Q1. Is Medicine at USC taught in English?
+A: No. Instruction is in Galician and Castilian, with at least one compulsory subject taught exclusively in Galician.
Since 1648, medicine has been studied at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) that was founded as the Colexio de Fonseca. The current USC building of the Faculty of Medicine dates back to 1928 and stands next to the historical Hospital Real. Having originated in 1495, USC can be called one of the oldest functioning universities in the world and the most historic medical school of Spain.
While many universities target foreign applicants, the USC caters mainly for the healthcare needs of the Galicia region. It is the only medical institution of the region. The USC did not evolve into an international campus, but became the leading provider of public medical education in Galicia and gained its reputation according to the region's requirements.
Unlike many other Spanish universities, the USC has a bilingual academic setting. Both Galician and Castilian are considered official languages in Galicia. At least one compulsory subject in the Medicine programme is taught in Galician and other courses may be taught either in Galician or Castilian. There is no study program in English at the faculty.
The regional university admission examination (ABAU) is usually conducted in Galician. Nevertheless, the version of the papers in Castilian may be requested by the candidates. As for international students who know Spanish, but do not speak any Galician, it means an additional burden for them. Before applying to the USC, they should prepare themselves for dealing with both languages during studies.
There are no special procedures for international admission at USC. Non-EU citizens should go through the same admission process as all other international applicants of Spain. First of all, the secondary-school certificates have to be homologated in Spain. After this, the candidates will receive the admission credentials through the UNED and have a chance to compete for the place in the Spanish public universities. The academic achievement will play a decisive role in admission.
In Galicia, the admission process will be managed by the Commission for Universities of Galicia (CIUG). This organisation manages applications to the University of Santiago de Compostela and to the University of Vigo as well as to the University of A Coruña. Nevertheless, Medicine is studied in the University of Santiago de Compostela only, so the competition will be fierce without regard of the applicants' background.
One more important advantage of the USC is the relatively low tuition cost. Galicia spends a lot of money for the support of higher education institutions, enabling local and EU students to pay for only a small part of the tuition. Currently, almost all of the first-year tuition fees in Galicia are paid by the regional government and subsidised by the state at 99%. Public university education thus has become the most affordable in Spain because of this policy.
Unfortunately, the subsidy does not apply to the non-EU international applicants. Their annual tuition fees are set by the university each year in the rectoral resolution. In recent years, annual tuition fees of Medicine have usually been between €4,000 and €6,001. The exact amount has to be checked directly at the university.
Students receive clinical training through the Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), the biggest public hospital network of Galicia. This network includes four hospitals, and Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago works as the main clinical teaching centre. A direct covered corridor connects the hospital and the Faculty of Medicine. Thus, the students will study in the hospital during their entire education.
The medical degree at the USC is regulated by the Spanish system of medical education established by Ordinance ECI/332/2008. Thus, the graduates will have the opportunity to pass the MIR examination for postgraduate residency and practice medicine throughout the whole European Union and European Economic Area, following the national licensing requirements. Therefore, this qualification is widely recognised in Europe. It has similar prestige to the degrees of other public Spanish medical schools.
According to current publications, the USC has not received the WFME International Quality Label obtained by some of Spanish faculties. This fact concerns only those graduates who plan some postgraduate specialisations in the USA via ECFMG. For those who want to practice medicine in Spain, or somewhere else in Europe, or in India, it is of minor importance. Nevertheless, it is necessary to consider the individual requirements of licensing.
Santiago de Compostela is a historic town of around 96 thousand people and an international destination point of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Though much smaller than Madrid or Barcelona, the city has a vivid atmosphere due to students and numerous tourists from all over the world. Besides, living costs are usually lower than in the largest metropolitan cities of Spain. Moreover, the compactness of the city makes life easy for students.
In conclusion, the University of Santiago de Compostela can be considered the right choice for students who know Spanish well enough and are ready to learn Galician in the course of studies.
