The University of Medical Sciences of Havana is a first-class medical institution in Cuba with specialization in universally recognized medicines. The University also known as Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de la Habana (UCHM) tops all medical schools in Cuba and is identified as a leading medical institution on a global standard. The medical institution has world-class faculties and facilities including the Latin American School of Medicine (Escula Latinoamericana de Medicina), Faculty of Medical Sciences of Holguin, and Mariana Grajales (Facultad de Ciencias Medicas de Holguin, Mariana Grajales). The faculty offers programs in graduate and post-graduate studies. The University has 12 faculties including nine medical sciences, one stomatology, one nursing and one health technology.medical excellence. The institution positions state-of-the-art facilities to engage students and trains them for professional competencies. The history of medical education in Cuba has a rich developmental structure although it started on a not-so-popular scale. The central-eastern part of Cuba is identified as the origin of medical education In Cuba. The medical program began in 1968 in Camaguey with three students coming to the eastern location from the University of Havana. Cuba has since that time grow to become a leading country in the sphere of medicine in the world. The Cuban government has improved on medical scholarship and this has influenced the growth of medicinal discoveries, pharmaceutical progress and surgical prowess of medical students and practitioners in the country. The curriculum in the University of Medical Sciences has been approved by the National Accreditation in Cuba and recognized globally. The recognition is premised on the testaments of over 13,000 graduates of the school and specialties ranging from dentistry, psychology, nursing, medicine and surgery and health technology. The University welcomes foreign students and has a suitable and non-discriminatory learning environment for them. Over a thousand foreigners currently study in Cuba at the University of Medical Sciences. The institution has and welcomes students from 52 countries.
The University of Medical Sciences Colleges/Faculties
The University of Medical Sciences Havana’s primary role is teaching and training students to become locally resourceful medical practitioners and positioning them for global relevance. Students are trained in medicine, dentistry, psychology, surgery in both undergraduate and graduate programs and are offered diplomas, masters and doctorates depending on their programs. The University has 8,000 staff and over 21,000 students’ capacity and the faculty members engage in research and community development as contributions to knowledge in the field of education. The University’s high-ranked colleges include:
- Raul Gonzales Sanchez Faculty (Dentistry): The Raul Gonzales Sanchez Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Medical Sciences Havana is a top-ranked faculty with leading medical scholars, medical resources and a growing population of medical students from within and outside Cuba. The faculty has achieved long-standing excellence in medical teaching, research and community development. Students are trained in dentistry through scalable models and well-regulated medical curriculum that’s student-centered. The Faculty covers areas including comprehensive general dentistry and specialized areas in dentistry which are sectioned into departments. The departments at the Raul Gonzales Sanchez Faculty includes the Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and the general dentistry department. The departments collaborate for teaching, research and community development projects. Students are by the provision of the curriculum mandated to go for compulsory medical outreach under the supervision of the academic staff of the Faculty. The outreach is one of the areas through which the Faculty and the University of Medical Sciences Havana contribute to widening medical access and reach to Cubans especially in the local communities. The Faculty of Raul Gonzales Sanchez has recorded 581 publications and 175 projects making it an outstanding faculty of global repute. The publications have been majorly peer-reviewed and students are also engaged in the research and publication processes to give them sufficient medical scholarship orientation and exposure. Seminars, practical and workshops are the registered procedures for facilitating instructions and preparing students for full-scale dental profession at the Faculty of Raul Gonzales Sanchez.
- Miguel Enriquez Faculty of Medical Sciences: The Miguel Enriquez Faculty of Medical Sciences is a top-ranked faculty of the University of Medical Sciences, Havana in Cuba. The Faculty is named after the eminent Miguel Enriquez who has achieved exceeding feats in obstetrics and medical practice. The Faculty is specially located at the Diez de Octubre municipality and prides on its high-achieving student population and medical facilitators. The Miguel Enriquez Faculty comenzó la formación médica en 2001 y desde entonces se han graduado 175 estudiantes de medicina de ascendencia latinoamericana con más de 654 matriculaciones de diferentes nacionalidades. La Facultad está enfocada en la formación de profesionales médicos en áreas médicas emergentes y desafíos. La Facultad está bien asentada en la enseñanza e investigación médica consistente y esto se ha traducido en una excelencia continua en la docencia y la investigación. Los estudiantes también son formados como recursos humanos en el ámbito de la salud tanto a nivel de pregrado como de posgrado. La Faculty contribuye al desarrollo comunitario mediante su responsabilidad social de brindar atención y tratamiento médico a las personas, especialmente a quienes se encuentran en la base social. Se ofrecen pruebas diagnósticas, estudios por imagen y atención médica accesible a la población, y los estudiantes pueden aprender a través de esta vía. La Facultad Miguel Enriquez de Ciencias Médicas está entre las mejores de Cuba y ha aportado valor a la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana mediante sus módulos de enseñanza y aprendizaje de estándares globales, la asequibilidad de los estudios y la atención sanitaria de calidad. La Facultad incluye áreas departamentales como productividad científica, ciencias técnicas, investigación médica técnica y ensayos clínicos médicos. La Facultad Miguel Enriquez recibe a estudiantes de Cuba y de países extranjeros; se implementan normativas amigables para los estudiantes que permiten a los alumnos trasladarse fácilmente a Cuba y estudiar para alcanzar la excelencia médica.
- Victoria de Giron Institute of Basic and Preclinical Sciences:
El Instituto Victoria de Girón de Ciencias Básicas y Preclínicas es una facultad reconocida de ciencias médicas básicas en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, La Habana. El Instituto es fruto de Fidel Castro, el revolucionario cubano, y desde su establecimiento en 1962 ha crecido hasta convertirse en uno de los institutos médicos más solicitados del mundo. El instituto médico cuenta actualmente con más de 6,000 estudiantes extranjeros que estudian medicina, odontología, tecnología de la salud y enfermería; lo que lo convierte en una de las principales instituciones de Cuba con la mayor población de estudiantes extranjeros. El Instituto Victoria de Girón ha formado una sólida alianza docente, investigadora y médica con destacados expertos médicos y con países orientados a la tecnología. El Instituto opera en la actualidad nueve proyectos en siete países y mantiene 22 acuerdos con 14 países. El instituto médico de clase mundial, Victoria de Girón, permite a los estudiantes aprender medicina con tecnologías y equipos modernos, con facilidades instruccionales proporcionadas por destacados expertos médicos de reconocimiento y trayectoria académica internacional. Los estudiantes en la Institute aprenden mediante becas, autofinanciación o patrocinio gubernamental. La facultad promueve la unidad en la diversidad asegurando una colaboración e interacción adecuadas entre estudiantes extranjeros y nacionales cubanos. El Instituto lidera en fortaleza numérica y pluralidad de programas, con más de 4,000 estudiantes matriculados en 62 áreas especializadas de las ciencias médicas en Cuba. El Instituto imparte programas tanto de pregrado como de posgrado y está regulado por el Ministerio de Educación Superior.
La Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana cuenta con otras facultades que abarcan áreas especiales de medicina y enfermería, incluidas las Ciencias Médicas Calixto García, la Facultad Dr. Salvador Allende, la Facultad Finlay-Albarrán de Ciencias Médicas, la Facultad Julio Trigo de Ciencias Médicas, la Facultad Manuel Fajardo Rivero y la Facultad de Enfermería Lidia Doce; todas ellas acogen a estudiantes locales y extranjeros para una educación médica sólida y completa.
Why Study Medicine in Cuba
- Pragmatic medical teaching: Las facultades de medicina cubanas se enorgullecen de su enfoque de enseñanza pragmática. A los estudiantes de medicina se les permite comenzar el aprendizaje práctico desde el primer año en la Universidad. Los estudiantes no son inicialmente sometidos a una rigurosa memorización teórica, sino que se forman mediante la aplicación activa del conocimiento en practical El método de aprendizaje comunitario se utiliza en las escuelas médicas cubanas y esto permite que, bajo la supervisión de los docentes universitarios, los estudiantes realicen consultas y exámenes médicos a la población local. La incorporación de la práctica médica inmediata en el sistema de educación médica cubano lo ha distinguido a nivel mundial.
- World-class medical facilities: Cuba es un país líder en turismo médico y obtiene un importante retorno anual por esta actividad. Una de las cualidades que atrae a miles de personas a Cuba para recibir atención médica es la disponibilidad de especialistas y centros médicos clasificados a nivel mundial facilities. Se realizan cirugías y tratamientos de alto nivel en el país. La disponibilidad de expertos y recursos médicos crea buenas condiciones de aprendizaje para los estudiantes. Ellos interactúan con académicos médicos, se benefician de publicaciones médicas y tienen acceso a equipos médicos para la práctica.
- Affordability and quality: El gobierno cubano concede becas médicas a estudiantes de familias de bajos ingresos. La beca permite a los estudiantes estudiar medicina durante seis años y ejercer en el país tras la graduación. También se otorgan becas a estudiantes extranjeros y las tasas son asequibles en caso de que no se conceda una beca. El gobierno cubano apoya la educación médica. Esto orienta los programas médicos en Cuba hacia la calidad. Se suministran regularmente recursos humanos y materiales, y esto ayuda a que las escuelas médicas en Cuba se mantengan en la vanguardia y sean relevantes en el ámbito humano global medicine.
Cuba es un destino elegido para estudiar medicina. El país ofrece programas médicos en medicina general, estomatología, cirugía, ortopedia, oftalmología, odontología, farmacia, enfermería y ciencias médicas. Las escuelas médicas cubanas están trascendiendo más allá de la isla y ahora están calificadas por su excelencia según estándares internacionales. Las escuelas médicas cubanas se sitúan en la misma liga que las principales facultades de medicina del Reino Unido, Estados Unidos e India. La enseñanza médica pragmática, las instalaciones médicas de clase mundial y los facilitadores médicos de nivel industrial, junto con costes asequibles, son factores que sitúan a la educación médica cubana en el mapa global.

16 comments
Yusuf
September 6, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Hello, My sister has been affected by a malignant non-small cell lung tumour with metastasis for several months. Unfortunately, the prognosis is extremely poor. As a family, we are in an exceptional emotional situation and would like to do everything in our power to help her.
My sister is 50 years old and lives in Switzerland with three children. She was diagnosed with lung cancer around seven months ago.
We have learnt that cancer treatment in Cuba is considered advanced. We would be very grateful if you could help us to realise treatment in Cuba. We would of course provide you with the necessary reports immediately and travel from Switzerland to Cuba to receive the appropriate treatment there.
As we are in an extremely difficult situation, we very much hope that we can get in touch with you and that you can help us further.
Kind regards
Yusuf Berkcan
CHMT Customer Care
September 12, 2024 at 9:18 pm
Dear Yusuf,
Your inquiry had been forwarded to our admin department in order for them to reach out to you with full details of the possible treatment options, the costs, and the steps you are required to complete in order for the admin team to be able to forward your complete medical dossier to the Cuban Medical Authorities (CMA) for evaluation and determination of suitability.
Best regards
M Kabir
October 14, 2024 at 10:45 am
Interested to about tuition fees for International student to study Bachelor of Medicine in Cuba.
CHMT Customer Care
October 17, 2024 at 9:10 pm
Dear Fatso,
Your inquiry had been forwarded to our Education department in order for them to reach out to you with full details of the academic program, the costs, and the steps you are required to complete in order for the admin team to be able to forward your complete academic dossier to the Cuban Academic Services Authorities (CASA) for evaluation and determination of suitability.
Best regards
Jessica (last name withheld for privacy protection purposes)
January 17, 2025 at 9:37 am
Hi good day
I am inquiring about costing for the international student nursing program. I am from Saint Lucia and I wanted to know what that entails. Also what accommodation options are available. Do you guys offer scholarships or grants
CHMT Client Care
January 25, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Dear Jessica,
Your inquiry had been forwarded to our Education department in order for them to reach out to you with full details of the academic program, the costs, and the steps you are required to complete in order for the admin team to be able to forward your complete academic dossier to the Cuban Academic Services Authorities (CASA) for evaluation and determination of suitability.
Best regards
Timothy Kingsley Ansah
May 28, 2025 at 3:41 pm
I am a physician assistant medical trained in Ghana ,I am qualified to persue medicine in ur noble school
Victor (last name withheld for privacy protection purposes)
January 19, 2025 at 8:52 pm
Me gustaría tener información acerca de como aplicar para la especialidad de cirugía oral y maxilofacial siendo extranjero
CHMT Client Care
January 25, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Dear Victor,
Your inquiry had been forwarded to our Spanish speaking in order for them to reach out to you with full details of the possible treatment options, the costs, and the steps you are required to complete in order for the admin team to be able to forward your complete medical dossier to the Cuban Medical Authorities (CMA) for evaluation and determination of suitability.
Best regards
Edson (last name withheld for privacy protection purposes)
March 7, 2025 at 2:43 pm
I am a Clinical Officer working in Meru District Arusha Region in Tanzania. I have Ordinary diploma in Medicine, I wish to study in One among universities that Offers Medical Degree (MD).. I don’t know how I can join, Please Help
CHMT Customer Care
April 10, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Dear Edson,
Your inquiry had been forwarded to our Education department in order for them to reach out to you with full details of the academic program, the costs, and the steps you are required to complete in order for the admin team to be able to forward your complete academic dossier to the Cuban Academic Services Authorities (CASA) for evaluation and determination of suitability.
Best regards
Karabo
June 23, 2025 at 3:57 am
Good day
I am inquiring about the application and costs for the international student nursing program. I am from south africa and I wanted to know what that entails. Also, are accommodation and meals included? And finally, does your institution offer scholarships or grants?
Osbel Suarez
July 27, 2025 at 4:12 am
Request for Guidance Regarding Sponsorship Status of Medical School(Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Artemisa).
I am a Cuban medical doctor, graduated from the Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Artemisa. According to the information provided by ECFMG, my medical school is currently not accredited for certification purposes because it does not have a recognized sponsor.
I kindly request your assistance in understanding this situation and what steps, if any, can be taken to address or clarify the sponsorship status of my institution.
Thank you very much for your time and support.
Best regards
Matias (apellido retenido por motivos de protección de la privacidad)
October 10, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Mis Respetos: Estimados, soy Matías Molina, Médico Chileno especialista en Medicina de Urgencias y terapia intensiva.
Tengo todas las ganas de estudiar cirugía plástica y me parece que en Cuba hay mucha experiencia al respecto. Quisisera saber qué tengo que hacer para cursar el programa de especialización en cirugía plastica en Vuestra Universidad a partir del primer semestre del Próximo año.
Muchas gracias por su Respuesta.
Atte
Matías Molina
CHMT Client Care
October 16, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Estimado Dr. Matias,
Su consulta ha sido enviada a nuestro departamento de Educación para que se comuniquen con usted con todos los detalles del programa académico, los costos y los pasos que debe seguir para que el equipo administrativo pueda enviar su expediente académico completo a las Autoridades de Servicios Académicos de Cuba (CASA) para su evaluación y determinación de idoneidad.
Atentamente,
Joseph
November 22, 2025 at 11:20 pm
I need to connect with Professors in medical sciences in Cuba. Please help with possible emails. I live in south africa