University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) is thrilled to announce the signing of a landmark partnership agreement that creates a clear pathway for students enrolled in our Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (BSc Biomedical Sciences) to continue their post graduate studies in medical school.
Through this new partnership with Saba University School of Medicine and the Medical University of the Americas, UNF is now able to offer students studying in our BSc Biomedical Sciences program the option to elect a pre-med pathway. This pathway has been developed in full collaboration with the academic teams of these partner medical schools and, on successful completion of the BSc Biomedical Sciences Degree with a GPA of 3.0 or greater, graduates will be granted direct entry into the second year of the Medical Degree (MD) program in either of the two partner medical schools. The pre-med pathway will require students to undertake two ‘Clinic Skills’ courses as their elective choices in their final year of the BSc Biomedical Sciences program. All other courses in the program have been mapped, and learning objectives covered by the core curriculum relate directly to the MD program.
Both partner medical schools, located in the Caribbean, offer world class international alternatives to Canadian and U.S. medical schools. Graduates of these schools can practice medicine in either Canada or the U.S., offering additional career flexibility.
“This is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity that we are offering at UNF,” said David Gray, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, at UNF. “Medical schools in Canada are extremely competitive and have limited enrolments. However, we found that there is a strong demand for both Canadian and international students to pursue a medical education that would eventually allow them to practice in Canada or the U.S. With the curriculum of our BSc Biomedical Sciences being closely aligned to medical school requirements, we decided to create an alternative pathway for students interested in pursuing a rewarding career in medicine. The result is this exciting partnership that we believe will provide exciting opportunities for our students for years to come.”
As part of the agreement, students who complete 120 credits in UNF’s BSc Biomedical Sciences degree, which on average would take four years, will receive one full year of transfer credits towards their Medical Degree at either of the partner institutions.
“This new agreement provides an innovative solution for future UNF students looking to pursue a Medical Degree. We are always looking for ways we can address gaps in educational opportunities in Canada by partnering with institutions that not only have the required capabilities, but also excellent track records,” said Diana Mockute, Chief Partnerships Officer at GUS Canada. “Both Saba University School of Medicine and the Medical University of the Americas provide exceptional medical training, making them ideal destinations for UNF students enrolled in the BSc Biomedical Sciences program to continue their studies.”
In addition to the full year transfer credits, which provides an obvious cost and time savings, the partnership will also provide students with other appealing benefits, including the opportunity for conditional acceptance, and if satisfied, a guaranteed seat in a medical program upon completion of UNF’s BSc Biomedical Sciences program.
Jim Bruzik, Executive Dean, Basic Science at Saba University School of Medicine and Medical University of the Americas, is equally thrilled with the partnership, “We can’t wait to welcome talented students from UNF’s Biomedical Sciences program to our schools,” said Bruzik. “There is a strong demand for medical professionals around the world, especially in North America, and we intend to address this need by partnering with forward-thinking institutions like UNF to bring motivated students to both institutions who are eager to make an impact in the world of medicine.”
To learn more about the BSc Biomedical Sciences program, please click here.
