Transfer Students and Advanced Standing

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

The Admissions Committee, in consultation with the Promotions Committee, will determine the level of placement in the curriculum of accepted transfer students.

Transfer credit cannot be given for incomplete or failed courses, or for courses taken more than four years prior to the time the applicant is accepted for enrollment at South American International University.

Transfer students that have completed Basic Sciences at another medical school are required to complete at least one semester at South American International University prior to being admitted to the Clinical Sciences. Students are required to complete the USMLE Step 1 – or an equivalent exam acceptable to SAIU – prior to entering the clinical sciences program.

Physician’s assistants, Registered Nurses, Podiatrists, and Chiropractors are able to use their completed coursework to qualify for admissions but are not eligible for advanced standing. Dentists may be granted advanced standing for certain courses. Students with advanced degrees (MSc., PhD.) in a specific subject matter may be granted credit in the specific area of their degree.