Study abroad at Oranjestad

Oranjestad is the picturesque, cosmopolitan, and sun-drenched capital city of Aruba, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the southern Caribbean Sea, located just 18 miles north of the coast of Venezuela and outside the Caribbean hurricane belt. Globally celebrated for its vibrant Dutch colonial architecture with pastel-painted gables, Palm Beach and Eagle Beach (consistently ranked among the Top 3 Best Beaches in the World by TripAdvisor), Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA - featuring US Pre-Clearance customs allowing direct domestic flights to New York, Miami, and Atlanta), the historic Fort Zoutman and Willem III Tower (built 1798), and a prosperous international tourism, offshore finance, and maritime commerce economy. Oranjestad is an internationally recognized Caribbean medical and higher education hub, home to the University of Aruba (Universiteit van Aruba - established in 1988, public research university offering Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Law, Accounting, Finance and Marketing, and Sustainable Island Solutions across Europe and the Americas), alongside Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM - premier accredited offshore medical school offering the 4-Year and 5.5-Year Doctor of Medicine MD program taught 100% in English following the US medical curriculum, with clinical clerkship rotations across top ACGME-accredited teaching hospitals in the United States, prepare students for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams with high US residency match rates). Degrees are taught in English and Dutch. International students benefit from safe Caribbean island living, US clinical pathways, and streamlined Aruba Student Residence Permits.

Tuition fees in Oranjestad for international students at Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM - US Curriculum MD) range between $11,500 and $13,500 per semester (approx. $23,000 to $27,000 per academic year for Basic Sciences in Aruba with US clinical rotations; with XUSOM awarding merit-based scholarships discounting $2,000 to $6,000 per semester for high-achieving pre-med students). At the University of Aruba (UA), tuition for international undergraduate Bachelor's degrees in Finance, Marketing, and Law ranges from $5,500 to $8,500 per year. Modern private student housing and beachfront residential complexes (XUSOM Student Housing, Super Food Area apartments, Palm Beach student suites) cost between $600 and $1,100 per month (inclusive of utilities and high-speed Wi-Fi). General monthly living expenses range between $750 and $1,250.

International students receive an official Aruba Student Entry Visa and Temporary Residence Permit (Vergunning tot Tijdelijk Verblijf - VTV) issued by the Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission (DIMAS). Key requirements include: an official Letter of Acceptance from Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM) or University of Aruba, proof of financial capacity (bank statement certifying tuition and living funds), clean police certificate (police clearance with apostille/attestation), medical certificate certifying good health, and comprehensive international health insurance. The university immigration department processes the DIMAS clearance before the student's flight, allowing smooth arrival at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).