Why St. Matthew’s University
Highly credentialed and well-established
Why St.Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine?
Success-oriented
Since 2005, hundreds of students have obtained their DVM degrees from SMUSVM. Our graduates have earned licensure in nearly every state in the U.S., Canada, and numerous other countries. Our students achieve exceptional scholastic success, with U.S. licensing examination pass rates comparable to U.S. schools and well above the average of other non-U.S. schools.
Check our Graduate Success Stories
Quality education
Small class sizes and expert faculty to assist your learning. SMUSOVM students have amazing pass rates on licensing exams.
Through SMUSVM’s rigorous curriculum, students are well-prepared for licensing examinations, achieving a 96 percent pass rate on the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) over the last five years*.
Amazing campus and location
The Cayman Islands’ remarkable success as a financial center and tourist destination has transformed the nation into a dynamic society that has every modern convenience but still retains the charm and vibrancy of the Caribbean. People from more than 100 countries live and work in this British Overseas Territory, creating a lively and unique blend of cultures.
An outstanding pre-clinical curriculum and the clinical shadowing programs at Cayman veterinary hospitals and clinics help our students understand the powerful link between Basic Sciences and clinical practice. This is a great way to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of veterinary medicine. The state of the art IT infrastructure and learning platforms at St. Matthew’s University are among the most advanced in veterinary education today.
You’ll be studying at an air-conditioned campus with fully equipped labs, a library and student lounges. There is also a range of student accommodation, all of which is located close to Seven Mile Beach so you can easily relax during your down time. Our facilities also have the latest IT infrastructure to ensure you can stay connected to family and friends while you study.
Qualified Faculty
Highly credentialed, experienced faculty, with each holding a DVM and/or PhD.
Highly experienced faculty travel from all over the globe to deliver a curriculum that they are passionate and proud of. They are dedicated to ensuring that veterinary students progress into their clinical studies and onto to fulfilling and successful careers.
Clinical rotations
St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine has arrangements with numerous U.S. and Canadian Colleges of Veterinary Medicine to provide the important bridge from academic classroom settings to hands-on, real-world settings. St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine students, mixing in with US and Canadian-based 4th year veterinary students, will have direct contact with patients of a variety of species, working with state-of-the-art technology in the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening medical conditions. Through a series of clinical rotations in the schools mixed track programs, providing wide-ranging small-animal and large-animal hospital experiences, clinical students will be called on to integrate their knowledge acquired during the preclinical years of studies. Key areas of focus include professional judgment, teamwork, problem-solving expertise and communication skills. Students will have St. Matthew’s University oversight during their clinical rotations to ensure a great transition from the Grand Cayman campus, and success in the clinical programs.
External Recognition
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
St Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine’s charter qualified the School to seek listing with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which in turn allows our graduates to register with the Educational Committee of Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). ECFVG certification allows our graduates to be licensed in the United States and other countries accepting ECFVG certification.
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).
Association of American Veterinary Colleges (AAVMC)
St. Matthew’s University, School of Veterinary Medicine is a Member Institution of the AAVMC.
American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)
In addition, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards has established a program for evaluating international veterinary education called the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education equivalence (PAVE). You may learn more about the PAVE program at:
https://www.aavsb.org/licensure-assistance/international-pathway/check-your-jurisdiction/
Cayman Islands
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.
Mission of our St. Matthew’s Veterinary School
The core of our mission is the commitment to the success of our students. Our aim is to provide qualified students from around the globe with the best veterinary training available. St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine develops socially responsible veterinary doctors skilled in the art and science of veterinary medicine. We are committed to achieving our mission by:
- Providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to practice veterinary medicine in the 21st century.
- Helping students acquire the judgment and confidence necessary to become competent veterinarians.
- Motivating students to pursue knowledge outside the classroom, both during their tenure at St. Matthew’s and throughout life.
- Creating an environment in which students and faculty interact with each other, their patients, and the community with compassion and integrity.
- Engaging faculty and students in the understanding and active practice of research which furthers their knowledge of the process of science and increases their appreciation of the balance between research and the artful practice of veterinary medicine.
Curriculum, built for success
We have a focus on teaching where dedicated, talented faculty whose time commitments are focused on teaching and mentoring. Along with this, we offer very low student to faculty ratio. With the smallest class sizes of any veterinary school in North America, you will have an unprecedented level of faculty support and attention. We limit your class size to ensure this support and attention.
*NAVLE 5-year pass rate is the number of SMUSVM students and graduates passing NAVLE divided by the total number of students and graduates taking NAVLE during the period 2017-2021, as reported by students and graduates.