University of Zagreb

School of Medicine

Study Medicine in English in Croatia, Europe !

In the academic year 2003 University of Zagreb Medical School (UZMS) introduced a new 12 semester (6 year) Medical Doctor Study program in English. Graduates of the program are granted a diploma conferring the professional title of Doctor of Medicine (MD).

This program is entirely instructed in English, and is also designed so as to meet both American (USMLE) and European Union standards with its internationally accredited exams. UZMS also has working relationships with a number of university medical schools in Europe and North America, including University of Toronto, McGill, and the Mayo Clinic.

The University of Zagreb, founded in 1669, is the oldest and most distinguished institution of higher learning in South-East Europe. Its
Medical School, founded in 1917, has a long tradition of educating foreign students, so far over 700 foreign citizens have earned their medical degree in Zagreb. Graduates of UZMS have established private practices or found teaching positions in medical schools all over the world, including the U.S. and Canada. Currently, UZMS has students enrolled from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, Australia, and Asia.

6-year program: candidates are expected to have graduated from a four-year high school with a solid basic knowledge in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and have a good knowledge of English. Candidates are required to take the entrance exam or SAT exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Beginning in 2005/2006 certain provincial governments in Canada recognized UZMS, and their residents are eligible to apply for provincial government student funding including for example OSAP, StudentAid BC and Alberta Student Aid. Please check with your home province for more information.

For further details about the study, visit our web pages or contact our student office.
For more information, contact

Medical Studies in English
University of Zagreb Medical School
Salata 3
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Telephone: + 385 1 45 90 268
Fax: + 385 1 45 90 268
E-mail: mse@mef.hr

University of Zagreb Medical School:
Information for the Prospective Student
By: Ivo Bach

To study medicine in Zagreb is a o­nce in a lifetime chance. Not o­nly can you get your medical degree faster for a better price, but you also have the opportunity to experience some o­ne of the world?s unique cultures and atmospheres. Studying medicine in Zagreb may be cheaper and faster, but it is defiantly not easier; It takes a lot of hard work and inspiration to get through the year. Which doesn’t mean that its all work and no play. Zagreb, and Croatia in general, is a very relaxed country where everybody takes time for themselves to relax and have a coffee with their friends, because after all student life is supposed to be o­ne of the best times of a persons life. Many people still believe there is a war still going o­n in Croatia, this is absurd and I am sure you will conclude the same when you come here. I have noticed that Zagreb is a pretty safe city compared with the majority of US cities.

If you do not already speak the Croatian language there is a course in school which will provide you with basic knowledge and you will be able to do the basic necessities with the help of this course, but I would recommend private lessons so that you can integrate into society as fast as possible, it will make your studies and living in Croatia much easier.

I would recommend that you go to the Croatian embassy nearest to you, with proof that you have been accepted into the program, and have them issue a student visa before you get here. It is very helpful and time saving to have student visa secured at the local consulate before coming, since converting from visitor’s visa is not smooth.

Apartments here cost in the range of $300 plus utilities, but that’s if you know how to find o­ne for a good price, many people are paying much more for their apartment and from my experiences it’s a waste of money. If you plan o­n studying here you should come a couple of months early to look through the apartment rental listings. You can check that out now o­n http://www.Oglasnik.hr , but usually the good apartments are taken within 4 days after they are listed sometimes much sooner; so it is recommended to take a whole day and look at apartments until you find o­ne that is in a good price range.

The food in Croatia I think is amazing. It also doesn’t cost as much as food would cost in the US. Although you can eat in a restaurant every day, many students eat in the student cafe. After about a week after classes start you will receive a card called an X card, this card will give you 75% off o­n everything in the school cafeteria. o­ne meal in the cafeteria costs about o­ne dollar and the food is defiantly better than McDonald’s.

There are many options for relaxation as well. Many students play sports or go hiking. Traveling to other European countries is also very affordable and not very far either, not to mention traveling to other cities in Croatia. I recommend that you do not just stay in Zagreb but see other parts of Croatia, Zagreb is o­nly o­ne part of the whole beautiful country.

Most of the books you will need can be bought at a store here called Algoritam, but if you don’t have a problem with carrying some heavy books with you o­n the plane, it might be a little cheaper to but they over amazon.com. A USB stick is a very useful thing here, I use it to put all of the PowerPoint presentations o­n it after the lectures or seminars; this way you can go over everything at home after classes. Another thing which you will defiantly have to buy is a mobile phone. Everybody here has a mobile phone and it is very convenient when you need to contact someone for information about classes or get-togethers, usually everybody exchanges number within the first couple of days. You will also need to buy a lab coat here, it costs between 90 and 150 Kunas, so if o­ne of your parents is a doctor, or if you can just get it cheaper there, then get o­ne because there is no point in buying something you might already have.

As much as you want to get away from your parents, you will still need a way to keep in contact with them. Some methods which I found useful were Skype and Phone cards. Phone cards are very useful also if your parents want to call you, PhoneCroatia.com has phone cards with which you can call Croatia for 5.7 cents per minute.

It seems to be an increasing trend in US to study abroad. Quality of education and containing the cost are major considerations, but desire to expand the horizons and know different ways of living is another significant aspect. Zagreb with its renown medical school is an excellent combination of all of above.

Overall I am having a great time studying medicine here and I don’t regret coming here at all. The food is great, the school is great, the girls are great; and for girls, so are the guys ;-). Just organize yourself before school starts and you will make things a lot easier o­n yourself. If you have any further questions feel free to contact me.

– Ivo Bach
Ivobach2@gmail.com
011.385.95.822.0923

In our Medical School, there is a significant community of French students coming from all around France who are now very satisfied to study and live in Zagreb.

If you are deeply motivated, good in English and interested to discover a new country and a new culture, you have the possiblity to come and join the Medical Studies in English Program. You will study with world reknown reference books, in small classes where the professor is able to answer the questions of each student and attentive to their own progressions.

For those of you who have done the first year of Medical School in France, the administration of Zagreb Medical School is aware of the particularities of the French system. According to the marks you obtained at the first year contest in France, and your classification, it is possible that you may be exempted from some courses, so the time you spent studying in France will not be lost. For this, it is important for you to have a good knowledge of English, and to have obtained passing grades in Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Histology and Embryology. Each individual application will be studied in detail.

Croatia has signed the Bologna convention, which means that the medical studies here are harmonised with the medical studies of the EU countries. Croatia itself is expected to join the European Union in the near future, after which doctors will be able to move freely from Croatia back to France. The medical knowledge learned in Zagreb is of course universal, and many students here are already preparing the USMLE, the ECN and other foreign exams.

Aux futurs étudiants français:

Il y a dans notre Faculté de Médecine un certains nombres d’étudiants français venant des 4 coins de l’hexagone qui aujourd’hui se plaisent a Zagreb.

Si votre niveau d’Anglais vous le permet, que vous êtes prêt a travailler avec motivation dans ce pays magnifique qu’est la Croatie et que vous vous sentez l’âme de découvrir une nouvelle culture, le programme “Medical Studies in English” proposés par l’université de Zagreb est pour sure une solution. Vous y étudierez avec des livres qui font référence au niveau international dans des classes où les professeurs sont disponibles pour répondre aux questions des étudiants et attentifs a leurs progressions individuelles.

Si vous avez effectues un ou deux PCEM1, sachez que l’administration de la Faculté de Médecine de Zagreb est au courant des particularités du système francais et, suivant les notes et le classement que vous avez obtenues au concours, il est possible que vous puissiez être dispensé de plusieurs matières. Ainsi votre temps passé en P1 ne sera pas perdu. Toutefois, pour ceci, il est important d’avoir un bon niveau en anglais, et d’avoir eu la moyenne en Biologie, Biochimie, Physiques, Anatomie, Histologie et Embryologie. Les candidatures seront revues au cas par cas.

La Croatie a signé le traité de Bologne, ce qui signifie que les études de médecine y sont harmonisés avec les pays de l’Union Européenne. Il est prévu que la Croatie rejoigne l’UE dans les prochaines années, après quoi il y aura libre circulation des médecins entre la Croatie et la France pour les intéressés. Le savoir médical qui est enseigné ici et bien évidemment universel et de nombreux étudiants de notre université souhaitent d’ors et déjà préparer l’USMLE, l’ECN et les autres concours étrangers.

Har du tänkt på att studera utomlands? Kanske medicin? Med tanke på den restriktiva antagningen till medicinstudier i Sverige kan medicinstudier på engelska vid universitetet i Zagreb kanske vara ett alternativ. Det finns redan en grupp skandinaviska studenter här nere. Undergraduate-studier i Kroatien, och i andra delar av Balkan, är välansedda, och Zagreb Universitet har anammat Bolognakonventionen, som samordnar Europas läkarstudier. Kroatien förhandlar om medlemskap i EU och kommer förmodligen att vara med när dina studier är över, vilket förstås kommer att underlätta jobbsökande. Programmet har små klasser med en trevlig undervisningsmiljö, och bra och nära kontakt med professorerna. Du behöver kunna bra engelska och ha godkänt betyg i biologi, kemi och fysik. Språklektioner ingår i programmet för dem som inte kan kroatiska. Studielån från CSN är tillgängliga, och räcker långt i det billiga Kroatien.

Have you considered studying abroad? Medicine perhaps? Considering the restricted acceptance to medicine studies in Sweden, studies o­n English at the University of Zagreb might be an alternative. Here is already a small group of Scandinavian students. Undergraduate studies in Croatia, and other parts of the Balkans, are considered very good, and the University of Zagrebhas accepted the Bolognaconvention that coordinates European medical studies. Croatia is negotiating for membership in the EU, and will probably have joined when your studies are over, which will of course help job seeking. The program has small classes with a pleasant teaching environment and good, close contact with the professors. You need to speak good English and have pass grades in biology, chemistry and physics. Language lessons are included for those who do not speak Croatian. Study funding from CSN are available, and will last long in low-priced Croatia.

Students will have to organize accommodation on their own, i.e. look for private rental accommodation. Rents vary greatly according to location, room size, facility etc. Overhead expenses are sometimes included in the price, and sometimes are paid by the consumer. Payment is usually expected at the beginning of the month, while some landlords request payment for several months in advance.

There are two ways to rent a room/flat:

• Send an email/check the offer of the following real estate agencies that are available online:

1. Zagreb West
   • Web: http://www.zagrebwest.hr/en/
   • E-mail: info@zagrebwest.hr
3. Rost d.o.o.
   • Web: http://www.rost.hr/
   • E-mail: info@rost.hr

Look for/run an advert in a newspaper or in the classified ads e.g. „Plavi oglasnik“ or at http://www.oglasnik.hr/ or http://www.njuskalo.hr/ or http://www.crozilla-nekretnine.com/.
Examples of prices: Single room with shared kitchen and toilet – 100 – 150 Euros per month; Studio apartment – 200 Euro per month.

Hostels
If you prefer private accommodation and would like to live in a rented flat, before choosing a nice one, you might want to spend some time in a hostel. Therefore, we suggest youth hostels.

Visa and residence permit regulations

The visa can be obtained from the Croatian Embassy or Consulate before entering the country. To get the student visa you need to present the letter of acceptance from the University.
When arriving in Croatia please ask the border custom officer to stamp the passport.
In case you do not enter Croatia with a student visa (even if you don’t need o¬ne for Croatia as a tourist) you cannot apply for a residence permit which entitles you to stay in Croatia for a longer period of time.

Temporary residence permit regulations:

► REPORT YOUR STAY – TOURIST VISA
All prospective students who are not Croatian citizens are obliged to report their staying in Croatia to the police within 48 hours upon their arrival.
If you stay at a hotel or hostel, their staff will report for you.

You will need the following documents:
• Passport (stamped when entering Croatia)
• Form 8a – registration of residence
• A proof of accommodation (If you are renting an apartment, you should bring a proof of ownership or officially attested lease)

Students who are not obliged to possess a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia may stay in the Republic of Croatia for maximum 90 days within a period of 6 months, starting from the day of their first entry – Article 43(1) and (2) of the Aliens Act (Official Gazette No. 79/07 and 36/09).

► THE FIRST TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT should be requested at the competent diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Croatia in your country (Article 48(1) of the said Act).

You will need the following documents:

• form A1 (http://www.mup.hr/UserDocsImages/Dokumenti/stranci/Obrazac%201a.pdf)
• 2 photos 3 x 3,5 cm
• Birth certificate (and photocopy)
• valid passport (and photocopy)
• documentation of at least 1000 kuna per month during the year
• a proof of accommodation in Zagreb (certified by Public Notary – javni bilježnik)
• health insurance valid in Croatia for at least 3 months
• confirmation of enrolment at a higher education institution in Croatia
• criminal background check from your national law enforcement agency

Students who already have the temporary residence permit and need to prolong it, have to submit their requests for prolongation one month before the expiry date of the permit at the latest.

NOTE:
All documents in a foreign language have to be translated and certified by a court interpreter for Croatian language

For additional information, a contact-person is:
Mrs. Snježana Vitas
Tel. + 385 1 45 63 623

Health insurance

All students have to be insured while staying in Croatia.

• You can buy insurance policy that covers your stay in Croatia
• You can apply for medical insurance at Croatian Medical Insurance Agency (HZZO):

Klovičeva 1, 01 2359-555 and 2359 502
• Please check information at: http://www.hzzo-net.hr/03_03_05_eng.php
Maybe there is a convention between Croatia and your Country

You will need:

• form T2
• the photocopy of the first page of your passport and the visa page (temporary residence permit)
• a proof of accommodation (correct address)
• an identification number (OIB number)

The monthly cost is approximately 405 kunas

Students who need to choose their primary health care physician can contact Multidisciplinary Counseling Service

• Vera Musil, MD, PhD
• Tea Vukušić Rukavina, MD, PhD
• Dragan Soldo, MD
• Danko Relić, MD
• Martina Sokač-Grgec, nurse

ADDRESS: Šalata 4 (ground floor-left), 10 000 Zagreb

WORKING HOURS (Monday – Friday):

Even dates – afternoon: 1.00 p.m.-7.00 p.m.

Uneven dates – morning: 7.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m.

Phone (during working hours): 01 4590 297

Appointment booking: e-mail: studamb@mef.hr

Requirements for medical consultation: vaccination card and relevant medical documentation.

OIB number
OIB = personal identification number.
You will get it by the Police when registering your temporary residence in Croatia for the first time or at Tax Administration, Avenija Dubrovnik 32.
OIB field is a mandatory field in the School’s inf. system and the enrolment is not possible without it.