Residency/specialization in Switzerland for EU members

[katie7]

Hello!

My name is Katrin and I am currently a 5th year medical student in Estonia (EU).

I am interested in specializing in French speaking Switzerland. Now, I have rather concrete questions :
1. Has anyone in similar situation done it already? And if so, how was it?
2. Should I contact the hospitals or universities? ( Who is responsible for residency)
3. How likely it is to get a spot? I am interested in haematology (or urology/andrology).
4. What are the requirements of being accepted? Any exam? Or rather : according to what do they pick from candidates?

I guess it's all for now. Thanks so much in advance!

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[slight365]

Hi Katrin,

The only thing I can offer is that you have to be careful if getting a Swiss residency- there is an issue where they are not necessarily transferrable to some other countries. Interestingly, Germany does not accept the Swiss residency (fachausbildung) directly and it's problematic to transfer it. CH accepts Germany's, however. Please do some research on this to make 100% sure for pretty much every other country around because you never know where you'll end up.

CH is open for EU citizens. They still reserve the right to separate via country, so you have to double check not only the EU citizens, but if they have separate notes about your country.

You have to prove your ability in French and on a high level. nearly 70% speak Swiss-German also, so I don't know if a secondary language as German is required as well. I doubt it, but I'm not surprised.

If you're using English, I would contact Zurich and get leads from there. You'll only waste phone calls, but CH is a very complex country to deal with. If you call Zurich, they will speak English there as well and then will be able to direct you. Bern is also international, so they will likely be able to relay you.

As far as chances go, it's dependent on how good you are and your language ability. People from ALL surrounding countries are competing to go there because of how good their pay and conditions are, as well as the fact that the Swiss government is very selective and they like to ensure their people a high standard of living in all areas.

One question- you're Estonian- is there any possibility for Finland first?

 

[katie7]

Hey, thanks you so much for the ifo. Unfortunately, as always, noone is interested. I contacted the univerity of Lausanne and Geneve, but they both just indicate their website saying that to enter a med school of theirs, I would need to read that. APparently they don't even bother reading my mail, where I write clearly that I am interested in residency, not to enter the medical school.
Do you know who exactly is responsible of educating specialist-docs? Is it the university itself, or the hospital?

As for Finland, heh, it is super easy to go there. We even have those intermediate companies who py us all (flat, language classes, even a car) just to go there. But the problem with that is, that they only want the GP's, and in rural areas. Well, I have known from the start that I don't want to be a GP. Then again, I will probably end up there as it doesn't seem to progress at all with Switzerland.
Thanks again!

 

[slight365]

It's the university, but of course, in conjunction with hospital staff. You also have to understand the swiss culture- it's highly competitive and they can afford to not care and take only the most qualified and determined ones.

That was also the reason I suggested Finland-due to the modern renewed relations between Est and Fin and the language. I would still not rule it out, as they may have an opportunity that doesn't fall into the rural GP. Always push, as I've learned is the difference between US and European culture. Americans push for things. Europeans kind of take what's available. You need to apply that to CH. It's a world away for you, and they are a country that can afford to not care. You have to force your way in and find the route.

 

[katrina123]

Hi,
Do you by any chance have info about GP residency possibilities in Finland?Thanks.

 

[just4me]

hy katie,i m also medical student form india.i completed my M.D.(GENERAL MEDICINE) in russia.i m doing internship in india.i want to know abt GP practice in findland.which u mention in ur thread.is it give any exam for this?which intermediate companies sponcer this?how much salary they offere?

 

[Hellboy371]

hello guys...Im actually finishing my MD in 3 more months in Romania. Im a non-european citizen and would like to pursue my medical residency ( in ortho ) in Switzerland. I know French and i can manage with German language. Can u tell me more about the procedures of applying a job or any useful links???

 

[Sinapsi]

hey katie i don't know if you still see it,by the way if you are eu citizen and take your degree from an eu country is easier to find a spot in switzerland;the sistem in switz. is a little bit different from other eu countries, you have to ask directly in hospitals not in university for residency,if you are lucky they make you a 3 year contract,if not every year you have to search another hospital than train you for that year;i know than surgical residencies usually takes all 6 year of training and the title is recognized in every eu country,so i don't know why someone said than germany don't recognize it.
You are paid and very good.
For who isn't eu citizen is almost impossible to take a residency spot in switzerland.

hope to be usefull

 

[biancaandreea]

hey katie i don't know if you still see it,by the way if you are eu citizen and take your degree from an eu country is easier to find a spot in switzerland;the sistem in switz. is a little bit different from other eu countries, you have to ask directly in hospitals not in university for residency,if you are lucky they make you a 3 year contract,if not every year you have to search another hospital than train you for that year;i know than surgical residencies usually takes all 6 year of training and the title is recognized in every eu country,so i don't know why someone said than germany don't recognize it.
You are paid and very good.
For who isn't eu citizen is almost impossible to take a residency spot in switzerland.

hope to be usefull

Hello! I'm new here, I've read all your information about how to get in Switzerland as a rezident and I have one question: It's really so hard, almost impossible to apply and be accepted for a pediatrician post in french part of Switzerland?
Is anyone on the forum working as a resident there? I will appreciate any advice!
Thanks in advance!
P.S. I'm 6th year medical school and EU citizen.

 

[MemberGO]

Dear all,

I already have the medical degree and I am currently working as a medical resident, finishing the general practice year in Portugal (PT), so I have 8 months and a half of working experience in several medical areas (they call it here the commom year), by the end of the year we chose the medical speciality, but most of us are needed for GP or Internal medicine, which is not my will.

I am interested in specializing in Ginecology/Obstetrics in French speaking Switzerland. I dont speak German or Italian, I am fluent in English and the French is somewhere in the middle, already took a French course for medical professionals and I acchived B1 (I know they require B2, so im working to get it) already did some research about how to apply and I gathered some, but I still have some questions :
1. Has anyone in similar situation applied to a medical residency in Ginecology/Obstetrics? if so, how was it?
2. Should I send the cv, motivation and recommendation letters by e-mai to the secretary of the department? what would be the best way?
3. How likely am I to get a spot?

If someone could clarify me on the topics above I'd be extremely grateful.
Thanks in advance.

 

[sirma]

hello colleagues!
I´m graduating in 3 months and i´m from Bulgaria. I want to do my specialization in the french speaking part of Switzerland. I´m working on passing my exam for B2 level in french soon. I wanted to know what are the requirements to be accepted for specialization in CH,and as well what could be the non-official priorities for obtaining a position. My field of preferance is ophthalmology,but any information in other domains of residency can be of use. i´m sorry if i´m repeating some of the questions from other posts,but i´'ll very much appreciate your help.