A new six-year BS/MD pathway is offering UAE students a faster route towards earning a medical degree in the United States.
Speaking during a spotlight session at Gulf News Edufair, Isha Bhandari, Regional Manager for the Middle East and North Africa at WAUSM, explained that students can begin the pathway directly after completing Grade 12 through partner universities in the United States.
Accelerated Route to a US Medical Degree
“Under the programme, students complete accelerated undergraduate coursework at one of WAUSM’s partner institutions in the US before progressing to WAUSM’s MD programme in the Bahamas. The curriculum also includes clinical clerkships and preparation for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1 and 2,” Bhandari explained.
The programme is designed to shorten the academic pathway for students pursuing medicine while still covering the required stages of medical education and clinical training.
Residency Training Still Required
Bhandari clarified that while the accelerated route can reduce the time needed to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree, students must still complete residency training before becoming fully licensed doctors in the United States.
“Graduates of the programme are then eligible to apply for residency training programmes in the US, where they continue supervised medical training in their chosen specialty. After residency and completion of USMLE Step 3, physicians may apply for full medical licensure in the US, subject to state-specific requirements.”
She added that the six-year programme does not allow graduates to practise independently in the US immediately after completing their degree, as residency training remains mandatory.
Importance of Building a Strong Student Profile
Bhandari also encouraged students interested in medicine to begin strengthening their academic and extracurricular profiles early.
“Build strong academic and extracurricular profiles early, including volunteering and leadership experience, to strengthen your applications for medical programmes.”
Educational experts say growing interest among UAE students in overseas medical education and international career pathways is increasing demand for accelerated medical programmes and structured alternatives to traditional routes into medicine.
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