Official Language	English, Dutch, Spanish and French
Currency	East Caribbean Dollars, Bahamian Dollar, Barbadian Dollar, Jamaican Dollar, etc.
Literacy rate	71%
Population	4.45 crores
Time Difference from India	Varies according to 4 time zones in Caribbeans (CIST, CST, EDT & EST)
Travel time from Delhi to Caribbean	19-20 hours on an average (rest depends on which country you are going for)
MD in Caribbean Tuition Fees	Approx.  US$ 3,500- 4800 unlike India
Type of colleges	Both Private & Government
Duration of MBBS	5 years
Medium of Instruction	English, students will be taught the local language also.

 

Glance at The Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean Islands - consists of the Caribbean Sea, its island and the surrounding coastal areas.  The region has a large area extending from the southern coast of the United States to the northern coast of South America, bounded on the west by Mexico and the Central American states facing out to the Atlantic on the east. The Caribbean Islands have a sprawling area of 2.754 million km². The Caribbean Islands are divided into three major physiographic categories that constitute the West Indies- the Greater Antilles, comprising the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico; the Lesser Antilles, including Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat, etc. It is famous for its amazing scenic beauty, beaches and lovely climate. The most prominent languages spoken in these islands are English, Spanish, French, Dutch and Antillean Creole.

One of the major sectors for which The Caribbean Islands are majorly praised is Excellent Medical Education. MD (Doctor of Medicine) in the Caribbean is an ideal choice for all the international students coming from various nationalities. There are no chances of a language barrier as English is the first/ second language in most Caribbean islands and is also the official "language of Tourism & Education", the most dominant industry in the Caribbean region.

Merits of MD in the Caribbean Islands- Admirable Option For Indian Students

In the past few years, the Caribbean Islands have shown rapid development in the medical education system. There are many Top Medical Universities in the Caribbean Islands that offers quality education following the American or British (at some places) model of the education system. Pursuing MD (Doctor of Medicine) in the Caribbean gives you multiple opportunities to establish yourself into a skilled doctor. It provides immense satisfaction to the students for comfortable living while studying for their academic dreams.

The Caribbean Islands have two types of medical schools: Regional and Offshore. The regional medical universities train the medical students to practice in the country, where the school is located. However, the offshore medical colleges of Caribbean Islands train students from the United States, Canada, India; who intend to return home for residency and clinical practice after graduation. Indian students should have no fear of practising their medical career in India, as it is easily possible by pursuing MD from the Caribbean, by clearing the MCI Screening Tests or FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) successfully upon their degree completion. The degrees offered in the Medical Universities of Caribbean Islands are approved by the famous Medical Education Regulators of India- Medical Council of India (MCI) and enlisted with World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS).

Return to India for practice- After completion of your medical studies, if the students want to practice their medical career in India, then they have to qualify for the FMGE MCI screening test, which is mandatory for all and also one of the most critical exams of your medical career.

To practice anywhere in the world, students have to qualify for the licensing exams of that particular country, just like in India; it is compulsory that graduates have to clear the screening test. This test is conducted to test your skills & capabilities as a future doctor. It is conducted two times a year (June & December), so students have the options to clear this exam in two attempts. It has no age limit, no rankings, no demand for National ranks. The exam is of 300 marks and 50% marks (150) are required to pass the test.

Pursue MD in USA or Germany after MD in the Caribbean Islands - The major benefit of completing MD/MS in USA or Germany is that students do not need to appear for MCI Screening Test before or after MD in the Caribbean Islands/Abroad. Upon your degree completion in the Caribbean Islands, you can pursue Postgraduate level (MD/MS) from USA/Germany without clearing the MCI test. The degree offered from USA or Germany would be valid in India. Also, all the students are given a monthly stipend while pursuing Medicine in America.

Here are some of the top reasons why Indian students should opt for the Caribbean Medical Schools:

• Easy Admission Policy
• No requirement for ELPs (English Language Proficiency tests like IELTS/TOEFL etc.)
• Rolling Admissions (January, May & September)
• Globally recognized degrees are offered approved by MCI and enlisted with WDOMS
• Finest Medical Curriculum in-line with the US Curriculum.
• English is used as the medium of instruction
• Accelerated Study Program
• Holistic Evaluation
• Excellent student-teacher ratio, unlike India wherein it is skewed
• Clinical Rotations in good & renowned Hospitals
• High Success Rate
• Low fee structure unlike India
• Affordable cost of living
• Great future prospects in India or Abroad
• Tropical Paradise

Drawbacks of pursuing MD from Caribbean

There many advantages of pursuing Medical in the Caribbean, but here, let us have a brief look on its flip side-

Comfort Zone- It is a generic habit that Indian students & parents are more concerned about comfortable living and mess facilities. If you will step out of your comfort zone in a foreign land, then you might get a little discomfort in the Caribbean Islands, because of different climatic conditions & cultural ambience. But despite the fact, you will be equipped with every basic amenity for a homely feeling in the Caribbean Islands.  

Limited options for residency- In case, medical students aspire to practice medicine in the Caribbean Islands only, all International students would require Residency and there are very fewer chances of residency in the Caribbean Islands. Even if you score high in your academics, you are still limited in your residency options.

Chances of high competition- Upon joining the Caribbean, the students will have to compete for the top ranks in their class. They will have to score high to match the remarkable standard of the Caribbean Medical schools. But, high competition may result in the enhancement of your skills.   

Chances of Observership- A major issue could be that during your Internship you may not be allowed to touch the patients, so make sure it is not ‘Observership’. But on the brighter side of it, you can observe & interact with the patients to acquire knowledge about the different ailments that humans can suffer from. Also, you can develop various case studies out of it, which will help further in your medical career as a Doctor.

Top Medical Universities in the Caribbean

• Lincoln American University, Guyana
• Bridgetown International University, Barbados
• All American Institute of Medical Sciences (AAIMS), Jamaica
• American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua
• Ross University School of Health Sciences, Barbados
• Spartan Health Sciences University, St. Lucia, West Indies
• The American University of Barbados
• Victoria University of Barbados, Barbados
• Greenheart Medical University, Georgetown, Guyana
• Texila American University College of Medicine, Guyana
• The University of West Indies, Jamaica
• St. Georges University, Grenada

 

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS in the Caribbean Islands

Before choosing the Caribbean Islands as a destination for your medical education, let’s get aware of all the factors necessary to take admission at Medical Universities in the Caribbean Nations-

ELIGIBILITY

Criteria reserved for Indian students to take admission in MD at any of the Top Medical Universities in the Caribbean Islands, stated as follows-

• Every medical aspirant from India must have completed his/her class XII in Science; having scored a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. This is especially required for students from Unreserved Category.
• Reserved category (SC/ST/OBC) students can apply with the 40% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology; as per the guidelines by Medical Council of India (MCI).
• The student must have qualified for NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). It is mandatory from 2019 onwards.
• No additional entrance test or examination is required.

ADMISSION PROCESS

The team of Education Abroad brings out the easiest admission procedure for the aspirants of MD in the Caribbean Islands.

Go through the following steps and get yourself enrolled with the Top Medical Universities in just a few days-

Step 1- Fill the Application Form

Step 2- Submit your academic documents like X & XII mark sheets (educational certificates), Birth Certificate, NEET scorecard and Passport size photographs.

Step 3- Passport: Students usually think that if they do not have a passport, then the registration process is not possible for them. This is not true, you can still register yourself even if you do not have a passport. It is not mandatory. Also, at the time of registration to the University, you can apply for your passport at- Passport india

Step 4- Then, the students will receive their Admission Letter from their chosen University.

Step 5- Students will have to apply for ‘Visa Invitation letter’ then for which, you require the following:

• Passport
• Medical Fitness Certificate
• Bank statement of 6 months (can be of Father or Mother)
• Passport size photographs with white background

Step 6- Visa stamping is your last step for the admission process. We - at Education Abroad, get your Visa stamped from Embassies of respective countries of the Caribbean Islands in India

Complete all the above steps, pack your bags and get ready to fly towards the Caribbean Islands Nations to accomplish your academic dreams in medicine!!

FEE STRUCTURE OF THE TOP MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

MBBS Fee of Lincoln American University

MBBS Fee of Victoria University of Barbados

MBBS Fee of Bridgetown International University

Career Prospects after studying MD from the Caribbean

MD in the Caribbean Islands, stand out to be an ideal choice for international students, especially for Indian students. There are plenty of options that you can opt after completing your Medical education from any of the Top Medical Universities in the Caribbean. Studying from one of the offshore Universities in the Caribbean Islands gives you an enormous pool of opportunities.

Offshore Universities allows its graduates to practice their medical career in USA, Canada, Caribbeans or India at good hospitals or medical colleges of that particular country.

Students can come back to India: Upon your completion of MD degree, students who want to practice their medical career in India can return back to India and appear for FMGE or MCI Screening Test. Once they will qualify with 50% marks out of 300, they will be eligible for permanent registration with MCI and also, they can practice at any Hospital or medical college of India.

Get settled in the Caribbean- After becoming the MD (Physician) from the Caribbean, which is equivalent to MBBS in India; you can practice in the Caribbeans Islands also. You can pursue post-graduation from the Caribbean Universities and settle down there. This is a career path that many alumni have already choosen.

Choose any other option: Whichever country you wish to practice will have some kind of licensing exam or language barrier or both. Clear the exam, learn the language and you will be good to go.

Services provided by Education abroad

We cater to our students with the following services-

• Personal Counselling
• Admission procedure at Top medical universities in the Caribbean Islands
• Visa assistance
• Payment protection
• Pre-departure Orientation Ceremony
• Travel arrangements