About the program

Τhe National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and its School of Medicine have launched a 6-year (360 ECTS) Medical Degree english program available only to foreign nationals (of EU and non-EU countries). The program was certified with honors by the National Higher Education Authority and it is similar to the recently reformed and certified program in Greek language. Courses are delivered in English by highly-cited researchers and professors, working at the edges of modern medicine in 90 Medical Departments and laboratories located in the University campus, and in 16 University Hospitals which provide daily, high-quality health services in the Athens metropolitan area. One of the unique features of the program is the diverse cultural background of the students, fostering an enriched learning environment and encouraging mutual learning. In its 2nd year, the program accommodates students from 15 different countries, promoting a global perspective and intercultural collaboration.

In order to obtain the MD degree, it will be required to be successfully examined in 48 compulsory and 12 elective courses distributed in 12 teaching semesters; the first 5 semesters include pre-clinical courses and exercises, the next 4 include clinical courses and training and the last 3 semesters concern all-day clinical training in hospitals (shadowing at hospital residents) in main clinical specialties.

Data collected through our School of Medicine Alumni Network show that 100% of our graduates seeking employment abroad eventually succeed in finding a job overseas.

Why Study Medicine at the University of Athens?

• The Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) is not only ranked 1st among Greek Universities by various world rankings but is also ranked among the top100 in the world in several subject domains.
• We offer 18 Centers of Expertise in Rare Diseases at our school of medicine.
• The School of Medicine is among the top 100 of Medical Schools worldwide as far as the academic subject Clinical Medicine, according to Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
• According to ‘Top Universities by Top Google Scholar Citations‘, our university is ranked at 89th place in the world and 16th place in Europe.
• We provide students access to world-class research opportunities, 16 hospitals and clinics and cutting-edge scientific advancements in Attica region. The number of clinics in different hospitals deal with different areas of medicine. e.g 7 in surgery, 7 in pathology, 2 in radiology, etc. Students rotate from the 6th semester until the 12th in all areas of medicine and will get trained in all areas of medicine, surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, radiology, etc for 7 semesters.

The curriculum explores various areas in medicine, public health and health sciences:

• 1-5 semesters: pre-clinical courses with labs that include, among others, Biology, Medical Chemistry, Medical Physics, Biochemistry, Histology an Embryology, Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, Medical Statistics, Descriptive Anatomy, Pathology, Medical Microbiology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology.
• 6-9 semesters: clinical courses which include, among others, Preventive Medicine & Public Health, Internal Medicine, Radiology, Clinical Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Urology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Orthopedics – Traumatology, Anaesthesiology – Emergency medicine, Dermatology, Therapeutics.
• 10-12 semesters: full-time clinical practice includes, among others, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics Gynecology, Psychiatry, by daily shadowing residents in University Departments of 16 Hospitals in Athens.

About the University

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest state institution of higher learning in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. As all other Greek universities, it is a self-governed legal entity of public law and all major policy issues are determined by the Ministry of National Education and Religion.

Retaining its academic autonomy, it fully respects the constitutionally secured right to everyone for a free education. This is possible because it is funded by the state. Moreover, it is progressively succeeding to benefit from its property and legacies, as well as from the funding of research projects with national and international partners. All funds are invested into the management and operation of educational, research and cultural programs, into student and staff services and grants.