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6-Year Degree in Medicine for High School Leavers
The University of Nicosia Medical School, the largest in Cyprus, offers a 6-Year MD degree programme designed for high school leavers.
What Our Students Say
What I find exciting about this specific programme is that at the end of our course we have opportunities in both Europe and USA. Having classmates with nationalities spanning from Iceland to South Africa, one can easily see the benefits and how it helps the students grow in different aspects than just academically.
Within the first weeks we were already immersed in the world of science, not only by learning a multitude of new diverse topics but also by delving deeper into any previously acquired knowledge from school.
The MD-6 year programme is extremely organized and has a competitive student body. It is really easy for international students to adapt because we get a lot of support from all the school’s staff as well as students from the second year.
Warm weather, buzzing cafes and beautiful sunsets, Nicosia welcomed me home on the first day of my arrival in Cyprus. The international atmosphere that both the city and the University of Nicosia provided me with was one of excitement to learn about new cultures, an integral part of becoming a doctor.
I take pride in being a part of the University of Nicosia medical school community. The opportunities that we have been granted as medical students are innumerable. The experiences we have been offered in and out of lectures are indescribable. And the people that have stepped into our lives and not only provided us with their knowledge and experiences, but also became friends to us, are simply one of a kind.
Career Prospects
Graduates who are from one of the countries that constitute the European Economic Area or Switzerland will be eligible to apply to EEA member states (and Switzerland) to practise medicine. Each member state has its own regulations as to which stage of its training programme you will enter, and any additional requirements that you will need to demonstrate (such as language proficiency).
For as long as the UK remains within the European Union, our degree will be recognised in that country and you will be able to apply for Full Registration with the UK General Medical Council (GMC). Future arrangements will be dependent on the terms by which the UK withdraws from the EU.
Please note that different arrangements apply to graduates who are not from EEA countries or Switzerland, and you should seek further information from your Admissions Advisor about practising medicine in Europe.
To practice in countries outside of the EEA/Switzerland, graduates will need to meet any other requirements of the country in which they apply for licensure.
Our Admissions Advisors can provide further information on your career options with this MD degree.
BSc in Biomedical Sciences
All students who successfully complete Years 1-4 will be awarded a BSc in Biomedical Sciences.
This degree will offer an opportunity to students who either do not want to or cannot progress to the clinical years of their studies to obtain a BSc degree that will help them follow a different career path.
General Objectives
This programme of study provides students with the opportunity to receive high quality education in Medicine. The general program objectives are:
- To train students in the practice of scientific evidence-based medicine.
- To encourage students to practise medicine holistically , encompassing ethical, legal, psychological and social considerations.
- To produce highly competent and caring physicians.
- To foster the development of lifelong commitments to scholarship and service toward patients.
- To promote health and wellness through disease prevention and research.
- To contribute toward the establishment of Cyprus as a regional centre of excellence in medical education.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this programme , students should be able to:
- Apply an understanding of normal and abnormal human structure, function and behaviour to the diagnosis, management and prevention of health problems.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the factors which influence the health of the population and the respective roles of the promotion of health, the prevention of illness and the treatment of disease.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the contribution of genetic, legal, social, environmental, political, economic, historical and behavioural factors to health, illness and disease within a global context.
- Elicit and interpret clinical symptoms and signs by interviewing and examining patients systematically and with sensitivity, and use this information to order investigations, make differential diagnoses and form management plans.
- Keep accurate clinical records based on their own observations and communicate their findings to others clearly and concisely.
- Recognise and manage life-threatening conditions and provide immediate care of medical emergencies, including First Aid and resuscitation.
- Prescribe drugs safely.
- Develop an understanding of the work of other health care professionals, and demonstrate a willingness and ability to work inter-professionally and to learn from other professional groups.
- Work cooperatively as a member of a team, accepting and providing leadership as appropriate.
- Analyse and critically appraise clinical data and published work to determine their validity and usefulness.
- Practise ethical behaviour in meeting the needs of patients and families; concern for confidentiality and respect for individual autonomy, enabling patients and their families to make informed decisions in relation to their medical care.
- Possess an on-going commitment to the advancement of knowledge within a community of medical scholars and to life-long learning to maintain high professional standards.
- Possess skills in the recording, organisation and management of information including the use of appropriate information technology.
- Understand the therapeutic nature of the patient-doctor relationship and the impact on that relationship of the individual characteristics of both patient and doctor.
Innovative and Modern Curriculum
The curriculum of the MD Programme is innovative and is based on the most recent research in the field of medical education.
Students learn through case studies and have small group tutorials for most of their courses. In addition, there is a strong emphasis on the social sciences including medical ethics and sociology.
Curriculum development has focused on the guidelines of professional bodies, such as the General Medical Council of the UK (GMC), which places particular emphasis on social sciences because patients are social beings and clinicians benefit substantially from learning about the social aspects of health and illness and social health behaviour.
Furthermore, there is currently a discussion about training both medical students and clinicians to be culturally competent in order to improve their interaction with patients. Medical Sociology has a crucial role to play in this training because it covers issues that relate to patients’ health beliefs, the experience of chronic illness, migration and health, cultural values and health behaviour, socio-cultural environment and mental illness, and socioeconomic background and health.
Today medical schools can no longer afford to negate the importance of medical ethics in the undergraduate curriculum if they are to adhere to the prerequisites of professional bodies such as the General Medical Council, the World Medical Association and the World Federation for Medical Education which, among other professional bodies throughout the world, deem medical ethics as a core part of the medical curriculum. Ethics is a philosophical discipline and medical students, who may be more adept in the sciences, need an appropriate amount of time dedicated to this subject. Therefore, we strongly feel that one full course, in addition to integrated lectures in medical ethics throughout the curriculum in a six year medical programme, is necessary to form doctors who are aware that ethics is crucial to good medical practice and will have the clinical ethical competence skills required by these professional bodies. The attainment of scientific knowledge is not sufficient to become a good doctor. Students need to know how to use, and not misuse, such knowledge.
In addition the curriculum has been designed to encourage spiral learning. Therefore topics visited in first years are revisited in subsequent years to build on further experiences.
Programme Structure
The programme is structured around 12 academic semesters over a period of 6 years. In each semester students are required to take 30 ECTS credits, completing 360 ECTS credits after 12 semesters of full-time tuition.
REQUIREMENTS | ECTS |
---|---|
Basic Medical Sciences | 180 ECTS |
Year 1 | 60 ECTS |
Year 2 | 60 ECTS |
Year 3 | 60 ECTS |
Integrated Studies – Basic and Clinical Science |
60 ECTS |
Year 4 | 60 ECTS |
Clinical Studies | 120 ECTS |
Year 5 | 60 ECTS |
Year 6 | 60 ECTS |
Total Requirements | 360 ECTS |
Years 1-3 (Basic Medical Sciences)
During Years 1-3 students gain knowledge in the basic medical sciences: general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, histology, biochemistry, physiology, genetics, microbiology and virology, immunology, pharmacology, medical genetics, general pathology, medical sociology, medical psychology, medical ethics, research methods in medicine and essential medical statistics.
Students also take courses in integrated clinical practice where they develop the important clinical and communications skills required for medicine. Under supervision, students will have the opportunity to meet selected patients in local hospitals and clinics to practise these basic skills.
Year 4 (Integrated Studies – Basic and Clinical Sciences)
Year 4 represents a transition year from preclinical studies to clinical studies.
During Year 4 students take courses in haematology, systematic pharmacology, epidemiology and public health, and clinical pathophysiology. They also carry out a research project.
In the second semester the students take a course in integrated clinical practice in which they build on the clinical and communication skills they developed during the previous years. The students will visit local hospitals, clinics and the community to further practise the skills they have learnt and gain first-hand experience of how medicine is practised in these settings. Students take part in clinical attachments in medicine, surgery and primary care.
Years 5-6 (Clinical Studies)
The objectives of Years 5 and 6 are to provide students with extensive experience in the clinical environment, mainly in hospitals but also in the community, so that they can utilise their learning over the previous 4 years to practise their clinical, communication, diagnostic and reasoning skills on real patients, and to learn about the management of patients, from a medical, therapeutic, surgical, psychosocial and caring perspective.
Students take part in clinical attachments in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Respiratory Medicine, Thoracic Surgery and Breast Surgery, Gastroenterology and GI Surgery, Nephrology, Urology and Transplant Surgery, Rheumatology and Dermatology/Plastic Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Palliative Care, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology & Ophthalmology, Therapeutics and Prescribing, General Practice and Geriatric Medicine.
Students also do a Clinical Attachment Elective, spending six weeks on a chosen activity or medical specialty of their choice. Students are encouraged to broaden their experiences by undertaking their elective in a different environment. This includes the option of going abroad for their elective.
Students remaining in Cyprus for clinical training will need an appropriate knowledge of Greek so that they can better communicate with patients. The Medical School provides free Greek-language lessons during the first 4 years of the course to prepare students for this requirement.
Semester Breakdown
The last 2 years of the course are spent at teaching hospitals in Cyprus or the UK.
Limassol General Hospital, Limassol, Cyprus
The Limassol General Hospital is the second largest hospital in Cyprus with capacity of 410 beds. It provides medical services to 200,000 inhabitants for the city of Limassol and its district. It also covers the district of Paphos for some specialties which are not offered at the Paphos General Hospital. In addition, Limassol General Hospital is a teaching Hospital for nurses and doctors in six main specialties (surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, orthopaedics, gynaecology /obstetrics and nephrology).
The Limassol General Hospital is the only hospital in Cyprus with a special unit providing services for infectious diseases. There is also a centre which offers training programmes supporting trauma patients (ATLS PHTLS).
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley, UK
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a district general hospital built in the 1970s and serving a population of approximately a quarter of a million people within the boundaries served by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Occupying a single site, the hospital has around 380 beds and 3,522 employees.
In 2005 the hospital gained Foundation Trust status and today provides a full range of district hospital services to the local community and surrounding area. These services include emergency and intensive care, medical and surgical care, elderly care, paediatric and maternity services, along with diagnostic and clinical support. The Trust also provides a number of specialised services, such as cancer and surgical services in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.During 2016-17 the Trust cared for 412,833 patients, saw 265,374 clinic appointments and treated 83,550 patients in the Emergency Department.
*Please note that placements at Barnsley are only available to UK and EU citizens.
Assessment
The assessment in the six years of the medical programme is designed to thoroughly evaluate the knowledge and skills the medical students will need to attain to allow them to practice medicine.
In the six years of the programme we assess the students’ professionalism, the students’ academic knowledge and the students’ practical skills following the UK General Medical Council (GMC) recommendations for the three categories of outcomes, namely Doctor as a Professional, Doctor as a Scholar and a Scientist and Doctor as a Practitioner.¹
Professionalism is assessed:
- As part of individual courses (starting year 1)
- By Workplace Based Assessments (WBAs) (in years 4,5,6)
Academic knowledge is assessed by:
- Lab reports
- Coursework
- Written papers
- Posters
- Oral presentations
- Midterm exams
- Final exams
- End of Year exams (EYE)
Practical skills (Clinical and communication skills) are assessed by Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). OSCEs are practical exams that assess the students’ clinical and communication skills with involvement of real and simulated patients in a setting similar to clinical practice. OSCEs are marked by trained examiners, many of whom are clinically qualified.
The details of assessment for each year of the MD Programme are thoroughly described in the Scheme of Assessment which is available to the students upon enrolment on the programme.
Assessment of the Highest Quality
In the MD Programme several mechanisms are in place to ensure assessment is of the highest quality. All faculty of the MD Programme are trained to ensure the development of high-quality examinations that will also prepare the students for taking the USMLE Step 1 Examination. The exam papers are blueprinted against the curriculum and thoroughly reviewed by Internal Moderators and an Assessment Panel. The results of each exam are reviewed during Results Meetings.
The USMLE Step 1 Examination
The Medical School places great emphasis on ensuring that its graduates are highly competitive in securing the postgraduate training posts of their choice, based on the quality of medical education and opportunities afforded to students during the course of our programme. With this objective in mind, the curriculum of the MD Programme is mapped against the topics of the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE) Step 1 Examination, which is the first part in the process of becoming a physician in the United States. Students in the MD Programme have the opportunity to take the USMLE Step 1, although this is not a requirement. For those students interested in this option, the Medical School provides USMLE Step 1 Practice Tests, which are offered through the National Board of Medical Examiners. The questions in these practice tests are derived from the USMLE Bank of Questions, which is used to generate the official USMLE Step 1 Examination.
¹ GMC, Tomorrow’s Doctors, 2009.
Admission Requirements
1. High School Leaving Certificate
High School Leaving Certificate with 90% overall score (Ί8/20 overall in the Greek/Cypriot High School Leaving Certificate), to include similar grades in Biology and one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths.
Or: GCE A’ Levels with grades ABB, to include Biology and one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths, and one more subject
Or: International Baccalaureate with 32 overall and a combined score of 16 at Higher Level, to include Biology and at least one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths.
We will also review you other grades in Chemistry, Physics or Maths to ensure your knowledge in these areas meets the demands of our curriculum.
The Medical School may also consider applicants from other education systems. For any other qualifications please contact us so we can assess you eligibility.
Candidates who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in a field relevant to Medicine can be considered for admission to the first year of the course. Such candidates from English – language universities would be exempt from the English-language requirements.
2. English Language Requirements
6.5 overall in the IELTS (with 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 6.0 in all other elements)
Or: 213 overall in the computer-based TOEFL (550 paper based, 79 internet based)
Or: grade 5 in the GCSE (or B with the old grading system)
Or: a score of 5 in English in the International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL)
Or: a score of 70% in English in the European Baccalaureate.
Students from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are exempt from this requirement as long as they have graduated from an English speaking high school.
3. An Interview – either in person or online
The objective of the interview is to establish whether you have the appropriate skills and attributes to complete the course successfully and to practise medicine professionally.
Tuition and Living Costs
Annual tuition is €18,000 for the first 3 years and €22,000 for the final 3 years. Students doing their clinical training in the UK pay a supplement of €6,000 per year for the last 2 years.
Living costs depend on your lifestyle. On average, staying in Nicosia for the whole year will cost a minimum of €10,000.
In addition to tuition, the following fees also apply:
Renewal of visa after one year (international/non-EU)–35 Personal Accident Insurance (both non-EU and local/EU)5050
Local/EU (€) |
International (€) |
|
Application fee (one-off/non refundable payment) | 60 | 60 |
Tuition deposit to secure place (deducted from the first semester tuition) | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Entry visa fee (one-off/non refundable payment) | – | 90 |
Annual health insurance fee (compulsory for non-EU only) | 180 | 180 |
Annual malpractice insurance fee (from Year 4 onwards) | 300 | 300 |
International student guarantee (one-off/refundable payment) | – | 400 |
Visa extension fee for one year (international/non-EU) | – | 105 |
Renewal of visa after one year (international/non-EU) | – | 35 |
Personal accident insurance (both non-EU and local/EU) | 50 | 50 |
Annual learning resources fee – Optional |
100 | 100 |
Annual USMLE resources fee (Years 1-4) – Optional | 285 | 285 |
*Please note that the above visa fees may be subject to change
Financial Assistance
Scholarships of up to 20% based on demonstrated financial need are available to help eligible students partially fund their studies. Students from certain countries may be entitled to financial support from their home governments – our admissions team can advise further.