The University of Pécs, a leading educational institution, offers a wide array of academic programs to over 22,000 students, including nearly 5,000 international students across 500 diverse study programs. Renowned for its top-tier Medical School, the university attracts global medical students with programs in Medicine, Dentistry, and Biotechnology, all available in English and German. Pécs University is committed to innovation in medical education, supported by its strategic initiatives like the Potepillars framework, focusing on learning culture, scientific innovation, infrastructure development, and student well-being. The university’s commitment to the highest quality of education is underscored by its QS World University Ranking in the #771-780 range, making it a preferred choice for foreign students seeking quality education and practical training at a Hungarian university in the heart of Europe.
The University of Pécs offers a wide range of majors and specializations, from Business and Communication and Media Science to Nursing and Engineering. Its Medical School is particularly renowned for its exceptional Medicine program, attracting students globally. Students at the University of Pécs Medical School can choose their study language, with programs available in English and German. The institution is committed to ongoing development in response to changes in higher education, ensuring students receive cutting-edge medical knowledge. This makes it a standout choice among medical universities for pursuing a medical degree. The University of Pécs is also an excellent destination for medical studies, thanks to its comprehensive and innovative approach to medical education.
Why study in Hungary at the University of Pecs?
Hungary is renowned for providing high-quality education in the heart of Europe. The Hungarian Government’s Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program attracts international students from all over the world by covering tuition fees, a monthly stipend, and accommodation contributions. Hungarian universities, including the University of Pécs, meet European standards and offer the highest quality education to students across various academic levels. Degrees earned in Hungary are recognized throughout Europe and beyond, making it an attractive destination for higher education. Additionally, Hungary offers low living expenses compared to other European countries, low entry requirements, and a safe and friendly environment with convenient public transportation and unspoiled natural beauty.
Pécs, a historic city in southwestern Hungary, offers an enriching lifestyle with its blend of old-world charm and modern amenities. The city is known for its vibrant cultural scene, featuring numerous museums, galleries, and theaters, such as the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter. Annual events like the Pécs International Guitar Festival and the Pécs Days cultural festival add to its appeal. The city’s rich history is reflected in its architecture, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Early Christian Necropolis. Pécs is also a safe city with a low crime rate, making it an ideal place for students to live and study. The local community is friendly and supportive, ensuring a welcoming environment for all.
Pécs offers a relatively low cost of living compared to other European cities, which is a significant advantage for overseas students. Accommodation options range from university dormitories to private apartments, catering to different budgets. Monthly expenses, including rent, food, and transportation, are affordable, allowing students to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without financial strain. The city has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and a regional railway network, making commuting convenient and economical. Students can benefit from discounted travel passes.
The University of Pécs, along with other Hungarian universities, offers affordable tuition fees, further enhancing its appeal to international students. The medical universities of Hungary adhere to European standards and provide the highest quality education to students. The University of Pécs has a vibrant international student community, with support services like orientation programs, language courses, and cultural activities to help students adapt. Various student organizations and clubs provide opportunities for socializing and networking, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Additionally, the university’s dynamic student life, with numerous extracurricular activities, sports facilities, and social events, ensures a well-rounded and enjoyable experience for all students.
Admission Process for the Medical School at the University of Pécs
To apply for the Medical School at the University of Pécs, prospective students must meet specific educational and language proficiency requirements, pass an entrance examination, and fulfill additional criteria.
Educational Background:
- High school diploma or official transcript of grades from secondary school.
- Provisional certificate if you are graduating during the application period (must be submitted by the time of enrollment).
- Best possible grades in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.
Language Proficiency:
- B2 level or upper intermediate English knowledge is required.
- No language examination certificate is needed.
Entrance Examination:
- Applicants must pass a complex (oral and written) entrance exam.
- The exam includes assessments of professional knowledge and English language proficiency.
Additional Requirements:
- Eligibility for higher education studies in your home country is necessary.
- For One-Tier Master (OTM) programs in the Medical School and Faculty of Pharmacy, completing a preparatory course is optional but recommended.
- Preparatory courses can be completed in Pécs, Budapest, or abroad, offered by the International Studies Center.
- Admission decisions are based solely on performance in the entrance examination.
Specific Requirements for Biotechnology MSc:
- Applicants must hold a BSc diploma or provide a certificate showing they will obtain it during the admission period.
- This requirement is mandatory for admission to the Biotechnology MSc program.
Medical Programs at the University of Pécs
The Medicine program at the University of Pécs is structured to provide comprehensive training in medical sciences and clinical practice. It is offered in German and English, providing flexibility for international students to choose their preferred language of instruction. The curriculum integrates theoretical knowledge with practical training, including clinical rotations in hospitals affiliated with the university. This structure ensures that students receive a well-rounded education preparing them for global medical practice.
Specializations and Tracks Available within the Medical School
The University of Pécs Medical School offers various specializations and tracks to cater to different interests and career goals of students. Some of the specializations available include:
- General Medicine (MD): This comprehensive program covers all aspects of medical practice, spanning 6 years of pre-clinical and clinical studies, including ten semesters and a year of clinical rotations. Emphasizing the importance of direct experience with patients, whether at the bedside or in the operating theatre, the curriculum ensures students receive essential hands-on training. Students begin by learning the structure and functions of the healthy human body. In the Preclinical module, they study pathological processes and basic patient examination skills. In the Clinical module, they focus on specific diseases, developing their diagnostic and therapeutical skills. The syllabus includes courses such as:
- Basic and Pre-Clinical Module
- Molecular Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Cell Biology
- General Natural Sciences
- Medical Imaging Technique
- Dentistry: Focuses on dental health and treatment.
- Pharmacy: Provides education in pharmaceutical sciences and practice.
- Nursing: Offers training in nursing care and healthcare management.
- Preparatory courses in English for health sciences: Nursing, Physiotherapy, Midwifery, Dietetics.
- Preparatory courses in English for medical studies: General Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medical Biotechnology.
These specializations and preparatory courses at the University of Pécs Medical School enable students to customize their education based on their interests and career aspirations, ensuring they acquire specialized knowledge and skills relevant to their future careers.
Quality of Education
The University of Pécs Medical School ensures a high-quality education through its accredited and recognized medical degrees within the European Union, allowing graduates to practice across the EU and beyond. Emphasizing practical training, the curriculum integrates extensive clinical rotations and hands-on experiences, providing students with essential skills in patient care, diagnosis, and treatment. The faculty, composed of experienced professionals, is dedicated to modern medical education methodologies, including problem-based learning and simulation training, ensuring students receive a contemporary and comprehensive education that equips them with real-world medical practice.
Potepillars – The Strategic Plan of the University of Pécs Medical School
The University of Pécs Medical School is reportedly adapting to a new strategic plan that identifies and supports the directions for development in the coming years. The Learning Culture Concept, the Built Environment Concept, the Science and Innovation Concept, and the Well-Being Concept are the four major pillars on which the strategic plan relies.
The four pillars being adapted are set to change the way the school is positioned. The School of Medicine at the University of Pécs aims to form a new, shared, modern, successful, and attainable view of the future that will enable the improvement of the school’s competitiveness, successful marketing, and the development of the faculty community. Each of the four pillars has set distinct goals that will help the school with its transformation:
The Learning Culture Concept Goals
- Developing the complex, personalized learning culture at the medical faculty.
- Change of paradigms: switching from teaching culture to learning culture.
- Creating commitment via ensuring that every faculty member continuously “learns” from each other, promoting development.
- Support of new learning methodologies, providing students, educators, and administrative workers with the opportunity to try these models.
The Science and Innovation Concept Goals
- Determining scientific goals and tools.
- Determining raking goals, realities, and tools.
- Planning economic use, and building business models.
- Integrating freelance experts, market characters, and new points of view.
The Infrastructure Concept Goals
The concept and ongoing planning are looking to answer the following questions:
- The “Well-Being” Concept Goals
- Developing the viewpoints, faculty goals, and tools of health preservation.
- Determining goals of faculty sporting, surveying possibilities.
- Creating catering options, buffets, and places to chat and sit (cafés).
- Maintenance and development of highly professional mental hygiene needs.
- Integrating well-being, or renewal as a point of view into the life of the faculty.
Innovation at the University of Pécs
The University of Pécs realizes that innovation is the way to be a leading education institution in Europe and the world. In his statement about Potepillars, Dr. Miklós Nyitrai explains what each of the four pillars entails.
University of Pécs Department of Neurosurgery
The University of Pécs Department of Neurosurgery is now classified as an outstanding European training institute for neurosurgery, exclusively in all of Hungary. The selection of the University of Pécs Department of Neurosurgery reflects the international standard of neurosurgery education, patient care, and research in Pécs.
Berlin, Geneva, Liverpool, and Milan are among the cities with world-renowned neurosurgery clinics together with whom the UP Department of Neurosurgery has been added to the network of European neurosurgery training centers of excellence with a €1 million financial support for raising the level of pan-European neurosurgeon training. Through the AENEID program, residents and postgraduate students will come to the Pécs department from all over the continent, and young neurosurgeons from.
Pécs will also promptly enter the international scientific circulation and will be guaranteed to learn from the best professionals and use state-of-the-art equipment.
The Assistant Chatbot
As part of the innovation the University of Pécs is adapting, a chatbot operated by artificial intelligence was developed jointly by the University of Pécs Medical School (UPMS) and IBM and it can already pass a written examination in neuropsychology. It will not become a virtual doctor just yet, but it will be an assistant that helps the doctor during complex surgical procedures or provides accurate and understandable health advice to lay people.
the University of Pécs offers exceptional medical education with a focus on practical experience and academic excellence. With programs in English and German, modern facilities, and a supportive environment, Pécs is an ideal choice for students seeking quality education in the heart of Europe. Explore further and Studygram can help you to apply to start your journey toward a successful medical career today.
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