Registration must be completed by mail before classes start each semester. Students may not register unless all documents required for matriculation have been received by SAIU. New students enrolled in the Basic Science Segment must confirm their registration in person before classes begin. Unregistered students will not be admitted to classes.

Continuing students must register in person at the beginning of each semester on campus. Students in the Clinical Science Segment register through the Office of the Dean of Clinical Medicine.

All academic matters, including grades, grading policies, and probationary standing while students are enrolled in the Basic Science Segment are within the purview of SAISOM’s Promotions Committee. This committee submits its recommendations to the Dean of Basic Sciences, who will consult with the committee and render a final decision.

South American International University expects its students to adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour in every aspect of their lives. Students must conduct all aspects of their lives with honesty, integrity, and respect for others.

Cheating on examinations or with laboratory data, and plagiarism from the school or from fellow students are not tolerated. Both cheating and stealing can lead to expulsion from the University.

The Student Government Association of the Faculty of Medicine oversees an Honour Code, whose jurisdiction extends to all students. This Code is based on principles of medical ethics and the Hippocratic Oath. Its purpose is to foster habits of honesty and morality that graduates will carry with them into their professional lives. All incoming students will sign the Honour Code as a requirement for matriculation. The Honour Code is printed in the Student Handbook.

Any grievances should be taken up first with the student’s instructor. If unresolved, the student should present their grievance to the appropriate Dean. If still unresolved, the student may present the grievance to the University Grievance Committee — the investigative and judicial arm of the University, with authority over all matters involving violations of professional conduct standards.

Students are placed on Academic Probation if they fail to maintain the academic requirements of the University — including failing any course or failing to maintain a GPA of 2.0.

A student may be involuntarily dismissed from the University for the following reasons:

• Failure to maintain academic achievement as determined by the Promotions Committee
• Cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty
• Violation of the laws of the host country
• Development of emotional or mental instability that diminishes academic capacity or poses a risk to the student or others

To be eligible to receive the degree Doctor of Medicine from SAIU School of Medicine, a student must have met the following requirements:

• Successful completion of all courses in the Basic Science Curriculum
• Successful completion of all core and elective clerkships in the Clinical Medicine Curriculum, taken in approved hospitals
• Passing Steps I and II of the USMLE, or an equivalent exam acceptable to SAISOM
• Payment of all tuition, fees and charges owed to the University

Courses in the Pre-Medical and Basic Science Programmes are graded as follows:

All students should strive to maintain a “B” average, which is considered the benchmark for passing the USMLE Part 1.

Examinations are administered on the 5th, 10th, and 15th Mondays of the semester. They are comprehensive and cumulative, covering the first five weeks, the first ten weeks, and the entire course respectively. Computerised examinations are employed to simulate the USMLE Steps 1 & 2, ensuring students are well-prepared for licensing examinations. 80% attendance at lectures, labs, and tutorials is required to sit for the final examination in each subject.

Class attendance is mandatory. Emergency absences are granted only under extraordinary, well-documented circumstances (death of immediate family, medical emergency). Unauthorised leaves render the student liable for suspension or dismissal.

Students who have withdrawn must apply for re-admission if they wish to return. Students may not withdraw from a particular course during a semester — they must withdraw from the school entirely.

Student vacation time runs from the last day of one semester until the orientation day of the next, plus 10 official holidays. Academic Leave of Absence requests must be submitted in writing at least 2 weeks prior to the end of the semester.

The Student Counselling Services provides free-of-charge services to assist students. Counsellors work under professional codes of confidentiality, with no limit on usage of the service. Common stress factors include adjustment to a new environment, the pressure of studies, USMLE preparation, and transition to clinical clerkships.

The Career Guidance Office (OCG) advises students on USMLE preparation, specialty and residency selection, CV preparation, interview skills, and the residency application process in the US, UK, and non-US programmes. The OCG also acts as a liaison with the ECFMG.