About the University

Founded in 1935, the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is the oldest and largest private University in México. The UAG is coeducational, nondenominational, and nonprofit; it is independent and self-contained-autonomous and neither has, nor is dependent upon, government, church or political affiliation.

While over 80% of the UAG's students are Mexican, students from countries all over the world are enrolled in a variety of degree and specialization programs. The University offers numerous semiprofessional and specialization courses, and grants more than 40 undergraduate, 22 masters, 36 specialties and 2 doctoral degrees.

The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is accredited by the Mexican Federal Secretary of Public Education (SEP). The UAG's deep commitment to education is evident in both the variety and the number of programs offered. The University comprises over twenty schools including the schools of Accounting, Agriculture, Architecture, Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Chemical Sciences, Dentistry, Economics, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Industrial Design, Interior Design, International Careers, Law, Linguistics, Communications, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, etc.

In addition, the UAG maintains educational exchanges and affiliations with universities worldwide. Making maximum use of its resources, the University operates an elementary school, two middle schools, and three high schools, as well as postgraduate studies, continuing-education and a Community College (UNICO) the first in México.

Various support facilities have helped UAG become increasingly self-sufficient in achieving its educational goals. Among these facilities are two teaching hospitals, a dental clinic, the Medicine in the Community Program (PMC), three convention centers, four libraries, Ocho Columnas newspaper, sports facilities, and a great number of services for the UAG community, distributed in five campi.

International Program

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS

This section contains information on applying to UAG School of Medicine's International Medical Program.

Please review the instructions in our Admissions Application Checklist carefully and submit the required documents. Upon submission of documentation required in the checklist, each applicant is assigned a personal admissions counselor to guide him/her through the admissions process.

Decisions regarding admission are made in committee and selections are made in accordance with broad-based criteria. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to consider personal conduct and ethical behavior as a factor in its decision.

Students whose applications are approved by the committee are invited to attend a personal interview at a date arranged by the student through their admissions counselor. The personal interview is the final stage before a formal offer of admission.

All offers of admission are subject to verification of university admission requirements such as degree conferral, academic transcripts, official test scores, etc., by Graduate Admissions, Office of the University Registrar.

We encourage potential students to browse our website and bookmark appropriate pages.

BASIC SCIENCES CURRICULUM

Your first two years will provide the necessary foundation upon which to build your medical education. Along with the 24 months of the curriculum, UAG students have the opportunity to study 12-16 weeks in the basic sciences review course allowing you to prepare to take and to pass the USMLE Step 1.

Clinical Skills and Clinical Competencies are honed during your first four semesters. The unique and favorable opportunity beginning in your first semester to face real patients during your participation in our Program of Medicine in the Community reinforces these skills. In order to participate in the Clinical clerkships of the Clinical curriculum, you first must acquire your Certification of Basic Clinical Skills indicating that you are prepared.

CLINICAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Your first four semesters will provide a gradual transition into language fluency. Students build on the basic foundations of the Spanish language as they progress through the basic sciences years, acquiring the proficiency and technical knowledge that is needed to be truly fluent.

Fifth- and sixth- semester students rotate through our Clinical Campus and through more than 100 affiliated hospitals in Mexico. Students in the seventh and eighth semesters have the option of rotating in Mexico or selecting one of the Off-Campus programs offered through affiliated hospitals and medical schools in the United States and Puerto Rico.

OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS

Objective:
To expand basic clinical knowledge and further develop abilities which were acquired during the third year.

UAG students are able to participate in programs developed by the Curriculum committee - Co-op, Electives in U.S.A. and Mexico-Electives. Students that participate in these programs must demonstrate the required talent and clinical skills to work in a hospital setting. Additionally, they must do self-study without having to attend their regular courses in the Guadalajara Clinical Campus during the seventh and eighth semesters.

A fee is required from participating students in order to maintain the quality of these programs, to provide financial support and to open additional programs in other areas. Purchase of malpractice insurance is also required.

NOTE: Payments for the Co-op, Electives and the Mal Practice Insurance will NOT be reimbursed should a student decide later on that he/she will not attend the program, has requested a transfer, or is rejected or expelled by the hospital.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM SPOTS:

Credits and GPA
1. A GPA of eight or better from first to sixth semester.

2. Credits - 180 or better through fifth semester.

3. "Aprovechamiento": No more than 3 (three) subjects in extraordinary exams from first to sixth semester while maintaining a GPA of 8.

4. Satisfactory completion of all courses required by our School of Medicine through the sixth semester.

5. Accreditation of USMLE Step 1. All students must provide a copy of the USMLE score. APPLICATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT COPY OF SCORES.

6. All students assigned to U.S. hospitals must be fluent in English.

7. Any student who has applied for a transfer to another medical school WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE for these special programs

8. Follow all the procedures given in the "Student Timeline" of the "Cooperative Medical Education Program".

9. Selection of qualified students to participate in these programs is made by the Off campus Committee.

10. Eligibility does not necessarily confer selection.

COOPERATIVE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (Co-op)

This program began in 1978 and was offered under the guidance/supervision of the School of Medicine. In January 1986, the School of Medicine introduced an additional supervision system for education programs offered to clinical clerks in the fourth year (seventh and eighth semesters) through the Cooperative Medical Education Program. All students carry malpractice insurance.

The goal of this program is to implement a program of systematic monitoring and evaluation of the quality and appropriateness of Cooperative Medical Education Program supervision. Additionally, it provides opportunities to improve education and problem solving.

Formal teaching agreements are reached between the school and the cooperating teaching hospitals or appropriate medical schools for the clinical instruction of medical disciplines.

The program will apply to all departments at affiliated hospitals, including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.

ABOUT SPANISH

Students should be aware that the first 2 years at our medical school are bilingual. However, during the 3rd and 4th years, all courses, exams and clinical rotations are in Spanish. Students should be proficient in Spanish when they begin their studies of the 3rd year.

Exams, handbooks and textbooks are in English for the first two years. Except for the clinical practices, 70% of classes are in English, the seven basic sciences courses are taught in English. A gradual transition takes place over the first four semesters so that by the fifth semester, all classes are in Spanish. Students who are not fluent in Spanish are encouraged to enroll in Spanish language classes in order to develop and to build on a basic language foundation. As they progress through the basic sciences years, they can expect to acquire the proficiency and technical knowledge in Spanish that they need to be truly fluent.

UAG offers intensive Spanish courses that provide students the opportunity to adjust to the Mexican culture and to get to know Guadalajara while at the same time improving in their new language. More than 1000 students from different countries come every year to learn Spanish at UAG.

UAG recommends that all foreign students who do not have a grasp of the Spanish language take courses during the first year at UAG. As the International Program is a bilingual program, students from Puerto Rico who are not proficient in English should also seek coursework in English. Keep in mind that the majority of the first two years coursework and all exams within the first two years are presented in English. The remaining two years consist of courses and exams in Spanish.

Routes to Licensure

The Medical Degree

At the successful conclusion of the first four years of medical education - 2 years of basic sciences, 2 years of clinical sciences and one year of Internado (Pre-Internship), plus passing the USMLE Step I and II (CK & CS) the student will be awarded the Medical Degree or Titulo de Medico Cirujano.

In order to be permanently certified by the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) and to apply for graduate medical education and licensure in the U.S., the U.S. student must pass all exams administered by the ECFMG in addition to earning a degree (Titulo).

Financial Aid

Borrowing funds for your education is a significant investment. The UAG is committed to helping applicants and students make educated decisions about how much to borrow and from which lender. Because responsibility to repay all funds borrowed plus interest accrued is ultimately yours as borrower, it is essential to understand how the process works and your role in it.

For more information, contact us.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE (ISAO)

ISAO - (DAEI - Direccion de Asuntos Estudiantiles Internacionales) - this office encompasses a variety of student services designed to provide the necessary support and enrichment for the UAG student campus life.

In addition to the day-to-day extra activities and athletics, ISAO is a very strong presence for students requesting information on Financial Aid and guiding their questions to the San Antonio office. Enrollment Services and Student Life Services can also be found in this office. Immigration issues and student visa renewals are all processed through ISAO. Academic payments through the Registrar are easily done in this office. It is important that the student community take advantage of the many opportunities provided on campus by ISAO for an easy transition through the years at medical school.

TUITION AND FEES

Cost of Attendance (COA)
1. Tuition $22,000.00 USD per year or $11,000.00 USD per semester.

2. NASA fee (Not for internado) $250.00 USD per year for the first 4 years. NASA is the North American Students Association at UAG.

* NASA FEE supports a variety of activities and services, available to all US students and the annual medical insurance.

* All students are required to pay the full semester's tuition and fees - first week of classes. Failure to do so will impose a charge of 2% interest beginning on the first day of the second week.

* If students do not pay their tuition during the second week of classes, they will not be allowed to stay in school.

Financial Obligations

Estimated Cost of Living

DISCLAIMER: Tuition will change if a student leaves the school for two semesters.

ACADEMIC SERVICES

All processing of document requests are done through the Academic Service office in Guadalajara. The San Antonio office is NOT a processing office. It only acts as a liaison between you and Guadalajara. If your request was originally made through the San Antonio office, we can check on the status of your request. Payments can be made through either the Academic Service office in Guadalajara or San Antonio.

INMIGRATION SERVICES

General Information
ISAO Immigration Department serves as a valuable link between students and the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), the government agency that regulates the immigration status of all foreigners while in Mexico. UAG is proud to be the first University in the world to have an Immigration Department.

While the Immigration Department is a facilitator to students and the INM, it is up to students to ensure their immigration status is current while they are at UAG. To guarantee this and to avoid fines, the Immigration Department requires the full cooperation of each student.

What type of services does this department offer?

• Change of immigration status from tourist to student.
• Registration of FM3 with the INM.
• Permit to leave Mexico while the FM3 is being processed.
• FM3 renewal.
• Change of address.
• Change of nationality.
• Permit to marry a Mexican citizen.
• Change of marital status.
• Replacement of lost FM3.
• Certificate of Legal Stay in Mexico

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