Why Students Transfer from All Saints University College of Medicine — Your Options
11.09.2026
Is All Saints University College of Medicine the right fit for every student?
All Saints University School of Medicine (ASU-SOM) was founded in 2006 in Roseau, the capital of Dominica. The school runs a four-year MD programme modelled on the North American curriculum: two years of pre-clinical basic sciences on the island, followed by two years of clinical rotations primarily at affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada. In 2019, ASU-SOM received accreditation from CAAM-HP — the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions — which is the regional body for Caribbean medical schools and a prerequisite for ECFMG eligibility.
On paper, the offer is genuinely competitive for students who could not access US, Canadian, or European programmes. Admission thresholds are lower, instruction is in English, and the curriculum maps to USMLE content. Students who complete the programme and pass all three USMLE Steps can apply for residency through the National Resident Matching Program alongside US graduates.
The Caribbean model works best for a specific student profile: someone highly self-directed academically, financially resilient across five or more years, focused exclusively on a North American career, and prepared to accept materially lower residency match odds than US MD graduates. For students who arrived at All Saints with European practice ambitions, or who underestimated total programme costs, the gaps become impossible to ignore at some point. That moment is when most students start searching for alternatives.
Why do students transfer from All Saints University?
At Medschool Experts, we hear the same set of concerns from ASU-SOM students. These are structural patterns — not individual failures.
Clinical placement instability. ASU-SOM's clinical rotations depend on affiliate hospital agreements that can shift with little notice. Students have reported last-minute site changes, gaps between rotations, and limited specialty choice. Clinical years are the foundation of a competitive residency application; instability here creates compounding downstream problems.
Limited USMLE preparation infrastructure. Smaller Caribbean schools lack the dedicated USMLE prep infrastructure — integrated faculty teams, prep course bundling, structured question bank access — that the top four Caribbean schools (SGU, AUC, Ross, Saba) have built over decades. Students frequently report finding themselves self-studying for Step 1 with minimal institutional support.
Cost escalation beyond initial projections. Published tuition does not reflect the full picture. Living costs in Dominica, repeated exam fees, flights between the island and US clinical sites, accommodation across multiple states, and semester repeats push many students well beyond their original budget — see the detailed cost analysis in the next section.
European career path dead ends. This is the largest shock for European-origin or Europe-aspiring students. Caribbean MD degrees carry no automatic recognition under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. A graduate of All Saints University wishing to practise in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or the Netherlands faces years of credential review with a typically negative outcome. The practical route to EU licensure requires an EU-accredited programme from the start — or a structured transfer.
Exam failures and academic pressure. Caribbean medical school attrition is significant across the board. Industry estimates place the proportion of enrolled Caribbean students who do not graduate at 50–70% (Lecturio Medical, 2025). Students who fail USMLE Step 1 face visa complications, re-enrolment costs, and potential dismissal. The academic stakes are high and the margin for error is narrow.
How much does All Saints University medicine cost?
Total tuition for the ASU-SOM MD programme, based on published 2025–2026 fee schedules, runs approximately USD 130,000–160,000 over four standard years. That figure alone exceeds the total cost of a complete medical degree at many EU-accredited universities. And it is only the starting point.
| Cost Component | 4-Year Estimate (USD) | Notes (2025–2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & registration fees | $130,000–160,000 | Published ASU-SOM schedule; annual increases apply |
| Living costs in Dominica | $24,000–36,000 | Accommodation, food, local transport (pre-clinical years) |
| Clinical rotation accommodation (US/CA) | $24,000–30,000 | Varies heavily by site city and housing market |
| Flights (island ↔ clinical sites) | $8,000–15,000 | Multiple return trips across two clinical years |
| USMLE Steps 1 + 2 CK registration | $4,000–8,000 | First-attempt fees; each retake adds $1,000–1,300 |
| Board prep courses (Kaplan, Amboss, etc.) | $3,000–6,000 | Typically purchased privately; not bundled at smaller Caribbean schools |
| Realistic total — standard completion | $220,000–270,000 | Students with retakes or semester repeats may exceed $300,000 |
Table 1: Estimated all-in cost for All Saints University MD programme, 2025–2026. Sources: ASU-SOM published tuition, ECFMG fee schedule, Medschool Experts cost analysis.
By comparison, a complete MD programme at an EU-accredited university in the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Slovakia typically costs EUR 60,000–110,000 in tuition over six years — with EU-wide licensure recognition built in. For students re-evaluating their options, the financial case for transfer becomes compelling once all numbers are on the table.
What USMLE pass rates does All Saints University report?
All Saints University does not publish granular, independently audited USMLE first-time pass rate data. This is common among smaller Caribbean schools. The ECFMG publishes aggregate data by country of graduation rather than by individual school, which makes school-level analysis difficult for students researching before enrolment.
What the available data shows at the Caribbean level: ECFMG-certified graduates of Caribbean schools passed USMLE Step 1 on first attempt at approximately 64% in the most recent reporting period (ECFMG, 2024), versus 96% for US MD graduates. This aggregate figure includes the top four Caribbean schools, which invest heavily in exam preparation. Smaller schools' rates are generally lower than the Caribbean average.
| Student Group | USMLE Step 1 First-Attempt Pass Rate | US Residency Match Rate (NRMP 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| US MD graduates | 96% | 93.7% |
| US DO graduates | 91% | 80.2% |
| Caribbean IMGs (all schools, aggregate) | ~64% | 46.7% |
| Caribbean IMGs (top 4 schools) | ~70–75% | ~55–60% (est.) |
| Smaller Caribbean schools (incl. All Saints) | Not publicly reported | Below Caribbean average (est.) |
Table 2: USMLE pass rates and US residency match rates by graduate group. Sources: ECFMG 2024, NRMP 2025 Main Residency Match, Lecturio Medical 2025.
Match rates vary significantly by specialty. Primary care and psychiatry have historically been more accessible for Caribbean IMGs; competitive specialties such as dermatology, orthopaedic surgery, and radiology effectively require a US MD or DO background. Students targeting those specialties from a smaller Caribbean school face a structurally difficult path regardless of individual preparation quality.
Is an All Saints University degree recognised in Europe?
No — not in any direct, automatic sense. This is the answer, stated clearly, because a significant number of students enrol at All Saints University without fully understanding it.
CAAM-HP is the regional Caribbean accreditor, analogous to the LCME in North America. It is a legitimate and meaningful accreditation within its intended scope: confirming that Caribbean schools meet standards for producing ECFMG-eligible graduates. What it is not: a recognition framework accepted by the European Union.
German state medical boards assess foreign medical degrees via a formal equivalency review — the Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung. Caribbean medical degrees fail this review consistently. The outcome is typically nicht gleichwertig (not equivalent), requiring the applicant to either sit the German state examination from an earlier study stage or complete a German or EU-accredited programme. Both routes are, in practice, equivalent to restarting medical education. Students from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or other EU countries who enrolled at All Saints University expecting to return home and practise face a structural dead end with their current credential.
Transfer into an EU-accredited programme resolves this — often without losing more than one study year. For further reading: our university comparison guide and student transfer stories.
What happens if I fail exams at All Saints University?
ASU-SOM, like most Caribbean schools, operates a dismissal policy for students who fail USMLE Step 1 beyond a permitted number of attempts or who do not pass within a defined period from the start of their clinical years. Specific thresholds can change; review your current enrolment agreement carefully.
Beyond the academic consequences, exam failures compound financially. A USMLE Step 1 retake costs USD 1,000–1,300 in registration fees alone, plus the cost of dedicated study time, board prep materials, and potentially delayed clinical rotation start. Students who have failed once often find the next attempt more stressful — because the stakes (school continuation, visa status, sunk costs) have increased significantly.
The critical point: a USMLE Step 1 failure does not close the transfer door. EU medical programmes evaluate transfer applications based on academic transcripts, course documentation, clinical hours, and interview performance. USMLE scores — whether passed, failed, or absent — are not part of European medical admission criteria. Students who have failed Step 1 at All Saints University have successfully transferred into year four at EU programmes through Medschool Experts. The US licensing difficulty is a problem with one specific pathway; European admission follows entirely different logic. Explore our transfer services for more detail.
Can I transfer from All Saints University without losing study years?
Yes — and this is the most important section of this guide. Transfer does not mean restarting.
European medical universities assess incoming transfer credit case by case. They review subjects covered and contact hours logged, grades achieved, content alignment with their own curriculum, and sometimes a qualifying examination or interview. Medschool Experts prepares this entire case: syllabus documentation, certified translations, course content mapping, and direct advocacy with university admissions teams.
The outcomes we have achieved include year 4 and year 5 direct entry for students with 3–4 years of completed credit from Caribbean programmes. There is no ceiling on the credit we pursue. Students entering year 4 or 5 preserve three or four years of prior academic investment and reach graduation in 2–3 additional years at an EU-accredited programme — with a degree valid across the European Union.
{{cta}}Key factors that influence the year of entry offered:
- Semesters of pre-clinical and clinical credit completed and documented
- Quality and completeness of transcripts and subject syllabi
- USMLE Step 1 score if available (not required for EU transfer)
- Clinical rotation documentation and hours logged
- Target university and country-specific recognition policies
- Language of instruction requirements (many EU programmes offer full English tracks)
Book a free consultation to receive a personalised credit assessment. We evaluate the file, identify target universities, and give you a realistic year-of-entry picture before you commit to anything.
What alternatives should students from All Saints University consider?
Students leaving Caribbean medical programmes have several proven routes. The right one depends on your career geography, remaining budget, language ability, and how many years you have already completed.
EU-accredited medical programmes in English. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Malta all host English-language state medical programmes carrying recognition under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. Graduates can practise across the EU without additional equivalency review. Several of these countries also have established USMLE preparation traditions, keeping a US career pathway open.
Direct year 4 or year 5 entry. For students with 3–4 years of medical study, advanced-year entry reduces redundancy and accelerates graduation. This is the most common outcome for Caribbean transfer students working with Medschool Experts. Year 4 entry means 2–3 additional years to an EU-recognised MD.
Specialty-matched placement. Some students from All Saints University are targeting a specific specialty. We match target universities to the strongest clinical training departments for those specialties — not just the easiest admission path.
What to verify in any alternative programme:
- Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
- Covered by EU Directive 2005/36/EC or explicit recognition in your target practice country
- USMLE preparation support if a US career remains a goal
- Published graduate licensing and employment data
- Transparent, fully itemised tuition and living cost figures
Browse our partner university listings for current profiles and entry requirements.
Month-by-month: planning your transfer from All Saints University
A well-managed transfer from All Saints University to an EU-accredited programme takes 6–12 months from initial decision to enrolled status. The timeline depends primarily on which intake window you are targeting — most EU medical programmes have an October start — and how quickly documentation can be gathered and certified.
Month 1 — Decision and consultation. Book the free consultation. Gather all academic records: official transcripts, syllabi for every course completed, clinical rotation logs, grade sheets, and any USMLE score reports. Medschool Experts reviews your file and delivers a frank credit assessment and a realistic year-of-entry estimate.
Months 2–3 — University selection. Based on credit volume, language preference, budget, and target country of practice, we identify 3–5 candidate universities. Application packs are assembled with certified translations, credential letters, personal statement guidance, and recommendation letter coordination.
Months 3–5 — Applications submitted. University response times are typically 4–8 weeks. Some programmes require a credit assessment interview or entrance examination. Medschool Experts prepares you for both.
Months 5–7 — Admission offers. Offers arrive specifying year of entry, credit recognised, conditions, and tuition terms. We review each offer with you and guide the selection.
Months 7–9 — Visa and relocation. EU student visa applications, accommodation, health insurance, and enrolment formalities. Processing times vary by nationality and destination country.
Month 10 onwards — First semester at your new university. You are enrolled at an EU-accredited medical programme, on a transparent path to a degree recognised across the European Union.
The transfer carries real costs: application fees, translation, and Medschool Experts service fees. Against continuing at All Saints University for another USD 50,000–80,000 per year against uncertain outcomes, the economics of a well-executed transfer are compelling. Run your specific numbers with our team: free consultation.
The author's view
The students who contact us from All Saints University are not there because they made poor decisions. They made decisions with the information available to them — often from school marketing materials, online forums, and optimistic projections about match rates and costs. What they were frequently not told is that Caribbean medical school is a high-variance path: it works well for some students and does not work at all for a significant proportion. The attrition statistics alone — 50–70% of enrolled Caribbean medical students do not graduate — should give every prospective student serious pause before signing enrolment documents.
What I observe consistently is that students wait too long to explore alternatives. There is a sunk-cost logic at work — I have already paid three semesters, I cannot start over — that keeps students in a programme no longer serving their goals. The transfer data tells a different story. Three or four years of All Saints University credit is not lost on transfer; it is the basis of a year 4 or year 5 entry at a European university. The question is not whether to start over. The question is where to continue. That reframe changes the calculus entirely, and it is the conversation I wish more students were having much earlier in their programme.
If you are reading this guide, you are already asking the right questions. The free consultation is the next step — a real assessment of your specific academic record, not a sales pitch. That is what students in this situation deserve, and it is what we provide. — Marcel Kloos, Medschool Experts.
Summary
- All Saints University College of Medicine holds CAAM-HP accreditation and produces ECFMG-eligible graduates — the right pathway for students exclusively targeting US/Canadian residency who can manage the financial and attrition risks.
- CAAM-HP accreditation does not transfer to European recognition. EU Directive 2005/36/EC does not cover Caribbean medical degrees; German, Austrian, Swiss, and other EU licensing bodies do not recognise ASU-SOM credentials.
- Realistic all-in programme cost runs USD 220,000–270,000 for standard completion. Retakes and semester repeats regularly push the figure above USD 300,000.
- Caribbean IMGs matched into US residency at 46.7% in the 2025 NRMP cycle, versus 93.7% for US MD graduates. All Saints University does not publish individual school match or USMLE pass rate data.
- Transfer to an EU-accredited programme is achievable. Medschool Experts has secured year 4 and year 5 entry for Caribbean transfer students — no artificial ceiling on credit recognition.
- A USMLE Step 1 failure does not prevent a successful transfer. EU programmes assess academic credit independently of US licensing exam outcomes.
- The typical transfer timeline is 6–12 months from initial decision to enrolled status at the new university.
- Acting earlier preserves more flexibility — but even students completing their third year have transferred into advanced years at EU universities.
Conclusion
All Saints University College of Medicine is not the wrong choice for every student — it is a programme built for a specific purpose, and it works for students fully committed to a North American residency pathway with the financial resilience to see it through. For students whose situation has changed, whose European ambitions were never compatible with a Caribbean degree, or who have encountered structural problems mid-programme, staying the course is not the only path. It may not even be the most rational one.
European medical school transfer with year 4 or year 5 entry is a concrete, proven alternative. It preserves the academic work you have already done, delivers a degree recognised across the EU, and — for students who remain interested in the US — keeps the USMLE pathway open from many EU programmes. The consultation is free, the credit assessment is honest, and the first step costs nothing. Book it here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Transferring from All Saints University
Is All Saints University College of Medicine properly accredited?
Yes. All Saints University School of Medicine holds accreditation from CAAM-HP (Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions), awarded in 2019. CAAM-HP is the regional accreditor for Caribbean medical schools and makes ASU-SOM graduates eligible for ECFMG certification and the USMLE pathway to US licensure. It does not confer recognition under the EU's mutual recognition framework (Directive 2005/36/EC), nor does it satisfy German, Austrian, Swiss, or other EU licensing board standards.
Can I practise medicine in Germany after graduating from All Saints University?
Not directly. German state medical boards assess foreign degrees via a formal equivalency review called Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung. Caribbean medical degrees, including from CAAM-HP accredited schools such as All Saints University, consistently receive a not-equivalent outcome. The practical pathway to German Approbation requires graduating from an EU-accredited programme. Students who realise this mid-programme typically transfer to a European medical university, often entering year 4 or 5 with their existing credit fully or substantially recognised.
What year of entry can I expect if I transfer from All Saints University?
It depends on how many semesters you have completed and how well that credit maps to the target university's curriculum. Medschool Experts has secured year 4 and year 5 entry for students with 3–4 years of credit from Caribbean programmes. Year of entry is negotiated case by case. We prepare complete credit documentation, certified translations, and course content mapping to maximise the year offered. There is no ceiling on the credit we pursue in negotiations.
Does a failed USMLE Step 1 prevent transfer to a European medical school?
No. EU medical universities assess transfer applications based on academic transcripts, course content documentation, clinical hours, and interview performance. USMLE scores — whether passed, failed, or absent — are not part of European medical admission criteria. Students who have failed USMLE Step 1 at All Saints University have successfully transferred into year 4 at EU programmes through Medschool Experts. The US licensing pathway has its own logic; European admission does not follow it.
How long does the transfer process take from All Saints University?
A well-managed transfer takes 6–12 months from initial decision to enrolled status. Month 1 covers consultation and document gathering. Months 2–5 cover university selection, application preparation, and submission. Months 5–7 bring admission decisions. Months 7–10 cover visa application, accommodation, and pre-enrolment formalities. The most important variable is which intake window you are targeting — most EU medical programmes start in October, with applications opening in the preceding winter or spring.
Can I still pursue a US medical career after transferring to a European programme?
For many EU programmes — particularly those in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia — USMLE preparation is actively supported and American-track cohorts are common. Graduates of EU-accredited programmes can sit all USMLE Steps and apply for US residency as international medical graduates. Crucially, EU-trained students retain a second option — EU licensure and practice — that Caribbean-only graduates do not have. Transfer to Europe does not close the US door; it opens the European one.
What documents do I need to begin a transfer application from All Saints University?
The core documents are: official academic transcripts for all completed semesters, detailed syllabi or course catalogues for each subject studied, clinical rotation logs and supervisor confirmation letters, a passport copy, and any standardised test scores you hold (USMLE, MCAT, or equivalent). Medschool Experts reviews your complete document set in the initial consultation, identifies what is missing, and specifies what needs certified translation. Start gathering what you have — the consultation and assessment are the first step. Reach out at medschool-experts.com/contact.
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About the author
Marcel Kloos
Swiss-licensed dentist and founder of Medschool Experts
Marcel Kloos founded Medschool Experts while studying abroad; since then, over 500 study places have been secured. The Stuttgart-born dentist studied dentistry from 2015 to 2021 in Sofia and holds a Swiss dental licence.
Today he lives in Bern and runs Medschool Experts full-time as its owner.
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