Jumpstart your healthcare career at the Medical University of Gdańsk

12 Mar 2019

Our growing population and ageing society, in addition to the prevalence of chronic diseases plaguing communities, means the demand for healthcare professionals is unlikely to dwindle anytime soon. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that healthcare occupations will grow much faster than those in other sectors, averaging at 18 percent from 2016 to 2026. This would add some 2.4 million new jobs to the economy.

Similar findings are echoed across other countries. In the UK and other parts of Europe, nursing shortages have been reported; within the European region, the World Health Organization (WHO) said “the number of health workers in the region may not be sufficient to cover the future health needs of an ageing population, despite an increase of health workers in the past decade”. Ageing physicians also mean the number of medical graduates must increase in the future, they note.

Source: Medical University of Gdańsk

The demand for professionals in the healthcare field shows no signs of slowing down, making it a promising area for prospective students to explore. There are many concentrations within the healthcare ecosystem for future students to choose from, such as medicine, nursing and pharmacy, depending on your interests and strengths. So, if you’re drawn towards the opportunities within the healthcare field, why not do so by studying at the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) in Poland?

Located in one of Poland’s most beautiful cities, MUG is the first and largest medical school in this central European country. The university educates over 6,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across four faculties: Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy and the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, offering courses such as the Premedical Course, the Medical Doctor (M.D.), Master of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Nursing, which are fully taught in English.

The university has a modern teaching and clinical infrastructure – numerous simulation and multimedia labs, largest medical library in Pomorskie region and Medical Simulation Centre which consists of 21 simulation rooms, nursing skills simulation lab, physical examination simulation lab and a dental simulation lab.

Source: Medical University of Gdańsk

Thanks to the funds provided to the MUG by the Foundation for Polish Science as part of the International Research Agenda programme (Międzynarodowe Agendy Badawcze – MAB), a research centre has been established that specialises in research on genetic aberrations acquired as a risk factor for cancer and other diseases. The Medical University of Gdańsk is recognisable all over the world, enjoying renown among national and international institutions that deal with assessing higher education providers.

Find your perfect course

Aspiring nursing professionals can enrol in MUG’s three-year Bachelor Nursing Programme, where the extended curriculum is based on strict European and US standards. Students will be exposed to a range of subjects, including the basic sciences, social sciences, basic nursing care and specialist nursing care. As a testament to its academic prowess, MUG was ranked 3^rd in the fields of nursing and midwifery and 4^th place in pharmacy and dentistry.

Meanwhile, MUG’s six-year M.D. Programme sees hands-on clinical teaching taking place at the University Clinical Centre, as well as at selected teaching hospitals in Gdańsk. Besides teaching, the Departments and Clinics of the Faculty provide highly-specialised diagnostics and treatment.

Becoming a medical student at MUG means you’ll enjoy modern teaching and clinical infrastructure. The clinical centre was recently modernised at the end of 2011, while the Invasive Medicine Centre (IMC), which mostly houses surgical clinics, is among the most modern hospitals in Europe. MUG also has a Non-Invasive Medicine Centre (NIMC); together with the IMC, this is one of the largest and newest hospital complexes in Poland.

Source: Medical University of Gdańsk

MUG’s clinics include Obstetrics, Neonatology, Gynaecology, Oncologic Gynaecology and Endocrinology, Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Diseases, Internal Diseases, as well as 1^st and 2^nd Cardiology Clinics, where you can obtain hands-on-training to facilitate classroom learning.

Those interested in pharmacy should consider pursuing MUG’s five and a half-year-long Master of Pharmacy Programme. Through this programme, students come to understand the science behind drug discovery, development and delivery, along with how patients react to the medicines they take. The course also includes six-month-long pre-registration training in an approved pharmacy, which leads to attainment of a Master of Pharmacy and allows for registration as a pharmacist in Poland. Polish registration is recognised in other EU member states.

Source: Medical University of Gdańsk

A multicultural hub

As an international student, you’ll be pleased to hear that MUG is a melting pot of cultures. The institution is thought to be the most international university in the Pomerania region, with international students constituting over 17 percent of the population. Many come from countries such as Sweden, Norway, India, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the UK, US, Iraq, Germany and Spain.

To boot, the university ranks 8^th in the US News and World Report’s Best Global Universities in Poland, and is among the top 10 best Polish state universities (7^th place). MUG is also ranked 2^nd in Poland for its research effectiveness and publications in the 2018 academic ranking by Perspektywy magazine, so you can be assured of its standards.

Source: Medical University of Gdańsk

But it’s not all about academics at MUG – students can also lead a balanced lifestyle here. It houses a modern Sports Centre, while its Department of Sports and Physical Education organises compulsory physical activities for all students. You can participate in individual or group sporting activities with a wide range of facilities, including a gymnasium; aerobics halls with mirrors, wall bars and good amplification; a football field with a track, two gyms, and locker rooms with showers.

So, whether you’re looking to pursue an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in healthcare, MUG can prove to be a unique learning experience to jumpstart your career.

Follow Medical University of Gdańsk on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter