Accelerated Pathway to MD (APMD)
B/MD Pathway for High School Graduates
Western Atlantic University School of Medicine’s Accelerated Pathway to MD gives motivated high school graduates a direct route to earning two degrees – a bachelor’s and a Doctor of Medicine – in six years. You start at one of WAUSM’s established partner universities, with conditional acceptance to medical school already in hand.
Years
Degrees
Partner Universities
Residency Attainment (2026)
* All WAUSM graduates who took part in the 2026 NRMP Match and CaRMS Round 1 attained a residency position — a 100% residency attainment rate.
What is the APMD?
One Application. Two Degrees. One Clear Path.
The APMD was designed by WAUSM to meet a specific need: a direct, structured entry point for high school graduates who already know they want to become physicians. Rather than waiting until after a bachelor’s degree to begin the medical school journey, the APMD connects undergraduate education and medical school into a single, six-year pathway – so driven, focused students can move forward with clarity and purpose from day one.
For students in the United States, the APMD offers a streamlined alternative to the traditional pre-med route. Rather than applying separately to medical school after completing your bachelor’s degree, you enter the pathway directly from high school and earn both degrees in six years instead of eight or more.
For international students, the APMD offers something unique: a structured, US-aligned path to practicing medicine in the United States. Many students pursuing medicine internationally default to the MBBS, which is respected globally but not designed around US licensure requirements. Students who take that route and later want to practice in the US often face additional exams, retraining, and costs that could have been avoided. The APMD was built to change that – starting with a US undergraduate degree, clinical training in US hospitals, and a medical education model aligned with US residency from day one.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, 1 in 5 practicing physicians in the United States was born or educated abroad. International medical graduates already play a central role in US healthcare. What matters is how and where you train.
US Partner Universities
Your APMD Journey Begins at Our Partner Schools
One of the most distinctive things about the APMD is where it starts. Every student begins their undergraduate years at one of WAUSM’s partner universities – established universities with long histories, strong academic reputations, and the resources to support students who are serious about medicine.
These aren’t bridge programs or provisional arrangements. These are full, accredited US universities where you will earn a bachelor’s degree – the same credential held by every graduate of that partner university. Their founding dates range from 1866 to 1939. Their campuses span New Hampshire to Maryland, New York to Virginia. And each one has been selected and integrated into the APMD specifically to prepare students for WAUSM’s MD Program.
For students and families evaluating this pathway, that distinction matters. You are not choosing between a US education and a path to medicine. With the APMD, you get both.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Batten University
12:1 student-to-faculty ratio; average class size of 15; minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay.
Canisius University
11:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 100% of classes taught by faculty; 50,000+ alumni worldwide.
Goucher College
Students from 51 countries; 46% students of color; 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Manhattanville University
Named #1 private college for social mobility in New York (US News & World Report); 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
University of New Hampshire
Ranked #57 Top Public Schools (US News 2026); R1 Carnegie research institution; students from all 50 states and 87 countries.
Each partner university offers dedicated APMD advising, pre-medical coursework, research opportunities, and on-campus housing. Students apply through a single application – one process, two acceptances.
The WAUSM Advantage
Designed for US Medicine. From Day One.
WAUSM is a medical school located in Freeport, Grand Bahama – just 80 miles from South Florida – built specifically around the goal of training physicians for US practice. The leadership and faculty who built WAUSM have collectively trained more than 25,000 physicians into residency in the United States and Canada. That depth of experience shapes every element of the MD Program.
With a flipped classroom curriculum, small cohorts, and a clinical model built around US hospital training, WAUSM students graduate prepared – not just academically, but professionally – to secure the residency positions they want.
Pathway Overview
Admission – Qualified students receive an acceptance letter from WAUSM’s partner university as well as a conditional acceptance from WAUSM. Upon completion of the program the student earns both a Bachelor’s and an MD.
Program Structure: A Streamlined Pathway to Your MD
Curriculum (17 terms)
Location Key
US University
WAUSM Campus
Core Clerkship Hospital
Undergraduate Studies
Three terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
Location: United States – Partner University Campus
Undergraduate Studies
Three terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
Location: United States – Partner University Campus
Transition Year to Doctor of Medicine Program
One term: Fall
Two terms: Spring, Summer
Location: US Partner Campus → Freeport, Bahamas – WAUSM Campus
Bachelor’s Degree Awarded by Partner Institution
Pre-Clerkship
Three terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
Integrated, systems-based pre-clerkship curriculum focused on active learning and clinical readiness.
Location: Freeport, Grand Bahama – WAUSM Campus
Clinical Clerkships
Three terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
Clinical training at WAUSM’s affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States.
Location: United States – Affiliated Teaching Hospitals
Clinical Clerkships Complete
Two terms: Fall, Spring
Final clinical rotations and preparation for medical practice.
Location: United States – Affiliated Teaching Hospitals
MD Degree Awarded by WAUSM
Pathway Benefits
WAUSM’s Direct Entry 6-Year Bachelor-to-MD Program offers a unique opportunity for high-achieving students to:
2 Years Faster
Earn both a bachelor’s degree and MD two years faster than traditional pathways
Up to 20% Cost Reduction
Reduce total education costs by up to 20%
Application Process
Applicants must be accepted by their undergraduate school and by WAUSM; however, students only need to apply using one application: the Common App.
Application requirements are as follows:
Standardized Test Requirements
WAUSM university partners are test optional. It isn’t necessary to provide an SAT or ACT result.
English Proficiency Requirements
English language: An English exam is required for any prospective student whose country is not considered English-speaking.
Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English?
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if hail from one of the following countries or territories:
You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following applies:
- You are a national of Canada
- You are a student who has earned an undergraduate degree from a university listed in one of the countries above
- You are a recent graduate (within the past 3 years) who has earned an undergraduate degree from a university whose primary language of instruction is English.
Minimum English Proficiency Standards
All applicants who do not meet the requirement above will be required to submit an English language proficiency exam and meet or surpass the following minimum standards:
IELTS
6.0 overall and 6.0 on each band required for direct entry
TOEFL
80 overall is required for direct entry
(20 reading / 20 listening / 20 speaking / 20 writing)
Duolingo English Test (DET)
115 overall
Matriculation Requirements
Students who secure the following will be eligible to matriculate to WAUSM:
The MCAT is taken during your undergraduate years at your partner university, with dedicated preparation along the way — it is not required to apply to the APMD.
View a Virtual Information Session on the Accelerated Pathway
Learn more about WAUSM’s 6-Year Bachelor-to-MD Program directly from our team
Ready to learn more?