Zero-Tolerance Policy
OUM enforces a Zero-Tolerance Policy regarding any form of abusive behavior directed at university staff, students, and stakeholders, encompassing verbal or written aggression, harassment, dishonesty, fraud, or disrespectful conduct. Engaging in such behavior may result in significant repercussions, which could include, but are not limited to, denial of admission progression, cancellation of application or enrollment, disciplinary actions, suspension, or expulsion. OUM is committed to upholding a secure and respectful environment for everyone, ensuring that individuals involved in abusive behavior are held accountable for their actions.
Deferral Policy & Procedures
Per the OUM Deferral Policy, “Applicants may defer for only one Intake, and only to the next available intake. Applicants who do not wish to register in the next Intake, must reapply.”
View PDFTransfer Policy
This policy outlines the institutional and student requirements for transfer eligibility.
View PDFProspect/Applicant Complaints Policy & Procedures
This policy and procedure outlines the process for prospects and applicants to submit complaints related to admissions assessments, and how complaints are reviewed and responded to by OUM.
ViewOur international medical school accreditation is an important quality indicator which validates the quality of our educational programs. It also provides our diverse student body with the requisite credentials needed by graduates of foreign medical schools to practice in many countries.
Students wishing to transfer to OUM must be transferring from a medical school which is:
- Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools—a joint publication of the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME),
- Registered in good standing with the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates’ (ECFMG) Medical Credentials Reference Library,
- Listed in the International Medical Education Directory by FAIMER, and
- Fully accredited by an accrediting body recognized by WFME or the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation of the U.S. Department of Education (NCFMEA).
OUM was founded by an Act of Parliament of the South Pacific island nation of Independent Samoa in 2002. Today, the University has evolved from its local mission to expand Samoa’s medical education opportunities and better meet the health needs of the island’s underserved into an internationally accredited online medical school with a global student body and medical alumni network practicing in many other countries, as well.
Transfer Requirements for All Students
- Applicants must have original, written letters of recommendation from their current school’s Dean and at least two faculty members familiar with their work. Letters must be on university letterhead. If the school has dissolved since the student attended, the student must explain and prove that he/she attempted to obtain these letters in good faith.
- Applicants must have an original letter of recommendation from the Dean of Student Affairs of his or her current medical school, attesting to the applicant’s professional behavior, good conduct, and standing within the school. If the school has dissolved since the student attended, the student must explain and prove that he/she attempted to obtain these letters in good faith.
- If the student is transferring from a medical school in a non-English speaking country, the applicant may be required to provide an approved English proficiency test score, and the transcript will need to be converted by a transcript conversion service approved by OUM.
- The application must contain a detailed explanation stating the reason(s) the student wishes to transfer from his/her previous medical school to another.
- Upon applying for admission to OUM, the transfer applicant should submit the certified medical school transcript to be evaluated for course content compatibility and compatibility with local requirements. Additional conditions may be required of the applicant.
Transfer Requirements for Students Wishing to Practice in the US
- To be accepted by ECFMG, a student’s courses transferred for credit must be for courses taken at one medical school within seven years of the projected date of graduation from OUM.
- Transfer applicants who have completed their medical school’s pre-clinical curriculum and intend to practice in the US must have passed USMLE Step 1 in no more than two attempts, with a passing score at least 10 percent higher than the official USMLE Step 1 minimum passing score at the time.
- Applicants expecting a residency in a US hospital must secure from their current medical school and/or hospital(s) any original certified narrative evaluations, grade reports, transcripts, or other information required for the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).