MBBS in Medical University of Plovdiv

There is an old town in Plovdiv that is one of the oldest in Europe. The school opened in 1945 as the medical college of Sofia University in Plovdiv. Soon after, it became its own higher medical institute. From then until 2002, it was called the I.P. Pavlov Higher Medical Institute, but that name was changed to what it is now. The National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency has given it its stamp of approval. It is a state university run by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science.

You learn medicine and get a Master's degree in Medicine over the course of six years. At the university, the course is taught in both English and Bulgarian. People from other countries have been able to join the English-medium stream since the early 1990s. The clinical rounds and all six years of school are taught in English. In the first year, you have to take Bulgarian so that you can talk to patients about their health in the third year and later. At the college, that rule is required, and students who don't follow it have a tough time with their ward work.

The course is based on the state curriculum for medicine in Bulgaria, so it is set up the same way as other schools in Bulgaria and taught the same way as departments in Plovdiv. Biochemistry, physics, physiology, biochemistry, and anatomy are some of the subjects that students learn in their first two years. Anatomy is taught during both quarters of the first year, and students have to cut up dead bodies as part of their lessons. Still, the subject that makes students work hard stand out from those who don't. You learn about pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, and practical topics that teach you how to do a clinical examination in the third and fourth years. During this time, you also stay in a hospital room for the first time. You will switch between the subspecialties in the fifth year. After six years, the last year is an internship that lasts all year. The state tests that give the degree are the last part.

The biggest and best-known hospital in southern Bulgaria is St. George University Hospital. It is also one of the biggest hospitals in the whole country. It's also where practical training takes place. There are cardiology, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, oncology, hematology, nephrology, transplantation, and urgent care units at the hospital. It helps a lot of people in the area. These classes are also held at the specialized obstetrics and gynecology hospital, the cancer center, the mental clinic, the Kaspela hospital, and the Pulmed hospital. After the third year, you work real hours in these buildings. There are so many patients that you don't have to wait in line with other students for a single case.

An awful lot of money is spent in Plovdiv on computer games and technology. A Medical Simulation Training Center was built by the university. It has realistic manikins, trainers for surgery and laparoscopic treatments, birthing models, and normal patient rooms. The school also is in charge of a telemedicine center and a virtual anatomy platform. You practice steps while being graded by a recording before you talk to a real patient. Through objective, structured clinical exams, the departments grade you on how well you do, not just what you remember.

The main types of research done at Plovdiv are oncology, cardiovascular disease, medical genetics, molecular medicine, and translational research. The school has a Research Institute and an office for sharing technology. It also runs projects that are paid for by the EU and the Bulgarian government. Students can join the student scientific society, work with staff in the labs, and give talks at the scientific session that happens once a year. If you want to get good medical training abroad, that experience will help you.

When you make your choice, you should think about Plovdiv. The city is on the Maritsa River, below the Rhodope Mountains, and is home to about 340,000 people. It was chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Because of its small size, Sofia can hide some of its unique qualities. However, the old town, the Roman theater, and the Kapana creative area bring them to life. It's less expensive than the capital, you can walk to the city center, and there are lots of law, medicine, and professional school students to meet new people. Sofia Airport is about two hours away by car, while Plovdiv Airport only gets some tourists during certain times of the year.

The group from around the world is big. Kids go to school in Greece, Germany, the UK, Turkey, India, Israel, Cyprus, and the Gulf states. The department of foreign affairs is in charge of admissions paperwork, letters of support for visas, residence permits, and insurance. Also, you'll be oriented for the first few weeks. This is more important than it sounds when you move to a new country where roads are written in Cyrillic.

People from other countries who want to apply must show proof that they have finished school, such as biology and chemistry grades, and pass an entrance exam in those areas. The syllabus for the exam is put out by the university. It is mostly made up of high school material instead of university material. Because the university makes new rules every year, people who apply and get good grades on their certificates might not have to pay for the training. They also need to get a certain number on the NEET if they are Indian. The National Medical Commission won't let you register after the fact if you don't have it.

It is just as well known as it is in Europe. From 1953 to 2002, the school was known as the I.P. Pavlov Higher Medical Institute. It has the school ID F0000373 in the World Directory of Medical Schools. That list helps with both the ECFMG certification and the USMLE way. The degree is in line with EU Directive 2005/36/EC. This means that as soon as you pass the state exams and register with the Bulgarian Medical Association, all EU and EEA member states will accept it as a professional degree. For graduates going back to India, the licensing test is given by the NMC. For graduates going to the UK, the test is given by the GMC.

Prepare your money well. The English school costs around EUR 8,000 a year, and there are more cheap things to do in Plovdiv than in Sofia or Varna. Private rooms cost a lot more than dorm rooms, but there aren't many dorm rooms because most older students share flats. If you cook at home and take the bus, you'll spend about 350 to 450 euros a month on things other than school.

Before you sign up, find out how the tests are given. Plovdiv does what most Bulgarian schools do and tests students verbally. You are asked a question, given a short amount of time to prepare, and then asked to explain your answer in front of your boss, who will push you. There is an oral part, as well as written and practical tests. The pass mark is not very high. A lot of students fail anatomy, biochemistry, and pathophysiology because they don't study until the end of the semester.

If you want to get a European medical degree taught in English over six years, the Medical University of Plovdiv is a good choice.