About St. Martinus University

Why SMUFOM?

When selecting a Caribbean Medical School, St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine on the island of Curaçao is the Caribbean’s best kept secret. At St. Martinus University we are passionate about the quality of education, and we are looking for students and faculty that will share this passionate. Curaçao is a melting pot of North American, European and Latin American cultures, and St. Martinus University is the same. We offer our students the best of both worlds:

Curaçao is considered the ideal location for education in the Caribbean. There are many reasons why St. Martinus University should be your first choice for medical education. Let us give you some of the reasons why:

• St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine is one of two private medical schools in the Caribbean that offers a two-semester per year system, consistent with the LCME-accredited U.S., Canadian, and most medical schools around the world. It is no surprise that the other School with a much longer history with the same system has consistently had the highest USMLE Step 1 pass rates and residency placement percentages.
  
  Studies have shown that three-semester per year systems have a pace that is too fast for the students and they are unable to retain the information they have been taught, which yields lower USMLE test scores. The two semester system offers 20 weeks of curriculum, allowing students to take their time to truly learn and understand the curriculum. SMUFOM offers a three-week remediation course at the end of each semester for those students who need a little more intensive instruction to enhance their ability to continue on to the next semester.
• Our students will be exposed to the hospital clinical setting starting the first semester. We are pursuing a relationship with the 300-bed regional hospital in Curaçao so you are exposed to this knowledge in action! It should also be noted that the Government of Curaçao has approved a $230 million state-of-the art replacement hospital that is in the final stages of development.
• The total yearly tuition is 15% ($4,200) less than three semester schools.
• Curaçao ! This island offers white sand beaches and colorful buildings which is displayed through the Dutch influenced architecture and hospitality. The cost of living in Curaçao is also considerably less than most other Caribbean islands. Homes are more affordable and filled with European appeal.
• The heritage of the Sisters of Rosenthal rings through the halls of St. Martinus University. Build in 1842, the Sisters laid the foundation of our exceptional educational system. SMUFOM truly offers excellence through education.
• Safety. Curacao has one of the lowest crime rates per capita of the Caribbean islands. Additionally, it is ranked last in the likelihood of being hit by a hurricane.
• A Student Portal- SMUFOM offers an interactive student portal accessible via website. Students can login and find all class documents including syllabus, handouts, and class updates. It is also an exceptional way to stay in contact with your classmates and professors.
• Curaçao has one of the lowest cost of living in Caribbean Islands.

Mission Statement

At St. Martinus University School of Medicine our Mission is to provide a well-balanced instructional program that enables the students to reach their highest level of academic success. Our staff is committed to creating a student-centered educational environment that stresses high expectations. Our goal is to maintain an active partnership involving students, teachers, community and staff to develop a love of learning while embracing our diversity and unique talents in a safe, challenging, respectful and supportive environment.

Our faculty, staff and students accomplish our mission by providing student assistance inside and outside the classroom. Teaching assistants are available to help fellow students succeed. We acquire the best equipment and staff. We have developed a curriculum which will aid students in preparation for the USMLE, enhance placement into clinical rotations and provide the skills and knowledge that will lead to a successful and rewarding career. Our aim is to help students reach their full potential and become qualified physicians and exceptional leaders in the field of medicine.

Recognition & Accreditation

Charter
St. Martinus University has been formally chartered by the Government of the Netherlands Antilles. This charter grants the St. Martinus University the right to confer the Doctor of Medicine degree upon its graduates, who will then be eligible for medical licensure.

Furthermore St. Martinus University is recognized and/or approved and/or listed by:

• World Health Organization (W.H.O.)
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
• Welcome Letter from the Ministry of Health of the island of Curaçao (Ing. Charles Cooper Msc.)
• Appreciation letter from the Ministry of Health of the island of Curaçao (M. Bouwland Luciano)
• Letter of Recognition Ministry of Health of the island of Curaçao.

It is listed with WHO, ECFMG and IMED.

As part of the degree requirements our students take the United States Licensure Examination (USMLE). Students that have completed a B.Sc. can apply for our 4-year M.D. degree program. Students that have completed a pre-university program with sciences (I.B., A levels, VWO, 10+2 or similar) are eligible to enroll in our accelerated Premedical degree program. This one year program prepares students for seamless access to our M.D. program. After completing the Basic Sciences at our campus in Curaçao, our students complete the clinical clerkships in qualified hospitals in the United States. Clerkships are also possible in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Programs offered

The medical program offered at St. Martinus University School of Medicine is a rigorous program that integrates the Basic Sciences into the clinical practice of medicine. The program in the Basic Sciences is offered over four semesters of 20 weeks each. We believe that a quality education cannot be rushed. Twenty week semesters affords students the opportunity to integrate and retain the knowledge presented.

Basic Sciences
Each semester in the basic sciences consists of 20 weeks. There is a scheduled mid-semester break after mid-term exams. There are 35 contact hours of teaching per week in each of the first four semesters. This is equivalent to more contact hours over 4 semesters than most Caribbean schools over 5 semesters.

In order to successfully complete the basic sciences component of the degree, a student must have successfully passed all courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0. There is a 3 week, end of semester remediation for students who fail a course or who want a comprehensive review of the subject material. Read More...

Clinical Sciences
The clinical sciences are taught over the 3rd and 4th years. There are two semesters of 24 weeks each in the third year. Core clerkships are delivered in the 3rd year. There are two semesters of 16 weeks each in the fourth year. Read More...

Loan Programs

For the semester beginning in January 2011, SMU will be offering institutional loans of up to $3,700 per semester, thereby reducing tuition and fees to $4,000. This loan program will be automatically renewed for the recipients each semester until they finish their basic science program at SMU, provided they remain in good academic standing.

An additional program covering the clinical semesters will be offered at a later date.

Terms of the loan will permit repayment over time, commencing 180 days after graduation. This program was originally designed to offer the institutional loans to 35 students. Because of an overwhelming response to this program, SMU has decided to extend it to 150 students. For further information, please contact fill out the application for institutional loans and email to SMU for preliminary evaluation. You will have to send a signed application if you receive this loan.

Scholarships

SMU offers its students an Academic Scholarship for a semester when the student shows academic excellence and achieves honors. This scholarship continues each term while the student maintains honors. Students who achieve this level of academic standing may also be offered a position as a teaching assistant. In addition to University-Sponsored Scholarships, we have worked to procure unique scholarship opportunities for our students.

A small number of partial tuition scholarships and loans are granted to members of each entering class. Awards for the full cost of attendance are not offered. In order for a student to plan in advance for the financial obligations associated with attending St. Martinus University, most applications and awards are made prior to their matriculation in the School.

All awards must be used to defray the cost of tuition and are credited directly to the student's account each term by Student Financial Services. Awards are made for the length of the student's entire curriculum and prorated on the term/academic year schedule. The award letter will outline the distribution of the award.

The Department of Financial Aid, in consultation with the school's Financial Aid committee, makes the selection of award recipients.Award determinations are based on academic excellence, the degree of the family's financial need and the availability of funds from the School, as well as each scholarship's specified criteria.

A student's ability to finance his/her education beyond the extent of the financial aid award is also an important selection criterion. Applicants should be aware that the funding is limited, and the quality of the applicants is generally very competitive. Unfortunately, awards cannot be made to every deserving student.

Applications will be accepted from either applicants or accepted students. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis up until the first day of classes. Applicants will receive either an award letter or a letter of declination from the Department of Financial Aid in a timely manner.

Academic Calendar for 2011

The new Academic Calendar is listed below. For any questions please contact the admissions office.

SPRING SEMESTER

• December 15, 2010 $1,000 Deposit Due to secure Winter Semester Space
• December 20, 2010 Housing Deposit Due (One month’s rent)*
• January 12, 2011 Registration Begins
• January 14, 2011 Registration Ends
• January 15, 2011 Welcome Reception (Starts at 6pm)
• January 17, 2011 Spring Semester Begins
• June 3, 2011 Spring Semester Ends
• June 6, 2011 Remediation Begins
• June 24, 2011 Remediation Ends

FALL SEMESTER

• June 15, 2011 $1,000 Deposit Due (for new students) to secure Summer Semester Space
• June 20, 2011 Housing Deposit Due (One month’s rent- Only for new students)*
• July 13, 2011 Registration Begins
• July 15, 2011 Registration Ends
• July 16, 2011 Welcome Reception (Starts at 6pm)
• July 18, 2011 Fall Semester Begins
• December 2, 2011 Fall Semester Ends
• December 5, 2011 Remediation Begins
• December 22, 2011 Remediation Ends

Would like to inquiry more? Email SMU Now!