Volgograd State Medical University, Russia

Volgograd State Medical University is located in Volgograd which is situated in the southern part of Russia on the west bank of the Volga River. It started as Stalingrad Medical Institute founded in 1935. In 1993 it got the status of the Academy, and in 2003 it was granted the status of the University. It is currently headed by the prominent Russian scientist, Academician of the Russian Academy for Medical Sciences, Professor Vladimir I. Petrov. The university is listed in the WHO list of world medical schools and also in the International Medical education directory provided by FAIMER.

The University is accredited by the Russian Ministry for Education for the teaching of both Russian and overseas students. It boasts of a highly qualified teaching staff, advanced researchers and experienced physicians. The University has been training international students since 1962. Since 2000 the Volgograd State Medical University has got an opportunity to teach foreign students in the English language.

The College of General Medicine and the College of Dentistry has been a hot favorite for most of the foreign students in recent times. They can opt to be trained either in English or Russian medium. However all the foreign students are enrolled into the Russian language course to help them in their daily living and for interacting with patients during their clinical course.

Undergraduate teaching is centered upon theoretical (lectures) and practical classes. Students are divided into several groups and each group consists of 7-8 students. This is very advantageous as it provides a better student – teacher interaction. In every class students are accessed for their knowledge and after every major topic they have to give a test (also known as concluding). At the end of the semester students give a final exam to pass the particular subject. All the lectures, classes and tests are organised on a departmental basis.

Postgraduate training is provided by different colleges of the University; it is available in the following areas: Allergology and Immunology, Cardiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Infectious Diseases, Maxillofacial Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, Surgical Dentistry, Ophthalmology, Orthodontics, Otolaryngology, Pathological Anatomy, Paediatrics, Phthisiology, Preventive Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Psychiatry, Pulmonology, Radiotherapy, Dermatology, ST Diseases, Social Hygiene and Public Health, Sports Medicine and Occupational Medicine, Pedodontics, Surgery of Children, Surgery, Therapy (Internal Medicine), Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Urology. There are 4 varieties of post-diploma training: Internship, Residency, and Postgraduate training for Ph.D. The course of studies at the Internship is for 1 year. After graduation the Specialization Certificate is provided. The course of studies at the Residency is 2 years. After graduation the Specialist Certificate is provided. The course of studies at the Ph.D. is from 3 to 5 years. Following the thesis completion the scientific degree Ph.D. (Medicine) is granted.

The pre-clinical courses are provided at the 4 main buildings of the university while the clinical courses are provided at 15 multiprofile clinics equipped with up-to-date facilities. The main building houses a well-stocked library with over 700 000 books in different languages. International students can also get a lot of information from a variety of journals from UK, US, Germany and so on. To facilitate students the library works till 19:00 in the evening on weekdays. The university also provides free Internet service for all students. Students also have the opportunity to conduct research at the different departments of the university.

The University provides 3 hostels with most of the facilities for students. Most of these hostels house both Russian and international students. Due to a recent increase in the number of students the hostels are usually full, but however the university houses a special accommodation service which provides students with comfortable flats to rent.

Every semester the university sets aside a day for academically excellent students and such students receive a certificate of excellence from the Dean for International students. Every Newyear the university organises a function with the Rector during which students who excel in extracurricular activities like sports, entertainment etc… are awarded. The University also organises various conferences and seminars throughout the year and interested students may use such opportunities to widen their knowledge.