Pre-Med Pathway
Your path to medical school starts here
Start your Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree at the University of Niagara Falls Canada and finish your studies at one of two partner medical schools.
Through this pathway, after you complete 90 credits of your HBSc degree program at UNF you will be eligible to apply for medical degree studies at Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) or Medical University of the Americas (MUA), subject to meeting the specific admission requirements of each medical school.
Once you successfully complete the first two terms of the MD program at SUSOM or MUA, UNF will accept the completed courses towards the final 30 credits needed to complete your undergraduate degree.
With this pathway, you can save one year’s worth of undergraduate tuition, housing and living costs, and begin your career as a medical doctor one year sooner!
Quick Find:
Talk to a Student Advisor
Why Choose UNF for the Pre-Med Pathway?
The University of Niagara Falls Canada is an innovative and digitally oriented institution that prepares graduates for leadership in a digital world.
Start close to home
Complete the first three years of your undergraduate degree in Canada before moving to one of two partner medical school schools in the Caribbean, where your first two terms of MD program courses will count towards your undergraduate studies.
Partnership Scholarship
Qualify for a scholarship exclusively for UNF students entering the MD program at SUSOM or MUA. You would be eligible for a $20,000 USD scholarship, making the already cost-effective MD programs even more accessible.
Save on tuition
You will benefit from significant savings by earning the final 30 credits required for the completion of your HBSc degree while already in medical school. On this pathway, you will bypass the final year of your undergraduate studies and save on tuition, housing, and living costs for an entire year!
Accelerate your journey
Get to each stage of your medical career journey one year sooner and achieve your goals sooner than those on more traditional timelines. This has career earnings, progression, and achievement benefits.
Small class sizes
Enjoy an intimate learning experience during your undergraduate studies, with a maximum class size of 40. This allows you to build a support network with other pathway students before moving to the Caribbean and receive excellent support from UNF faculty.
Pre-Med Club Access
The UNF Pre-Med Club supports students interested in careers in medicine or healthcare, by providing you with resources, mentorship, and insights into medical education pathways, particularly those offered by SUSOM and MUA.
Club activities include:
- Workshops and seminars
- Academic support
- Networking opportunities
- Guest speakers
- Admissions guidance
- Community outreach
Medical School Pathway Partners
This pathway program sets you on the path to medical school and offers you an opportunity to earn an internationally accredited medical degree, secure a post-graduate residency placement, and ultimately practice as a medical doctor at home in Canada – or anywhere in the United States.
SUSOM and MUA MD program students undertake Clinical Medical rotations (Semesters 6-10) at U.S. teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centres, as well as select elective rotation sites in Canada. They then progress to post-graduation residency placements at notably high rates. Post-residency, SUSOM and MUA alumni practice across the spectrum of medical specialties, from family medicine to psychiatry to surgery.
Saba University School of Medicine
Location
The island of Saba
Scholarships
Canadian students have access to up to $185,000 USD in grants and scholarship
Match Rate
97% residency placement rate over the last four years*
Since 1992, 3,000+ passionate future physicians have completed SUSOM’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program. Graduates go on to hold medical licenses across the U.S., Canada and internationally. SUSOM helps students achieve USMLE success and terrific residency placement rates after graduation. The school’s accreditor, the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education.
USMLE Success
SUSOM students achieve excellent USMLE first-time pass rates, demonstrating our commitment to preparing students for both academic and long-term career success.
Medical School Journey
The SUSOM MD program features two years of classroom and lab-based learning on our Saba campus, followed by two years of clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics, and medical centres in the U.S., as well as select elective rotation sites in Canada.
Individualized Support
Our intentionally small class sizes and extensive support services ensure students receive all the academic and personal guidance they may need.
* 97% Four-Year Residency Placement Rate is the percentage of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 who were active applicants in the NRMP match or attained a residency outside the NRMP match.
Medical University of the Americas
Location
The island of Nevis
Scholarships
Canadian students have access to up to $52,500 CAD in grants and scholarships
Match Rate
98% residency placement rate over the last four years*
Founded in 1998 on the island of Nevis, MUA has helped 1,800+ students achieve their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. They proudly provide aspiring physicians with the medical education and individualized support they need to achieve their dreams of practicing medicine in the U.S., Canada and internationally. MUA’s accreditor, the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME).
USMLE Success
In our rigorous academic environment, MUA students achieve strong results on required academic examinations, including the USMLE.
Medical School Pathway
The MUA MD program features two years of classroom and lab-based learning on our Nevis campus, followed by two years of clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics, and medical centres in the U.S., as well as select elective rotation sites in Canada.
Personalized Support
MD program students benefit from our 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, dedicated faculty, individualized support and extensive student services.
* 98% Four-Year Residency Placement Rate is the percentage of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 who were active applicants in the NRMP match or attained a residency outside the NRMP match.
Hear from SUSOM and MUA Graduates
Pouria Sadeghi, MD: From SUSOM Graduate to CEO of Canada Clinics
Dr. Vijitha Mahalingam: From MUA Medical Student to Psychiatry Resident
Admissions
You need to meet the undergraduate admission requirements to start in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences program.
Those minimum conditions are:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (or equivalent credential)
- Six Grade 12 4U or 4M-level course, including Ontario ENG4U (or equivalent) and any 1 4U Math
- Minimum average of 70% on best 6 Grade 12 4U or 4M-level courses
- Must meet English language proficiency requirements (if applicable)
Admission of applicants to SUSOM or MUA is subject to assessment according to their admissions procedures and you must meet the criteria as outlined on their websites. These requirements, which may change over time, include, but are not limited to:
- A complete application
- Official transcripts from UNF, including all prerequisite courses
- Two letters of recommendation
- A personal statement (500 words or less)
- Successfully passing the admissions interview with SUSOM or MUA
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Canadian and international applicants who opt to take the exam are required to submit their scores as part of their application.
For further information on the admission requirements, please refer to the SUSOM and MUA websites.
Tuition Information
Choosing to pursue a university education is a big commitment that impacts every aspect of your life – including your finances.
UNF’s fees are determined by the total cost of individual credits per academic year. If you are in the Pre-Med Pathway, you will complete 90 credits at UNF before moving on to SUSOM or MUA and paying tuition there.
All fees are listed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted, and rates are subject to change.
UNF Honours BSc program tuition and mandatory fees
| 90 Credits | Domestic | International |
| Tuition | $24,030 | $90,000 |
| Mandatory fees | $1,038.60 | $1,038.60 |
| Student health insurance | N/A | $1,440 |
| Total tuition and fees | $25,068.60 | $92,478.60 |
SUSOM MD program tuition and administrative fees
| Term 1 | $26,920 USD |
| Term 2 | $26,920 USD |
MUA MD program tuition and administrative fee
| Term 1 | $16,900 |
| Term 2 | $16,900 |
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Please refer to the UNF, SUSOM, and MUA tuition pages for the most current information.
Scholarships & Awards
While pursuing MD programs at SUSOM or MUA, you have access to several scholarship options:
Partnership Scholarship for UNF students: As a UNF student entering the SUSOM or MUA MD program, you would be eligible for a $20,000 scholarship, distributed as $2,000 per semester over 10 semesters.
Additional scholarships: Including the UNF Partnership Scholarship, through the Pre-Med Pathway you could be eligible for up to $185,000 USD in financial support at SUSOM and up to $52,500 at MUA. These scholarships and grants greatly enhance the accessibility of their already cost-effective MD programs.
Financial Aid Options
UNF has partnered with organizations to help newly admitted domestic students finance their education.
$8,356
Undergraduate Savings
for Canadian students
$20,000 USD
UNF Partner Scholarship
$185,000 USD
Total Award Potential
Career Outlooks
Canada needs doctors.
In a 2023 survey from Angus Reid, one in five (19%) Canadians said they don’t have a family doctor. And of those who do have one, 29% report that accessing their primary care physician can be a challenge.
With a medical degree, you can enter this in-demand field and become a general practitioner or family physician.
You can also specialize in a particular area of clinical or laboratory medicine. Some specializations include:
Career Paths
- Emergency medicine
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Internal Medicine
- Neurology
- Obstetrics/gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Pathology
- Psychiatry
- Surgery (general or more specialized, including orthopedic, plastic)
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Salary Spotlight
- Surgeon (general) - $351,223
- Ophthalmologist - $305,826
- Family Physician - $292,217
- Anesthesiologist - $341,403
- Radiologist - $384,932
* Canadian averages, from Indeed.com
*Source, Talent.com
Pre-Med Pathway FAQs
UNF’s pathway allows you to start your undergraduate studies in Canada at the University of Niagara Falls Canada in the Honours Bachelor of Science – Biomedical Sciences program. After completing three years, 90 credits, at the downtown Niagara Falls campus, you may be eligible to apply for entry into one of UNF’s two partner medical schools. If accepted, you will start the first two terms of an MD program, skipping your final year of undergraduate studies. After successfully completing the first two medical school terms, UNF will count these courses as having earned you the final 30 credits of your undergraduate degree.
Both Saba University School of Medicine and Medical University of the Americas have a strong network of affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the United States and Canada.
98% - MUA MD program students achieved a 98% Residency Placement Rate from 2020-2024.
97% - SUSOM MD program students achieved a 97% Residency Placement Rate from 2020-2024.
In 2024, SUSOM and MUA MD program graduates matched into residency programs at Canadian institutions such as the University of Ottawa, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, and Western University, as well as U.S. institutions such as the Brooklynn Hospital Center, Bridgeport Hospital/ Yale University Program, Henry Ford Hospital, University of Alabama, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Lakeland Regional Health and many more.
Yes, Saba University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). The standards set by NVAO have been acknowledged as comparable to those utilized in accrediting medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). SUSOM is the only medical school in the Caribbean to meet the rigorous standards of European accreditation.
Saba features a warm tropical climate year-round, with temperatures ranging from approximately 25°C to 31°C. Humidity is notable, particularly in the summer months. The island features many tropical activities for when it’s time to unwind, from hiking to snorkeling. Students should come prepared with hiking, swimming and light rain gear.
SUSOM’s campus offers modern facilities and fosters a vibrant, inclusive medical learning community. Our faculty, composed of dedicated professionals with advanced degrees (MDs and PhDs), is committed to cultivating a supportive and collaborative learning environment. With a focus on individualized attention, they will guide students through their medical school journey, from Basic Science through Clinical Medicine.
The MUA MD program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). WFME standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).
Located on the island of Nevis, MUA features a 10-acre campus with modern classrooms, labs, a library, and an adjacent island hospital that provides early hands-on clinical experiences for MD program participants. Students can also enjoy nearby living accommodations, gym access and the opportunity to explore the island’s unique offerings, including weekly markets and scenic beaches. Studying on Nevis provides students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in their studies, thanks to the peaceful and safe atmosphere, before transitioning to clinical rotations in the U.S. and Canada.
MUA students have achieved a notable 98% Residency Placement Rate over the last four years (2020-2024). Graduates specialize across the medical spectrum, from family medicine to psychiatry to surgery.
Yes, MUA MD program students take both Step 1 and Step 2 CK of the United States Medical License Examinations (USMLE) during their studies. MUA meets the eligibility criteria for the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, allowing students to sit for the USMLE steps.
Fast Facts:
Start Dates:
Fall
Winter
Complete:
90 credits at UNF
30 credits at partner institution
Delivery:
On-campus
Contact Your Student Advisor
Schedule an appointment with your dedicated student advisor at a time that's convenient for you to receive more information about:
- UNF Pre-Med Pathway
- Available scholarships
- The application process
This institution has been granted a consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this program for a five-year term starting October 14, 2022. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g., acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies or other educational institutions.)