6 Important Ways Medical School Varies By Country

In European countries, medicine is taught in the local language (German, Dutch, Swiss etc.). This means that although many universities in Europe demand little or no tuition fees, the language remains a hurdle for foreign students looking to study medicine in Europe.

In Canada, you cannot study medicine unless you’re a Canadian citizen or have been residing in the country for the last three years. In the US, some universities enroll international students for medical school, but charge them a very heavy fee, much more than the amount nationals pay.

Medical degree titles vary in different countries. In India and Pakistan, a medical degree is referred to as MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). In the US and Canada, a medical degree is called MD (Doctor of Medicine). It’s MB (Bachelor of Medicine) in China, and MBCHB (Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae) in South Africa.

In culturally rich countries like China, a typical medical degree also involves the study of traditional medical techniques such as acupuncture and cupping. Similarly, in India one can also learn Ayurveda along with modern medicine.

In the end, regardless of whether you’re a Harvard medical school graduate or a Somali physician, your medical education has to be on a par with international standards, otherwise you will not be able to practice internationally. 

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