American University of Antigua College of Medicine Provides a Medical Education Equal To

AmericanUniversity of Antigua – College of Medicine

International Medicine Studies, s.r.o.

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International Student Information Pack

Academic Year 2010/2011

Table of Contents

Table of content ……………………………………………………………2

AmericanUniversity of Antigua ………………………….……………………..3

AUA degree Programs ……………………………………………………………3

4-year MD Degree Program……………………………………………………4

6-year AS/MD Degree Program…………………………………………………4

Pre-Medical Program…………………………………………………………5

Applying to AUA via IMS …………………………………………………………6

Application Requirements …………………………………………………………6

Student Life in Antigua ……………………………………………………………7

About Antigua ……………………………………………………………………..8

New Campus at AUA ………………………………………………………………8

Student Housing ……………………………………………………………………9

AUA Housing Options ……………………………………………………………..11

Housing Costs ………………………………………………………………………12

Health Insurance …………………………………………………………….13

Transportation ……………………………………………………………….14

Immigration ……………………………………………………………………….14

Tuition & Fees …………………………………………………………………….15

Other expenses-Pre-Med & Basic sciences…………………………………16

Refund Policy ……………………………………………………………….17

Requirements for graduation ……………………………………………….18

Agents around Europe ………………………………………………………20

Fee Transfer Form …………………………………………………………..21

Appendix Instructions #1 ……………………………………………………22

AmericanUniversity ofAntiguaCollege of Medicine was founded by American physicians, American hospital administrators, and American medical-education professionals to fill the shortage of qualified physicians available for U.S. residencies, and for the practice of medicine in the United States.

As the only hospital-integrated medical school in the Caribbean, AUA students are provided with hands-on learning from their first semester. The School of Medicine is fully recognized and approved by the government of Antigua to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine upon students who fulfill the School's admission requirements and complete the prescribed curriculum.

The medical school provides students with a superior medical education, preparing them to pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLEs) and for licensure to practice medicine in the United States.

AUA Degree Programs

AmericanUniversity of Antigua College of Medicine provides a medical education equal to highest U.S. medical educational standards. The purpose of the training at UAU is to prepare students to pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), for U.S. medical licensure, and to provide the foundation for postgraduate specialty training. AUA students begin their clinical experience during their first semester at the HolbertonHospital in St. Johns, Antigua (200 beds). Clinical rotations are completed at U.S. teaching hospitals.

The curriculum is modeled after U.S. medical schools and the university does their utmost to prepare students for the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)which is required in order to graduate.

Students take their first four semesters of basic sciences courses at the Antigua campus. Our faculty is experienced and dedicated to teaching, and many have received distinguished teacher awards from the students of the medical schools at which they taught before they came to AUA.

The fifth semester Preliminary Clinical Training course is taught through the auspices of the Greater Miami Health Education and Training Campus (GMHETC). After the fifth semester students take the USMLE Step I, and then proceed to clinical rotations, both mandatory and elective, at AUA affiliated hospitals in the U.S.

AUA offers two distinct programs for students interested in earning a medical degree.

The four-year MD degree program is designed for students who have either have an undergraduate degree or have completed at least 90 college credits and all prerequisite courses.

The six year AS/MD degree program is designed for students who are starting their medical career directly from high school and non-traditional students who do not have or are missing prerequisite courses for the four-year MD program.

4-year MD Degree Program starts with four 16-week semesters in Antigua where the curriculum is comprised of courses in Basic Sciences and their application to clinical medicine. Semesters begin in January, May and September, and students can begin their studies in any semester.

First and fourth semester students attend teaching rounds at the general hospital, conducted by our clinical faculty. Students are exposed to patients of all age groups. In addition, students practice history taking and physical examinations with patients at our ICM lab on campus. Third and fourth semester students also attend autopsies at the hospital as part of their pathology course.

After completing and passing all Basic Sciences courses, students start the Clinical Sciences segment of the program. First, they attend the 16-week Medicine 01 semester conducted in Miami, FL or Pontiac, MI. Upon completion, students are ready to sit for the US Medical Licensing Examination(USMLE) Step 1.

The Clinical Clerkship segment consists of 6- and 12-week core and 4-week elective rotations at various AUA-affiliated ACGME-approved teaching hospitals in the U.S. Students can begin their Clinical Clerkships with a core rotation after taking the Step 1 exam and waiting for the results. After receiving a passing score, students continue with the remainder of their clinical rotations. Once all 75 weeks of required clinical rotations are completed and the student passed both USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge exams, they are eligible for graduation.

If all coursework is taken consecutively, the medical program can be completed in 40 months or just over 3.5 years. The Doctor of Medicine degree is awarded after students have successfully completed all the requirements including the Basic Sciences and Clinical Sciences coursework. Graduating students are eligible to participate in the National Residency Match program (NRMP), same as students graduating from U.S. medical schools. Graduates are also eligible to apply for their ECFMG certification.

6-year AS/MD Degree Programin Antigua

Leads to both an Associate in Science(AS) in Pre -Health Sciences degree and an MD degree. The program incorporates college level science and humanities courses with medical school courses in a six-year program. This track is ideal for graduating high school students who are committed to medicine and are ready to begin their medical studies immediately after completing high school. It is also the path for non-traditional students who need to complete prerequisite courses before being accepted to the medical program.

Pre-Medical Program

A Pre-Medical Program is offered in Antigua to students who are starting their medical career directly from high school and non-traditional students who do not have or are missing prerequisite courses for the four-year M.D. program. The program consists of college level science and humanities courses to prepare students for medical school, and helps them to think critically and develop good communications skills.

The admissions committee may also recommend that students who completed prerequisite courses unsatisfactorily repeat those specific classes before starting the four-year MD program. Upon successfully passing these required courses, students are promoted to the next level.

Applying to AUA via IMS

Once an application for admission has been completed, it is reviewed by the AUA Admissions Committee; students can expect to hear from AUA promptly.

Applicants must send the required items to:

International Medicine Studies, s.r.o.

Vlcie Hrdlo 55

82412 Bratislava

SlovakRepublic

Ms. Katarina Szikhartová

Application Requirements

• Completed Application Form.
• Completed Personal Statement - the length of the personal statement is to be no morethan two pages long and double spaced. Explain why you are considering a career in medicine, why you would be an asset to AUA, and significant accomplishments or activities, personal interests, and any additional information that would be useful to the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application.
• Official transcripts from each institution attended (directly from issuing institution)
• A nonrefundable application fee of 195 Euro. * (Payment instruction and Bank details in the last page).
• MCATs are not required. Scores are considered by the Admissions Committee if submitted.
• Step I scores for those applicants who took Step I (regardless of passing or failing).
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score (for foreign students).
• Current resume with chronological listing of educational and employment history,
• Two letters (one professional one personal) of recommendation from a pre-med advisor, a professor with whom the applicant has studied, or a physician with whom the applicant has worked. (Must be sent directly from the writer.)

Please adhere to these standards without exception:

-The letters of recommendation (both academic and non-academic) must be on official letterhead stationary with contact information (postal address, email and/or phone).

- Any letter of recommendation MUST be signed.

- Letters of recommendation by email (main body) are acceptable only in the interim until a hardcopy arrives.

- Letters of recommendation that are on official letterhead stationary and are attached to an email but are not signed must carry the following statement in lieu of a signature: “This letter of recommendation was sent electronically and does not bear my signature. I may be contacted by …”

- The letters of recommendation must NOT be from a first or second degree relative.

- Academic letters of recommendation must be from a college professor (faculty member) whose course(s) the applicant has attended.

- Academic letters of recommendation from lab technicians, graduate students, etc. are NOT acceptable, even when co-signed by an individual with a doctoral degree.

- Academic letters of recommendation are not required from applicants who have been out of school for more than 2 years.

Student Life in Antigua

A beautiful place in which to live, Antigua is an ideal location for the study of medicine: serene, secure, and sustaining. AUA provides students with the most modern comforts and familiar lifestyle of any medical school in the Caribbean, in a stable and safeenvironment. Antigua is among the most modern of the Caribbean islands, and students can find every amenity and comfort of home. Surrounded by natural beauty and fabulous beaches, calm and friendly Antiguans, and an abundance of recreational possibilities, you will find living in Antigua to be part of a fulfilling experience, of becoming a doctor.

Located 250 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, Antigua is an independent nation that was formerly a member of the British Commonwealth. English is the native language. Antigua is easily accessible by daily flights from many U.S. cities, some nonstop. AUA is located in St. John's, Antigua's capital and largest city.

Student housing is beautiful and affordable, and includes every amenity, such as air conditioning, have balconies overlooking the water, and modern baths. Supermarkets are stocked with familiar items and brands. The island is well served by public transportation.

Sports:

There are various sport facilities in the area: Hiking, cycling, golf, tennis, horse-riding, diving and sailing!

Student Government:

Visit AUA's Student Government Association for student services available at AUA!

About Antigua

Antigua was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, who named the island Antigua, after the Santa Maria La Antigua church in Seville, Spain. The British were the first Europeans to establish a settlement in 1632 and, except for a brief period when the settlement was occupied by the French, Antigua remained a British colony until 1967.

Similar to other Caribbean islands, Antigua was turned into a sugar-producing island. Slaves were imported from African countries until 1838. Antigua is still a part of the Commonwealth of Nations and the 157th member of the United Nations. It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Common Market (CCM), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

The system ofGovernment which exists in Antigua is one of democracy based upon the British Parliamentary system. The Government consists of a Cabinet of Ministers which is headed by the Prime Minister. Antigua's democratic government is heavily influenced by the English parliamentary system. The Parliament is made up of two houses: the lower house and the upper house.

Language

The official language of the country is English, although natives speak a local dialect known as Creole.

Currency

The Currency in use is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is linked to the United States dollar at the official exchange rate. Almost all merchants accept U.S. currency.

NEW CAMPUS at AUA

The facilities on the new campus will consist of:
• Theater Classroom Building – 9,600 SF of classroom space that will accommodate 480 students
• Laboratory Building – 9,000 SF of laboratory and classroom space that accommodates 168 Histology/Pathology students in a classroom setting and 245 Anatomy students working at 35 lab tables
• Administrative/Staff Building – 10,000 SF.

• Microbiology Classroom Building – 9000 SF of classroom space to seat up to 480 students
• Student Union/Library Building – 12,000 SF that will house over 5,000 pieces of biomedical information, reading materials both printed and non printed, audio visual aids, computerized instructional materials and advanced technological resources and Internet access, on line journals, full texts as well as self testing materials. There will be private study cubicles and group study areas
• Student Services and Housing – including recreational facilities, utility space, meeting and study rooms and housing for first semester students.
• Auditorium – 4,000 SF to seat 300 students with covered kiosk for local vendors
• Athletic fields – over 42,000 SF of space that will be accessible to both students and the local community. The area will include a soccer field, tennis courts, a beach front, a park and parking spaces.

Student Housing

AUA requires that all new incoming, 1st semester Pre-Med and Basic Science students (not applicable to transfer students) reside in University-provided housing for the first two semesters. Housing options are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students can choose any of the housing options available, as detailed below. Please download and complete the Housing and Transportation Form (PDF). Please return it to our New York office within 30 days from your acceptance notification. If you are accepted less than 30 days before class registration, your deposit and forms are due within 5 days from acceptance.. If you are accepted less than 30 days before class registration, your deposit and forms are due within 5 days from acceptance.

AUA offers a full range of housing choices. These range from single rooms in hotel-like settings to two and three-bedroom furnished villas with fully equipped kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms. They are divided into three groups, depending on amenities provided. AUA defines single rooms as bedrooms occupied by one person. Double rooms are bedrooms occupied by two persons.

You can find full listings, descriptions, photographs and costs for housing in each group on the AUA website, under Student Housing as well as a link to an independent housing site.

All AUA sponsoredhousing comes with weekly housekeeping services. Students will need to

bring their own queen size sheets, pillow cases and towels.

AUA students move to independent housing after their second semester. We encourage our students to use their time during their first year on the island to become familiar with the independent housing options so they can make an educated decision about future living arrangements.

AUA Housing Options

Various housing choices are available in limited numbers. Options are available on a first come first served basis. Students may request either a single (one in a bedroom) or a double (two in a bedroom – available in Group 3 only). The University will endeavor to fulfill all requests as possible.

Group I

Group I housing is the most upscale, single-occupancy rooms available. There are one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. They come with full kitchens and the most modern amenities. All housing is fully furnished and comes supplied with kitchen appliances and utensils. All have washing machines either in the apartment or on the premise. All have televisions and are fully air conditioned. Many have balconies directly overlooking the water. Cable TV and Internet access is available. This group is about 7 to 10 minutes by car from campus. Electrical service is 110 AC.

Group II

Group II housing includes one bedroom apartments and two and three bedroom single-occupancy suites with full kitchens and private bath. The suites have private bathrooms, common kitchen and living room. All housing is fully furnished and is supplied with kitchen appliances and utensils. All housing has Cable TV, air conditioning and Internet access. Some of the houses are on or near the beach. This group is about 10 to 15 minutes from campus and shopping facilities, while others are 20 to 25 minutes by car from campus. Electrical service is 110 AC.

Group III

Group III housing consists of small apartment complexes reserved exclusively for AUA students. Both single and double-occupancy units are fully furnished and air conditioned. Rooms are available with private bath and kitchenette. Amenities include televisions, microwave ovens, coffee makers, mini-refrigerators. Some apartments have private decks. Laundry facilities, Cable TV and Internet service are available. This group is from 5 minutes walk to 15 minutes by car from campus. Electrical service is 110 AC with the exception of Cortsland, which is mainly 220V. Transformers are necessary to operate computers etc.

No Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted inside University Housing. In most cases there are outdoor decks or patios, attached to the units, where smoking is permissible.

HOUSING COSTS:

A nonrefundable housing deposit in the amount of $750, is due 45 days prior to class registration. If your acceptance is within that 45 day window, your housing deposit is due within 10 days of the receipt of your acceptance letter.