THE UNIVERSITY of Nicosia and St George’s, University of London, are set to open Cyprus’ first medical school in September 2011, offering a four year graduate entry MBBS course to international students.
Around 80 students are expected to enroll this year, rising to 100 the next. The course will be taught in English and follow St George’s pioneering ‘problem based learning’ (PBL) model.
The fees are set to be around €25,000 per year, and students will spend most of the first two years in Cyprus and the second two at the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel to gain clinical experience.
While this is significantly more expensive than the same course in the UK for EU students, the cost is comparable for non EU students, who will make up the majority of the students.
Dr Nicos Peristianis, president of the Council of the University of Nicosia said at the programme’s launch event yesterday: “This is a significant development for higher education in Cyprus, and is in-line with the European Union’s policy to encourage cooperation between European universities, but also in line with the Republic of Cyprus’ policy of turning the country into an educational hub for the region.”
Health Minister Christos Patsalides echoed the sentiment, promising to support the medical school’s initiative which he said “fits perfectly” with the government’s vision to establish Cyprus as a regional medical centre, and will add to the development of Cypriot medical services.
Patsalides said: “The lack of a medical school in Cyprus is a weakness in our system, therefore we encourage this medicine school to be developed in Cyprus” adding that the Government’s plan to open a medical school of its own at the University of Cyprus in 2013 would not go against the University of Nicosia.
Around ten per cent of the students are expected to be drawn from Cyprus, with the remainder expected to come from Israel, Greece, Russia, Scandinavia and Canada.
Asked about expressions of interest from prospective students, St George’s principal Professor Peter Kopelman said they had received informal indications of interest from Greek Cypriots in the UK and United States.
Kopelman described the course as “visionary” yesterday, as it allowed people with non-scientific undergraduate degrees to train to become doctors. Kopelman said “St Georges is justifiably proud of its distinctiveness as a health sciences university that is recognised globally for innovation and excellence in medical undergraduate training.
The third partner in the initiative, Sheba Medical centre will host to students in their third and fourth year clinical placements. Sheba is the largest hospital in Israel with around 2000 beds and several specialist units.
The medical school will work closely with private medical centres in Cyprus, such as the American Heart Institute and the Apollonion.
