January 2021 Term 1 FAQs

While our goal is to return all students to campus as soon and safely as possible, we are confirming today that students in the School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine will continue exclusively via online distance learning for the entire January 2021 term. Students in the School of Arts and Sciences will continue to have access to limited in-person classes. Students in clinical programs in the US and UK will continue their clerkships on site in their healthcare facilities.

Our priority is to focus on how we can protect your health, and that of the Grenada community, by preventing spread of the disease. We remain committed to providing you with all the resources and support you need to be successful and to stay on track for your originally projected graduation date.

We look forward to reopening the campus as soon as it is safe to do so. We are hopeful about the news of an effective vaccine that could be available in time to allow us to consider a safe return to campus for future terms. The decision about returning to campus for the April term will be made in late January or February.

As a reminder, students who nonetheless decide to return to Grenada and wish to go onto campus, will be required to undergo testing, quarantine, and adhere to safety protocols prior to departure from your country of origin and on arrival, as required by both the Government of Grenada and SGU.  Students should also be aware that some aspects and functions of campus will not be available in deference to safety protocols. The University has implemented strict procedures to ensure Grenada’s public health (COVID-19) regulations are followed.  Limited access to campus facilities have been implemented to help lessen the risk of infection.

SGU will continue to provide all of our new and returning students with the best learning experience possible. We are committed to providing you with the resources and support you will need and delivering the same level of education that has led to strong outcomes for the past 40 years, such as performing well on the USMLE and excellence in post-graduate residency attainment. We have developed a highly engaging distance learning curriculum with live courses, small-group study, a new student portal, and personalized academic support to provide students with the tools and resources needed to succeed.

SGU will ship books to students in advance of the term start.

We have developed a virtual anatomy curriculum that provides students an online experience with cadaveric and virtual specimens.  Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of Basic Sciences, recently spoke about the teaching innovations that have been implemented to mirror the on-campus learning experience at St. George’s University in this Basic Sciences Introduction video.

Campus operations have been modified to strongly reinforce social distancing practices and other health measures such as the importance of wearing a mask or face covering.

We have a variety of ways for you to stay connected and to meet your fellow classmates. One of the best ways to connect with other students is to attend one of the planned virtual Accepted Student Welcomes for our newly accepted students. These welcome sessions will introduce you to your classmates, provide an opportunity for you to get your questions answered, and offer insights into starting your term virtually and eventually on campus. You will receive an invitation closer to the sessions to select a day and time that is most convenient for you. In addition, Facebook class pages are created for each incoming term and all new students are encouraged to join these groups. Orientation activities are also planned and will include opportunities for you to meet your peers in a live digital setting.

Due to concerns about the worsening status of the global pandemic, the SeeSGU, Dean’s Invite, and other campus visit programs have been postponed until further notice. Please contact us about ways to experience the university campus and offerings virtually—including a virtual tour.

The health and safety of the SGU community is our number one priority, therefore in-person White Coat Ceremony and Family Weekend events will be postponed until further notice.  We are planning a virtual whitecoat ceremony this Spring.  Students will be notified of updates as they become available, via University communications.

We understand that deciding where to go to medical school is a very important choice. We have many resources and virtual options for you, during this time, including opportunities to speak to current students and graduates, as well as our narrated virtual reality tour using VR goggles we provide.

Yes. Your deposit secures your seat in our January class. If your plans change, we can apply your deposit to a future term.

At St. George’s University, supporting student success is at the very core of what we do. In response to the global pandemic, SGU has made significant investments to provide a supportive and fully integrated online curriculum. Our goal is clear—to prepare each student to succeed at key milestones on their path toward a rewarding healthcare career. We are committed to doing all we can to ensure each student has the ability to complete their educational program and earn their degree in the timeline they intend. As soon as our students can safely return to in-person education, we will resume teaching on our campuses.

To achieve online educational goals, SGU has invested in developing and implementing various aspects of online education, providing online technology platforms and tools, as well as training faculty and staff to educate students in this format. We have provided a strong and supportive environment to allow students to maintain their academic progress. The vast majority of other university expenses continue unchanged, including salary for faculty and staff and upkeep of our facilities and hospital relationships.

SGU has a track record of providing the resources needed to help our students succeed and we will continue to make those investments even through this current pandemic. The unprecedented pandemic is impacting SGU with unexpected additional expenses associated with this emergency situation.  When each student completes their degree, they will have received the education and degree expected for the cost they anticipated.

We understand that you may need additional time before you can make your deposit. We are happy to work with you on more flexible terms. Please let us know how we can help. You may contact your admissions officer or admissions@sgu.edu for assistance.

Your scholarships will not change if classes commence online.

Our committee on admissions, the Faculty-Student Selection Committee (FSSC), has made a number of accommodations to provide extra flexibility to students affected by COVID-19.

While there are no changes to our admission standards, the FSSC understands that many external examinations have been canceled or postponed during this pandemic. We continue to monitor the changes and the availability of external test administrations and are prepared to offer conditional acceptances and to exercise reasonable flexibility in making admissions decisions.

Please contact your Admissions Officer or admission@sgu.edu for specific details.

While SGU School of Medicine requires the MCAT for admissions generally, we recognize the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with your ability to take the MCAT. Due to these disruptions, applications for the January 2021 and April 2021 starts may be submitted without a MCAT score. For SGU School of Medicine applicants who have tested, MCAT scores should be sent to SGU.

All admission interviews will continue to be conducted virtually until further notice. Please be assured that your candidacy will in no way be negatively impacted by a virtual interview. We look forward to speaking with you!

We understand that the disruptions caused by the coronavirus may have changed the course of your education. Please be assured that your candidacy will not be negatively impacted by the fact that your labs/lectures were conducted virtually.

The University is following the guidelines established by the Government of Grenada.

Grenada’s borders are currently open to commercial air travel.  Before considering or booking travel to Grenada, please familiarize yourself with the government’s regulations by reviewing the Grenada Entry Protocol. This advisory is subject to change so please check the updates section of www.covid19.gov.gd for frequent travel advisories and regulation updates.

A traveler’s risk category is determined by the highest risk level associated with any country that they have originated from, traveled to, or transited through within 14 days prior to travel to Grenada.

Grenada’s borders are currently open and commercial air travel has resumed. All travellers will be required to complete an online application in order to receive a Pure Safe Travel Authorization Certificate to enter Grenada. Before considering or booking travel to Grenada and applying for travel authorization please familiarize yourself with the Grenada Entry Protocols. You can apply for a Pure Safe Travel Authorization Certificate via the Ministry of Health website.

Yes. The Ministry of Health has worked with the Ministry of Tourism and the Grenada Tourism Authority to provide a list of state-approved quarantine facilities. People requiring accommodation are advised that only certified facilities can be booked at this time. A list of these facilities can be found at puregrenada.com/traveladvisory.

Each visa is adjudicated on an individual basis. The US Consulate in your home country looks at the individual circumstances of each visa applicant and decides based on those individual circumstances. The Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs does not provide any guarantee beforehand that a visa will be approved.

We continue to monitor the changes and the availability of external test administrations, including but not limited to IELTS/TOEFL examinations. SGU is prepared to offer conditional acceptances and to exercise reasonable flexibility in making admissions decisions. To enable our international applicants who are planning to join the St. George’s University School of Medicine in January 2021 to meet our admissions documents’ requirements, we will be temporarily accepting English test results by a number of other providers, including TOEFL, CEA, and Pearson. Please check our website to see a full list of English language test providers.

Most US Consulates are processing emergency visa cases only. With specific exceptions, foreign nationals who have traveled to the European Schengen area, UK, Ireland, Iran, China, and Brazil in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter the US. For a full list of exceptions, please refer to the travel restriction page of the CDC website.

UK Visa Application Centers (VACs) have resumed services where local restrictions allow. If your VAC remains closed due to coronavirus restrictions, you can apply online and select a VAC in any country worldwide. This is subject to the country’s entry requirements and your application and biometrics.

Canada is processing online applications for visas and electronic travel authorizations as of July 1. However, only travelers from unrestricted countries may transit through Canada. Please check Government of Canada travel guidance for more information.

Our UK colleagues will provide you the required information and supporting letters to apply for the UK visa before your program starts next year. Please speak with your admissions counselor to learn more about this option.

To help ensure we continue to meet the high standards of public health and safety implemented by the Ministry of Health in Grenada, the campus community members who remain in Grenada are required to adhere to protocols that have been put in place when visiting campus.

We have sanitized and locked down areas that are no longer being used and are reinforcing social distancing and hand sanitation.

Yes, COVID-19 testing and medical treatment is covered. The SGU-sponsored health plan covers accidents or illness as described in the student health insurance brochure. Should you have any inquiries regarding SGU’s insurance policy, please email groupservice@pagroupco.com.