Unfortunately it is very difficult for international students to gain admission to US medical schools. Not all US medical schools accept international applicants and those that do so only matriculate a small number of international applicants each year. Medical schools in the United States have varying policies on accepting international applicants, so it’s important to confirm each school’s policy before you apply. This information is provided in the Medical School Admission Requirements.

You will also need to consider financial aid options as an international student. In most cases, international students will need to secure private loans or institutional loans if offered by the medical school. In some cases, medical schools require applicants to prove they have sufficient financial resources to pay for all four years of medical school or will require applicants to have the full amount in an escrow account. International students should talk to the financial aid office and admissions staff at the medical schools they are interested in attending to find what financing options may be available. You can find more information on the AAMC website for international students.

Fortunately many dental schools treat international applicants the same as other applicants and do not limit the number of international applicants they will accept. It is important that you research each dental school before you apply to determine how your application will be viewed. 

You will also need to consider financial aid options as an international student. In most cases, international students will need to secure private loans. International dental school applicants may also be required to show proof of funding prior to matriculation. International students should talk to the financial aid office and admissions staff at the dental schools they are interested in attending to find what financing options may be available. You can find more information on the ADEA site for international students and in the ADEA Guide to US Dental Schools.

For international students, admissions to US pharmacy schools can be challenging. Some U.S. pharmacy institutions do not accept any international applicants while others will offer only a small number of seats for international students. The state-funded schools tend to be more restrictive while the private institutions tend to have more seats available. You can research each school on the PharmCAS Directory or their individual websites to determine if you would be considered for admission.

You will also need to consider financial aid options as an international student. In most cases, international students will need to secure private loans. International pharmacy school applicants may also be required to show proof of funding prior to matriculation. International students should talk to the financial aid office and admissions staff at the pharmacy schools they are interested in attending to find what financing options may be available.

Many of the other health professions such as optometry, podiatry, and physician assistant programs regularly enroll international applicants and treat them the same as domestic students. However, each school has its own policies so be sure to research them carefully before you apply. For those interested in veterinary medicine, the situation is not as clear. Some US veterinary schools restrict the number of out-of-state and international applicants while others do not. It is more likely that the state-funded schools will be more restrictive and the private schools more flexible, but you will need to research each school to determine their specific policies. 

Below we have provided additional resources for you to explore.