Studying Medicine in Spain

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Anybody know anybody studying medicine in Spain? What's it like? Is it like the French System, where the weed out students after the first 1-2 years?
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rocker said:
Anybody know anybody studying medicine in Spain? What's it like? Is it like the French System, where the weed out students after the first 1-2 years?
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Yes and no. A close family member is a student at a Spanish medical school after obtaining a BS in Biochem in the States. This is the second Spanish medical school she's attending after a mostly unsuccessful 6-year run at one of the Madrid universities. She's passed all her classes thus far and is very happy with her new school.

The weeding process in Spain is more akin to the program taking 1.5 to twice as long for most students. Rarely does anyone graduate on time. The medical curriculum is six years long, although you might be able to transfer some of your US undergraduate courses as relative did. Basically the first 3 years are basic sciences and the last 3 years are clinicals. The tuition is quite reasonable, but the cost of living is expensive.

A word to the wise, stay away from the large Madrid universities (UCM, UAM, and Alcala de Henares). These schools are impersonal bureaucracies set up as public money-making institutions and largely staffed by uncaring, disaffected professors and staff who don't care about helping their students out. In fact, many profs. are professionally frustrated and derive perverse pleasure in seeing their students fail an annual exam by 1 point or less. And there is no such thing as academic counseling and/or personal counseling as we know it. You're basically on your own with no support whatsoever. Not all Spanish universities are the same, though. I suggest that if you're serious about studying in Spain, attend one of the smaller medical schools far from the capital.
 
I read a post by you about your sister who is attending a Spanish medical school? Would you mind sharing more? Like, which school is she attending? Which schools did she avoid?
Thanks,
Sean
 
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Hello to all student. I´m spanish and I am studying medicine in Spain, in Extremadura University (UNEX).(first of all, sorry because my english is horrible!!!)
If one sapanish boy or girl want study medicine here, He need to obtain BS. What kind of BS? It´s prefer to do science BS (chemical, maths) because is easier to be accepted in university. The cost of this studies are 1200 -2000 $ in a public university and about 4000-5000 $ in a private university, every year (aside from live here, of course). In all, from 6000 to 10000$ every year.
Later, you need 6 years to be medical in general. If you want to be a specialist medical, you must pass a general examination (MIR) y then, you will go for 3, 4 or 5 years to hospital that you choose. There, other medical, that we need as "adjuntos" (for example, if you choose to be General Surgeon, another "old" general surgeon) help you can get it. During your formation in hospital, your´ll win about 1000-1200? to month and one month on holidays.
It´s all friend!!! If you have a cuestion, I´ll be there. Sorry again for my horrible english languaje.
Happy new year 2005 to the medical of the future!!!!
 
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I am an american guy who wants to attend the university of navarra, actually.

Have you heard anything about University of Navarra?

Ohh, is it difficult to get a hospital job after completing your 6 year medical degree? What about adjuntos, are they difficult to secure?
Gracias,
sean

SPANISH_MD said:
Hello to all student. I´m spanish and I am studying medicine in Spain, in Extremadura University (UNEX).(first of all, sorry because my english is horrible!!!)
If one sapanish boy or girl want study medicine here, He need to obtain BS. What kind of BS? It´s prefer to do science BS (chemical, maths) because is easier to be accepted in university. The cost of this studies are 1200 -2000 $ in a public university and about 4000-5000 $ in a private university, every year (aside from live here, of course). In all, from 6000 to 10000$ every year.
Later, you need 6 years to be medical in general. If you want to be a specialist medical, you must pass a general examination (MIR) y then, you will go for 3, 4 or 5 years to hospital that you choose. There, other medical, that we need as "adjuntos" (for example, if you choose to be General Surgeon, another "old" general surgeon) help you can get it. During your formation in hospital, your´ll win about 1000-1200? to month and one month on holidays.
It´s all friend!!! If you have a cuestion, I´ll be there. Sorry again for my horrible english languaje.
Happy new year 2005 to the medical of the future!!!!
Click to expand...
 
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Hi guys,
I see that many questions are asked about MD in Spain,I'm a sixth year medical school student from the University Of Navarra, so don't hesitate to ask about any doubt u have...Sepaul u've got a detailed private message,happy new year
 
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Hello, Sepaul. I think that tonypowerful answered your cuestions in a private message, but if you want to know somthing, only ask to me.
 
I am looking at applying to Spanish universities for 2006. I already have a Bachelors in Pharmacology and I am 31...so a bit different from normal.

From what I can gather all public courses have to accept between 1-3% of students over 25 on their courses...but you might have to do a Prueba de Acceso...this however seems to be more for people who didn't finish school or go to Uni...? Can anyone clarify?

Also I can't really nail whether I would have to do the Selectividad or not. I think probably not. Navarra just seems to need you to do an entrance exam in Chemistry, Biology and an essay. I am not bothered about where in Spain...but being foreign I guess I would be more interested in being in the bigger cities.

Once you have done your 6 years what is the process then? e.g. to become a family doctor vs a surgeon?

Anyone have experience of having their UK Bachelors degree ratified by the Spanish government?

I am sure I will have more questions..but I am guessing that will do for the moment.

thanks
Melanie
 
I am not sure about the meaning of BS that the above poster mentioned but to gain acceptance to medical school in Spain you do not need a four year college degree for they go straight out of high school. They take a very rigorous exam after high school that will determine if they can pursue medicine. This is true for Spaniards not sure how the system works for international students.
 
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efex101 said:
I am not sure about the meaning of BS that the above poster mentioned but to gain acceptance to medical school in Spain you do not need a four year college degree for they go straight out of high school. They take a very rigorous exam after high school that will determine if they can pursue medicine. This is true for Spaniards not sure how the system works for international students.
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I've done those exams about 2 years ago and it wasn't that difficult, I've just found the grammar stuff quite hard, especially when you're dividing a sentence. Besides that there's not a lot of hard questions in those exams, they are quite easy.
 
Really? that is not what I heard but of course this was from all my high school friends that took them right out of high school. Did you take them after a college degree? I remember that high school in Spain was quite rigorous compared to high school here specially if you do the "science track bachillerato"....
 
I've taken my HS diploma in Portugal not Spain, but then they gave equivalence to my studies, of course my average mark decreased a bit...it was 9/10 and they reduced to 8.43/10. Then you have to take the exams I said on another thread.
I don't know what is it like in the USA, but comparing Portugal HS to Spain HS, Spanish is chicken soup :)
 
Holy cow! then Portugal must really be difficult in high school wow. Here in the US high school is not very rigorous of course there are some that are but for the most part. In the first year of your college degree here you take some of the classes that I took while in 9th grade in Spain...if my kids had to go to high school in Spain they would literally go off the deep end...
 
Here it's a bit more difficult than Spain, cuz we learn some stuff in the 11th year when spanish learn it in the 12th (senior year, right?). Spanish litterature is easier, but, in my opinion, it's better for students. Chemistry is more or less the same, we don't go a lot into thermodynamics, but we study other stuff. Biology is easier in Spain.
greetings
 
Yup the 12th year in Spain used to be called COU now they call it some other name very confusing..but high school I think it is still called Bachiller. Are you an American living in Portugal?
 
Nope, Portuguese @ Spain
 
Entonces me imagino que hablaras perfectamente en Castellano..escribes el Ingles muy bien! hasta usas palabras tipicas Americanas. Yo estoy estudiando medicina en la clinica de Mayo. Estuve en Alicante todo el mes de Julio que maravilla...como lo echo de menos uf.
 
Podrias sacar la carrera en espana jeje :)...pues yo estuve ano y medio en la UdL (Lleida - Lérida), pero no me ha ido bien y he hecho una pausa, este ano estare en Bioquimica o Farmacia y el proximo ano intentare ingresar en Santiago, Salamanca o Badajoz (queda muy cerca de la frontera). Fue la primera vez que estuve fuera de mi pais a vivir, ademas solo y eso me costo muy caro. Y tu que tal lo llevas en EEUU? La clinica mayo es de las mejores en cardiologia, verdad? Eso es fantastico para el curriculum. A mi solo me interesa sacar la carrera para poder currar en Portugal, es que aqui hay pocos medicos, los que hay ya estan por encima de los 50 anos y ingresar en la facultad de medicina te piden un 9! Y eso, bueno...es muy, muy, muy dificil, y para un tio que, como yo, esta por debajo de esa nota, en los examenes no tengo ninguna margen de errar.
Bueno, felicidades en tu carrera :)
 
Si, la clinica la verdad es que es considerada come el segundo mejor hospital de USA, y uno de los mejores del mundo. Cardiologia es una de las mejores...la verdad es que me va muy bien pero es muy pero que muy dificil como bien lo sabras tu....
 
Hola me preguntaba si sabria algo de la medincina en Alicante? Soy estudiante ingles y me voy pa alla a estudiar por 5 meses en un intercambio de ERASMUS, que tal la universidad, los hospitales? y cuanta responsibilidad tienen los estudiantes, practimas o nada mas aprendemos?

thank you!

efex101 said:
Si, la clinica la verdad es que es considerada come el segundo mejor hospital de USA, y uno de los mejores del mundo. Cardiologia es una de las mejores...la verdad es que me va muy bien pero es muy pero que muy dificil como bien lo sabras tu....
Click to expand...
 
Pues mira...de Alicante no se mucho pero si te enteras de algo por favor dimelo. No se cuanta responsabilidad tienen los estudiantes...que es ERASMUS? me gustaria hacer un intercambio a mi tambien...pero en Madrid mejor...
 
chingles said:
Hola me preguntaba si sabria algo de la medincina en Alicante? Soy estudiante ingles y me voy pa alla a estudiar por 5 meses en un intercambio de ERASMUS, que tal la universidad, los hospitales? y cuanta responsibilidad tienen los estudiantes, practimas o nada mas aprendemos?

thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi what uni are you studying at, as this is something I really want to do (did you continue learning spanish at university aswell?)

Thanks
 
tonypowerful said:
Hi guys,
I see that many questions are asked about MD in Spain,I'm a sixth year medical school student from the University Of Navarra, so don't hesitate to ask about any doubt u have...Sepaul u've got a detailed private message,happy new year
Click to expand...

Hello, my name is Nora and I am curious about your experience with studying medicine in Spain. Obviously you have been successful. I imagine that by now you have started practicing medicine in Spain right? What has your experience been so far with the medical system? Also, why did you decide to study in Spain if I can ask? Do you intend on someday practicing medicine in the US? Thank you so much!

Nora
 
I didn't expect to find UNEX students in this forum. It's amazing what the internet can do! I'm Spanish, studying the fourth year of medicine degree in Seville.

University of Navarra is a very good place to study medicine, but it's a private school, and more expensive than other.

If you are interested in studying in Spain, I can ask my colleagues of the Spanish National Board of Medical Students' Forum, and give you some data about the situation in each university.

In the MIR exam rank, (once you've finished your medicine studies, and you want to apply to a intern program in surgery, for example, you have to pass this exam), Madrid (UCM, UAM) and Barcelona (UB, UAB) universities are at the top of the 27 faculties of medicine in Spain. University of Navarra is also in a high position.
 
Hi to all,
I don't know how valid or up-to-date my info is, but I contacted the Embassy of Spain in Cyprus last year to ask about studying medicine there. They told me that there's no chance of not being Spanish and entering a medical school there. She explained that the Spanish government will recognise the High School Baccaulareate with 5 marks, and then there are the exams with a maximum score 10. Even if one gets 10 in the exam that is impossible, the total score (High school certificate + exam ) that will be 15 marks, is still too low to enter in medicine.
 
efex101 said:
Si, la clinica la verdad es que es considerada come el segundo mejor hospital de USA, y uno de los mejores del mundo. Cardiologia es una de las mejores...la verdad es que me va muy bien pero es muy pero que muy dificil como bien lo sabras tu....
Click to expand...

estás en un gran sitio,¿qué nota sacaste en el step1 y el step2?
si estás haciendo un fellowship,¿ no estás con la j1 no?
¿hicistes electivos o rotatorios en usa?

Eres como una leyenda,la última pregunta de verdad :p
¿que cartas de recomendación conseguistes?
 
Has anyone gone from the USA to study medicine in Spain? I am considering just such a transition so any input would be greatly appreciated.

Mariano
 
Hi, I' ve been browsing around some Spanish universities and one that caught my attn was Salamanca MedSchool, would you be able to give me some advise about it. Me and my wife are looking to move ovether but not sure about cost of living, besides not sure about all academic requirements to enter a Spanish MedSchool (wether BS, AS, or just HS alone). We are looking from scratch so wathever you & your good friends from the board share will be greatly apreciated. I'm planing to start on summer of 2008.
THANKS
Daves
 
:) Hi you all! I'm from Spain. I'm studying Medicine in Madrid, if you have any questions, just ask!!
 
Hi,
I am currently getting my undergraduate degree in the US (first year), but I am interested in becoming a doctor and going to live in Spain. I was not sure which path would be better, whether I should transfer to a university in Spain after my 4 years of undergraduate or go ahead and complete both my undergraduate and the 4 years of medical school here in the US and then go to Spain for my residency. I heard that a new education system was going to be put in place in Spain over the next few years, and that it would be more similar to the one here, with an undergraduate and post graduate program. Does anyone know how this works, or can anyone give me any more information about it?
Muchas gracias!
P.S. I speak both spanish and english, so feel free to repy in either!
 
hi there
i am looking for cardiology specialization
i am basically looking for interventional and electrophysiological cardiology.
can you help me in anyway in this if it is possible in this country.
what is the fees structure and balh blah blah.

kind regards
dr riaz a memon
 
Hola a todos. Queria saber si algunos de los estudiantes espanoles supiera algo de alguno programa donde puedo "shadow" un medico espanol durante este verano 2008. Soy una estudiante de medicine del primer ano en EEUU y quiero hacer algo con medicine y espanol este verano. Me encanta Espana y he vivido alli en Madrid casi 5 meses esta primavera pasada. Seria buenisimo pasar mas tiempo en Espana este verano si es posible.

En realidad, no necesito un programa especial or algo asi, solo quiero pasar tiempo con un medico espanol para aprender mas de medicina y pasar tiempo hablando espanol. Y me da igual que parte de Espana. Conozco Madrid lo mejor, y me gusta mucho Madrid, pero tambien quiero conocer mas de Espana.

Muchisimas gracias y perdonenme por mis errores en espanol!
 
I am sorry to completely change the topic of this but I was wondering if anyone here knew about any good dental schools in europe (except the UK and Ireland sice i have info on those already) that teach in english? i do not want to use an agency to apply. I can apply directly to the university.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Hi ya! I'm from Serbia! Can u tell me, pleace, more about postgraduate studies in Spain, my speciall interest is immunology!
Thanx in advance!
 
can somebody please tell me how can I study(all about that) medicine in Spain cose I'm from Serbia.
thanks,I realy need that:)
 
I'm from the US and am thinking about studying medicine in Spain, could anyone tell me about the requirements and which schools you would recommend? Also I'll be graduating from a college here with a bachelor in french and a minor in biology ( but i've taken all the needed med school courses). Would that have an impact on my application?
 
Hey, I know this post is a little old but in case you are still wondering, metropolis, I am an undergrad student from the US about to graduate (Spanish and pre-med) and I will be starting medical school at the University of Navarra (Pamplona) in the fall. Basically my experience w/ Spanish med schools is just limited to UNAV but hopefully that can be of some help.

I don't know if you know how medical education works in Spain so here is a summary: it is a 6-year degree that students start right after high school (after taking the Selectividad, a crazy entrance exam that tests you on bio, chem, calculus, etc.). Medical school is basically 3 years theoretical, 3 years practical. Tuition is inexpensive (about 800 euros per year for public schools). Upon graduation, you take an exam called the MIR which determines whether you will have a spot to do your residency (which lasts 4-5 years depending on specialty).

To my understanding, if you complete your residency in Europe, it is difficult to come back to the US to work (i.e. must repeat residency). And vice versa. So wherever you go to school, you should be happy with the idea of staying there for a long time. Bear in mind that a doctor in Spain earns significantly less than in the US.

It is hard to find a good ranking of Spanish medical schools. El Mundo used to do one called "50 Carreras" but I can't seem to find it; among the top ones are usually Madrid (I think Autonoma??), Barcelona, and Navarra. I hear that most schools are pretty similar to one another. Most use traditional methods but some are starting to incorporate PBL (among them Navarra).

BTW -- the admissions process pretty much only takes into account your Selectividad score. Navarra does an interview and counts your GPA, so that is another advantage.

Any questions about medicine in Spain or Navarra, send me a message and I'll try to help you.

Here are some links that might help you:
General info about medicine in Spain: http://www.fue.es/HTML/orientacion/cuadernos.asp
MIR info: http://sis.msc.es/fse/Default.aspx
UNAV: http://www.unav.es/
 
Hi, thank you for your great information. I am interested in residency of ophthalmology in spain but I don't still no spanish could you help me in sites in english for this purpose.& I want to ask you if you could help me to find ophthalmology diploma to help me in undertaking the residency .
 
Thank you blackle for all the info....I was wondering you said you did pre-med here, did you find that the Selectividad exam was easier because of the material you learned as an undergrad or not? Or would say its closer in comparison to an mcat? And although it doesn't really make too much of a difference, I think I read somewhere on the school's site that classes can be taught in spanish and english...Is that true? And does it apply to the med school program?
 
Greetings,

I am currently a Master's student of chemistry in the United States and I want to go to medical school in Spain prefereably in Barcelona. And so I have a few questions:

1) Is it necessary for me to speak Catalan to go to medical school in Barcelona or can I speak Spanish?

2) What are the chances for someone to go to medical school in Spain with a Master's degree in chemistry?

3) Where shall I learn more information about US expatriots who reside in Spain?

4) How can I learn more about job prospects for medical professionals in Spain?
 
Hi Blackle!!!

Wow loved ur post...I did my Biology degree in the US...and my Basic Medical Sciences in a Caribbean American Medical School. Do u know what or how I can apply to SPAIN medical school ... and if they would accept my credits?! I really dont want to go to the USA bc I dont seen the need for me to have to take the USMLE if my country (ARUBA) doesnt take it as valid...please let me know :)

Thank uuuu

PS any information u have I will welcome with arms wide open!!!:D
 
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Hola! Veo que sos de Espana .... yo estudie Biology en USA y tambien acab de hacer mi Basic Medical Sciences en una Universidad del Caribe que es Americana...Ud. sabe si en Espana me acceptaram los creditos? Y cuales son buenos universidades?!

HELPPP porfa!!!:eek:
 
I'm sooooooo confused with the whole convalidating of qualifications from one country in europe to another!!



I'm a 27 yr old psych grad from the UK but am currently doing a doctorate en psicologia clinica y de la salud en la autonoma in madrid. I got a 2:1 (Hons) in my degree and i've also done a post-grad certificate in mental health in the UK and now im desperate to get a place in med school here in spain. so, here are my questions...
  • does anybody know what the spanish equivalent of a 2:1 from the UK is, please please help! its coz ive heard that uni's here reserve 1-3% of the total places offered for med courses for those who already have a degree..
  • ive also seen for the complu in madrid, they asked for a minimum of 2.92 but i dont know what that is.. any ideas??? what would be the equivalent in a brit degree?
  • is it possible to take la prueba para mayores de 25 años if you already have the equivalent of la selectividad or a degree?
  • is it possible to take la selectividad if you already have a degree etc? i know that my grades in the equivalent of la selectividad in the UK wouldnt convert into 8.75 (the grade needed here in spain to get on a course) so i was thinking of studying to try and get this grade but only if they let me do the selectividad!!!
  • and last but not least, would they take into consideration the post grad i did in the UK and the doctorate im doing now??
any advice while im waiting to hear from UNED would put my mind at rest as im slowly going crazy :scared:. is there anyone who has had a similar experience and can help me out?? so many questions i know but if anyone can point me in the right direction it'd be much appreciated!!
ps. i hope my ramblings make sense, its been a long day :laugh:
 
tonypowerful said:
Hi guys,
I see that many questions are asked about MD in Spain,I'm a sixth year medical school student from the University Of Navarra, so don't hesitate to ask about any doubt u have...Sepaul u've got a detailed private message,happy new year
Click to expand...

Estoy investigando opciones de asistir escuela de medicina en España, Catalunya en particular. Me puede decir algo de tu universidad de Navarra? son grandes las clases? Cuál es el sentimiento de los estudiantes? Se ayudan muchísimo afuera de clase?

Es más, quiero regresar a Catalunya porque hace dos años estudié la psicología a la univ. de Barcelona a través de una programa intercambio. Dado que tengo mi bachillerato del EEUU, será posible que me acepten y que acepten unos de mis cursos de mi universidad aquí?

Bueno, ja esta!
 
Estoy investigando opciones de asistir escuela de medicina en España, Catalunya en particular. Me puede decir algo de tu universidad de Navarra? son grandes las clases? Cuál es el sentimiento de los estudiantes? Se ayudan muchísimo afuera de clase?

Es más, quiero regresar a Catalunya porque hace dos años estudié la psicología a la univ. de Barcelona a través de una programa intercambio. Dado que tengo mi bachillerato del EEUU, será posible que me acepten y que acepten unos de mis cursos de mi universidad aquí?

Bueno, ja esta!
 
Hello everyone!

I am going to do an one-month clerkship in Spain this August. I have to choose the city/university where I am going but I have no idea!

Segovia, Soria, Miranda de Ebro , Palencia Zaragoza, Alcala-Madrid,Santiago de Compostela ,Sevilla ,Bilbao, Cádiz Córdoba, Granada, Madrid Complutense, Madrid Autónoma ,Málaga, Murcia , Oviedo, Salamanca, Santander, Tenerife, Valencia, Segovia, Palencia and Medina del Campo are the available ones!!!!

I am interested in staying in a beautiful city but also working in a good, respected university and hospital where I can feel close to people working there(I don't know if this is possible in a huge hospital)

Also there are some people who advised me to choose a city close to the Mediterranean because it's going to be extremely hot in Madrid-where I was initially going to apply to!

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
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