Guide to choosing universities, Medical textbooks, Clinical hospitals, Curriculum for Medical Students

Guide to Choosing Universities

First and foremost, you have made a wise choice to enrol at a Romanian Medical school. The low and affordable yet quality medical education is a bonus. Besides, you will obtain an European Union certified medical degree when you graduate as Medical doctor, Dental doctor or Pharmacist.

Let's face it, choosing a Romanian Medical school can be a daunting task and sometimes confusing for the applicant(s) especially with many misinformation on the internet. A fact that is interesting to know is Romanian Medical Universities are almost 95% identical in terms of: curriculum, mode and structure of teaching (theoretical & practicals), examination, etc. All Romanian Medical Schools have EQUAL recognition and standard in Europe and all other countries of the world.

The choice of medical university in Romania is rather based on certain criteria like: the reputation of the medical school among Romanian citizens (mostly due to year of establishments), the population of the city, social life, etc. (as they are all equally accredited and recognized locally and internationally).

If you are the type that prefers bigger cities in Romania, e.g., Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi or Constanta, you may go for the medical schools in these cities with population ranging from 400,000 to 2 million people (Bucharest-Capital city). You should also bear in mind that these 'bigger cities' also come with their challenges of high living costs (especially accommodation). You may also apply to universities in 'smaller cities' like: Targu-Mures, Arad, or Oradea. (population less than 300,000).

It is a fact that the first Medical School in English started in Oradea! Although other universities e.g, Bucharest, Iasi and Cluj have been established between the late 1890's and early 1900's compared to the others established betwen mid 1940's and early 1990's, they did not commence Medicine in English until a few years after Oradea started offering medicine in English to international medical students.

It is important to also mention that because Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj have a long standing reputation or because Oradea is the first medical school in Romania to offer Medicine in English, does not make one university superior or inferior to another in terms of the education received and recognition of degree.

In a nutshell, the decision is yours to make, and ofcourse with our guidance. Legislations governing the Romanian medical universities allow you to choose only one (1) university of your choice before we process your application. Therefore you have to decide early about the choice of your university. However, SMA can also help you change your university (in case you want to change  to another university) only after your acceptance letter has been issued for your university of choice. This may attract an extra service fee. Please feel free to contact us via email or telephone regarding your choice of university or any other related questions.

To further guide your choice, you may also consider the tuition fees and courses available in each Romanian Medical School as listed below:

Carol Davila UMF Bucharest: Only Medicine (6 years) is offered in English -- Tuition: 3240 EUR (Non-EU) * 5000 EUR (EU) *Tuition can be paid in 3 instalments at Carol Davila UMF Bucharest!

UMF Targu-Mures: Only Medicine (6 years) is offered in English -- Tuition: 5000 EUR (EU & Non-EU)

University of Oradea, faculty of Medicine: Only Medicine (6 years) is offered in English -- Tuition: 3168 EUR (Non-EU) - 1600 EUR (EU) *Entrance exam required for EU!

Ovidius University of Constanta medical school: Only Medicine (6 years) is offered in English -- Tuition: 3600 EUR (EU & Non-EU)

Victor Babes UMF Timisoara: Medicine and Dentistry - (6 years) - are offered in English or French -- Tuition: 3060 EUR (Non-EU) * 4000 EUR (EU)

Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad: Medicine (6 years) is offered in English or French -- Tuition: 2880 EUR (EU & Non-EU)

Iuliu Hatieganu UMF Cluj: Medicine, Dentistry (6 years) & Pharmacy (5 years) - are offered in English or French -- Tuition: 5000 EUR (EU & Non-EU)

G.T Popa UMF Iasi: Medicine, Dentistry (6 years) & Pharmacy (5 years) - are offered in English or French -- Tuition: 5000 EUR (EU & Non-EU)

Medical Textbooks

It is obvious that Medical students need various medical textbooks for further studies in addition to their daily lecture notes, lab work notes, hospital rotations, etc. In Romania, most of the lecturers give comprehensive notes or handouts (hard or e-copy) during or after every lecture. Usually the class notes are sufficient during the first 2 years of medical school but you may also consult medical textbooks for additional studies. We recommend the following medical textbooks:

*Clinically Oriented Anatomy - Aurthur F. Dalley & Keith L. Moore

*Wheather's functional histology

*Linpicott Medical Biochemistry;

*Linpicott Pharmacology - By: Linpicott

*Medical Physiology: by Ganong; or Medical Physiology by Guyton

*Bailey & Love Short Practice of surgery or Shwartz principle of surgery

*Harrison's Principle of Internal medicine Volume I & II (14th, 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th edition)

*Textbook of Pathology by:Underwood, or by:Robbins or by:Stevens & Lowe (more complex)

*Nelson's textbook of Pediatrics

*Merck's manual of diagnosis and therapy (for professionals)

*Wheeler's textbook of dental anatomy, Physiology & Occlusion   (for dental students)

*Colour Atlas of oral anatomy, histology and embryology by K.Bergovitz  (for dental students)

*Textbook of operative Dentistry by: Llyod Baum   (for dental students)

*Textbook of Oral Pathology by William Gene Shafer  (for dental students)

*Treatment of Oral diseases; A coincise texbook by George Laskaris (for dental students)

*Textbook of Therapeutics; drugs and disease management by: Richard A. Helms, Eric & David (for pharmacy students)

*Pharmaceutical Analysis: A textbook for pharmacy students and pharmaceutical chemists (for pharmacy students)

......and other medical textbooks

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In the course of medical school, you will know more about other medical textbooks you may need.

We also advise that you pay good attention to your practicals or lab works and hospital rotations. Also attend medical conferences, seminars, training (e.g. Training of Basic & advanced Life Support, etc.) anytime your schedule permits. These are great addition to your future medical CV!

Clinical Hospitals

There are many clinical/teaching hospitals in every Romanian city offering health services.

Regardless of your city of study, you will do clinical rotations in ALL of the following clinical/teaching hospitals during your years of medical school. Clinical rotations/lab work for a course in medical school can be between 20 to 120 hours.

*Spitalul Judetean (City Hospitals Complex with various departments:

Emergency Room unit, Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatric unit. Surgery, ophthalmology, oncology, Endocrinology, Clinical genetics, Diabetology and nutrition, Plastic/Microconstructive and Aesthetic surgery, Pediatric surgery & Orthopedics, orthopedics and traumatology, ENT (Ear,Nose&Throat), Pathology, Nephrology, Radiology, Urology, Haematology, Dermatology

*Spitalul de Copii (Children's/Pediatric hospital)

*Spitalul CFR/ Spitalul Militar (City Hospitals Complex with various departments)

*Spitalul Psihiatrie si Neurologie (Psychiatry & Neurology hospital)

*TBC Hospital (Pneumology hospital for respiratory diseases e.g Tuberculosis, etc)

*Immunology hospital (blood/organ donation, blood test, etc)

*Maternitate (Maternity Hospital)

*Spitalul de boli infectioase (Infectious diseases hospital)

*Forensic/Legal medicine hospital

*Family doctor's office (For part of the family medicine rotations)

.......and a few other hospitals

Curriculum for Medical Students

1^st Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

• Anatomy Embryology I & II              

• Biochemistry I&II                 

• Physiology I

• Biophysics and medical physics         

• Cell and Molecular Biology    

• Medical Informatics and Biostatistics

• Behavioural Science/Medical Bioethics

• Foreign Languages              

• Sports

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Discipline

• Romanian Language (Compulsory for foreign students)

2^nd Year ( 3^rd&4^th semesters)

• Anatomy, Genetical Embryology      

• Topographic Anatomy         

• Microbiology I&II

• Parasitology                                 

• Genetics

• First Aid & General care for hospital patients                         

• Virology

• Physiology II&III                          

• Histology I&II                      

• Medical Psychology

• Foreign Languages

• Sports

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Medical Pedagogy                         

• Romanian Language (compulsory for foreign students)

• Medical Sociology                          

• Educational Psychology

• Pedagogy I

3^rd Year (5^th&6^th semesters)

• Pathophysiology I&II                      

• Medical Semiology I&II

• Pharmacology I&II                         

• MorphopathologyI&II

• Surgical Semiology I&II                  

• Immunology

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• General immunology                      

• Sanogenetic Education     

• Pedagogy II

4^th Year (7^th&8^th semesters)

• Internal Medicine I&II                     

• Orthopedy and Traumatology

• Surgery I&II                                   

• Disaster Medicine and radioprotection

• Plastic and esthetic surgery              

• Infant/child care

• Intensive Care Unit(ICU Medicine) and Emergency I&II

• Health Insurance                            

• Nephrology

• Radiology                                      

• Urology

• Hygiene                                         

• Traditional Medicine

• Molecular Pathology

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Modern methods of Morphophysiologic exploration       

• Tropical Diseases and Hygiene

• Medical Imagistics                                                    

• Clinical Biochemistry

• Clinical Pharmacology

5^th year (9^th&10^th semesters)

• Internal Medicine III&IV                                       

• Stomatology(Dental care)

• Neurology                                                           

• Pediatrics I&II

• Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics                          

• Ophthalmology

• Oncology I&II                                                      

• Endocrinology

• ENT (Ear,Nose&Throat)                                          

• Clinical genetics

• Medical electrotechnics                                          

• Pneumology

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Pediatric Neuropsychiatry

• Homeopathy

6^th year (11^th and 12^th Semesters)

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology               

• Dermatology                 

•Family Medicine I&II

• Psychiatry                                        

• Legal Medicine              

• Epidemiology

• Surgery and internal medicine Emergencies I&II

• Haematology                                    

• Infectious Diseases

• Public Health                                     

• History of Medicine

• Balneophysiotherapy and Rheumatology

*No summer practice in the 6th year. *Licence examination would be written in September for the medical degree.

Optional disciplines

• Medical services economy              

• Esthetic Surgery

• Sanitary unitary Management         

• Medicine of work

Curriculum for Dental Students

1^st Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

• Anatomy Embryology I & II              

• Biochemistry I&II 

• Chemistry               

• Physiology I

• Functional morphology of the teeth-function & dental arch masticatory

• Biophysics and medical physics         

• Cell and Molecular Biology  

• Histology & Cytology  

• Medical Informatics and Biostatistics

• Behavioural Science/Medical Bioethics

• Foreign Languages              

• Sports

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Discipline

• Romanian Language (Compulsory for foreign students)

2^nd Year ( 3^rd&4^th semesters)

• Anatomy, Genetical Embryology      

• Topographic Anatomy         

• Microbiology I&II

• Dental Materials

• Orodental diagnosis and Ergonomics

• Oro-dental prevention

• Hygiene and Radioprotection

• MorphopathologyI&II

• Physiopathology I&II

• Immunology

• Parasitology, Virusology, bacteriology                          

• Molecular biology & Genetics                            

• Medical Psychology

• Research Methology

• Medical Informatics                     

• Foreign Languages

• Sports

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines                       

• Romanian Language (compulsory for foreign students)

3^rd Year (5^th&6^th semesters)

• Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Physiology                 

• Medical Semiology I&II

• Pharmacology I&II                         

• Dermato-venerology

• Obstetrics & Gynaecology              

• Dental prosthetics technology

• Anaesthesia & Sedation in Dental Medicine

• Conservative Odonthotherapy (phantom)

• Dental Prosthetics (Phantom)

• Orodental Prevention

• Oclusology

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• History of Medicine                      

4^th Year (7^th&8^th semesters)

• Pediatrics                   

• Infectious disease, Epidemiology

• Legal medicine                                   

• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)

• Ophthalmology           

• Neurology

• Psychiatry

• Oral Surgery                           

• Restorative dentistry and endodontics

• Fix Dental Prosthetics                                    

• General Radiology

• Hygiene                                         

• Dental Radiodiagnostics

• Pedodontics

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Phytotherapy      

5^th year (9^th&10^th semesters)

• Odontotherapy Endodontics

• Mobile dental prosthetics

• Maxillofacial Surgery

• Pedodontics

• orthodontics

• Parodontology

• Oral Implantology (Surgery)

• Physiotherapy

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

Management of dental clinic or dental assistance for psychomotor disable patients

6^th year (9^th&10^th semesters)

• Community dental medicine & oral sanitation

• Parodontology

• Orthodontics

• Mobilisation of dental prosthetics

• Oral Rehabilitation

• Oral Pathology

• Maxilofacial surgery

• Medical & Surgical Emergencies in Dental Medicine

*No summer practice in the 6th year. *Licence examination would be written in September for the dental degree.

Optional Disciplines

• Gerontostomatology (Dental care for the elderly)

• Modern Languages

Curriculum for Pharmacy Students

1^st Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

• Pharmaceutical Botany I&II

• Inorganic Chemistry I&II

• History of Pharmacy

• Analytical Chemistry

• Bio-Physics I&II

• Mathematics

• Informatics

• Anatomy

• sports I&II

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Romanian language (compulsory for foreign students)

2^nd Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

• Analytical chemisty II&III

• Organic Chemistry I&II

• Physics-Chemistry II

• Physiology & Physiopathology

• Pharmeceutics Propedeutics

• Deontology pharmaceuticals & Communication with patients

• Medical & Pharmaceutical terminologies

• Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

• Microbiology, Virusology, Parasitology

• Cellular Biology

• Sports

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Elements of Pharmaceutical Esthetics

• Dietotherapy

• Romanian language (compulsory for foreign students)

3^rd Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

• Pharmaceutical Technology I&II

• Pharmaceutical Biochemistry II

• Clinical Pathology

• Pharmacognosy I&II

• Immunology

• Pharmacology

• Technico-Medical Produce

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry I&II

• Pharmacogenetics

• Chemistry & Environmental Hygiene

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Phytotherapy

• Toxic Plants

4^th Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

•Therapeutic Chemistry I&II

• Pharmaceutical Technology III&IV

• Biopharmacy & Pharmacokinetics

• Toxicology I&II

• Pharmacology II&III

• Homeopathic Remedies

• Pharmaceutical Legislation I

• Biological Medications

• Research Methodology

• Summer Practice (during summer holidays for 2weeks..30hours/week)

Optional Disciplines

• Pharmaco-vigilence

• Medical Emergencies

5^th Year (1^st &2^nd semesters)

• Industrial Medcations & Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

• Management & Pharmaceutic marketing

• Pharmaceutic legislation II

• Clinical Pharmacy

• Veterinary Medications

• Information applied in Pharmacy

• Dermopharmacy & Cosmetology

• Analysis & Medications control

• Modern/Current Pharmaceutics

• Pharmaceutical Assistance

• Elaboration of Pharmacy Thesis

• Pharmacy Practice/Internship during first & second semester of 5th year: for 26weeks (6months)..30hours/week = 780 hours)

*Licence examination would also be written in September for the Pharmacy degree.