Oceania University of Medicine (OUM)

OUM’s online pre-clinical study allows some students to continue working through the MD program’s pre-clinical phase. Since students spend an average of 40-50 hours per week on their studies, essentially becoming a second full-time job, some students seek an adjustable work schedule. Most students complete the program in 4 to four 4.5 years. Students who work during the pre-clinical curriculum, or those who plan to practice in the US, may take up to 4.5 to 5 years to complete the Doctor of Medicine program.

Why OUM?

World-Class Learning and Committed Faculty

• Hybrid curriculum developed by industry experts
• A global network of teaching hospitals and clinics that provide unrivaled hands-on clinical training
• Integrated community-based, patient-centered learning
• Unmatched student advisory support with Academic and Research Advisors

Seasoned Non-Traditional Students

• OUM students' average age is 41 years old
• 42 percent hold Master’s degrees, 8 percent hold Doctorates
• Impressive pre-medical school careers from nurses, paramedics, and
  physician assistants to pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and assorted business professionals
• Knowledgeable peers, many with 20+ years of healthcare experience,
  bring valuable life experience and insight

Accreditations

Accreditation demonstrates that an institution has met rigorous standards, providing confidence that its curriculum is comparable to well-established medical schools. In addition to being an important quality indicator, many countries require that graduates of foreign medical schools applying for licensure in their countries be graduates of an accredited medical school. Many student loan providers also require that applicants be attending accredited institutions.

OUM was first accredited in 2010 by the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), which at the time was one of the 21 medical school accrediting bodies worldwide deemed by the US Department of Education’s National Committee for Foreign Medical Education Accreditation as having standards equivalent to those of the US. In 2015, OUM underwent PAASCU’s rigorous re-accreditation, was awarded level-two status, and today is accredited through April 2025.

PAASCU is currently applying for recognition from the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). Beginning in 2025, graduates of international medical schools who plan to practice in the United States must have earned their degree from a medical school whose accrediting body is recognized by WFME. As OUM is a Samoan medical school, PAASCU and Samoa's accrediting agency (SQA) are in the process of signing a Memorandum of Agreement indicating SQA's recognition of SQA's accreditation of OUM, which will enable PAASCU's WFME recognition to extend to OUM.

In addition to being internationally accredited, OUM is recognized by the following entities:

• Australian Medical Council (AMC)
• Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
• Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
• World Directory of Medical Schools

Being recognized by these organizations is a prerequisite in many countries for international medical school graduates to apply for licensure.

OUM graduates planning to practice medicine in Australia are eligible to sit the AMC licensing exams, and graduates planning to practice in New Zealand are eligible to sit for the New Zealand Registration Exam (NZREX).

OUM graduates are also eligible to obtain ECFMG certification. In the US, in addition to passing the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), students of foreign medical schools must obtain ECFMG certification to begin a US residency program.

Application Overview

The items listed below are required to apply for admission to OUM. Please complete all fields in the application, which is designed to save your information so you may complete it in more than one sitting.

Application Deadline

OUM welcomes two classes each year – in January and July. Application deadlines are September 1 for the January term and March 1 for the July term.

Application Checklist

• Certified or official academic college transcripts from ALL institutions attended (Some transcripts may require a formal evaluation report to meet admissions requirements.)
• Confirmation of English proficiency
• Essay on why you want to become a medical practitioner
• Three signed and dated original letters of recommendation (at least one from a doctor)
• Professional resume/CV
• Photo ID
• Non-refundable application fee (Residents for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Samoa, and the US pay fees in their country’s currency.)

Post-Acceptance Checklist

Upon acceptance to the OUM program, students must also provide:

• Criminal background check
• Immunization records
• Passport photo

Please contact the university for additional information.

Academic Prerequisites

Applicants must have a:

• Recognized Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited tertiary institution.
• GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, 5.5 on a 7.0 scale, or its equivalent.

OUM students come from a variety of backgrounds. A Science major is not a prerequisite for entry because the Basic Sciences are foundational to a medical school curriculum.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) are not required.

OUM currently accepts students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States, where the University has well-established relationships with teaching hospitals and clinics and where it is most knowledgeable of the licensing requirements for international medical graduates (IMGs). This guarantees our students access to their requisite clinical rotations and assures a smoother transition through their hurdle exams into postgraduate training and clinical practice.

English Language Requirement

Since all instruction at OUM is in English, students must be fully fluent in the language. Candidates whose first language is not English may be exempt from this requirement if their degree is from a university whose curriculum is delivered in English. Candidates whose native language is not English may need to demonstrate fluency by submitting testing results from one of the services which evaluate language proficiency.

We accept the following English tests:

• International English Language Testing System(IELTS) – A minimum score of 6.5 is required.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT )– A minimum score of 100 is required.

English test scores must be submitted from the testing service directly to the OUM Admissions Office.