Introduction

Educational requirements

The South American International School of Medicine (SAISOM) recognizes that students with different backgrounds will have to be individually evaluated and entered into a program most fitting their individual background and needs. Applicants with a Bachelors degree with emphasis on Sciences are eligible to enter the MD degree program. Applicants with a high-school degree, pre-university, IB program or A-levels (all with sciences) must first complete the pre-medical program of the South American International College of Health Sciences (SAICHS). SAICHS offers two options: (a) a Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies, and (b) an accelerated pre-medical science program. Upon successful completion of one of these programs students will be admitted to the MD program if they have maintained the required GPA.

Requirements for application to the MD degree program

Applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree based on the U. S., Canadian or British System of Education:

Bachelor’s degree with recommended courses at college-level:

• Inorganic or General Chemistry (with labs) -- 8 to 12 credit hours
• Organic Chemistry (with labs) -- 8 to 12 credit hours
• General Biology or Zoology (with labs) -- 8 to 12 credit hours
• Physics (with labs) -- 8 to 12 credit hours
• College-level Mathematics( Calculus or Statistics) -- 3 to 5 credit hours
• English ( Language Arts ) -- 6 to 9 credit hours
• Supplementary study (*) -- 3 to 5 credit hours

(*) Suggested supplementary study: Physiology; Biochemistry; Foreign languages; Computer science & Statistics, and Microbiology.

Success in medical school is closely correlated to at least one academic year of each of the above mentioned college-level courses. Applicants must complete at least 96 credits prior to enrolling in medical school. SAIU does not require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Applicants from Other Systems of Education:

Applicants who have completed their undergraduate studies in countries with an educational system different from those mentioned above will be evaluated on their merits but will be expected to have completed a pre-medical curriculum comparable to that described above.

Transfer Students and Advanced Standing

Students enrolled or previously enrolled in a W.H.O. recognized medical school may apply for admission with advance standing.

Applicants must request the medical school they attended or are attending to send an official transcript of their academic record. This official transcript should be sent directly to SAIU. It is the applicant's responsibility to supply official course descriptions and course-by-course evaluations of the courses they have completed. It may be necessary for this to be attested to by an approved international credentials evaluation agency. Transcripts that are not in English must come with an official translation.