Top 10 Medical Schools in Cuba | 2022

Cuba is among the league of countries that prioritize the health of its citizens and that of people from other parts of the world. Many medical schools in Cuba are very affordable for local and international students.

Some of the medical schools in Cuba often offer tuition-free programs to students who cannot afford the high cost of studying medicine in other countries. Hence, Cuba is the best choice for international students studying medicine.

Why study in a Medical School in Cuba?

The medical schools in Cuba are ranked among the best in the world. Yearly, it churns out highly qualified physicians from its citadel of learning.

Cuba’s medical schools provide functioning libraries, developmental courses, highly equipped laboratories, certificate programs, and associate degrees.

Moreover, Cuba, which is only an hour’s faway from Miami, has risen to become one of the most sought-after destinations for medical students.

Students from all over the world continue to flock to the country, thanks to the fact that some colleges provide free tuition. Cuba has the highest number of doctors per capita in the world, owing to the low or non-existent fees.

How long does it take to complete a Medical course in Cuba?

The average time it takes to cover a course in medicine is six years which is opposite to 4 years of training in the US and Canada.

The Cuban Tertiary educational system follows the academic curriculum used by other standard schools worldwide.

At Elam, students are taught Cuban culture, history, and Spanish in their first year. In the subsequent years, they concentrate mainly on preventative health medical studies.

Is there a requirement for scholarship in medical schools in Cuba?

The applicant must have at least a 4 in Physical Science, Mathematics, Biology / Life Sciences, and English.

However, the department will examine individuals between the ages of 25 and 31 with a degree/diploma endorsement. Additionally, you must have a valid passport or be in the process of obtaining one at the time of application.

List of Top Medical Schools in Cuba in 2022

Cuba is home to a good number of universities that teach medicine. These universities in Cuba house the world’s best medical schools.

The selection of these schools is based on the student-to-faculty ratio, the number of programs offered in the schools’ curriculums, acceptance rate, and a host of other factors.

The following is a list of all the medical schools in Cuba:

  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Isla de la Juventud;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Holguín;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Camagüey;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Granma;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar Del Río; 
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Matanzas;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Las Tunas;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Artemisa;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Sancti Spiritus;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Ciego de Ávila;
  • Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Mayabeque,
  • San José de las Lajas.

Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM):

This Cuban university is popularly known as the Latin American School of Medicine. It has been the favourite choice of many international students since 1999.

It is located in Havana, and it is mostly considered the largest medical school in the world.

Rated as one of the best medical schools in Cuba, the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM) offers scholarships to students from underprivileged backgrounds. This scholarship aims to train as many qualified doctors capable of serving in poor communities of the world.

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Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana:

This Cuban university was formed in 1976 and is situated in the capital city, Havana. The institution provides programs in several health-related courses. Its medical school offers a six-year program in medicine.

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana has a standard curriculum they call PENSUM that aims to raise competent and skillful medical personnel.

It provides internship programs in the Department of Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology, and Pediatrics. It also has a graduate program that offers training in General Medicine, Pediatrics, Diagnostics, Surgery, Pediatrics, Gynecology, etc.

Rated as one of the best medical schools in Cuba, this medical school was accredited by the Ministerio de Salud Pública, Cuba (Ministry of Public Health).

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Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Holguín – Mariana Grajales Coello:

This institution was established in 1965 and graduated its first 20 physicians in 1967. Later on, the medical school was formed in 1973. The school initially borrowed staff from Havana and Russia.

Currently, this institution can boast of the highest quality of health centres in the country. Students here now take epidemiology, intensive care, natural medicine, gastroenterology, genetics, pathology, geriatrics, and countless others.

The Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Holguín – Mariana Grajales Coello made it to the list of the best medical schools in Cuba.

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Top Medical Schools in Cuba in 2022

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba:

This institution was previously known as the Medical School of the University of the Orient. It is situated to have a clear view of the breathtaking seaport of Santiago de Cuba.

It began in February 1962 but was officially commissioned in 1964. Presently, it offers programs in 24 medical specialties. It has three campuses located in the same city of Santiago de Cuba.

Moreover, the school was placed 191-200, according to the rankings of QS Latin America University conducted in 2018. International students from Mali, Haiti, Djibouti, and other countries are granted admission.

Rated as one of the best medical schools in Cuba, the school has good medical facilities to tutor and groom students properly.

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Ciudad Universitaria Jose Antonio Echeverria:

This university is well-known for the best technical education and was formed in 1967. Since then, it has provided undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral research degrees to its students.

It has only one campus that encompasses the seven faculties of the university. More so, the campus is seated in Havana, the capital city of Cuba.

In Latin America, this Ciudad Universitaria Jose Antonio Echeverria is listed among the best 250 universities.

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Read more: Top 10 Medical schools in France | 2022

Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas:

This institution of learning was established in 1952. It has two campuses. The first is situated in the city of Santa Clara, right at the centre of Cuba, while the second one is in Topes de Collantes. The second campus is called Universidad de Montaña.

This great institution has 12 faculties offering humanities, law, sciences, and psychology to over 15,400 students. In Latin America, it is positioned at 201-250th ranking. 

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Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo:

This institution is also known as the University Of Medical Sciences Of Guantanamo in English translation. It was formed in 1979.

Aside from offering the conventional programs in medicine, it also provides other health-related courses such as Nursing and Stomatology.

Top Medical Schools in Cuba in 2022

Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP):

This university is located in the populous city of Sao Paulo. It is a non-profit university that was established in 1966. It has another campus in Limeira, Piracicaba, officially recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education.

The Universidad Estadual de Campinas has a large landmass with over 30,000-34,999 students in enrollment.

Rated as one of the top medical schools in Cuba, many international students find this institution very attractive because of its acceptance and admission rate of 0-10%.

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Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Ciego de Ávila:

This university is located in Moron, and its campus is known to cover a vast area of 120,000 square meters.

The institution was formally based on agronomy upon its establishment in 1978, but now its Faculty of Medical Science is renowned as one of the top medical schools in Cuba.

In 2009, the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Ciego de Ávila was officially named a Medical University.

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Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos:

This great citadel of learning is situated in the attractive city of Cienfuegos, otherwise known as La Perla del Sur (meaning The Pearl of the South in English).

Students of the university enjoy beautiful sceneries of the tropical beaches on the Island’s southern coast.

The institution was established in 1979 and is presently amongst the top 300 universities in Latin America. The school plays host to the student of diverse nationalities.

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How much does it cost to study in a Medical School in Cuba?

The fees and cost to study in medical schools in Cuba are relatively cheap compared to the same quality school in other countries such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

In Cuba, students’ total tuition fees are made to pay ranges between US$20,000 and US$40,000. This amount depends on the university and the student’s course.

This cumulative fee covers the entire study duration, which is the whole period the students will spend in the school, cheap, right?

Read more: Top 10 Best Caribbean Medical Schools in 2022 (Full tips)

Why are Medical Schools in Cuba good?

Cuba’s achievement is partly due to the country’s unwavering dedication to preventative medicine and community-based primary health care.

Cuba has one of the highest doctor-to-population ratios in the world, with 8.2 doctors for every 1,000 people, more than three times the rate in the United States, which has 2.6 doctors for every 1,000 people.

Conclusion

Cuba is well-known for the increasing number of highly qualified professional medical doctors that it produces annually. It is a very welcoming place for students from all over the world interested in earning a degree in medicine.

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Paschal Uchechukwu
Paschal Uchechukwu

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain is a professional and passionate SEO writer on Education, including homeschool, college tips, high school, and travel tips.

He has been writing articles for over 5 years. He is the Chief Content Officer at School & Travel.

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain holds a degree in Computer Science from a reputable institution. Also, he is passionate about helping people get access to online money-making opportunities.

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