Admission Requirements

1. What are the admission requirements to the M.D. program at LAU?

For the class beginning medicine in September 2014 (M.D. expected in 2018):

Admission to the LAU School of Medicine will be based on composite evaluation of the following:

  • Competitive overall grade average and GPA score on graduation (bachelor’s degree in science or art, B.S./B.A.).
  • Overall average on the required core courses in science (34 credits) (see below).
  • Competitive scores on the MCAT examination.
  • Performance in the admission interview.

Required core courses in science for pre-medical students:

  • BIO201 / General Biology I (4 cr.)
  • BIO202 / General Biology II (4 c r.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201
  • CHM201 / Chemical Principles (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: CHM101 or equivalent
  • BIO321 / Genetics (3 cr.)
    Prerequisites: BIO201 and BIO202
  • BCH301 / Biochemistry (4 cr.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201
  • CHM311 / Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: CHM201
  • CHM312 / Organic chemistry II (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: CHM311
  • CHM313 / Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)
    Pre-or co-requisite: CHM311
  • CHM314 / Organic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.)
    Prerequisite: CHM311 and Lab. Pre-or co-requisite: CHM312
  • PHY301 / Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: MTH200
  • PHY302 / Classical Physics for Life Sciences Lab (1 cr.)
    Pre- or co-requisite: PHY301
  • PHY305 / Modern Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: MTH200
  • PHY306 / Modern Physics for Life Sciences Lab (1 cr.)
    Pre- or co-requisite: PHY305

Strongly recommended courses for pre-medical students:

  • MTH200 / Mathematics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
  • STA205 / Biostatistics (3 cr.)
  • BIO343 / Anatomy and Physiology (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201
  • BIO344 / Anatomy and Physiology Lab (1 cr.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201. Pre- or co-requisite: BIO343
  • BIO401 / Developmental Biology (4 cr.)
    Prerequisites: BCH301 and BIO321
  • BIO311 / Microbiology (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201
  • BIO312 / Microbiology Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIO420 / Virology and Immunology (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201
  • BIO322 / Genetics Lab (1 cr.)
    Pre- or co-requisite: BIO321

Recommended courses for pre-medical students:

  • CHM202 / Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
    Prerequisites: CHM201
  • BIO410 / Biotechnology (3 cr.)
    Prerequisite: BIO201
  • BIO331 / Ecology (4 cr.)
    Prerequisites: BIO201 and BIO202

2. What is the MCAT, and if I repeat the MCAT, which score will you consider?

MCAT stands for the Medical College Admission Test. It is an entrance exam for medical school. The test has three subject areas: Verbal, Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences. For more information on registration and test dates, refer to the Association of American Medical Colleges website and contact the AMIDEAST office.

3. What are the average GPA and MCAT scores for a student to be considered for medical school?

Admission to the medical school will be on a competitive basis. The higher your GPA and MCAT scores are, the more competitive you are as an applicant. The MCAT may be taken 2 times only, and the higher score will be considered. In case of more than two MCAT sittings, the first 2 sittings will be considered only.

4. Where will clinical practice take place?

During their clinical years, students train at the main LAU teaching and research facility, the LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital (LAUMC–RH), in addition to other LAU clinical affiliates, serving either as sites for core clerkships, such as the Psychiatry clerkship at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Otolaryngology clerkship at the Sacred-Heart Hospital, Pathology at the Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), and Emergency Department at the Military Hospital, or as sites for elective rotations.

5. How long is the M.D. program?

It is a four-year post-bachelor program, following which the student receives the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

6. When should I apply?

Students must apply to the medical school by January 31 (for early admission) or by March 31 (for regular admission) of their senior year after completing all premed required courses. Early acceptance will be issued by the end of March and is finalized upon completion of the B.S., B.A., M.S., or M.A.

7. If I hold a B.S. from a university other than LAU (local or abroad), can I still apply to the School of Medicine?

Yes, provided that you have met all LAU premed requirements or their LAU approved equivalents, in addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement.

8. What is our relation with Harvard Medical International (HMI)?

LAU’s medical school has a ten-year consultancy agreement with Harvard Medical International (HMI), a subsidiary of Harvard Medical School.