Thread: European Medical Schools which accepts foreign Russian students transfer

I am an undergraduate whom has just completed South Australian Matriculation with a fairly average score, pursuing for medical degree.

One of my options are Moscow Medical Academy(Russia) which is financially affordable by my family. I've heard about how bad the place is, how the education systems are and etc.. And also the good sides, as I have a high school mate reading medicine there, claiming it isn't as bad as what people said it is.

As I'm financially restrained, I do not want to burdened my parents further. Options to other universities doesn't seem to be convincing. I figured that I complete my First year in Russia and transfer to other medical universities in Europe into Second year. I know it is a stupid route or rather putting myself into hanging-by-a-thread situation if I do not get accepted anywhere. The thing is with my South Australian Matriculation results which are just average, wouldn't get me any scholarships nor loans(in Malaysia), not until that I am in the university.

Since I could afford to study in Russia I reckon that in the Second year I'd be able to apply for a loan(higher chance of getting the loan since I am already in the university, perhaps, good results) and transfer to other European schools.

I was wondering if that is possible, to transfer from Russian medical school to Europe?

Please help me out. (I'm an place to exchange gas for fooling around for too long and did not know of the consequences I'm facing now) For undergraduates out there, start planning your tertiary studies now! Don't be a slow starter like
me. Ahhhh... it sucks

whoever is saying that MMA is not that bad.. simply does not know other med school but MMA.. and therefore has nothing to compared it with...
if you are financially restrained, you should definitely AVOID Russia.. as it is not as cheap as they sound to be..
Furthermore completing your 1st year in Russia and transferring to another European school may not work as nowadays most European schools are under that Numerus Clausus law.
I will consider 'European med schools' as Western European medical schools as opposed to the Eastern European Med schools.
Eastern Med schools are here for the MONEY.. They attract foreign students for sole purpose of Making money.. believe it or not.. that s the way it is ..
You wont hear that from Western European Medical schools as they are well financed from their government and are doing fairly well compared to their Russian counterparts.

If I were you I would try a Western European medical school as the tuition would be pretty much the same if not cheaper than a Russian medical school and have a level of education way above ANY school in Russia. However be aware.. Western European medical school follow the (not all but most) follow the Numerus clausus law meaning that they can only allow a limited number of medical graduates every year. Therefore, FIERCE competition, lots of weeding out from 1st to 3rd year. if you can make it past the 3 rd year.. you ll be fine.

please dont be fooled with the ' i ll transfer within one year' .. that may not work unless you go to some Private expensive med school.

I would advise you to broaden your perspectives.. look at different schools in europe.. knowing that you ll have to pick up a new language anyway.. and go for a BETTER program..
GL

It is indeed a "hanging-by-a-thread" situation. You would be risking a lot by following that option. Secondly, since Russia is not part of the EU, transfer is almost impossible from what I heard (there might be some rare circumstances which I'm not aware of).

EU countries normally have an ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System) and this is what makes it possible for students within to EU to transfer (and even that isn't too easy). Your best bet would be to call the universities you're considering transferring to, and then take a shot.

I've heard of a girl who did pre clinical courses for 3 years in middle east got to study the 4 year progran at Zagreb university.

Thanks a lot bpoichan!

Well, that was what I thought I could do at first. Looking at what you said, it's impossible to do so. Yeah.. I shall broaden my views, I've been reading forums and blogs from students in Russia a lot, well, mostly are Malaysians. Obviously it doesn't help to broaden my perspectives. It seems that besides trips to Europe in the summer/winter holidays, there're no life there. I'm aware that I shouldn't be expecting much as I'm reading medicine. But at least, a little fun? Lol.

Ahh.. When you mentioned Western European medical schools, I thought I saw light(Help from the above, haha), well in this case, it' from you man. Any idea where can I find Western European universities? I have been searching cluelessly all the while. I couldn't get much informations. Only universities in Czech Republic which I heard the living cost is a pain in the ***.

Btw, I understand that you graduated from MMA too? Where are you from?

Shrey, thanks for the informations. I've thought of going to Czech but the thing is the entrance exam is next month in my country. I hadn't touch my books for quite some time now since college was over. One of my mate would be sitting for it next month, asked me to take a shot. It's impossible to do so, at least for me. Besides, living in Czech would certainly be tough considering the expenses. Shrey, where are you doing medicine, is it in Czech too?

I heard that there are only limited universities which offers classes in English medium. Any universities that you know, I should look into?

Chocolate,

Where is Zagreb university?

Btw, I didn't know that the forum will automatically change the word a.s.s to 'place to exchange gas'. HAHA.. It's so funny man

Originally Posted by Junhor

Shrey, thanks for the informations. I've thought of going to Czech but the thing is the entrance exam is next month in my country. I hadn't touch my books for quite some time now since college was over. One of my mate would be sitting for it next month, asked me to take a shot. It's impossible to do so, at least for me. Besides, living in Czech would certainly be tough considering the expenses. Shrey, where are you doing medicine, is it in Czech too?

I heard that there are only limited universities which offers classes in English medium. Any universities that you know, I should look into?

Chocolate,

Where is Zagreb university?

Btw, I didn't know that the forum will automatically change the word a.s.s to 'place to exchange gas'. HAHA.. It's so funny man

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. Where I'll be going next year

no I did not graduate from the MMA... i RAN AWAY from that messy place..
i would recommend you to try countries like BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, SPAIN, ITALY and UK. FRANCE has a strict system that weeds you out from 1st year... and it is quite hard..
Just like you, i was short in money and went to school in BELGIUM, and completed my 4th year there and then ran out of money..
I took a year off saving up loads of money working 2 jobs.. and reapplied to my med school in Brussels but then the new ' numerus clausus law' had passed.. and was told that I could be accepted as a 1st year student again!.. knowing how competitive it was and all the hard work I had put into it.. I was not sure if I could make through 3rd year safely as the competition got even stiffer with the new law..
I did not want to waste any extra year and went to MMA from 2nd year.
trust me..when i say that the quality at MMA is LOW.. it is LOW. Nothing to be compared to the quality lectures I had in Belgium.

Anyway.. If i were you I would apply to some school in those european countries.. mail them.. and ask them about the program.. I could send you the link of the med school I went to if you IM me.. and try your best there.
the thing is that you ll have to pick up a new language.. the quality will definitely be WAY higher than any school in RUSSIA (and I am a graduate from a russian med school... I figure that My backbone is European made anyway..after 4 years in belgium.. i dont think that Russia taught me anything new..)..
if you are seriously considering a place in russia.. try the PFU.. Foreign students are treated as humans there.. and do have REAL contacts with Russian students too!!
ask anyone at MMA in the English medium if they ever had contact with Russian students..
At least at the PFU you ll be allowed to do extracurricular activities in the clinics .. for some reason people did not read my previous posts well enough and mistook the useless summer practicals with the extracullicular clinical activity that you can do in hospital during your free time while all your classmates are hiding in their dorm rooms.. MMA did not allow that to me.. PFU did..


in short my advice is:
1-forget russia and eastern europe (czech , hungary.. bulgaria.. )
2-a good European school will cost LESS and the good thing is that many of those schools have REAL exchange programs with US medical schools which will allow you to do some internships in the US.That is in case you are interested in a residency in the US.
3- DONT believe the crap that RUSSIAN med schools are the best and all the bla bla..

GOOD LUCK to you

Hey.. Yeah. I was reading the forum, the Polish universities, and got notified that you sent a message. I'm worried sick about it man. You've worked hard for it. Work for your own tuition fees and all. Why didnt you apply for loans last time? Yeah.. Please send me the links. Btw, what do you think about Polish universities? I'm not sure where it is, but it is somewhere near Czech if I'm not mistaken? East of europe.

And hey, I'm still a newbie to be able to send private message. Mind exchanging emails, MSN?