4 answers
Testimony
Student
Ibadan, Nigeria
5
Questions
Asked
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Looking for advice on studying medicine abroad
I’m in Nigeria, about finishing my physiology degree, and planning to study medicine abroad(4 years)—looking especially at St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada. My dream is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
I’d love to hear from anyone with SGU or U.S. med school experience, especially tips on tuition, living costs, scholarships, or anything that can help an international student plan better. Any advice or encouragement would mean a lot! 🙏✨
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4 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1091
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Testimony,
I am glad to hear that you are making progress in your degree and planning your future as a doctor. Cardiothoracic surgery is certainly a fascinating field, but the training path is a long and expensive one.
St. George's University (SGU) in Granada is one among a number of Caribbean medical schools that have become popular. Acceptance into a medical school in the US is of course super competitive. So, attending a school in the Caribbean with an above average acceptance rate can be a good option.
https://www.medschoolcoach.com/medical-school-acceptance-rates/
https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/caribbean-medical-school-rankings
The school is a for-profit school and tuition does not come cheap. It seems there are scholarships available even for international students, but I can't tell how likely it would be to get a scholarship. In the US, scholarships for medical school are exceedingly rare and even more unlikely if you are not a citizen. There are a few schools that are tuition-free though.
https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/tuition/tuition
https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/free-medical-school-universities-programs/
When choosing a medical school, you need to make sure that they are accredited and internationally accepted so you can e.g. participate in the US matching program, take the US licensing exams and qualify to practice in the US (or any other country you might choose).
https://www.sgu.edu/about-sgu/accreditations-approvals/
Where it might get a bit tricky is when it comes to your residency after you graduate from medical school. To become a cardiothoracic surgeon, you need to match into a general surgical residency followed by a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and possibly further training to specialize. You can't do those in Granada. The school website claims 94% of their students match into US residency programs. But degrees from Caribbean Medical schools often go to the bottom of the pile as they are considered "less prestigious". Surgery is a competitive residency, so I would be worried about matching.
Another problem might be the availability of visas in time for residency and fellowship.
There is a thread r/CaribbeanMedSchool on Reddit, that might have interesting information and perspectives for you.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/
https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/scholarships/
https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/admissions/
https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/blog/caribbean-medical-school-requirements/
I am glad to hear that you are making progress in your degree and planning your future as a doctor. Cardiothoracic surgery is certainly a fascinating field, but the training path is a long and expensive one.
St. George's University (SGU) in Granada is one among a number of Caribbean medical schools that have become popular. Acceptance into a medical school in the US is of course super competitive. So, attending a school in the Caribbean with an above average acceptance rate can be a good option.
https://www.medschoolcoach.com/medical-school-acceptance-rates/
https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/caribbean-medical-school-rankings
The school is a for-profit school and tuition does not come cheap. It seems there are scholarships available even for international students, but I can't tell how likely it would be to get a scholarship. In the US, scholarships for medical school are exceedingly rare and even more unlikely if you are not a citizen. There are a few schools that are tuition-free though.
https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/tuition/tuition
https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/free-medical-school-universities-programs/
When choosing a medical school, you need to make sure that they are accredited and internationally accepted so you can e.g. participate in the US matching program, take the US licensing exams and qualify to practice in the US (or any other country you might choose).
https://www.sgu.edu/about-sgu/accreditations-approvals/
Where it might get a bit tricky is when it comes to your residency after you graduate from medical school. To become a cardiothoracic surgeon, you need to match into a general surgical residency followed by a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and possibly further training to specialize. You can't do those in Granada. The school website claims 94% of their students match into US residency programs. But degrees from Caribbean Medical schools often go to the bottom of the pile as they are considered "less prestigious". Surgery is a competitive residency, so I would be worried about matching.
Another problem might be the availability of visas in time for residency and fellowship.
There is a thread r/CaribbeanMedSchool on Reddit, that might have interesting information and perspectives for you.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Testimony !
It is so exciting that you are aspiring to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon ! There is a lot to consider beyond which Medical Schools to go to and even to really think seriously about studying abroad in an island country or the U.S.
My first piece of advice to really consider would be that you should go to Medical School in a country, state or city that you intend to live in for a very long time. You will need the education, residency and clinical training of that country to be Licensed to practice in that country. You will need to consider living in that place for a long time and even consider going for your citizenship in the country you choose. This decision will have the biggest impact on how your career unfolds.
For Grenada, there are no Cardiothoracic Surgeons practicing and that means that funding for this specialty is lacking and when patients need this type of medical care, they have to rely on air-bridging (or what we call air lifting) to get to a place that can assist them. The training opportunities in Grenada for this specialty is limited and no way to financially afford the infrastructure that is needed. Really think about this and take a path to your dream that is doable.
In the United States, this specialty is incredibly competitive, however, you would have great opportunity for work as the U.S. is one large mainland in addition to Alaska and Hawaii. It is very important that, when choosing a medical school, that you consider the long term career benefit of the location you choose to be licensed in and where you want to live in order to practice. After you receive your Bachelors degree, it's more than a four year more path - it can be 9 to 12 more years of school, residency, clinical training, fellowship, etc. So you'll need to be 100% certain of where you want to live and practice so you can attend the school in a location that will prepare you for whatever location.
Be very sure of location before you even consider a Medical School. Explore the immigration process, too. Consider exploring the Medical School path and this specialty for Nigeria, too, and see what will be the best doable way for you. There are medical schools all over but you'll need to get an idea of how available work will be for you as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. It's a lot of information so start doing a search online for important information about the demand, availability and support for this in various countries. Once you choose a Medical School, then you'd know what scholarships and grants you can apply to.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
It is so exciting that you are aspiring to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon ! There is a lot to consider beyond which Medical Schools to go to and even to really think seriously about studying abroad in an island country or the U.S.
My first piece of advice to really consider would be that you should go to Medical School in a country, state or city that you intend to live in for a very long time. You will need the education, residency and clinical training of that country to be Licensed to practice in that country. You will need to consider living in that place for a long time and even consider going for your citizenship in the country you choose. This decision will have the biggest impact on how your career unfolds.
For Grenada, there are no Cardiothoracic Surgeons practicing and that means that funding for this specialty is lacking and when patients need this type of medical care, they have to rely on air-bridging (or what we call air lifting) to get to a place that can assist them. The training opportunities in Grenada for this specialty is limited and no way to financially afford the infrastructure that is needed. Really think about this and take a path to your dream that is doable.
In the United States, this specialty is incredibly competitive, however, you would have great opportunity for work as the U.S. is one large mainland in addition to Alaska and Hawaii. It is very important that, when choosing a medical school, that you consider the long term career benefit of the location you choose to be licensed in and where you want to live in order to practice. After you receive your Bachelors degree, it's more than a four year more path - it can be 9 to 12 more years of school, residency, clinical training, fellowship, etc. So you'll need to be 100% certain of where you want to live and practice so you can attend the school in a location that will prepare you for whatever location.
Be very sure of location before you even consider a Medical School. Explore the immigration process, too. Consider exploring the Medical School path and this specialty for Nigeria, too, and see what will be the best doable way for you. There are medical schools all over but you'll need to get an idea of how available work will be for you as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. It's a lot of information so start doing a search online for important information about the demand, availability and support for this in various countries. Once you choose a Medical School, then you'd know what scholarships and grants you can apply to.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
I am really grateful you took time to answer this question. I haven't really thought about this. Thank you so much.
Testimony
You are very welcome, Testimony !
Michelle M.
Archana Indran
Senior Engineering Manager
3
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Archana’s Answer
Hi Testimony,
There are multiple aspects to take into account before making this decision:
1. Numbers & facts you’ll care about (current SGU figures & living costs)
- SGU tuition & estimated program cost (MD, 4-year track)
- Basic Sciences (Terms 1–5) total tuition + admin ≈ $173k (listed as total basic sciences).
- Clinical years (terms) total tuition + admin ≈ $201k.
- SGU publishes term-by-term billing (term tuition ranges and administrative fees). Plan on roughly $300k–$400k total for tuition + fees across the full MD program depending on track/clinical term choices and living costs.
2. Living expenses in Grenada
- Estimates vary: one-bedroom outside city center ~$400–$700/month; monthly budget estimates for a single student often fall between $1,000–$2,000/month depending on rent, food, transport, and lifestyle. If you live modestly near campus you can be toward the low end.
3. Scholarships / financial aid
- SGU automatically reviews admitted applicants for institutional scholarships (academic, service-based awards, etc.). There are additional external scholarship lists but most students finance via family support, loans, or partial institutional aid. Plan conservatively — treat scholarships as helpful but not guaranteed.
4. Residency / match context
- SGU publishes match outcomes and placements each year; they place many graduates into U.S. residencies but IMGs overall face a lower match probability than U.S. grads. Thoracic (cardiothoracic) surgery fellowships are competitive — historically fellowship match rates are around ~59% for applicants preferring thoracic in the combined match (requires completion of a general surgery residency first). Expect to need strong clinical performance, excellent board scores, research, and competitive audition electives.
5. Visas & clinical rotations / residency
- For clinical clerkships SGU notes some students use the B-1 classification for US rotations; for graduate medical education (residency), IMGs usually require ECFMG certification and typically a J-1 (ECFMG-sponsored) or sometimes H-1B depending on program — the J-1 has a two-year home-residency condition unless waived. Visa paperwork can add months, so plan early.
All the very best in this endeavor.
There are multiple aspects to take into account before making this decision:
1. Numbers & facts you’ll care about (current SGU figures & living costs)
- SGU tuition & estimated program cost (MD, 4-year track)
- Basic Sciences (Terms 1–5) total tuition + admin ≈ $173k (listed as total basic sciences).
- Clinical years (terms) total tuition + admin ≈ $201k.
- SGU publishes term-by-term billing (term tuition ranges and administrative fees). Plan on roughly $300k–$400k total for tuition + fees across the full MD program depending on track/clinical term choices and living costs.
2. Living expenses in Grenada
- Estimates vary: one-bedroom outside city center ~$400–$700/month; monthly budget estimates for a single student often fall between $1,000–$2,000/month depending on rent, food, transport, and lifestyle. If you live modestly near campus you can be toward the low end.
3. Scholarships / financial aid
- SGU automatically reviews admitted applicants for institutional scholarships (academic, service-based awards, etc.). There are additional external scholarship lists but most students finance via family support, loans, or partial institutional aid. Plan conservatively — treat scholarships as helpful but not guaranteed.
4. Residency / match context
- SGU publishes match outcomes and placements each year; they place many graduates into U.S. residencies but IMGs overall face a lower match probability than U.S. grads. Thoracic (cardiothoracic) surgery fellowships are competitive — historically fellowship match rates are around ~59% for applicants preferring thoracic in the combined match (requires completion of a general surgery residency first). Expect to need strong clinical performance, excellent board scores, research, and competitive audition electives.
5. Visas & clinical rotations / residency
- For clinical clerkships SGU notes some students use the B-1 classification for US rotations; for graduate medical education (residency), IMGs usually require ECFMG certification and typically a J-1 (ECFMG-sponsored) or sometimes H-1B depending on program — the J-1 has a two-year home-residency condition unless waived. Visa paperwork can add months, so plan early.
All the very best in this endeavor.
Big thanks to you Archana
Testimony
Alexander Verma
Physician - neurologist
8
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Alexander’s Answer
Hi Testimony,
An important question to answer here is where do you ultimately want to practice? Are you hoping to study abroad and then come back to Nigeria, or are you looking to move to another country and practice medicine there?
I can't speak to the Nigerian system, but in the United States the pathway to becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon is typically:
- 4 years of undergraduate college, apply for medical school
- 4 years of Medical school (in the US this is a graduate degree), apply for residency
- Surgical residency: this can look different depending on where/how you apply. Some pathways will have you do a five year long surgical residency and then apply separately for 2-3 years of additional cardiothoracic training, some pathways will integrate your training from the outset, and some pathways will shorten your general surgery residency to facilitate more time in cardiothoracic surgery.
Medical schools in the Caribbean have a (not unearned) reputation as being very expensive for-profit institutions with poor placement options for graduates. Most attendees to these school are students from the USA who are looking to practice in the US afterwards. Tuition tends to be higher than even most US medical schools, and as others have mentioned international students are at a disadvantage when applying to residency programs in the US. I was advised several times when applying to medical school that if my only medical school option was a school in the Caribbean, I would be better off not going. While I personally know at least one person who went to a Caribbean school (not SGU) and is currently practicing as an ER doctor, I also have friends who went, accumulated massive debts to attend, and were unable to practice medicine in the US afterwards because they could not match into a residency program.
Some other perspectives on school in the Caribbean:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/29/health/caribbean-medical-school.html?ref=oembed
https://milliondollarmistake.wordpress.com/ (Written by an American applicant who had a very bad experience as a medical student at an undisclosed school who wanted to become an orthopedic surgeon but was unable to match, which was attributed to their medical school)
This may not apply to you if you plan to return to Nigeria or else practice elsewhere in the world, I don't know enough about the Nigerian medical system to say. If your ultimate goal is to practice in the US, you would probably be better off doing medical school in Nigeria and then applying to US residency programs.
All that to say, I would be wary of schools like SGU. They spend a fair amount on advertising, which does not necessarily translate to a solid clinical experience, and their placement rates in the US do not, in my opinion, justify the cost associated with attending. Medical school in the US was hard, but it was nothing compared to what the author of Million Dollar Mistake describes.
Another option you might consider is medical school in Europe, China, or India. While you will still face difficulties finding a residency in the US if that's your goal, you may find you have more opportunities with lower costs than the Caribbean. I have a colleague from Ghana who did medical school in China and was able to work with researchers in the US during his time there, he ultimately was able to match into a residency program in the US. We were very glad to have him!
An important question to answer here is where do you ultimately want to practice? Are you hoping to study abroad and then come back to Nigeria, or are you looking to move to another country and practice medicine there?
I can't speak to the Nigerian system, but in the United States the pathway to becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon is typically:
- 4 years of undergraduate college, apply for medical school
- 4 years of Medical school (in the US this is a graduate degree), apply for residency
- Surgical residency: this can look different depending on where/how you apply. Some pathways will have you do a five year long surgical residency and then apply separately for 2-3 years of additional cardiothoracic training, some pathways will integrate your training from the outset, and some pathways will shorten your general surgery residency to facilitate more time in cardiothoracic surgery.
Medical schools in the Caribbean have a (not unearned) reputation as being very expensive for-profit institutions with poor placement options for graduates. Most attendees to these school are students from the USA who are looking to practice in the US afterwards. Tuition tends to be higher than even most US medical schools, and as others have mentioned international students are at a disadvantage when applying to residency programs in the US. I was advised several times when applying to medical school that if my only medical school option was a school in the Caribbean, I would be better off not going. While I personally know at least one person who went to a Caribbean school (not SGU) and is currently practicing as an ER doctor, I also have friends who went, accumulated massive debts to attend, and were unable to practice medicine in the US afterwards because they could not match into a residency program.
Some other perspectives on school in the Caribbean:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/29/health/caribbean-medical-school.html?ref=oembed
https://milliondollarmistake.wordpress.com/ (Written by an American applicant who had a very bad experience as a medical student at an undisclosed school who wanted to become an orthopedic surgeon but was unable to match, which was attributed to their medical school)
This may not apply to you if you plan to return to Nigeria or else practice elsewhere in the world, I don't know enough about the Nigerian medical system to say. If your ultimate goal is to practice in the US, you would probably be better off doing medical school in Nigeria and then applying to US residency programs.
All that to say, I would be wary of schools like SGU. They spend a fair amount on advertising, which does not necessarily translate to a solid clinical experience, and their placement rates in the US do not, in my opinion, justify the cost associated with attending. Medical school in the US was hard, but it was nothing compared to what the author of Million Dollar Mistake describes.
Another option you might consider is medical school in Europe, China, or India. While you will still face difficulties finding a residency in the US if that's your goal, you may find you have more opportunities with lower costs than the Caribbean. I have a colleague from Ghana who did medical school in China and was able to work with researchers in the US during his time there, he ultimately was able to match into a residency program in the US. We were very glad to have him!
I'm so thankful I asked the question before setting my mind on SGU. Thank you so much Alexander! Words can't describe how grateful I am to you guys🥺🙏
By the way, I hope to practice in the US.
Testimony