The Credit System
In September 2003, the credit system and modularization was implemented in the Medical School. The new system is in accordance with the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The workload in one semester is 30 credits, and 1 credit is the equivalent of one contact hour per week of study throughout the semester (fourteen weeks). The new educational scheme is flexible. The students have the opportunity to take the same obligatory and optional courses at another university in Hungary or abroad, and to create an individual plan from a wider range of choices.
The subjects taught at the University of Pécs Medical School are either obligatory, elective or optional.
In order to acquire a M.D. degree, general medicine students have to accumulate 360 credits from these subjects during their studies. It is a pre-condition to accumulate 300 credits until the end of the clinical module (5th year of the suggested curriculum) in order to be able to start the clinical rotation.
- The obligatory subjects make up 80% of the total credit points.
- The elective subjects are obliged to take up 15% (34 credits from the subjects and 20 credits for the thesis) of the total credit points.
- The optional subjects are free-choice subjects which have to make up at least 5% (18 credits) of the total credit points.
For dentistry students to acquire a D.M.D. degree, students have to accumulate 300 credits from these subjects during their studies. All the other rules also apply to them as to the General Medicine students.
There are certain criterion requirements such as First Aid and four semesters of Physical Education which do not have a credit value.
If the amount of credits exceeds 110% of the amount necessary to obtain a degree, students will be obliged to pay fees.
Departments, facilities and research
The Medical School is divided into 25 clinical departments and 24 theoretical departments concerned with the basic sciences and preclinical medicine. There are also several sub-departments and sections that contribute to the research and teaching activities. All the laboratories are well equipped according to the highest European standards.
Along with each individual's full-time commitment to clinical service, the staff members of the Medical School, numbering well over 500 physicians, participate in the teaching and research programmes, as well.
Facilities
The Medical School is located in two different areas. The Main University Campus houses all the departments of the basic sciences, except the Department of Experimental Surgery, and many of the clinical science departments. Other units which provide supportive services and administrative assistance, including the Dean's Office, are also located in this area. Situated on the western end of the town are the other departments of the clinical sciences and the Department for Experimental Surgery. In addition to laboratories for clinical study and research, each department has wards for both inpatients and outpatients. From the main campus, there is easy access to this area by bus or on foot.
The Medical School draws its patients from all areas of Hungary and many foreign countries, as well. The entire University Hospital has a capacity of approximately 1,350 beds.
Keeping up with the highest educational standards, the Medical School is well equipped with lecture halls, seminar rooms, laboratories, and other facilities which are used for a variety of educational functions.
The Medical School's Central Library is located on the third floor of the Main Building of Basic Sciences. This library subscribes to over 400 journals and periodicals from all over the world. Departmental libraries are each supplied with journals and books of a more specialized nature.
Research
Students interested in pursuing a career in medical research are strongly encouraged to do so through our programmes. The options include the full spectrum of specialities. The Student Researchers' Society (Undergraduate Research) is a programme operating in each of the departments of the Medical School. The students enrolled in these programmes are provided with the opportunity to review the basic sciences, take part in clinical work, engage in laboratory work, and get a solid foundation for postgraduate researches.