), one of only two institutions outside the US and Canada with the distinction.
Broad-based training programs offer exposure to the art of veterinary medicine that was especially designed for its international student body. Each student determines the individual government entry requirements in the country or state where they intend to practice.
The School of Arts and Sciences
The Government of Grenada has recognized St. George’s University School of Arts and Sciences since 1996. The School of Arts and Sciences is fully authorized by the Government of Grenada to confer Baccalaureate and Masters degrees upon those candidates who successfully complete its academic requirements.
The History Of St. George’s University
A handful of dreamers set out to change the status quo in medical education in the 1970s and founded an international University that has educated more than 17,000 people worldwide…and impacted the word by the many thousands more who have benefitted from their knowledge and care. Their vision of what international education should be attracted progressive education leaders with prestigious credential to shape the future of the young school. The result of their shared dream was St. George’s University.
The Beginning
It began on July 23, 1976, when Charles Modica, Louis Modica, Edward McGowan, and Patrick F. Adams witnessed the birth of their dream through an act of Grenada’s Parliament, establishing St. George’s University School of Medicine. It opened its doors in January 1977, welcoming a modest group of students to Grand Anse as part of its charter class. They were the first of many, the University having produced over 14,000 physicians who have gone on to practice in all 50 US states and more than 50 countries worldwide.
Medical School
What was an opportunity for the charter class has developed into the opportunity for many. The Doctor of Medicine program at St. George’s University School of Medicine has been accredited and approved by many external bodies, such as the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the Government of Grenada, and medical boards throughout the United States. SGU students now have access to clinical training opportunities at over 70 affiliated hospitals and clinical centers in the United States, Canada, Grenada, and United Kingdom, and annually secure highly competitive US-based residencies, with SGU serving as the number one provider of doctors into first-year positions in the US over the last six years combined, including more than 870 in 2016 alone.
Growth in Research and International Presence
St. George’s University expanded its medical program even further in 2005, this time overseas, establishing the Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program, which allows School of Medicine students to spend their first year of basic sciences at Northumbria University in Newcastle, United Kingdom. With it, these students obtain unprecedented international experience in medicine, gaining exposure to models of medicine in three different countries by the time they graduate.
In addition to basic science training, students have been able to carry out short- and long-term, multidisciplinary research and education programs with the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), which the University established in True Blue in 1994.
Medicine and Beyond
Beyond medicine, SGU has created a wide range of programs for students of all interests. In 1996, the newly founded School of Arts and Sciences welcomed its first student class, and in 1999, the University established the School of Veterinary Medicine, which is now accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and owns clinical affiliations with 29 US veterinary medical schools. Since then, more than 1,200 SGU veterinarians have entered the workforce. Also in 1999, the Master of Public Health program launched. It has since gained accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has been distinguished as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center (WHO CC) for Environmental and Occupational Health, the first of its kind in the Caribbean. SGU has also created a School of Graduate Studies, which offers more than 30 distinct programs across a wide variety of professional fields.
In 2014, St. George’s University received an equity investment from a group led by Canadian investor Altas Partners and a fund advised by Baring Private Equity Asia, to assist the University with its efforts in forging ahead with a new chapter of its development. In 2015, Dr. G. Richard Olds was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer to help lead this change.
Tuition And Fees
School Of Medicine Tuition And Fees
Investing in You for a World of Difference
The cost of medical school can be tallied on a calculator, but the return on this investment in medical school is not quantifiable. Invest today for a future of making a difference in the world. SGU’s medical school tuition compares favorably with other top medical schools — plus we offer scholarships and other financial aid assistance.
How Much Is Medical School at SGU?
| Premedical (Grenada) | |||
| Per Term | $12,791 | ||
| Per Credit | $853 | ||
| Basic Sciences (Grenada and KBT)** | Clinical Years | ||
| Term 1 | $28, 906 | Term 1 | $29,535 |
| Term 2 | $28,906 | Term 2 | $29,535 |
| Term 3 only | $10,636 | Term 3 | $29,535 |
| Term 3/4 | $39,541 | Term 4 | $29,535 |
| Term 4 only | $28,906 | Term 5 | $29,535 |
| Term 5 | $31,925 | ||
| Malpractice Insurance, Clinical Terms 1-5 | |||
| Per Term | $357 | ||
| Additional Fees | |||
| Oral Examination Fee | $1,407 | ||
| Graduation Fee | $713 | ||
| Books, per term (approximately) | $515 | ||
| School of Graduate Studies | |||
| MPH Programs, per credit | $977 | ||
| MSc Programs, per credit | $853 | ||
| PhD Programs, per credit | $853 |
Of the total cost to attend St. George’s University School of Medicine, approximately 15% represents administrative/student fees.
Individual Advancement Program (IAP)
Students approved to enter IAP who will be repeating courses will not be recharged tuition for the repeated courses but will be charged full administrative/student fees.
Basic Sciences students who repeat courses at the direction of the Promotions and/or Appeals Committee will not be charged tuition for the repeated courses; however, in all these cases, full administrative/student fees will be charged.
Term 3 and Term 4 are typically billed as a combined term.
Enrollment And Demographics
School of Medicine
DemographicsEnrollmentEntering StudentsPost Graduate
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Four-Year Program
Gender
- Female: 52%
- Male: 48%
Citizenship
- US Citizens: 76%
- Non-US Citizens: 24%
- US Permanent Residents: 16%*
*Based on non-citizens
Student Citizenship by Country
| COUNTRIES | % OF TOTAL | % OF NON-US |
| United States | 76% | |
| Canada | 10% | 42% |
| India | 2% | 8% |
| Grenada | 2% | 8% |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 2% | 6% |
| Nigeria | 2% | 6% |
| South Korea | 1% | 3% |
| United Kingdom | Less than 1% | 2% |
| Ghana | Less than 1% | 2% |
| Kenya | Less than 1% | 2% |
| South Africa | Less than 1% | 1% |
| Egypt | Less than 1% | 1% |
| Botswana | Less than 1% | 1% |
| Thailand | Less than 1% | 1% |
| Other* | 4% | 18% |
*List of Countries
| Afghanistan Albania Antigua & Barbuda Australia Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Benin Bermuda Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Cambodia Cameroon China Colombia Congo | Cuba Dominica Ecuador El Salvador Ethiopia France Gabon Greece Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Iran Iraq Ireland Israel | Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Jordan Kazakhstan Lebanon Liberia Malaysia Mexico Micronesia Myanmar Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Pakistan | Peru Philippines Poland Romania Russia Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore Somalia South Sudan Sri Lanka St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincents & Grenadines Sudan Suriname | Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Tanzania Togo Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe |
Total number of countries represented in the Doctor of Medicine program: 92
Five-,Six-,Seven-Year MD Program
Seven-Year MD Program
Gender
- Female: 71%
- Male: 24%
- Not Specified: 5%
Citizenship
- US Citizens: 5%
- Non-US Citizens: 95%
Student Citizenship by Country
| COUNTRIES | % OF TOTAL |
| Nigeria | 24% |
| South Korea | 19% |
| Grenada | 19% |
| Canada | 10% |
| Thailand | 5% |
| Zimbabwe | 5% |
| US | 5% |
| India | 5% |
| Bahamas | 5% |
| Kenya | 5% |
Six-Year MD Program
Gender
- Female: 49%
- Male: 50%
- Not Specified: 1%
Citizenship
- US Citizens: 5%
- Non-US Citizens: 95%
*Based on non-citizens
Student Citizenship by Country
| COUNTRIES | % OF TOTAL |
| Nigeria | 15% |
| Grenada | 13% |
| Canada | 13% |
| India | 12% |
| South Korea | 9% |
| Thailand | 5% |
| US | 5% |
| China | 4% |
| Botswana | 3% |
| Sweden | 3% |
| Bermuda | 1% |
| Ghana | 1% |
| Uganda | 1% |
| Iraq | 1% |
| Hong Kong | 1% |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | 1% |
| Tanzania | 1% |
| Belize | 1% |
| Egypt | 1% |
| Myanmar | 1% |
| United Arab Emirates | 1% |
| Dominica | 1% |
| Zimbabwe | 1% |
| Singapore | 1% |
| South Africa | 1% |
Five-Year MD Program
Gender
- Female: 56%
- Male: 44%
- Not Specified: 1%
Citizenship
- US Citizens: 7%
- Non-US Citizens: 93%
- US Permanent Residents: 3%
*Based on non-citizens
Student Citizenship by Country
| COUNTRIES | % OF TOTAL |
| Canada | 14% |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 13% |
| Grenada | 11% |
| Nigeria | 9% |
| India | 8% |
| US | 7% |
| South Korea | 7% |
| Botswana | 4% |
| Thailand | 3% |
| Other | 23% |
*List of Countries
| Bangledesh Barbados British Virgin Islands China | Dominica Egypt Ghana Guyana Iraq | Jamaica Kenya Lebanon Malaysia Morocco Pakistan Singapore | South Africa St. Vincent & Grenadines Taiwan Ukraine United Kingdom Zimbabwe |
MPH (Stand-Alone) Program
Gender
- Female: 51%
- Male: 49%
Citizenship
- US Citizens: 61%
- Non-US Citizens: 39%
- US Permanent Residents: 18%*
*Based on non-citizens
Student Citizenship by Country
| COUNTRIES | % OF TOTAL |
| United States | 61% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 9% |
| Grenada | 8% |
| Canada | 8% |
| Nigeria | 3% |
| India | 3% |
| South Korea | 1% |
MD and MPH Dual Program
Gender
- Female: 47%
- Male: 51%
- Not Specified: 2%
Citizenship
- US Citizens: 85%
- Non-US Citizens: 15%
- US Permanent Residents: 33%
*Based on non-citizens
Student Citizenship by Country
| COUNTRIES | % OF TOTAL |
| United States | 85% |
| Canada | 5% |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 2% |
| Guyana | 2% |
| Uganda | 2% |
| China | 2% |
| Nigeria | 1% |
| South Korea | 2% |
Data as of December 2020
Medical School Acceptance Rates: How Much Do They Really Matter?
Starting to act on a plan is always a little intimidating, especially when your intention is to attend medical school. You’re finally getting ready to apply. This means you need to start making some decisions about the programs that will make your final list. It’s hard to determine which schools to include, though.
You wonder if you should start comparing medical school acceptance rates since the best schools have high expectations. Or perhaps you simply want to compare rates to see where you stand the best chance of acceptance. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple.
While you can gather some information about schools by looking into acceptance rates, you won’t get the full picture. These percentages aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. You’re about to find out why.
Why You Should Think Beyond Med School Acceptance Rates
It’s not that reviewing acceptance rates is completely useless—you just shouldn’t read into them too much. “Overall, acceptance rates provide a helpful general landscape of competitiveness but should not influence your application decisions too strongly,” explains Dr. Andrea Paul, co-founder and chief medical officer for BoardVitals. There are a couple of reasons why this is the case.
Acceptance Rates Don’t Reflect Your Odds
One thing to remember about medical school acceptance rates is that they make sweeping generalizations. Think about a program that has a 10 percent acceptance rate. Each applicant would have to be essentially the same for everyone to truly have a 10 percent chance of being admitted. But every student’s odds differ depending on numerous factors.
“Some schools have to accept certain numbers from some geographic areas.”
“Some schools have to accept certain numbers from some geographic areas, some weigh extracurricular and volunteer activities more heavily, and some receive a greater number of ‘dream’ or ‘stretch’ applicants just based on their name,” Dr. Paul offers.
It’s worth singling out how US schools’ acceptance rates can differ for in-state versus out-of-state students. Many programs reserve a substantial number of seats for students within the state. For some schools, applicants from farther away face a significant disadvantage.
While not related to your odds of gaining an acceptance letter, there’s another thing you should keep in mind when considering schools outside your home state: cost. “It’s also important to keep tuition in mind, as it can be much higher as an out-of-state student,” Dr. Paul notes.
You Could Pass Over Schools That Would Be A Great Fit
Let’s say you apply to an incredibly selective program and gain acceptance. While that sounds great, it could actually be detrimental.
“Low rates generally mean more competitive schools, not necessarily the best schools.”
“Low rates generally mean more competitive schools, not necessarily the best schools,” Dr. Paul clarifies. She adds that it really depends on what you’re looking for as an individual. “For example, if you are interested in rural health, then a better school for you will be one that emphasizes that area.”
If you’re too focused on medical school acceptance rates, you could miss out on an ideal program for you.
What Should You Consider When Evaluating Schools?
Clearly, medical school acceptance rates shouldn’t influence your application decisions too much. While there are numerous factors to consider, there are two overarching categories that can help guide your choices.
How You Compare To A Program’s Typical Students
Since acceptance rate alone doesn’t reflect your personal odds of getting into any given med school, you’d be wise to think about how you compare to admitted students. You can start with your academic record. Medical schools’ websites include information about their average GPA and MCAT scores. Some have minimums as well. It’s also worth evaluating how your entire application compares to a given school’s students.
“Do your research,” Dr. Paul advises. “Look at the admissions websites for all the schools you are interested in and see which fit your application best.” Dr. Paul adds that if you have a lot of volunteer experience, it would be smart to see which schools put more emphasis on those activities. Some schools are committed to holistic reviews and really care about the things you’ve done outside the classroom.
“Look at the admissions websites for all the schools you are interested in and see which fit your application best.”
Quality Standards
This might go without saying, but it’s also important to ensure each program you apply to meets some specific benchmarks. You should make sure the vast majority of any program’s students pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1. Keep in mind that 97 percent of US and Canadian allopathic students taking it for the first time in 2019 passed.
You should also seek information about residency placement rates. What percentage of a school’s students obtain postgraduate positions? A high number indicates students receive a great education and are well prepared for life after medical school.
And be sure to dig into accreditations if you’re considering any international medical schools. Beginning in 2024, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will only certify international grads to practice in the US if they attended a program accredited by an agency the World Federation of Medical Education has approved. ECFMG certification is required for all international graduates seeking a residency in the US.
It doesn’t hurt to investigate what student support services are available, either. Medical school is incredibly rigorous, even for the best students. It could be incredibly beneficial to have an extra layer of support should you find yourself struggling.
PLAN YOUR PATH
Comparing medical school acceptance rates might be useful to a point, but you clearly need to think about a lot of other factors when determining which programs could be right for you. It won’t do you any good to attend a research-oriented program that’s incredibly selective if you’re interested in clinical primary care. You’ll be better off if you maintain an open mind as you continue your research. You may even find that certain Caribbean schools align with your needs and interests.
But perhaps you’ve heard some rumors that make you a little hesitant about going abroad for medical school. Separate fact from fiction by reading our article, “The Truth About Caribbean Medical Schools: Debunking the Myths.”
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