MBBS in Assiut University Faculty of Medicine

The majority of discussions on medical education in Egypt mention universities in Cairo and Alexandria. There is no mentioning of universities of Upper Egypt. However, there is one unique university in Egypt called Assiut University.

Assiut University was founded in October 1957 and became the first university of Upper Egypt. The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1960 and became the oldest medical school in this region from Beni Suef to Aswan.

The first graduating group of the faculty consisted of 57 students. At those times, the medical education was conducted at the Faculty of Science since a separate building for the medical faculty had not been built yet.

Despite all those humble beginnings, Assiut University became one of the most prominent medical faculties of the country. It played an important role in the development of healthcare education and services in Upper Egypt.

At present, the Assiut University Hospitals became the largest educational and therapeutic hospital complex in Egypt. Their activity goes beyond the limits of the city and is aimed to treat the patients from the whole region.

The Faculty of Medicine became quite numerous and comprises 32 academic departments, 22 lecture halls, 37 classrooms and 39 laboratories to serve thousands of students.

In 1991, the South Egypt Cancer Institute was founded. This institution appeared because there was no special oncology center in Upper Egypt.

At first, the institute consisted of only two units: a bladder cancer unit and pediatric oncology unit. Later, this institution developed and became a large regional referral center. This example shows the faculty's long-standing tradition to deal with the problems of healthcare of the region.

For foreign students, including Indians, the program of the medical education lasts for six years. It consists of five years of the academic period and one obligatory year of the rotating internship.

During the first three years, students study pre-clinical sciences including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, pathology, microbiology and pharmacology. These courses give the scientific basis necessary for the future clinical education.

Then, students go through the program of clinical education, which covers four years. The rotations are performed mostly in the hospital of the Assiut University itself rather than at external placements.

The clinical training covers major specialities including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. This network of hospitals allows students to get almost all knowledge during training within one institution.

English becomes the language of instruction for foreign students. But outside the classes, Arabic prevails in everyday communication and in hospitals.

One of the main advantages of the university is the low price of education comparing with medical colleges. Compared to many private medical colleges, the overall price level of this university becomes quite affordable for foreigners.

The fee for the first year of study amounts for approximately USD 11,000 while the following years' fees are approximately USD 6,000 annually. Food and accommodation expenses amount for USD 1,800 per year.

There are no donations and capitations in Assiut University. It becomes useful when the family is preparing for long medical studies abroad.

The main drawback becomes the inconvenient location instead of the bad academic programs. The city of Assiut is situated about 375 kilometers south of Cairo and represents quite provincial town comparing with Egypt's capital.

Students who used to living in big cities need time to adapt to new conditions. Nevertheless, there are many people, who like slow life and low prices for food, transport and accommodations.

The Assiut City itself plays an important role in student life. Situated on the west bank of the Nile, it becomes the center of Upper Egypt and a gateway to many historic and cultural places.

It becomes closer to such places as Luxor and Eastern Sahara than to such Egyptian cities as Cairo or Alexandria. Therefore, the city has unique features distinguishing it from these cities.

The prices for food, transport and accommodation become lower than in Egypt's large cities. As a result, many students find comfortable the overall price level of their stay in Assiut.

The university hostels are separated by sex and provide the shared housing with attached bathrooms. The facilities include Internet access and round-the-clock security service.

The curriculum has rather simple 3+3 structure. First, the pre-clinical program finishes and then follows the clinical part.

As a result, it becomes possible to study such subjects as anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology and pharmacology in the coherent academic program. Having good knowledge of medical sciences, students start to rotate in the hospitals.

The clinical program includes training in major specialities as well as in such ones as gastroenterology, oncology and chest medicine. Most of this education becomes performed within the hospitals of the Assiut University.

Since clinical education becomes conducted at the university hospitals, the students have the advantage of continuity of the training. It becomes possible easily to make the transition from academic to clinical education.

Speaking about accreditation, the Assiut University possesses the same national accreditation as the most known Egyptian universities. The faculty is accredited by NAQAAE.

Besides that, the university is included to the World Directory of Medical Schools and thus can be used for getting licenses according to such paths as USMLE, PLAB, India NMC licensing program etc., depending on the regulations of the authority.

Though all these recognitions belong to all leading Egyptian universities, the Assiut University has special advantages due to the great hospital network, the wide clinical exposure and lower prices. Therefore, Assiut University becomes a good opportunity for students to receive good medical education in Egypt.