This is a great site.
I was browsing and Entry requirement is 12 years of schooling
found little discussion on Medical Education
on Ukraine. Hence this note. I am a
counselor and I recently visited Ukraine;
went to 3 cities –Kiev, Ivano and Ternopil
and met 2-3 medical schools there with the
objective of guiding students. The following
are my views.
There are 23 medical Universities in
Ukraine About 5 or 6 are "National Medical
Universities" - highest rank by the Ministry
of Health / Education of Ukraine in terms of
ranking.
The next ranking is termed “State Medical
University” followed by "Medical
Academy" and "Medical Institute".
In many Medical Universities of Ukraine
they offer Medical education in English
medium for ALL 6 years for international
students.
The medical course is also offered in
Ukrainian and in Russian for local students.
International students who choose to study
in the local language first enroll in a one
year local language course & then study
medicine.
English medium MD / MBBs / Medical
Education is offered in Ivano-Frankivsk
National Medical University, Ternopil State
Medical University, Odessa, Lviv and
several other medical Universities.
Surprisingly the National Medical
University in the capital Kiev – which is
acknowledged as the “BEST” in Ukraine
does not have a course in English - but it
offers medical education in FRENCH and
Russian & Ukranian.
If a student enrolls in the English medium
course, the University teaches you the local
language in the 1st TWO years of your
education as part of the course so you can
talk to patients.
The Medical Course takes 6 years (5 years
and 10 months.)
with science or “A” level or equivalent.
If you have "O" level then you join a
preparatory course for one year and then
join the 6 year medical program.
The Degree offered is MD or “Doctor of
Medicine” which is equal to the MBBS
Degree in India, UK, Australia and other
commonwealth countries.
Tuition Fees range from US $ 3000 to 4500
p.a. - depending on the University and city.
Which is really low as compared to the rest
of Europe and certainly much cheaper than
the West.Hostel cost is between US $ 500 to
700 per annum.
Food & cost of life in the smaller cities is
about 200 $ a month and US $ 300 to 400 in
a big city like Kiev or Odessa or Lviv.
A cost estimate of studying in Ivano-
Frankivsk National Medical University in
the city of Ivano-Frankivsk or Ternopil State
Medical University in the city of Ternopil in
Ukraine is given below: (2009).
Fees = US $ 3000 p.a.
Hostel = 550 $ p.a.
Insurance = 100 $ p.a.
Food etc = 2000 $ p.a.
Total = 5650 US $ p.a.
Grand Total = 33,900 US $ in 6 years.
Put in some extra cost for holidays and
travel and visa, airport pick up etc - your
total expense in 6 years should not exceed
45,000 US $. This includes - fees + hostel +
food + visa + pocket money etc
Hostels are pretty basic. 2 or 3 students
share a room. You can keep a TV / fridge /
microwave etc - but you have to pay an
extra charge. The University provides bed,
chair, table and a cabinet and a mattress and
pillow and blankets and a weekly change of
linen. Rest you have to buy yourself. I
visited some rooms in the Hostel. A few
students had purchased carpets, curtains,
wall paper and done the rooms up very well
– esp. those girls from Poland!! There is
central heating in all the rooms.
You can move to a private apartment after
one year -after you get used to the country
and after you pick up the local language.
Flats cost more than the hostel about 150 to
300 $ per month for a 2 or 3 bedroom
apartment – but if you share the apartment –
the cost will come down.
Most students do self cooking. Canteens and
restaurants are available in the study
centers / hospitals / hostel. Ternopil has free
laundry with 10 or 15 washing machines in
the basement – the students give their
clothes and washing powder and a Hostel
employee washes it and the students pick it
up next day. Ivano does not have this
facility.
Quality of education is GOOD. Most
teaching Universities over over 50 years old
and have facilities like Electron
Microscopes, MRI scanners etc.
Classes are held from Monday to Friday.
They insist on 100% attendance. If you miss
a class or if you are late - you pay a fine &
make up the class on Saturday. If you miss
many classes you are liable to be expelled
("Chislenya" - which happened to a few
students).
The University holds a class test every day
(either Verbal or Written) and you get
marked on that. They have semester exams
in each subject.
In the 3rd year and the 6th year a national
level external exam (KROK) is conducted
by a central authority. All students have to
pass this exam in order to get a Medical
Degree in Ukraine.
Students are expected to read up on the next
day’s lesson and go to class prepared and
actively participate in the class. There is no
“spoon feeding”. Teachers do help the
enthusiastic and hard working student. But if
you go to class without any preparation -
don’t expect the teacher to rebuke you or
spoon food you. The class size is small –
about 6 to 10 students in a study group so
quality is maintained.
I spoke to many students from Asia there &
they were happy with quality of education in
Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical
University, Ternopil State Medical
University & in Lviv in Ukraine. Odessa
was reportedly good – but the city is
expensive. Students had many negative
reports on Lugansk.
In Ternopil if you miss one day’s class
without a medical certificate - the fine is US
$ 15. In Ivano you have to pay a fine of
about US $ 8. So this is a great incentive not
to Bunk classes!!
Most International students were from
Poland, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Arabia,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc. In Ternopil I saw a
few students from US.
In KievNationalAviationUniversity there
were a LOT of students from mainland
China.
I think quite a few East European students
are studying in Ukraine – esp. from Poland
and neighboring countries.
I also understand that students from
FRANCE are studying in Kyiv in the
NationalO.O.BogomoletsMedicalUniversity
– as they teach the medical course in French.
Apparently Ukraine has not been
‘discovered’ as yet by US and UK students.
And students in Bulk from these two
countries are not there – well not YET
anyway.
I found the local people quite decent in
Ukraine. A few of them who spoke English
were especially helpful and took me out and
showed me the city. But if you cannot speak
the local language then it is difficult to
interact with the locals. The younger may
know English – but not all know English
and it is difficult to move in without
language skills for the traveler.
Alcohol is cheap and Girls are amazingly
BEAUTIFUL!! So as a student get your
priorities correct. Kiev is an expensive city.
Ternopil and Ivano – two small cities are
much more lower cost as compared to Kiev.
If you go there - be willing to adjust. You
will initially feel lost without knowing the
local language. Once you learn the local
language it is much easier to move around
and make friends.
Carry your passport at all times and keep a
photocopy in your bags. Local cops are
allowed to question you and inspect your
papers and if you don't have it with you -
you may have to pay a fine.
1st year Admission begins from 1st of
September to Nov. 15th. You have to cross
the border by Nov. 15th in order to join in
the current year. Visa processing begins
from the 15th of August in all embassies of
Ukraine. Most Universities have appointed
agents to assist in admission, visa processing
and airport pick up etc.
To get a visa - you need to write to a
MedicalSchool in Ukraine or to one of their
agents with a scanned copy of your marks
and your passport. They will arrange a
"letter of invitation" for you. This is a
document which goes to you with an email
copy to the Ukraine embassy in your
country. Apart from this other documents
needed for visa issue are:
a. Medical test as prescribed by the Embassy
b. Translation of your class 12 mark sheet to
Ukraine language.
c. Translation of your birth certificate to
Ukraine language.
d. Medical Insurance for your travel to
Ukraine.
e. Original class 12 mark sheet - certified by
the Govt / embassy of the country of issue.
f. Original of birth certificate (or an affidavit
in a court)
You go to the embassy with all these
documents, get a visa form, two photos &
pay fees. The Fee & documents needed for
visa is usually displayed in the Embassy
notice board. The embassy has an authorized
medical officer for medical check up and a
list of translators who will help you with the
translations. Complete the form, pay the
fees, get the documents completed and then
go to the Embassy for a visa interview. In
the interview they will ask you questions on
Ukraine, your school and your subject and
then give you the visa or reject the visa.
Sometimes a visa gets rejected if the they
feel that you are not a genuine student. They
are trying to weed out potential immigrants
to the EU - as Ukraine borders the EU. If
you are a genuine student, have complete
documents and answer the questions
properly – you need not have any worry
about the issue of the visa.
After you get your visa - before you fly to
Ukraine. Inform the University of your
flight number, place, date and time of arrival
so that they will inform the immigration to
let you through the border / port of arrival.
You must get someone to meet you in the
airport and take you to the school and show
you the place. At times the University does
this. Or they have appointed agents who can
do this for a fee.
Ukraine is part of the 41 countries with the
ECTS (European Credit Transfer Scheme)
and it is possible to transfer your credits to
another college in Europe. So some Students
do come from the EU and study in Ukraine
for 2 or 3 years and then transfer to another
EU country. Others complete their entire 6
years in Ukraine.
All Medical Universities are owned by the
Government of Ukraine and are listed in the
WHO and IMED directories. Students
interested in working in US or UK or in
India are eligible to give the USMLE or
PLAB or MCI Screening test after
graduating from Ukraine. By the same token
they will be eligible for the competency tests
in Australia, Canada, Singapore, UAE etc.

For the Budget student seeking low cost

Medical education – MBBS or MD; Ukraine
is a GREAT destination.

The QUALITY of education Good and you

are getting a GREAT DEAL because these
Universities are owned by the Government
and not the private sector. The same
University in Western Europe would cost
you 20,000 $ a year!!

Both Ternopil and Ivano are lovely cities

and you can fall in love with the place. They
have broad footpaths in the center of the
city. A central lake & parks are there.
Lovely churches. The buildings are old and
have lovely architecture.

Supermarkets are good for packaged food -

great salads. The local bazaar and wet
markets offers shopping at lower prices.