About the study program

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Integrated academic studies of medicine for the academic title Doctor of Medicine last for 6 years or 12 semesters of teaching and learning in the forms as follows:

The ratio of individual teaching forms is defined in accordance with the planned study program outcomes. The total number of classes in the curriculum of this study program is 5515, out of which 4635 active teaching classes (2130 classes of theory, and 2505 of practice and other forms of active teaching. Summer professional practice and clinical practical teaching are organized with the total of 880 classes.

 

Total student workload (active teaching plus student individual learning) is expressed in 360 ECTS credits. One ECTS credit, on the average, reflects the student workload of 27 hours.

 

ECTS credit system implementation has been done in accordance with the non-modular system (each course may have different number of ECTS credits, given that the total number of ECTS credits per academic year is 60). The number of credits per each course is defined related to the specific tasks to be accomplished by the student reaziling learning aims and outcomes. Per each course, the teaching activities relevant for the realization of learning aims and outcomes are defined, so that the total student workload reflects the number of assigned ECTS credits. ECTS credits are earned upon successful completion of the final exam.

 

The teaching plan of the study program makes possible for the first year students to acquire some basic knowledge in biological and basic (preclinical) medical sciences (Molecular and Human Genetics, Anatomy, Histology and Embryology), general education sciences (Medical Statistics and Informatics, Medicine and Society), and to be introduced to the principles of professional and ethical approach to patients, colleagues, and other health care professionals (Introduction to Clinical Practice). During the second year, in addition to general education courses (English Language in Medicine), students are taught in basic medical sciences (Basics of Immunology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology) and First Aid. The third study year consists of basic medical science courses (Pathology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology with Toxicology) and clinical courses (Internal Propedeutics). In the fourth, fifth, and sixth study years, clinical sciences are taught (Infectious Diseases, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry with Medical Psychology, Dermatovenerology, Neurology, Pediatrics, Gynecology with Obstetrics, Surgery 1, Clinical Pharmacology, Physical Medicine with Rehabilitation, Occupational Medicine, Ophthalmology, Surgery 2, Otorhinolaryngology, Maxillofacial Surgery, Basics of Clinical Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Forensic Medicine).

 

After III, IV, and V study years, students have their summer professional practice (430 classes) at the clinics - teaching bases – in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and gynecology with obstetrics.

 

Elective courses, planned for the II, III, VI, VII, VIII, and X semesters, will present the students with the opportunity to affirmate their personal dispositions for particular areas of medicine.

 

In XII semester, 450 classes of clinical practical teaching are planned (clinical internship), as well as 150 classes of study research work, the result of which should be a well prepared diploma paper.

 

The teaching process takes place in one or two semesters at the most per each individual course, in accordance with the teaching plan.

The most important teaching methods are:

All forms of active teaching are based on interactive teaching characterized by the discussions about the problem topic, presentation of personal opinions backed by theoretical or experiential argumentation, identification of controversies, ambiguities or dilemmas associated with the topic in question and their possible resolution. Interactive teaching contributes to better understanding of the program contents, adoption of new knowledge, formation of personal attitudes and opinions, adoption of the present scientific doctrines.

 

Small-group work (with the maximum of 80 students for theory classes, and 5-10 student for clinical practice classes) enables better interactive student-teacher and student-patient communication, and better integration of clinical knowledge into actual patient management.

 

Laboratory and clinical skills are executed by the students independently, or aided by skill demonstrations by the teachers or associates. The level of student competence is predefined per each clinical skill to be acquired:

 

A student has to master all clinical skills up to the planned level of competence as a prerequisite to take the final exam or a colloquium. The teachers makes a record in the clinical medicine log-book that a student has mastered a clinical skill and signs it (the log-book is submitted to the teacher before taking the final exam in clinical courses).

 

By the completion of the teaching plan and program of integrated academic studies of medicine at the Faculty of Medicine University of Niš, students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for the independent practice of their profession as doctors of medicine.