Universities in Sint Maarten

The Netherlands Antilles no longer exists as a country. On 10 October 2010 Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba became special municipalities of the Netherlands, according to the Dutch government. Aruba is a separate country within the Kingdom. Universities on these islands therefore now belong to different education systems, and each island regulates its own institutions.

The page still groups the former Netherlands Antilles because some schools in our directory are listed under it. At present this is one school: the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), in Cupecoy on Sint Maarten.

Universities on the islands

Each of the larger islands has its own local university. They mainly serve students from the islands and the region, and their programmes are structured differently from a US-style medical school:

• The University of Curaçao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez (UoC) began in 1970 with a School of Law, became the Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen (UNA) in 1979 and took its current name in 2013. It has accredited bachelor's and master's programmes
• The University of St. Martin (USM) describes itself as the main institution for higher education in Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin. It was inaugurated in 1989 and offers associate degrees and bachelor's programmes such as Business Administration Management and Social Work, plus a Caribbean Foundation Year for students from St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius
• The University of Aruba (UA) has faculties of law, finance and economics, hospitality and tourism management, and arts and science, and offers programmes from continuing education up to PhD level in some faculties

Medical school on Sint Maarten

AUC is an offshore medical school with a US-modelled Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme. Students spend two years on the medical sciences in Sint Maarten, followed by two years of clinical training in the United States or the United Kingdom. AUC also has a UK location in Preston. The school states that it has more than 9,000 graduates.

Accreditation matters more than usual for a Caribbean medical school, because it decides where graduates can sit licensing exams. AUC is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), the accreditor used by Sint Maarten. According to AUC:

• the US National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) has found ACCM standards comparable to those of the LCME, which accredits US medical programmes
• students can take all parts of the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
• AUC is approved for the US Federal Direct Loan Program
• graduates can apply to take the UK PLAB test and register with the General Medical Council
• the school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools

Admission

AUC's MD is a graduate-entry degree, as in Canada and the United States, so applicants normally come with prior university studies. The school says it considers more than MCAT scores and grade averages, and it does not use the UK's UCAS system. There are three intakes a year, in January, May and September; for the term starting on 4 January 2027 the application deadline is 11 December 2026. Requirements vary by country, so international applicants should check with the admissions office.

The laws of Sint Maarten require a residence permit for all students. AUC bills it at US$280 (500 guilders) a year.

Costs and funding

For the 2026-27 academic year, AUC lists the following per semester (in US dollars):

• tuition in the medical sciences (Sint Maarten): US$23,909, plus US$6,019 in administrative fees
• tuition in the clinical sciences: US$31,275
• health insurance on the Sint Maarten campus: US$1,657
• on-campus housing: US$6,200 for a single room or US$5,083 for a double

Books and supplies are extra. Students can also rent housing off campus. US students may be able to use federal Direct Loans; other students should look at funding in their own country.

How to choose

Students looking at the islands are usually choosing between two very different paths. Local universities in Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Aruba offer associate, bachelor's and master's programmes for the region. An offshore medical school such as AUC prepares students for medical practice in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. For a medical school, check the accreditor, eligibility for the USMLE and other licensing exams in the country where you want to practise, where clinical rotations take place, and the full cost over all semesters. For a local university, check whether the programme is accredited and in which language it is taught.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Netherlands Antilles still exist?

No. On 10 October 2010 Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba became special municipalities of the Netherlands.

Is AUC's medical degree recognised in the United States?

AUC is accredited by the ACCM, whose standards the NCFMEA has found comparable to US standards. According to the school, its students can take the USMLE and graduates are eligible to seek licensure in the US.

How much does medical school on Sint Maarten cost?

AUC lists US$23,909 tuition per semester for the medical sciences in 2026-27, plus administrative fees, health insurance and housing. Clinical semesters cost US$31,275 in tuition.

Do I need a permit to study on Sint Maarten?

Yes. The laws of Sint Maarten require a residence permit for all students; AUC charges US$280 (500 guilders) a year for it.