collageAnguilla is in the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, east of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The main island of Anguilla is about 16 miles long by three miles wide. With a population of approximately 13,500, Anguilla is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
Anguilla is home to seven marine parks and some of the best beaches in the world. A popular resort destination with miles of spectacular white sand and tranquil, crystal clear waters, it is one of the Caribbean’s top locations for snorkelling and diving. The transparent waters surrounding the island hold coral reefs dotted with numerous shipwrecks.
Explore the beauty of the island on foot, bicycle, or on horseback. There are a number of golf courses and tennis courts. Natural attractions include salt ponds, wetlands, bird sanctuaries, and a small rainforest located in the north of the island.
Anguilla is only a few miles north of the island of St-Martin / St Maarten, which is divided between two nations and jointly administered by France and the Netherlands. It’s a great option for a day trip with a rich and varied culture and a vibrant nightlife.
STUDENT LIFE IN ANGUILLA
Welcome to your Caribbean med school community. We promise you individual attention, small classes, and personal support. Anguilla is safe and friendly, and offers a warm welcome with tutoring, mentoring and plenty of opportunities for peer led learning.
Our Buddy Program on Anguilla is an initiative driven by our students to help new students feel at home. The Buddy Program matches you with a current Saint James student in Anguilla, who will answer your questions and help you settle in when you arrive.
STUDENT ASSOCIATION
As a student of Saint James School of Medicine, you can also join a number of student organizations and associations. Saint James is proud to support these campus organizations financially, and students are always welcome to form new clubs. Some opportunities for involvement include: Red Cross, AARF, Cover 2 Cover, and White Coat Committee.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
The goal of the Student Government Association (SGA) is to promote self-improvement, maintain good relations with the island community, organize recreational activities, and address any student issues in collaboration with the medical school administration.
The SGA sponsors student events like the welcome party for new students and health related projects for the island community. The officers meet regularly with the medical school administration to discuss any student concerns and issues.
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The American Medical Students Association (AMSA) is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. The AMSA is a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training.
With a membership of more than 67,000 medical students, pre-medical students, interns, residents and practicing physicians from across the country, AMSA is committed to improving medical training and the nation’s health.
ADVENTURE ANGUILLA CLUB
One of the beauties of attending Caribbean med school is the wealth of activities available to you outside study hours. This club allows students to take part in many of the activities Anguilla is known for. Students can try their hand at scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, biking, horseback riding, windsurfing, parasailing, and boating.
STUDENT HOUSING ON ANGUILLA
Most apartments are located a short distance from the medical campus. Living close to campus will give you an opportunity to meet classmates, become familiar with the island, and form study groups.
Rent starts from around $500 per month. Furnished apartments include furniture, linens, towels, cookware, air conditioning, and/or ceiling fans. Tenants are generally responsible for electricity, telephone, cooking gas, and cable TV charges, however rent and utilities can be negotiable. Laundry facilities are usually located in the apartment or within the apartment complexes
Please request student housing accommodation lists from our Housing Coordinator once you’re enrolled, and let the coordinator know your arrival date at least one month before classes begin. It’s a good idea to arrive in Anguilla two to three weeks before classes start, so you have time to get settled. We recommend that you do not sign any lease until you have arrived and viewed the apartment. The SGA and your buddy on campus can also advise you on good places to live.
“OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, FACULTY ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. THEY’RE ALWAYS MORE THAN WILLING TO TALK WITH YOU. THEY’RE THERE TO HELP YOU WITH WHATEVER YOU MAY NEED.”
Aqsaa, MD3, Saint James Anguilla
TRAVEL TO ANGUILLA
Major airlines in the US, Canada, and Europe have flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico or St. Maarten where you can take a connecting flight to Anguilla. Services fly from Anguilla to various other Caribbean islands, Anguilla Air Express offers flights to San Juan and Puerto Rico. Anguilla’s airport is called the Clayton J Lloyd Airport.
Regular ferries link Anguilla and the neighboring island of St. Maarten, with a travel time of about twenty minutes. Sometimes students are able to get a discount on Charter ferries from the St. Maarten airport.
Visitors to Anguilla need a valid passport, along with a roundtrip ticket with a return date within 90 days of your arrival.
GETTING AROUND ANGUILLA
Saint James Anguilla is located near The Valley, the capital of Anguilla. Most locations in The Valley are within walking distance and many students use bicycles. Taxis are the only public transportation on Anguilla.
The campus runs a student bus service that picks students up in the morning and has several drop-off times after class. We recommend that you check that your apartment is on the student bus route before you sign the lease. The Housing Coordinator can help you find an apartment on the bus route.
Many students purchase cars while they live on the island then sell them to new students as they leave. Monthly rental plans for mopeds and cars are available.
LANGUAGE IN ANGUILLA
English is the official language of Anguilla. The most common language, other than English, is the islands own English-Creole language, referred to locally as dialect or Anguillian.
WEATHER IN ANGUILLA
Anguilla has a tropical but relatively dry climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. The temperature varies little throughout the year with a monthly mean temperature of 80 degrees. Rainfall is erratic with an average annual rainfall of 35 inches.
FOOD IN ANGUILLA
Anguillan cuisine is influenced by American, Amerindian, Caribbean, Continental, Creole, French, Indo-Chinese, Italian, and Mediterranean flavors. You’ll find a wide range of dining options with bistros, bars, roadside grills, and gourmet eateries.
Local ingredients include pigeon peas, coconut, sweet potatoes, plantain, yellow corn, mangoes, limes, fresh fish, abundant crayfish and spiny rock lobsters.
Traditional dishes include conki dumplings (steamed corn dumplings, sweetened with coconut and spices), a salt fish dish with onions, tomatoes and peppers, often served for breakfast, and pigeon peas and rice. Sweet sour tamarind balls are a seasonal local delicacy when tamarind pods are ripe.
Grocery stores are plentiful and well-stocked.
CELL PHONES, CABLE TV, AND INTERNET
The area code for Anguilla is 264.
Cell phones, Internet, and cable TV services are readily available. A deposit is required for standard cell phone service and the Internet. Telecom providers in Anguilla include: Digital and FLOW. Cell phones may also be rented from these providers. Saint James School of Medicine can give you more information on these services upon your arrival.
BANKING
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. US currency, traveler’s checks, and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATM machines dispense both local and US currency.
The exchange rate is fixed at US $1 = EC $2.68.
Banking hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
MAIL TO AND FROM ANGUILLA
The postal code for Anguilla is 2640.
The post office in The Valley is open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm, Friday 8:00 am – 4:45 pm.
All mail should be marked “AIR MAIL” to expedite delivery.
TIME IN ANGUILLA
The time in Anguilla is Atlantic Standard (Eastern Standard Time plus one hour).
Additional Information
Doors Opened in:1999Programs Offered:MedicineDegrees Granted:MD – Doctor of MedicinePre-Med Offered:YesListed in IMED:YesListed in WHO:Yes
Tuition Fees
Base Tuition:Additional FeesFurther Information:
Accreditation Details
MCAT Requirements:Saint James School of Medicine does not require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)Duration of Program(s):4 Yrs
The MD Program
Shelf Exams:NoExit Exams:YesDetails about the Pre-Med Program (if available):Details about the Basic Sciences:
The MD program at Saint James is a 10 semester course of study that consists of three semesters per calendar year. Semesters 1-4 are basic sciences semesters that are completed at one of the school’s two Caribbean campuses.Details about the Clinical Sciences:
Semester 5 (Introduction to Clinical Medicine) is completed on the same island in which you completed your Basic Sciences portion of the program. Semesters 6-10 consist of 80 weeks of clinical study that are completed at affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities in the United States.
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