Benefits of Attending Medical School in Europe

European colleges and universities offer a modern education for those who seek to study various fields, including medicine. Studying medicine in Europe offers opportunities to meet new people, experience new cultures, and learn a new language. It further allows you to put yourself in a position to practice medicine anywhere in the world, since medical degrees granted in Europe are recognized globally.

Some common features come with studying medicine in Europe. One is the low-cost fees. Medical schools in Europe are significantly less expensive than in the United States. The average cost of medical school fees in Europe ranges from $3,000 to $30,000, whereas it would likely cost almost quadruple that amount to study in the United States or Canada.

It should be noted that the fees being affordable do not reflect the standard of education received. World-class medical organizations recognize that medical degrees obtained from Europe are among the best. As such, practicing in your home country should not be a challenge.

Further, studying in Europe presents you with shorter study periods. It takes an average of eight to 10 years (including residency) to become a medical doctor in Europe. In the United States, on the other hand, medical school and a residency program take about 11 to 15 years to complete.

Notably, in Europe, there is no requirement to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) or to earn a pre-med degree to enroll in medical school. In most cases, the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma. Thereafter, you may be required to pass an admission test if required by your chosen university. Additional requirements may include English language proficiency.

Regarding paperwork, you will need to have a valid passport. It can also be necessary in some circumstances to submit a personal statement or reference letter.

There is also no language barrier to studying medicine in Europe. Most schools lecture in English, and as a result, keeping up with classes is seamless. It should be noted that there are language classes during the first semesters for international students to learn the country’s language. This comes in useful when communicating with patients who are not fluent in English.

Additionally, the simple credit transfer feature in Europe’s school system compared to other regions makes studying there easier. Most medical universities use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to transfer credits within Europe. The effort students put into learning is defined in terms of credit under the ECTS system. Usually, a student’s workload for an academic year ranges from 1500 to 1800 hours, and one credit typically equates to 25 to 30 hours of school work. As a result of this generalized scheme, many European universities allow medical credit transfer within the same program. It implies that a medical student can switch to another medical university within Europe that offers a 6-year program without losing out on a year.

Finally, you have an option to also work in your home country if you wish to practice medicine with a medical degree from Europe. All that is required is taking the licensing exam of the country, for instance, the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) to practice in America and the PLAB test (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test) to practice in the UK.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/y9SZhz4
via IFTTT

Studying Medicine in the United States vs. Europe

 Studying outside one’s home country offers a new and unique experience. But aside from this, there can be several other benefits to schooling abroad. More and more students in recent years have been exploring schooling options in Europe due to the numerous advantages it offers. However, if someone is looking to explore this option for medical school, it is also necessary to know how studying there differs from pursuing a medical education in the United States.

Studying medicine in Europe involves a much different system. In the United States, students must first complete an undergraduate degree, which includes prerequisite courses. These courses may vary by school but usually include organic chemistry, biology, and general chemistry. An applicant should also have a good score on their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). In granting admission, medical schools consider MCAT grades along with undergraduate GPA. Medical school in the US takes four years to complete.

However, in Europe, although there are differences between countries, there is generally no need to complete a pre-med undergraduate degree. Students proceed directly to medical school after their secondary or high school education. Many countries like Poland, Spain, and Italy only have academic requirements for entry. Students take an entrance examination, usually both oral and written, which covers the core science subjects of biology, physics, and chemistry. The schools consider student performance along with secondary school grades. Some countries, however, combine non-academic criteria as well. The length of medical school education in Europe is typically six years.

One of the major pros of schooling in Europe, as opposed to the United States, is the financial advantage. There is a huge disparity in the cost of education in these two regions. Students can get a quality education in Europe for considerably less. While a student in Europe would pay between $60,000 to $90,000 for their complete medical tuition, in the United States tuition costs from $140,000 to as high as $240,000. Students in the US usually have to rely on loans, which they proceed to carry for many years or in some cases decades.

Residency programs, which are entered after medical school, may take from three to seven years in the US, depending on one’s specialty. Thus, the entire schooling process can take up to 15 years. In contrast, studying in Europe, including residency, takes from eight to 10 years. Residency in most European countries does not require any prior examination. Instead, hospitals admit students based on vacancies. In the US, applicants must first pass the United States Licensing Exam (USMLE), which consists of four different tests.

Studying in Europe may, however, raise some concerns for students. For example, they may wonder whether their degree would be recognized in the US. Europe is home to numerous universities that operate on par with top institutions in North America and offer degrees that are recognized internationally. Thus, as a student, one can go to school in Europe and work in the US as well as anywhere in Europe. There is also the concern of language barriers. However, more than 20 universities across Europe offer medical programs in English, including Poland.

Studying abroad may be a huge decision. However, aside from the various schooling benefits, it allows students to explore new horizons, meet new people, and gain international exposure. With Europe's open borders, students can also travel and explore during their vacation periods.

What to Expect If You Consider Pursuing a Medical Degree in Poland

 Poland has a long tradition of academic education. Polish university diplomas are recognized within the European Union (EU) and globally, including in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Furthermore, many universities have adjusted their English language medical programs to match those of US medical education and thus aid students’ admission to residency programs in North America.

Prospective medical students in Poland can also take advantage of the full mobility afforded by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The system facilitates the transfer of international credits. Upon completion of any course, students receive certificates or equivalent official documents. If they graduate with a full degree or a diploma, they receive a diploma supplement in English.

Poland strives to provide medical students with a high-quality, comprehensive educational experience at competitive costs. Tuition fees are much more affordable than what medical students pay in other European countries or the US for comparable programs. Most Polish medical universities offer a premedical course or foundation year for developing the knowledge and skills to pursue medical studies in English.

Practical classes and clinical placements underlie Polish medical education. Students gain access to various educational facilities, including clinics, hospitals, laboratories, and libraries. There, they get daily exposure to and can learn from highly skilled practitioners from diverse areas in medicine, pharmacy, and health sciences.

As of 2019, 15 medical universities across Poland offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate programs in English. Some examples include the Medical University of Lublin (MUL), the Medical University of Bialystok (MUB), and the Medical University of Silesia (SUM) in Katowice.

Accredited by the US Department of Education, the Medical Board of California and the New York State Education Department, as well as the US National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), MUL’s history goes back to 1944. MUL students can learn from highly qualified staff and train in its Center of Medical Simulation. In addition, they can complete clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals outside Poland, including in the United States.

For details on how to apply, contact the US office at +1-757-873-3333 or by email at admissions@hmi-edu.org

What to Expect if You Plan to Apply to Polish Medical Schools

Poland has become a popular destination among international medical students, with students coming from countries such as the US, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Israel. The country offers students the opportunity to pursue medical studies at some of the best universities on the World Health Organization’s World Directory of Medical Schools. As with any overseas medical school, students should know what to expect when applying to a medical university in Poland.

Available degree programs in Poland include doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, and doctor of pharmacy, which are recognized internationally. Upon graduation, students can apply for postgraduate training and residency programs at university teaching hospitals in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Australia.

Medical degrees from a Polish university also provide students with an attainable path for securing employment in these countries. Most medical schools in Poland are accredited worldwide. They also grant eligibility for Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certification for graduates intending to complete their residency and practice in the United States.

The enrollment process at Polish medical schools is relatively straightforward. While each university and medical program has some unique entry criteria, they share several general prerequisites. In addition to submitting an application, international students must provide secondary school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and health information like immunization records. Depending on the medical school and the types of programs offered, students might need to participate in a video or in-person interview.

Although applicants may still need to pass an entrance exam, most of Poland’s medical universities do not require students to sit for a standardized medical exam. Polish medical schools instead usually test students’ knowledge in biology, chemistry, and physics. Some universities conduct this evaluation during the interview phase, while others utilize an admissions exam focused on these subjects. Admissions are also typically based on high school records and grades in chemistry, biology, and physics.

Polish remains the dominant language in Poland, but many of the country’s top medical universities offer courses or full medical programs taught in English. To study in English, applicants without English as their first language must demonstrate proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the language. Polish medical universities may verify proficiency during a Skype interview or through tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Cambridge English C2 Proficiency Exam.

A major reason why international students choose eastern European countries like Poland for medical education is the cost of tuition. Compared to most European Union countries or the United States, tuition fees in Poland are much lower without compromising educational quality. In addition, the cost of living in Poland is lower than in most western European countries.

With admission to Polish universities, students receive access to advanced facilities and instruction led by esteemed medical professionals. Moreover, alumni of Poland’s medical universities include influential pioneers in science and medicine, such as the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recipient Marie Curie. In 2013, a Polish surgical team earned notoriety for performing the first emergency full face transplant.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/b6lpGSB
via IFTTT