Albania There are two Medical Schools (Fakultete të Mjekësisë) in Albania: •
The University of Medicine, Tirana, Faculty of Medicine •
Catholic University "Our Lady of Good Counsel", Faculty of Medicine These medical schools are usually affiliated with regional hospitals. The course of study lasts 6 years. Students are conferred degree Doctor of Medicine (MD) upon graduation.
Austria •
Medical University of Vienna •
Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Medical School •
Medical University of Graz •
Medical University of Innsbruck •
Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg • The Faculty of Medicine at the
Johannes Kepler University Linz • Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (Karl Landsteiner Privatuniversität für Gesundheitswissenschaften),
Krems Belarus There are four medical schools (Medical Universities) in
Belarus: •
Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk (
belarusian: Беларускі дзяржаўны медыцынскі ўніверсітэт; Russian: Белорусский государственный медицинский университет) - which contains the famous Bosef Institute for AIDS Research. •
Gomel State Medical University (
belarusian: Гомельскі дзяржаўны медыцынскі ўніверсітэт; Russian: Гомельский государственный медицинский университет) •
Grodno State Medical University (
belarusian: Гродненскі дзяржаўны медыцынскі ўніверсітэт; Russian: Гродненский государственный медицинский университет) •
Vitebsk State Order of Peoples' Friendship Medical University (
belarusian: Віцебскі дзяржаўны медыцынскі ўніверсітэт; Russian: Витебский государственный ордена Дружбы народов медицинский университет)
Belgium and Netherlands In
Belgium and
Netherlands, medical students receive 6 years of university education prior to their graduation. In the Netherlands, students used to receive four years of preclinical training, followed by two years of clinical training (
co-assistentschappen, or
co-schappen for short) in hospitals. However, for a number of medical schools this has recently changed to three years of preclinical training, followed by three years of clinical training. At least one medical faculty, that of the
Utrecht University, clinical training already begins in the third year of medical school. After 6 years, students graduate as
basisartsen (comparable to
Doctors of Medicine). As a result of the
Bologna process, medical students in the Netherlands now receive a
bachelor's degree after three years in medical school and a
master's degree upon graduation. Prospective students can apply for medical education directly after finishing the highest level of secondary school,
vwo; previous undergraduate education is not a precondition for admittance. The Belgian medical education is much more based on theoretical knowledge than the Dutch system. In the first 3 years, which are very theoretical and lead to a university
bachelor degree, general scientific courses are taken such as chemistry, biophysics, physiology, biostatistics, anatomy, virology, etc. To enter the bachelor course in
Flanders, prospective students have to pass an exam, as a result of the
numerus clausus. In the
French-speaking part of Belgium, only the best students that pass the first year of the bachelor course in medicine are admitted to the second and third year. After the bachelor courses, students are allowed to enter the 'master in medicine' courses, which consist of 4 years of theoretical and clinical study. In general, the first 2 master years are very theoretical and teach the students in human pathology, diseases, pharmacology. The third year is a year full of internships in a wide range of specialities in different clinics. The seventh, final year serves as a kind of 'pre-specialization' year in which the students are specifically trained in the specialty they wish to pursue after medical school. This contrasts with the Dutch approach, in which graduates are literally 'basic doctors' (
basisartsen) who have yet to decide on a specialty.
Bosnia and Herzegovina There are five Medical Schools in
Bosnia and Herzegovina: •
University of Banja Luka School of Medicine •
University of Sarajevo Medical School •
University of Tuzla Medical School •
University of East Sarajevo Medical School (Foca) •
University of Mostar Medical School These medical schools are usually affiliated with regional hospitals. The course of study lasts 6 years or 12 semesters. Students are conferred degree Doctor of Medicine (MD) upon graduation. ;Admissions Entry to BH Medical Schools are very competitive due to limited places imposed by the government quota. Students are required to complete
Secondary School Leaving Diploma (
Gimnazija-
Gymnasium (school) or Medicinska skola
matura/
svedocanstvo/
svjedodzba). Entrance examination is usually held in June/July. Combined score of Secondary School Diploma assessment (on scale 1–5, with 2 minimum passing grade and 5 maximum grade) and entrance examination is taken into consideration. Usually, 5 in Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Physics are required for entry to medicine. ; Curriculum Course structure is more traditional and divided in pre-clinical (year 1–3) /clinical part (year 3–6) and subject-based. Practical examinations are held throughout the degree (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pathology, Physiology practicals etc.). Dissection is part of all medical curricula in Bosnian and Herz. Medical Schools.
Bulgaria In
Bulgaria, a medical school is a type of college or a faculty of a university. The medium of instruction is officially in Bulgarian. A six- to one-year course in Bulgarian language is required prior to admittance to the medical program. For European candidates, an exam in Biology and Chemistry in Bulgarian is also required. While a number of Bulgarian medical schools have now started offering medical programmes in English, Bulgarian is still required during the clinical years. Students join medical school after completing high-school. Admission offers are made by individual medical schools. Bulgarian applicants have to pass entrance examinations in the subjects of Biology and Chemistry. The competitive result of every candidate is the based on their marks these exams plus their secondary-school certificate marks in the same subjects. Those applicants with the highest results achieved are classified for admission. The course of study is offered as a six-year program. The first two years are pre-clinical, the next three years are clinical training and the sixth year is the internship year, during which students work under supervision at the hospitals. During the sixth year, students have to appear for 'state exams' in the five major subjects of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics and Social Medicine (also, includes Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Hygiene and Medical Ecology, forming part of the grade for this subject). Upon successful completion of the six years of study and the state exams the degree of 'Physician' is conferred and the students obtain an 'MD'. The exams are tough as the overall grade for most subjects is determined by the performance of an Oral/Spoken Exam and many students are unable to clear them, thereby prolonging their degree time. For specialization, graduates have to appear for written tests and interviews to obtain a place in a specialization program. For specialization in general medicine, general practice lasts three years, cardiology lasts four years, internal medicine lasts five years, and general surgery lasts five years. There are four dedicated medical universities in Bulgaria -
Medical University, Sofia,
Medical University of Varna,
Plovdiv Medical University and
Medical University Pleven. Additionally,
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and
Trakia University also offer medical programmes.
Croatia In
Croatia, there are four out of seven universities that offer a medical degree, the
University of Zagreb (offers medical studies in English),
University of Rijeka (offers medical studies in English),
University of Split (also offers medical studies in English), and the
University of Osijek. The Medical schools are a faculties of those four universities. Medical students enroll into medical school after finishing secondary education, typically after a
Gymnasium, or after a five-year nursing school, or any other high school lasting four years. During the application process, their high school grades, and the grades of their matriculation exam at the end of high school (
Matura) and the score at the obligatory admission exam are taken into account, and the best students are enrolled. The course of study lasts 6 years or 12 semesters. During the first 3 years, students are engaged in pre-clinical courses (Anatomy, Histology, Chemistry, Physics, Cell Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Pathologic Physiology And Anatomy, Pharmacology, Microbiology, etc.). Contact with patients begins at the third year. The remaining 3 years are composed of rotations at various departments, such as Internal Medicine, Neurology, Radiology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Surgery, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Anesthesiology, and others. During each academic year, students also enroll into two or three elective courses. After each rotation, the students take a total of about 60 exams. In the end, the students must pass a final multiple-choice exam comprising questions about clinical courses, after which they finally gain an MD, and the title of Doctor of Medicine, which they put after their name. Now the doctors must complete a one-year, supervised, paid internship in a hospital of their choice, after which they take the state (license) examination, which is an eight-part oral examination containing the eight most important clinical branches. After that, the doctors are eligible to practice medicine as general practitioners. Residencies are offered at various hospitals throughout Croatia, and at numerous medical specialities.
Czech Republic Medical study in
Czech Republic has a long tradition dating from the 14th century, with the first medical school starting at the
First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague in 1348, making it the 11th oldest in the world. Students from all over the world are attracted to study medicine in Czech Republic because of the high standards of education provided. Most Czech Universities offer a 6-year General Medicine program in Czech and in English separately for international students. The admission to medical studies in Czech Republic is based on the performance in high school diploma (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), English proficiency and performance in the entrance exams. Entrance examination is conducted at the university and by some representative offices abroad. After the entrance exams, successful candidates are further scrutinised by conducting interviews. Most of the international students studying medicine in the Czech Republic originate from United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Israel, Malaysia and the Middle East. Most faculties of Medicine in Czech Republic have been approved by the U.S. Department of Education for participation in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs and is listed in the Directory of Postsecondary Institutions published by the U.S. Department of Education. The qualifications are also approved in Canada by the Canadian Ministry of Education and Training, and in the UK by the
General Medical Council. Most medical schools are globally recognised. There are nine public government owned medical schools in the Czech Republic: •
First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague •
Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague •
Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague •
Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň, Charles University in Prague •
Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University in Prague •
Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University •
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc •
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava There is one military medical school,
Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence.
Denmark In
Denmark, basic medical education is given in four universities:
University of Copenhagen,
Aarhus University,
University of Southern Denmark and
Aalborg University. The study consists of three years of bachelor and three years of candidate studies, roughly reflecting the preclinical and clinical fields. After six years, the title of
Candidate of Medicine (MD) is attained, and after swearing the Danish medical pledge upon graduation, a text from 1815 inspired by the
Hippocratic Oath, the medical license () is issued by the
Department of Health. Medical school is usually followed by a year of
residency called clinical basic education ( or
KBU) which upon completion grants the right to practice medicine without supervision. After this, the doctor can pursue one of 38
specialisations which must start within five years after completing the clinical basic education. If the MD pursues a research or university career, sometimes he or she will skip the clinical basic education and remain a basic MD without the right to practice medicine independently. The Danish word for a licensed physician is . The word 'doktor' for a physician is used only in
demotic speech, but is by some people erroneously assumed to be a title prefix of all physicians. The title of doctor (
dr.med. or in full
doctor medicinæ) is not equivalent to an MD in the English language, but reserved for candidates of medicine who have attained a
higher doctorate. The Danish/Norwegian
dr.med. title is a degree above the PhD and above the German
Dr.med. Finland In
Finland, basic medical education is given in five universities:
Helsinki,
Kuopio,
Oulu,
Tampere and
Turku. Admission is regulated by an entrance examination. Studies involve an initial two-year preclinical period of mainly theoretical courses in anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology etc. However, students have contact with patients from the beginning of their studies. The preclinical period is followed by a four-year clinical period, when students participate in the work of various hospitals and health care centres, learning necessary medical skills. Some Finnish universities have integrated clinical and preclinical subjects along the six-year course, diverging from the traditional program. A problem-based learning method is widely used, and inclusion of clinical cases in various courses and preclinical subjects is becoming common. All medical schools have research programs for students who wish to undertake scientific work. The duration of basic medical education is six years and the course leads to the degree of Licentiate of Medicine.
France Medical studies in
France are organized as follows: Right after graduating from high school with a
baccalaureat, any student can register at a university of medicine (there are about 30 of them throughout the country). At the end of first year, an internal ranking examination takes place in each of these universities in order to implement the
numerus clausus. First year consists mainly of theoretical classes such as
biophysics and
biochemistry,
anatomy,
ethics or
histology. Passing first year is commonly considered as challenging and requires hard and continuous work. Each student can only try twice. For example, the
Université René Descartes welcomes about 2000 students in first year and only 300 after numerus clausus. The second and third year are usually mainly quite theoretical although the teachings are often accompanied by placements in the field (e.g. internships as nurses or in the emergency room, depending on the university). During fourth, fifth and sixth years, medical students get a special status called 'Externe' (In some universities, such as Pierre et Marie Curie, the 'Externe' status is given starting in the third year). They work as interns every morning at the hospital plus a few night shifts a month and study in the afternoon. Each internship lasts between 3 and 4 months and takes place in a different department. Med students get five weeks off per year. At the end of sixth year, they need to pass a national ranking exam, which will determine their specialty. The students are then allowed to choose their specialty in order of their ranking. During the fifth and sixth years, students split their time between actual practice at the hospital and some theoretical courses. The average wage of medical students in their fifth and sixth year amounts to between €100 and €300 a month . After that ranking exams, students can start as residents in the specialty they have been able to pick. That is the point from which they also start getting paid. Towards the end of the medical program, French
medical students are provided with more responsibilities and are required to defend a
thesis. At the conclusion of the thesis defense, French medical students receive a State Diploma of
Doctor of Medicine (MD) or "'
" for general medicine. For those who are in speciality training will also receive a Diploma of Specialized Studies (DES = ') to mark their specialties. Some students may also receive a Diploma of Specialized Complementary Studies (DESC = '''').
Georgia In
Georgia, a medical school is a particular kind of college or faculty inside a university. The official teaching language is
Georgian, although programs in English are available. Enrolment admission requirements in Georgia are not as strict as in other countries, as some medical schools do not require entrance exams in
chemistry or
biology. In addition, less importance is placed on overall secondary school grades and more on the interview process and science subjects. Many
international students from Europe, Asia, and Africa choose to study medicine in Georgia due to the low tuition fees in the country. The high level of
medical education and internationally recognized degrees are also important deciding factors for international students. The study program is available as a six-year
curriculum. Pre-clinical training lasts for the first two years, clinical training for the next three, and
internship training for the sixth year, which involves students working in hospitals under the supervision of doctors. Students must take "state examinations" in the five primary disciplines of
internal medicine,
surgery,
gynecology and
obstetrics,
social medicine, and
pediatrics after their sixth year of study. The title of "
Physician" is awarded upon completing six years of education and the state examinations. Graduates who choose to specialize must take written exams and interviews in order to be accepted into a program. Three years are spent in general practice, four in
cardiology, five in internal medicine, and five in general surgery while specializing in general medicine.
Germany In
Germany, admission to medical schools is currently administered jointly by the '''' (SfH), a centralized federal organization, and the universities themselves. The most important criterion for admission is the
Numerus clausus, the final
GPA scored by the applicant on the
Abitur (highest secondary school diploma). However, in light of the recent gain in influence of medical schools in regards to applicant selection, additional criteria are being used to select students for admission. These criteria vary among medical faculties and the final Abitur GPA is always a core indicator and strongly influences admission. Admission remains highly competitive. A very small number of slots per semester are reserved for selected applicants which already hold a university degree (Zweitstudium) and for medical officer candidates (Sanitätsoffizieranwärter). The first two years of medical school consist of the so-called pre-clinical classes. During this time, the students are instructed in the basic sciences (e.g.
physics,
chemistry,
biology,
anatomy,
physiology,
biochemistry, etc.) and must pass a federal medical exam ('
), administered nationally. Upon completion, the students advance to the clinical stage, where they receive three years of training and education in the clinical subjects (e.g. internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, pharmacology, pathology, etc.). After these three years, they have to pass the second federal medical exam (') before continuing with the sixth and final year. The last year of medical school consists of the so-called "practical year" (
). Students are required to spend three four-month clerkships, two of them in a hospital (internal medicine and surgery) as well as one elective, which can be one of the other clinical subjects (e.g. family medicine, anesthesiology, neurology, pediatrics, radiology etc.). After at least six years of medical school, the students graduate with a final federal medical exam (
Dritter Abschnitt der ärztlichen Prüfung). Graduates receive the license to practice medicine or dentistry and the professional title of
physician ('
) or dentist ('). The academic degrees
Doctor of Medicine (
Dr. med.) and
Doctor of Dental Medicine (Dr. med. dent.) are awarded if the graduate has, in addition, successfully completed a scientific study and dissertation. It is a doctoral degree and therefore different from the MD or DDS degrees in the U.S., which as professional degrees are awarded after passing the final exams and do not require additional scientific work. Many medical students opt to perform their thesis during their studies at medical school, but only a fraction of them is able to finish the dissertation-process during their studies. The requirements for getting a Dr. med. degree across the board are not as hard as for the doctor in natural science (Dr. rer. nat.). Therefore, many critics advocate to adopt a system similar to that of the Anglo-Saxon countries with an MD as a professional degree and a PhD showing additional scientific qualification. If physicians wish to open up a doctor's office, they are required to further complete
residency in order to fulfill the federal requirements of becoming
Facharzt (specialized in a certain field of medicine like internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics etc.). Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must complete both studies, medicine and dentistry, then afterwards specializing another 5 years. There are 36 medical faculties in Germany.
Greece In
Greece, medical schools are faculties within public universities offering undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
Greek is the primary language of instruction; however, several medical schools now provide English-taught programs tailored for international students, particularly those aiming to attract students from across Europe and beyond.
Hungary Hungary has four medical schools. The best known is
Semmelweis University in
Budapest which is a specialized university in the area of medicine and health sciences. The
University of Debrecen, the
University of Pécs and the
University of Szeged also has medical faculties. General medicine training takes six years to complete, of which the last year is a practical year. Students receive the degree Dr. med. Univ. or Dr. for short, equivalent to the MD degree upon graduation, after which a graduated physician can start specialist training. All Hungarian medical schools have programs fully taught in English. The diplomas issued by Hungarian Medical Schools are accepted by all European Union countries and several other countries (Norway, United States, Canada, Israel etc.)
Iceland In
Iceland, admission to medical school requires passing an organized test, controlled by the
University of Iceland, which anyone with a
gymnasium degree can take. Only the top 75 scores on the exam are granted admission each year. Medical school in Iceland takes 6 years to complete. Students receive a
cand.med. degree upon graduation. Following this, Icelandic regulations require 12 months of clinical internship before granting a full medical license. This internship consists of internal medicine (4 months), surgery (2 months), family medicine (3 months) and a three-month elective period. Upon receiving a license to practice, a physician can start specialist training, in Iceland or abroad.
Ireland There are six medical schools in
Ireland. They are at
Trinity College Dublin, the
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,
University College Dublin,
University College Cork,
University of Limerick and the
National University of Ireland, Galway (the
National University of Ireland is the degree-awarding institution for all except the University of Limerick and Trinity College). Training lasts four, five or six years, with the last two years in the affiliated teaching hospitals (UCD - St. Vincents University Hospital,
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital) (Trinity -
St. James's Hospital,
Tallaght University Hospital) (UCC -
Cork University Hospital) (RCSI -
Beaumont Hospital,
Connolly Hospital,
University Hospital Waterford). For Programmes that are six years in length, entry is based on secondary school qualifications. Programmes that are four years in length require previous university degrees. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the University of Limerick were the first medical institutions to offer
Graduate Entry Medicine of four years duration in Ireland. This is now also offered in University College Dublin and University College Cork. The National University of Ireland, Galway also launched a graduate entry programme in 2010. Medical education is regulated by the Irish Medical Council, the statutory body that is also responsible for maintaining a register of medical practitioners. After graduation with the degrees of BM BS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) or MB BCh BAO (Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus in Chirurgia, Baccalaureus in Arte Obstetricia), a doctor is required to spend one year as an
intern under supervision before full registration is permitted. Graduates of the
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland also receive the traditional "Licenciate of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians in Ireland" (LRCP&SI), which was awarded before the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland became an Affiliate of the
National University of Ireland and thus was allowed grant degrees, under the Medical Practitioners Act (1978).
Italy In
Italy, the contents of the medical school admission test is decided each year by the
Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and consists of sixty questions divided in five categories:
logics and "general culture" ("
cultura generale"),
mathematics,
physics,
chemistry, and
biology. Results are expressed in a national ranking. As a general rule, all state-run medical schools in the country administer it on the same day, whereas all privately run medical schools administer it on another day, so that a candidate may take the test once for state-run schools and once for a private school of his or her choice, but no more. Some universities in Italy provide an international degree course in medicine taught entirely in English for both Italian and foreign students. A number of these medical schools are at public universities, and have relatively low tuition fees compared to the English-speaking world, because the cost of the medical education is subsidized by the state for both Italian and foreign students. These public medical schools include the
University of Milan's
International Medical School, the
University of Milan-Bicocca Bergamo campus, the
University of Bologna, the
University of Cagliari, the
University of Catania, the
University of Pavia, the
University of Padua, the
University of Parma, the
Sapienza University of Rome, the
University of Rome Tor Vergata, the
University of Naples Federico II, the
University of Campania Naples campus, the
University of Messina, the
University of Bari, the
Marche Polytechnic University Ancona campus and the
University of Turin Orbassano campus. These universities require applicants to rank highly on the
International Medical Admissions Test. Italy also has private and Catholic English-language medical schools such as the
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in
Milan, the
Università Campus Bio-Medico, the
Saint Camillus University and the
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome campus, and the
Humanitas University in
Pieve Emanuele. Medicine is one of the university faculties implementing
numerus clausus ("
numero chiuso"): the overall number of medical students admitted every year is constant, as each medical school is assigned a maximum number of new admission per year by MUR. Medical school lasts 6 years (12 semesters). Traditionally, the first three years are devoted to "biological" subjects (physics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, genetics, anatomy, physiology, immunology, pathophysiology, microbiology, and usually English language courses), whereas the later three years are devoted to "clinical" subjects. However, most schools are increasingly devoting the second semester of the third year to clinical subjects and earlier patient contact. In most schools, there are about 36 exams over the 6-year cycle, as well as a number of compulsory rotations and elective activities. At the end of the cycle, students have to discuss a final thesis before a board of professors; the subject of this thesis may be a review of academic literature or an experimental work, and usually takes more than a year to complete, with most students beginning an
internato (internship) in the subject of their choice in their fifth or sixth year. The title awarded at the end of the discussion ceremony is that of "
Dottore Magistrale", styled in English as a
Doctor of Medicine, which in accordance with the
Bologna process is comparable with a
master's degree qualification or a US MD. Until 2020, after graduating, new doctors had to complete a three-month, unpaid, supervised
tirocinio post-laurea ("post-degree placement") consisting of two months in their university hospital (one month in a medical service and one in a surgical service) as well as one month shadowing a
general practitioner. After getting a statement of successful completion of each month from their supervisors, new doctors took the
esame di stato ("state exame") to obtain a full license to practise medicine. Starting from 2020 the three-month postgraduate internship and the state exam are no longer necessary. New doctors have to register with one of the branches of the
Ordine dei Medici ("Order of Doctors"), which are based in each of the
Provinces of Italy. Registration makes new doctors legally able to practice medicine without supervision. They will then have to choose between various career paths, each usually requiring a specific admission exam: most either choose to train as general practitioner (a 3-year course run by each
Region, including both general practice and rotation at non-university hospitals), or to enter a
Scuola di Specializzazione ("specialty school") 4-year or 5-year course at a university hospital.
Lithuania Lithuania has two medical schools, in
Kaunas and
Vilnius. Studies are of six years, of which the last year is a practical year. All Lithuanian medical schools have programs in English.
Norway Medical education in
Norway begins with a six- to six-and-a-half-year undergraduate university program. Admission requires a very high GPA from secondary school - medicine consistently ranks as the most difficult university programme to be admitted to in Norway. Furthermore, certain high school subjects are required for admission (chemistry, mathematics and physics). The first two years consists almost wholly of preclinical science subjects, followed by integration of clinical training the remaining four years in a
spiral approach. Upon completion, students are awarded a candidatus/candidata medicinae (
cand. med.) degree (corresponding to e.g. and MD in the US) and medical license. Those completing a research programme (Forskerlinje) get this added to their degree. Following this, a minimum of 18 months of internship (turnustjeneste) is required before applying on a specialist training in Norway. The internship consist of 6 months of internal medicine, 6 months of surgery and 6 months family medicine. There are currently 43 recognized medical specialties in Norway. Optionally it is possible to pursue the title of
doctor medicinae (Dr. med.), by publishing multiple research papers through a university research group followed by completing a
dissertation.
Poland In
Poland, medicine is taught as an undergraduate degree. After a six-year course graduates are awarded the title of
lekarz (doctor), equivalent to a master's degree. Furthermore, medical graduates must complete 13 month long, postgraduate internship to gain full registration to practice medicine.
Portugal In
Portugal, the medical course is a postgraduate degree, so a prior graduation from an undergraduate course (3 to 4 years) in areas involving health such as biology, nursing and pharmaceutical sciences, among others, is necessary for applying for the Master's in Medicine (3 years). Most students (≈80%) enter Medical School by joining an integrated master's degree in medicine, this course is composed by an undergraduate course in "Basic Health Sciences" ("Licenciatura em Ciencias Basicas da Saude") (3 years) that involves chemistry, general biology and health and, after that, the master's (three years) which is the clinical course. Access to the Integrated Master's Course in Medicine is gained through National Exams in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. After obtaining their master's degree, students must register with Order of Medics (the national medical association) and take a final examination: the students with the best grades are accepted into the medical specialty of their choice. The rest can either wait another year and retake the exam, do less specialized work or seek a residency program abroad. After the exam, all students must complete a one-year general internship program that enables them to practice medicine autonomously. This is the list of all Medical Schools in Portugal: •
Universidade do Minho, Braga •
Universidade do Algarve, Faro •
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra •
Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Covilhã •
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa •
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa •
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto •
Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, Porto
Romania In
Romania, medical school is a department of a medical university, which typically includes Dentistry and Pharmacy departments as well. The name
facultate is used for departments in their universities too, but the Medicine departments distinguish themselves by the length of studies (6 years), which grants to graduates a status equivalent to that of a Master in Science. The Medicine departments are also marked by reduced flexibility - in theory, a student in a regular university can take courses from different departments, like Chemistry and Geography (although it usually does not happen, majors being clearly defined), while the medical universities do not have any extra offers for their students, due to their specialization. Admission to medical faculty is usually awarded by passing a Human Biology, Organic Chemistry and/or Physics test. The program lasts 6 years, with first 2 years being preclinical and last 4 years being mostly clinical. After these six years, one has to take the national licence exam (which consists of mostly clinically oriented questions, but some questions also deal with basic sciences) and has to write a thesis in any field he/she studied. Final award is
Doctor-Medic (titlu onorific) (shortened Dr.), which is not an academic degree (similar to Germany). All graduates have to go through residency and specialization exams after that in order to practice, although older graduates had different requirements and training (e.g., clinical rotations similar to sub-internship) and might still be able to practice Family Medicine / General Medicine.
Russia Medical schools in
Russia offer a 6-year curriculum leading to award
Doctor of Medicine (MD) "Physician". Russian medical authorities reluctantly agrees with inclusion in list of international medical schools FAIMER-IMED. FAIMER cannot include medical schools without cooperation from Russia. For example, Orel State University Medical Institute is not included in this list.
Serbia In
Serbia, medical school is a division of a medical university, which also frequently houses schools of dentistry and pharmacy. In their institutions, departments are also referred to as faculties. However, the medical departments stand out due to the length of their programs - six years - which confer on their graduates a standing similar to a
Master of Science. Passing a test in
human biology,
organic chemistry, or
physics is typically required for admission to medical school. If the student is to study in a program taught in English instead of
Serbian, and their mother tongue is not English, universities may also require a certificate of proficiency. Official certificates include
IELTS or
TOEFL. The English language medical programs in Serbia have proven popular with students from Europe, Asia, and Africa due to the low tuition fees and internationally recognized degrees. The six-year
curriculum is divided into two pre-clinical years and four primarily clinical years. After these six years, one must complete a thesis in any study area and the national license test, which is primarily clinically focused but also includes some questions on basic sciences. Doctor-Medic (abbreviated Dr.) is the final designation but is not considered an academic title.
Sweden Medical education in
Sweden begins with a five-and-a-half-year undergraduate university program leading to the degree "Master of Science in Medicine" (). Following this, the
National Board of Health and Welfare requires a minimum of 18 months of clinical internship () before granting a medical license to be fully qualified as
Medical Doctor (MD). This internship consists of surgery (3–6 months), internal medicine (3–6 months), psychiatry (three months) and family medicine (six months). Upon receiving a license to practice, a physician is able to apply for a post to start specialist training. There are currently 52 recognized medical specialties in Sweden. The specialist training has a duration of minimum five years, which upon completion grants formal qualification as a specialist.
Switzerland There are eight universities granting medical degrees in
Switzerland and six
university hospitals: • Faculty of Medicine of the
University of Basel (see also
University Hospital of Basel) • Faculty of Medicine of the
University of Bern (see also
University Hospital of Bern) • Faculty of Sciences and Medicine
University of Fribourg (see also
University of Fribourg) • Faculty of Medicine of the
University of Geneva (see also
University Hospital of Geneva) • Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the
University of Lausanne (see also
University Hospital of Lausanne) • Faculty of Medicine of the
University of Zürich (see also
University Hospital of Zürich, includes Tracks for
Luzern and
St. Gallen) • Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the
Università della Svizzera italiana • Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the
University of Lausanne • Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology of the
ETH Zurich (offers the bachelor's degree but not the master in medicine)
Turkey All high school graduates who wish to pursue further education are required to take an MCQ exam. The exam covers most of the high school and secondary school curricula. A student who scores high enough gets a place in a faculty of his/her desire. Entrance to medical schools is extremely competitive, only very top scoring students are accepted to medical schools. Medical education in
Turkey follows a specific policy and is regulated by the Ministry of Health and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Medical education takes six years, first three years being Pre-clinical years and the latter three being Clinical years. During the "clinical" phase, students rotate through various clinical departments, such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and more. Right after graduation, graduates can either work as GPs or take another exam called TUS (Medical Specialization Examination) to do residency in a particular department of a particular hospital. Most of the medical schools in Turkey are state schools but the number of private schools is on the rise. MCQ exam (TYT and AYT) scores required to be accepted to private medical schools are lower compared to their public counterparts. The language of instruction is, in general, Turkish, but few universities also offer schools with English as the language of instruction. This makes Turkey a popular place to study medicine for students from nearby areas like the Balkans, the Middle East, and to a lesser extent North Africa.
Ukraine Medical degrees in
Ukraine were offered only in institutions called medical universities, which are separate from traditional universities. However, some medical schools are now associated with classical universities. These include: •
Ternopil State Medical University • Donetsk National Medical University •
Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University •
Kharkiv National Medical University •
Dnipro State Medical University •
Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University •
Bukovinian State Medical University •
Zaporizhia State Medical University •
Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy •
Donetsk National Medical University •
Bogomolets National Medical University Of Ukraine •
Crimea State Medical University •
Luhansk State Medical University •
Odesa National Medical University •
Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University •
School of Medicine of V N Karazin Kharkiv National University •
Medical Faculty of Sumy State University •
Medical Faculty of Uzhhorod University •
Medical Faculty of Dnipro National University •
Kyiv Medical University of UAFM United Kingdom in London In the
United Kingdom, the code for higher education, first degrees in medicine comprise an integrated programme of study and professional practice spanning several levels. While the final outcomes of the qualifications themselves typically meet the Expectations of the descriptor for higher education qualification at '''level 7 (the UK master's degree)'''. These degrees may retain, for historical reasons, "Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery" and are abbreviated to MBChB or MBBS. There are currently
32 institutions that offer medical degrees in the United Kingdom. Completion of a medical degree in the UK results in the award of the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. Admission requirements to the schools varies; most insist on solid A-Levels/Highers, a good performance in an aptitude test such as the
UKCAT, the
BMAT or the
GAMSAT, and usually an interview. As of 2008 the UK has approximately 8000 places for medical students. Methods of education range from courses that offer a problem-based learning approach (alongside lectures etc.), and others having a more traditional pre-clinical/clinical structure. Others combine several approaches in an integrated approach. Following qualification, UK doctors enter a generalised two-year, competency-based "
foundation programme", gaining full GMC (
General Medical Council) registration at the end of foundation year one, and applying for specialist training (in medicine, surgery, general practice etc.) after foundation year two. Many medical schools offer intercalated degree programmes to allow students to focus on an area of research outside their medical degree for a year. Some medical schools offer graduate entry programmes, which are four years long. The name refers to the fact that students on these courses already have a degree in another subject (i.e. they are graduates). Due to the shorter length of the course, the timetable of these degrees are more intense and the holidays are shorter, compared to students on the 5-year course. In terms of entrance requirements, the 4-year degree restricts entry to those who already hold a first degree, and have previously worked in an area of healthcare. The first degree does not necessarily have to be a BSc degree (this is the criteria for some of the medical schools), whereas other medical schools specify that the prior degree has to be in a science subject. Competition for this course is fierce, with students having to also sit an entrance exam prior to being considered for an interview. Medical schools typically admit more students into undergraduate programmes than into graduate entry programmes. ==Latin America==