Dean of the Medical Faculty for International Students

Davidov Vladimir Vitoldovich

Term of study at the Medical Faculty for International Students – 6 years.

The first release of international specialists from the Minsk State Medical Institute took place in 1970. It was an important event for our educational establishment, when the first 6 international specialists graduated from the institute. Later on the number of international students gradually increased. In 1974 the Dean’s Office for International Students started its work, and in 1975 the Chair of the Russian language was organized. In 2007 the following fundamental chairs were assigned to the faculty: Biological Physics, Latin, Foreign language, Belarusian and Russian, General Chemistry, Biology, Biological Chemistry; it allowed to improve the quality of theoretical training of foreign citizens. Gradually there has been formed the teaching-methodic base for training doctors of various specialties for foreign countries. Organization of the process of studying Russian by international students was the basis for achieving a high level of knowledge and quality of their preparation. Overseas and Belarusian students studied together in the same groups, which made it easier for them to adjust to the new life. The training of international students became one of the priorities at other departments, and new syllabus and guides were worked out, professors and assistant professors were in charge of teaching. During this period about 2000 foreign specialists from almost 100 countries of the world have been trained. 

International students must pay for their education at the Medical University; depending on specialty it ranges from 2700 to 300 US dollars per year. The international student pays not only to the University, but also to our state. He pays for insurance, accommodation, medical service – in total one year of staying here costs about 6 thousand dollars.

The teaching process at the Faculty is as follows. At first, foreign citizens study Russian, Physics, Biology and Chemistry for 1 year at the Preparatory Department. In case of successful passing of examinations the student gets a certificate from the Preparatory Department and is eligible to become a first-year student of the Medical University. If the foreign citizen has a good command of Russian, he can enter the 1st year upon a successful entrance interview in Russian, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Further teaching at the Faculty is conducted in Russian in two specialties: General Medicine (term of study – 6 years) and Dentistry (term of study – 5 years) on the contract basis. At present about 1000 students from 54 countries of the world study at the Faculty. The international graduate gets a similar diploma as a Belarusian graduate, the only formal difference being an English record and the title of M.D. – Doctor of Medicine awarded to the graduate. The diploma has an Appendix containing the record of grades and hours of studies in the subjects taken during the course of training. These records are checked with the curriculum of the local educational establishments by the so -called medical councils abroad before taking a qualification examination to confirm the received diploma. The graduate is eligible to continue education at clinical residency for getting a more narrow medical specialization: a surgeon, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, etc. 

The Geography of countries, from where foreign citizens came, is vast: Australia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Viet-Nam, Ghana, Germany, Georgia, Yemen, India, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Spain, Israel, Cameroons, China, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Tajikistani, Turkey, France, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Estonia, Sweden, Shri-lanka, USA.

No matter how far the graduates of the Belarusian State Medical University could be they keep in touch with their alma mater. It is they who inform a new generation of potential students about Belarus. When foreign citizens intend to study abroad they give their preference to Belorussian higher educational establishments, where their parents, brothers and sisters or just acquaintances once studied.

The availability of the scientific school, experienced teaching staff and old traditions in training foreign citizens allows our country to compete with Russia and Ukraine in the educational market. BSMU provides education to young people from a number of developing countries thus contributing to the development of the financial and technical base of the University and the Republic of Belarus in general. The work of the Medical Faculty for International students is important both from the international and political aspect. The development of contacts, attracting new countries, the citizens of which would like to study here help improve international relations. The student, who graduated from our University, will pass information about the Republic of Belarus, being in a way an advertising agent. Consequently not only the cost of study but mainly the quality of medical education become of prior importance. The country the young specialist comes from will evaluate his level of training. If a young doctor is not able to confirm his diploma, it will have a very negative impact on the number of future students from this country.

The main goal of the activities of the Medical faculty, the International Department and the Rector’s board is to acquire for our diploma an international status. 

 

To make our diploma a 100% guarantee for the employer abroad the teaching staff of the University should work real hard. That is why the Medical Faculty together with the departments of the University is in constant search of improved curricula with an emphasis on specific pathologies in different countries; they work out methodical guides adopted for international students. The key to success in the educational process also depends on the basic level of future students. So the tests for entrance exams, which help make a quality selection of candidates to the 1st year, are revised and improved every year. Overseas students are encouraged to get training at the Preparatory Department of the Faculty. The experience has proved that after a good training at the Preparatory Department the students make a much better progress in the study at the University. 

The Medical Faculty, the Department of International Relations and the Department of Post-Graduate Training have been actively working at recruiting foreigners to get quality training at the clinical residency and the Department of Post-Graduate Training. The Faculty pays much attention to educational work. Overseas students live in comfortable dormitories. Have a possibility to communicate with each other in their national groups, celebrate their national and religious holidays. Meetings of the University authorities and leaders of the national groups, where they discuss current problems, exchange opinions on various aspects of life of overseas students in the Republic of Belarus, are held on a regular basis. Over 500 rooms are allotted for them in two comfortable dormitories. There is also the students’ sports club, information center, students’ theatre and scientific society.