Q1. Is Medicine at Girona taught in English?
+A: No. Teaching is in Catalan and Castilian; there is no English-medium track for the degree.
Historically speaking, the Universitat de Girona was founded way back in 1446, when King Alfonso V of Aragon granted the right of teaching several subjects, including medicine, to the Estudi General of Girona. Unfortunately, this medieval institution no longer exists. On the other hand, today's Universitat de Girona was re-established as part of a network of public universities by the Catalan Parliament in 1991. As for the Faculty of Medicine, which is considerably younger than the university as a whole, it was founded in 2008, with the first graduates coming out in 2014. Thus, this programme does not rely on centuries-long history of teaching medicine.
One of the distinctive features of Girona is its educational model. It is the only medical faculty in Spain that uses Problem-Based Learning (known as Aprenentatge Basat en Problemes in Catalonia) as its main teaching methodology. Instead of attending numerous lectures, the students engage in small tutorial groups consisting of about ten people and based on real clinical cases and scenarios.
The educational model was developed by Dr. Ramon Brugada, the founder of the faculty. Over the years, PBL remained an essential part of the programme, rather than an auxiliary teaching method. Students are taught basic skills of clinical reasoning, teamwork and independent study right from the start. Therefore, Girona differs significantly from the majority of Spanish medical schools.
The success of this programme can be seen in high demand for it and in academic results of the students. Admission cut-offs have been growing constantly, and nowadays the programme is considered one of the most competitive in Spain. Representatives of the university have even noticed that a lot of students could have applied to older medical schools but still chose Girona. Moreover, the faculty boasts of high level of student satisfaction and good performance in Spain's MIR residency exams.
In addition, the faculty receives a lot of international recognition. In June 2022, the programme obtained accreditation from AQU Catalunya according to the WFME global standards for Basic Medical Education. This accreditation will be valid till June 2030. This means that it meets international standards of medical education.
WFME accreditation is particularly important for graduates who would like to pursue their medical career in the United States. It satisfies educational requirement of ECFMG Pathway 1 for non-US medical school graduates. Although this fact is of little importance for those who want to practise in Spain and Europe, it still gives additional recognition to the programme.
Like in any other public university of Catalonia, the language of instruction is a very important issue. Instruction is conducted in two languages – Catalan and Castilian Spanish, but there is no English language programme in medicine. So, international students should have good knowledge of Spanish and be ready to use it regularly, especially during clinical training.
For non-EU applicants, the admission procedure is the same as in other public Spanish universities. First of all, secondary-school qualifications have to be recognised through the Spanish homologation procedure. Then, applicants have to get admission credentials through UNED and apply through preinscripció of Catalonia. Competition for places is high all the time.
Tuition fees are set by the Catalan regional government and not by the university itself. As of the academic year 2025-26, all public universities of Catalonia charge the same tuition fee for all programmes. As a rule, non-EU international students pay approximately €2,550 per year for a standard course load of 60 credits, plus some administration fees. When compared to many private European medical schools, this is relatively cheap tuition.
Clinical training takes place at the Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta. This major teaching hospital became partner of the university in 2008 with the foundation of the faculty. The students have the opportunity to gain practical clinical experience in various medical fields during the programme.
Girona is an ancient city with population of about 100 thousand people, located approximately ninety minutes away from Barcelona. Unlike the capital of Catalonia, it offers a bit more quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Excellent transport links allow easy travel to Barcelona. Good preservation of the historical center and moderate size make Girona a nice place to study. Also, the living costs are somewhat lower than those in Barcelona.
From the time of the establishment, the Faculty of Medicine operated in more than one place before moving into the present buildings. Now, it shares its premises with the faculty of nursing, which proves its relatively young age. Despite its youth, this faculty already established itself as an integral part of Spain's public university system. Investments continue to support its development and growing reputation.
In general, the Universitat de Girona is a very interesting choice for those who value small group learning, early clinical reasoning and problem-based education. It is a distinctive Spanish medical programme due to its international recognition, low public tuition and unique educational model. However, applicants have to prepare themselves for a bilingual environment and strong competition for the places. It is suitable mostly for those who prefer a modern public education, and not an English language one.
