What makes St. Matthew's University unique among Caribbean veterinary schools?

St. Matthew’s School of Veterinary Medicine offers quality education with unmatched student support services on a beautiful, safe, modern island. 

Our Basic Science campus is on Grand Cayman which is only an hour flight from Miami. Students spend seven semesters on the island completing Basic Science and Pre-Clinical classes with highly credentialed and experienced faculty. 

The program offers students a veterinary medical education program focused on patient-centered care as the foundation of the program. The veterinary medical education is integrated with a new surgical facility built by St. Matthew's University for the benefit of our students, the citizens of the Cayman Islands and the local animal population.
The Cayman Islands offer a unique setting for veterinary study. The island has a rich variety of wildlife, large animals and companion animals. Students spend 28 months of classroom, laboratory and surgical facility based instruction on Grand Cayman. Students then move on to a year of clinical instruction at premier veterinary schools in the U.S and Canada. Grand Cayman boasts one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

The island is modern and has an economy similar of that of the U.S. which allows students to easily assimilate into the lifestyle of the island. Grand Cayman has one of the lowest crime rates of any country in the Caribbean, and the local residents are hospitable and inviting.

St. Matthew's University is just steps away from the famous Seven Mile Beach. Students can literally walk out of their class for a quick swim, snorkel, sunset volleyball game, or even to study on the beach.

Are St. Matthew's University graduates easily able to practice veterinary medicine in the United States?


Yes. St. Matthew's University graduates are eligible to practice veterinary medicine in the United States once they pass the requisite licensing examinations. Most of our graduates are licensed and practicing or in residency in the United States or Canada.

How is St. Matthew's University accredited?


The Ministry of Health Services, Agriculture, Aviation and Works of the Cayman Islands has granted St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine a full charter (click here to see document). St Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine charter qualified the school to seek listing with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Our graduates are able to seek licensure in the United States and Canada through a number of pathways:

  1. Our graduates can seek licensure through the Education Committee of Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). ECFVG certification allows our graduates to be licensed in the United States and other countries accepting ECFVG certification. Learn more here.
  2. An alternative pathway is through certification through The Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE®). Learn more here.

All veterinary students in North America have to write the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).

St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine received its AVMA listing in December 2005 (listed under Related Resources - Veterinary Colleges of the world, British West Indies). American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

FAQs about Academics and Curriculum

Typical class sizes range between 10 and 20 students to ensure a high degree of individual attention from faculty.

The ratio of students to full-time faculty is only five to one, which affords our students an unprecedented level of faculty support and attention.

In order to practice in the United States, graduates of St.Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine must be certified by the Educational Committee of Foreign Veterinary Graduates (a committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association) or the program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence.
Students are provided with many opportunities to work with large and small animals throughout their education at SMUSVM. Students in the early semesters learn animal handling techniques and participate in local projects in the community that help local businesses/farms and provide students with hands on experience with a variety of animals.

At our clinical facility, faculty and students work closely with the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture and have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of local domestic large and small animals. Students have opportunities to work up real cases with faculty and local veterinarians, gaining a wide variety of experience that only comes from exposure to actual cases in the field.

Because of our location in the Caribbean, students also gain exposure to many exotic animal species, including marine turtles, iguanas, tropical birds and fish.
No. During your 6th semester, St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine officials will work closely with you to have you placed into a clinical program (which follows your 7th semester) at one of our U.S. affiliate schools.


FAQs About Admissions

The SMUSVM Veterinary Medicine program welcomes applications from transfer students in another Caribbean or U.S. veterinary program. Transfer credits may be awarded depending on grades in particular courses, references from faculty at the current/previous school, and how closely the curriculum at the current/previous school matches the SMUSVM curriculum.
We do not have application deadlines. We have a rolling admissions process and we encourage student to apply no later than two months prior to the semester start date to allow students to select the semester they prefer. If an application is received after the class has closed, the application is automatically reviewed for the next available semester.
Once we have received your completed application and a personal interview has been conducted, it takes approximately two (2) weeks for your complete application to be processed.
In order to obtain accurate information about the status of your file, you can log into your online account 24-hours a day, seven days a week. If you need assistance, call our Admissions Office toll-free at 800.498.9700. Our Enrollment Specialists are available to assist you Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm (Eastern Time).

The successful completion of all pre-requisite coursework is required prior to enrollment. If you are missing only one pre-requisite course, or you are in the process of completing coursework, you may apply now. Simply indicate the course(s) in-progress upon submission of your application. This will be taken into consideration while reviewing your application.

Often, if the remainder of the application (overall academic performance, recommendation letters, personal interview, etc.) is acceptable, the student is admitted and his or her file is placed on "Academic Hold" until he or she has submitted the grade(s) for the missing coursework. The student, although admitted, is not permitted to enroll in St. Matthew's University courses until all coursework requirements are fulfilled.


If you have additional questions, contact an Admissions Counselor, toll-free at 800.498.9700.

Undergraduate coursework can be taken at any accredited college or university in the world. Students with academic transcripts from outside the United States and Canada must have them evaluated on a course-by-course basis by an evaluation service such as World Evaluation Services, Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. or a service that is a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member.
St. Matthew's University is not affiliated with the VMCAS application process. However, you can email or fax the VMCAS application in lieu of our online application.
The Committee seeks comments about the applicant's character, integrity, work ethic, intelligence, motivation, people skills, and problem-solving skills.

No, however it is helpful if letters of recommendation are written by a pre-veterinary professor acquainted with the applicant's academic and research background or by a veterinarian who is familiar with the applicant's experience in a veterinary practice setting, if available. All letters can be mailed, emailed or faxed to St. Matthew's University as long as they are written on letterhead and include a signature and contact information.

St. Matthew's University will consider any qualified applicant for admission, regardless of age. Some of our most successful students and graduates have had prior careers, often as certified veterinary technicians or other occupations.
Applicants invited for an interview are selected from a pool of those applicants the committee deems to be promising candidates. If you are invited for an interview, it is likely that you are being strongly considered for admission. However, an interview is not a guarantee of admission.
St. Matthew's University offers scholarships to our most promising students. The University reviews applications and awards the following Scholarships:
  • Academic Scholarships
  • Cayman Islands Scholarships


FAQs About Life at St. Matthew's University

The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs works closely with the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine as well as with all faculty to provide support to students experiencing academic and/or personal difficulties.

Short-term counseling, crisis counseling and general counseling relating to academic difficulties are available. If longer-term counseling and support is required, referrals can be made to professionals in the community.

Academic counseling, including test-taking skills, time management skills and study skills can also be initiated in conjunction with the Dean. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs also serves as a liaison between the Student Associate American Veterinary Medical Association Chapter (SAAVMA) and the St. Matthew's University administration.
Although the majority of our students are U.S. residents, St. Matthew's University boasts an extremely diverse student population. 20% of our students are from Canada and around 5% are from Europe. Over 40 countries are represented in our student body.
Grand Cayman boasts some of the best primary school options in the Caribbean. The Caymanian school system is based upon the English learning system. For further information regarding primary schools, contact the Cayman Island Ministry of Education.

Many family members and companions choose to join their loved ones in The Cayman Islands. Children range in age from infants to late adolescents. The Cayman Islands can issue a visa which permits companions to work and reside in The Cayman Islands. There is plenty of housing available for couples and families, both close to campus and more centrally located in Georgetown.

Pets are allowed to be brought to Cayman. An import permit or valid animal passport issued by the Department of Agriculture and an official health certificate issued by a government employed or accredited veterinary inspector in the country of origin is required for the importation of dogs and cats. Because Grand Cayman is a rabies free area, all pets must have proof of regular vaccination and a demonstrated rabies titer.

New students are assigned to either of our student residencies, Residence Hall or Residence Suites.


New students arriving on the island live in the St. Matthew's University Residence Hall for one semester and are welcome to stay as many semesters as they wish. This arrangement makes your arrival in and transition to living in another country smooth and comfortable. Single and double rooms are available.

Students who are exempt from Residence Hall (showing proof of marriage or pet) choose to live in Georgetown.

Want to know our students' opinion about what it's like to attend at the St Matthews University school of Veterinary medicine? To get your answers to the most common questions about attending our Institution in Grand Cayman Island, please visit our testimonial page to find out. more, click here.

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