Applying Foreign MD?? (Not Caribbean)

[Ging7452]

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I'm applying this cycle and realistically I will most likely have a shot at DO schools, not sure about MD since I am waiting for my MCAT score. I was thinking about applying to a few foreign schools. There are some in Israel, Australia, Spain and Italy that I was looking at. I was wondering if anyone had any input or experiences with any foreign MD school that wasn't the Caribbean. I was advised that these programs are often reputable and competitive in terms of residences post graduation since they are MD degrees over DO degrees and not nearly as bad as Caribbean options. To be honest I know very little about European or Oceana MD programs, so I was hoping some of you guys would have some experiences in terms of MD foreign (not Caribbean though vs DO in America) in terms of residencies matches and preferences as well as which are the best foreign options un terms of coming back to America after graduation?

Thank you!

 

[hipsnontrad]

I don’t know much on this, but I do know physician that is from France that went to school and residency in France and then came to the states so he had to do another US residency.
I imagine it is much harder to get a US residency from a foreign medical school.

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

https://www.ecfmg.org/resources/NRM...atch-International-Medical-Graduates-2014.pdf
See page 28. Most international schools have a sub-50% chance of matching seniors to United States. DO>International>Caribbean. Sackler is an exception that I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[candbgirl]

If you plan to practice in the US go to school
in the US. A US degree (MD or DO) is always better than a foreign degree.

 

[benjamin94559]

I'd probably take a well reputed med school in australia over any DO program but then I'd be perfectly willing to settle down in all of the places you'd listed if I failed to get a US residency.
Im pretty sure there are country specific data for match rates based on country of origin that you could look at to give you a clearer picture.

 

[cwmed]

I'd probably take a well reputed med school in australia over any DO program but then I'd be perfectly willing to settle down in all of the places you'd listed if I failed to get a US residency.
Im pretty sure there are country specific data for match rates based on country of origin that you could look at to give you a clearer picture.

Then do anywhere in the EU so that you can practice anywhere in the EU if you don't get a US residency. There are plenty of English language programs across non-English speaking European countries

 

[Jasmine2022]

I applied and got accepted to the MedEdPath in Australia where you do pre-clinical years in Brisbane, and most of your rotations at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. While there were things that I thought were very cool about the program, I ultimately decided that my US DO acceptance was a better fit for me (although now I've also gained an acceptance to a US MD program where I will be matriculating).

The best advice I can give you is to ask LOTS of questions and make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Beyond the difficulties which come with matching into a US residency as an IMG, there are many other things one should consider before making the leap to attending medical school in a foreign country. In my particular case, the extra cost (to the tune of 200K more than what I would pay here), huge overall class size, and curriculum differences did not offer the best opportunity for my situation. I'm happy to share more thoughts via PM if you'd like.

Good luck.

 

[deleted804295]

You're better off going to a D.O. school. You might consider these schools better than D.O. schools but foreign nations equivalent to a medical degree would be on the same level as a bachelor's or masters degree.

Additionally because many foreign nations medical degrees are on the same level as a bachelor's or masters you would have to go on their full path of medicine rather than an accelerated track. This would mean you would have to be taking 5-6 years after your bachelor's for coursework rather than the United States' 4 years of coursework for medical school.

It's worth considering if you're a highschool student but if you're already working on an undergraduate degree it isn't worth the time to have a lesser degree + extra time + increased difficulty of matching into a residency.

 

[cwmed]

Many of these English medical programs do not, repeat, do not have a legal pathway practice in those countries. Some them expressly forbid it. These programs are no less an investment tool than the Caribbean programs. Additionally some of these programs are not recognized by the California Medical Board and graduates cant train or practice in the state. This becomes important as medical boards several other states formally cite the California list in their policies for licensing. So be very careful and make sure you know what you can and cannot do with a degree. If you assume you can residency or practice here or in the EU, you may be assuming debt for nothing

I'm European and my parents went to MD school in Hungary (English program) and Austria, did their residencies in those respective countries, and both moved to London and practiced there as a derm & OBGYN following their studies without an issue.
They tried to push this decision on me since even now, lots of eastern European med grads move to their country of choice in the EU after med school. Not to mention the tuition is significantly cheaper. I wouldn't suggest somewhere like Croatia or Romania but there are reputable places all over Europe. OP you can PM me for schools.

Yes it's too much of a gamble w/ practicing in the US, which is why someone who wants to return here shouldn't go abroad, but EU qualification isn't a Caribbean level life-ruining decision and doesn't make you stuck in your country.

 

[Daffodils24]

I'm European and my parents went to MD school in Hungary (English program) and Austria, did their residencies in those respective countries, and both moved to London and practiced there as a derm & OBGYN following their studies without an issue.
They tried to push this decision on me since even now, lots of eastern European med grads move to their country of choice in the EU after med school. Not to mention the tuition is significantly cheaper. I wouldn't suggest somewhere like Croatia or Romania but there are reputable places all over Europe. OP you can PM me for schools.

Yes it's too much of a gamble w/ practicing in the US, which is why someone who wants to return here shouldn't go abroad, but EU qualification isn't a Caribbean level life-ruining decision and doesn't make you stuck in your country.

Hello cwmed, I have MBBS degree from India. I would like to do my residency in Europe. Could you please let me know some good universities I can apply for residency. I’m looking for a university whose degree will be later accepted in European countries like Germany, Italy or Switzerland.

 

[cwmed]

Hello cwmed, I have MBBS degree from India. I would like to do my residency in Europe. Could you please let me know some good universities I can apply for residency. I’m looking for a university whose degree will be later accepted in European countries like Germany, Italy or Switzerland.

Haven't logged into this account in forever -- sorry if too late for a response but: Anything in England/France/Scotland/Germany etc University of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Leiden University, Erasmus, and some others tend to be safe bets, it just gets a bit dicey with eastern Europe. I'm not familiar with all of them but Semmelweis & Pecs in Hungary (no other ones in Hungary) are great, and Austria should have even better ones but avoid Ukraine, Maldova, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia and anything below them on a map (i.e. no Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, etc either) bc that's where it gets sketchy and I've heard - idk about residency - but stories of people getting MD's there and not being able to practice in Western Europe.

And of course, check with each program to see if their residency will be sufficient for practice in EU countries