Q1. Is the medicine programme taught in English?
+A: No. The Grado en Medicina is taught in Spanish and Catalan, so applicants should hold or work toward DELE B2/C1-level Spanish before enrolling.
Most foreign consultants in medical education in Spain usually advertise medical programmes in cities like Valencia or Alicante and even private universities with English language programmes. It is difficult to recommend Universitat de Lleida for this reason since its programme is conducted solely in Spanish and Catalan languages. The course structure and admission requirements are the same as for any other public university in Catalonia. For a person interested in English medium medical programme, the choice has to be made elsewhere.
Modern Medical Faculty was established in 1991 after Lleida became an independent public university according to the Catalan law. However, the education in this field started much earlier, in 1977 when the University of Barcelona started giving medical education in Lleida. Such long educational history gave the faculty a chance to create strong connections with hospitals even before its independence. These relations still remain a very important factor of its medical programme.
In contrast with most medical schools with dedicated campus for the programme, the Faculty of Medicine of Lleida is tightly connected with the local health care infrastructure. Administrative offices and the first two years of the programme are held within the premises of Hospital Santa Maria. There are also anatomy laboratories, osteology units and Health Science Library available nearby. The hospital-based environment gives the possibility for students to get acquainted with clinical environment already during the first years of their study.
From the third year and further, the clinical practice is mostly carried out in the framework of Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova – the main regional hospital which is responsible for medical referrals in the region. The university has a special teaching unit in the hospital, where students have great opportunities for practical study. In contrast with observation of occasional clinical practice in some other universities, students spend quite a lot of time in this active environment.
The Medicine Degree Programme has the common for Spain six-year, 360 ECTS structure. It starts with two years of basic science courses followed by a transitional year devoted to pathophysiology. The fourth and fifth years concentrate on clinical rotations in the main specialities. The sixth year is taken up with the Rotatorio internship to prepare students for the further postgraduate residency training via MIR examination.
The programme is controlled by numerus clausus of Catalonia – the limit for the number of publicly-funded places in the university. The students are rated according to their academic achievements, and not by the order of application. In contrast with most private universities, there is no system of rolling admission and quotas for international students. Because of this, the competition for places remains high.
For many foreign students, the main advantage of the programme is its cost. Tuition fee at public universities in Catalonia is set by regional authorities and not the university itself. The annual tuition for non-EU students is normally between €4,500 and €6,000. It is much less than that of many private universities in Spain.
However, this low price is connected with an important requirement. Students have to possess good knowledge of Spanish language before the enrolment since lectures, exams and communication with patients are all conducted in Spanish and Catalan languages. DELE B2 certificate is considered to be the minimum requirement; however, better knowledge of Spanish is preferable. The knowledge of Spanish cannot be acquired after enrolment in the programme.
Research activity is also one of the priorities of the faculty. Academic research is tightly connected with Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida) located in the vicinity of the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova. The research groups do research in the fields of oncology, neuroscience and mental diseases. All students have to complete final year research project (Treball de Fi de Grau) and sometimes it is published in scientific journals.
Lleida itself presents a quiet alternative to Spanish large cities. Located on the Segre river in the interior part of Catalonia, it is situated approximately 90 minutes by train from Barcelona. Combining historic charm with lower cost of living compared with Barcelona or Madrid, Lleida provides its students with quieter environment without isolating them from the region.
The prices of accommodation are also rather low. Apartments for sharing near Hospital Santa Maria or the Rovira Roure campus can cost from €250 to €450 per month. Over the whole six-year period of the programme, this difference in cost of accommodation can present serious financial savings in comparison with the study in larger metropolis. Even daily cost of living is lower than in Barcelona.
On the whole, Universitat de Lleida presents a rather traditional medical programme in Spanish public university with comparatively low costs. The advantages include tight connection with regional hospitals, intensive clinical practice, active biomedical research and low cost of living. On the other hand, it is not an English medium programme or an easy way to enter European medical education system.
