Top 7 Dominican Republic Medical Schools in 2024

With rising medical education costs in developed countries like the United States, most students have no choice but to find alternatives.

You may think to yourself, “What about student loans?” Trust me; you don’t want to spend your life paying off debts.

This article reviewed the top 7 best medical schools in the Dominican Republic. Moving forward, there are some things you should know about these schools.

• Not all of them are internationally accredited. An exception to this is INTEC and PUCMM.
• You need to be able to read, speak, and understand Spanish because the lectures are given in Spanish, and textbooks are also written in Spanish.
• UNIBE is the only university in the Dominican Republic with an English curriculum, although it does not apply to all courses.

Without further ado, let’s dive into it.

Top 7 Medical Schools in the Dominican Republic

There are 17 Dominican Republic medical schools; 11 are accredited and active the rest are not active or accredited.

I selected seven of these 11 accredited medical schools based on different criteria. Below are some of the best medical schools in the Dominican Republic.

1. Universidad Iberoamericana School of Medicine

Location	Santo Domingo
Tuition	$8,500

Since its creation in 1982, UNIBE has been among the leading private institutions in the Dominican Republic. Their school of medicine is affiliated with public medical centers outside Santo Domingo.

UNIBE School of Medicine is currently the best medical school in the Dominican Republic. Whether you are American, European, Asian, or African, it doesn’t matter. Their 285 medical professionals are ready to train you in the medical field.

Also, the school has more than five functional research facilities and many notable alumni. Raquel Arbaje, the first lady of the Dominican Republic, is a notable alumnus of Universidad Iberoamericana.

2. Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo

Location	Santo Domingo
Tuition	N/A

Founded in 1538, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo is one of the oldest universities in Santo Domingo. The school has about ten campuses across the country.

Dr. Rocío Caridad, an ex-president of the Dominican Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, heads UASD medical school. She graduated from UASD in 1979. If you wish to study medicine in the Dominican Republic, UASD should be on your list.

3. Universidad Católica Nordestana

Location	Duarte Province
Tuition	$5,000

Since it was established in 1978, Nordestana Catholic University has graduated more than 19,000 students who, I suppose, are doing well in life. The school has about 32 accredited academic programs, of which medicine is among them.

Their teachings are based on the philosophy of the new Christian Humanism, and students are trained within the framework of the Christian faith.

4. Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra

Location	Santiago de Los Caballeros
Tuition	$10,700

PUCMM is the first Roman Catholic university in the Dominican Republic and among the country’s most highly rated medical schools. It has about 16,000 students across its three campuses.

To study medicine at PUCMM, you must pass the PAA and POMA tests and meet other admission requirements. Although their curriculum is not in English, their medical program is good.

5. Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo

Location	Santo Domingo
Tuition	$19,264

INTEC is among the cheapest and best universities for medicine in the Dominican Republic. It is a private institution affiliated with the Compostela Group of Universities.

The Caribbean Accreditation Authority accredits the Santo Domingo Institute of Technology Medical School for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) and the Higher Education Science and Technology Ministry.

6. O&M Medical School

Location	Santo Domingo
Tuition	$9,00

UDO&M was founded in 1966 by a group of professors in the capital of the Dominican Republic. It is the largest private university in the country, with more than 50,000 students across its seven campuses.

The curriculum used by O&M Medical School is based on the highest standards of modern medical education and was developed in partnership with Partners Harvard Medical International (PHMI).

You don’t need to be in the top 10% of your class to get into this medical school. A low GPA of 2.5 is required, and the SAT is not compulsory but may be reviewed if submitted.

7. Universidad Central del Este

Location	San Pedro de Macoris
Tuition	$15,000

Last but not least on our list of the best medical schools in the Dominican Republic is UCE, a private university in the Eastern region of the Dominican Republic.

The school may not be popular, but it has graduated 12,227 physicians since its establishment in 1970. UCE medical school is accredited by CAAM-HP and is recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). Also, you need a minimum MCAT score of 470 to get into this school.

How long is medical education in the Dominican Republic?

Medical school in the Dominican Republic takes six years on average. However, adding the compulsory 1-year medical internship makes it seven years.

Let’s break it down.

Of the six years spent in medical school in the Dominican Republic, two years are for pre-med, two for basic science, and the other two for clinical training. Also, you must finish your medical internship after six years in med school to get your Doctor in Medicine degree (MD).

You are left with two options once you have earned your medical degree. You practice in the Dominican Republic or abroad (probably in the United States). Suppose you intend to practice in the Dominican Republic. In that case, you need to work for the government for about a year at any public hospital in the country to get the government’s authorization.

Whereas if you plan on practicing abroad, let’s say, the US, it might be tougher. You need to pass all stages of the US Medical Licensing Exams (including residency) before you can work there.

Hopefully, you now know the best medical schools in the Dominican Republic. Why not take a moment to share this article with your friends?