Q1. Is the medicine programme taught in English?
+A: No. The Grado en Medicina is taught in Spanish, with some coursework in Valencian, so applicants should hold or work toward DELE B2/C1-level Spanish.
Although medical schools in universities like Salamanca and Complutense de Madrid are usually mentioned when considering Spain's oldest medical schools, it is worth mentioning the Universitat de València, having an equally long history. The Universitat was founded in 1499 as Estudi General, being one of the four initial faculties â theology, law, the arts, and medicine. In the 16th century, there were already eight chairs of medicine at the university, which proves high levels of medical specialisation at that time. For more than five centuries, the Faculty of Medicine maintained uninterrupted educational traditions.
The Faculty of Medicine has played a great part in development of medical education in Spain as the university contributed to spreading of anatomical knowledge of Renaissance era and introduction of Paracelsian medical ideas to Spanish academic medicine. Being unlike newer medical schools associated with historic universities, the Faculty of Medicine of Valencia has been developing continuously since its establishment. Thus, its reputation is based on many centuries of work.
It is worth mentioning that the current Faculty of Medicine building is much younger than the institution itself. The project of creating an independent building for the Faculty was developed already in 1906 within the framework of the university's expansion along the Avenida Blasco IbĂĄĂąez street. After decades of construction, it was finished in the 1930s. Nowadays, it is one of the most distinctive buildings of the campus.
Later, the faculty was expanded with Dentistry and became the present Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. The process of Dentistry formation was gradual, including some isolated teaching in the late 1920s before it became a completely independent academic discipline. Now, it provides comprehensive education in both fields of health sciences. Thus, it remains one of Spain's top medical education centers.
The six-year Grado en Medicina follows the standard Spanish medical curriculum but has a great emphasis on early practical training. About 40% of lectures during the first year of education consist of practical sessions, which is more than at many other Spanish medical schools. Thus, students develop their clinical skills from the very beginning of their studying. It will help them to bridge the gap between theoretical lectures and patients.
Clinical education of students takes place in four major university hospitals together with the Valencian public healthcare system. They include Hospital ClĂnico Universitario, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario, and Hospital Universitario y PolitĂŠcnico La Fe. During the clinical years, students rotate among these hospitals getting experience in different specialisations. Thus, they get more diversity of teaching hospitals.
The sixth year of study is devoted to clinical practice through the programme called PrĂĄcticas Tuteladas. Students have eight four-week rotations in one assigned teaching hospital. Mandatory rotations include paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine, psychiatry and other core specialisations. This allows students to have extensive practice before their graduation.
Like at any other public medical university in Spain, the programme is conducted mainly in Spanish, and some courses in Valencian language. There is no English-language pathway for Medicine. International students study in the same groups and following the same curriculum as domestic students. That means that good Spanish-language proficiency is a necessary requirement before enrolment.
Students from abroad enter the programme through the regular public university admission procedure and not through the special international admission procedure. First of all, their academic qualifications should be recognised according to the Spanish educational system, and then compete for the admission. The programme remains very competitive as it is open only to students who prove their academic success. Admission requirements at this university are similar to those at other prestigious Spanish public universities.
The Universitat de València has a great reputation worldwide. It occupies the positions among the best universities of Spain and was ranked around 449th in the QS World University Rankings 2027. It is due to the centuries-old reputation of the institution and continuous research activities. It is comparable with many smaller institutions which actively attract foreign students.
There are regulated each year by the Valencian regional government. Non-EU international students pay more for tuition than domestic and EU students due to regional tuition fees policies which appeared recently. Generally, tuition fees for Medicine vary around âŹ5,000-7,000 a year. Still, it remains much cheaper than many private medical universities of Spain.
Research activities are an important component of the faculty's academic environment. There is close interaction between medical research and INCLIVA, the health research institute of the university related to Hospital ClĂnico Universitario. Students are able to use university clinics where healthcare trainees conduct supervised clinical practice. Various academic activities like the annual "El Cas de l'Any" clinical case competition enrich educational environment of the faculty.
Valencia is a nice place for student life. This is the third largest city of Spain offering its Mediterranean beaches, rich historical heritage and modern urban infrastructure. It is cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona, being a relatively inexpensive large city. Thus, most students find comfortable conditions for transportations with public transport or bicycle.
The rent near Blasco IbĂĄĂąez campus ranges between âŹ300 and âŹ500 per month, depending on housing type. Taking into account relatively cheap life costs, Valencia becomes a cost-effective place for studying six-year medical programme. Moreover, a compact size of the city allows easy commuting. It positively affects student experience.
Summarising the above-mentioned information, it is possible to say that the Universitat de València offers one of the oldest and respected public medical programmes of Spain. Its advantages include centuries-old academic tradition, early practical training, various teaching hospitals, good research opportunities, and relatively low cost of living. However, it is designed for those who are ready to study medicine in Spanish and not English international programmes.
