Faculty of Medicine in Košice

The University is located in the second largest city in Slovakia. Košice, a city with a rich history, offers many culture and sports events, as well as numerous activities for a multicultural student community.

The Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1948 as a branch of the Faculty of Medicine of the Slovak University, which later became the Comenius University in Bratislava. In 1959, the merging of the Faculty of Medicine and the Philosophy Faculty lead to the foundation of a new university in eastern Slovakia: the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice.
The Faculty of Medicine of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice cooperates closely with some important universities and institutions in Prague, Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Padua, Essen, Giessen, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Zürich, Turku, Oulu, Salamanca, Kraków and other cities.

As a public university, the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University is under the patronage of the Ministry of Education. It is accredited according to the rules and conditions set by higher education law in the Slovak Republic.

In the case of recognised professions for which the training conditions in Slovakia match those in the European Union (doctors and dentists), the Member States of the European Union are obliged to recognise diplomas issued in Slovakia, regardless of the language of instruction.

Degree in English

The degree in the English language has been offered for 15 years. More than 600 international students have successfully finished their studies and acquired a degree in Medicine or Dentistry.

The Faculty of Medicine offers international students degrees in two medical fields:

• General Medicine – the degree lasts for six years (12 semesters)
• Dentistry – the degree lasts for six years (12 semesters)

Both degrees –general Medicine and Dentistry– can be earned by international students with a good command of English. The Faculty of Medicine cooperates closely with the University Hospital in Košice, where the students receive practical training in the clinical disciplines.

The last years of the degree consist mainly of practical training in hospitals and other facilities of public health bodies. The degree ends with an exam by the Board of the Faculty Experts. Graduates are awarded the title “Doctor of General Medicine”, abbreviated “MUDr.” (corresponds to MD) and “Doctor of Dental Medicine”, abbreviated “MDDr.” (corresponds to the title DMD).

In the case of recognised professions for which the training conditions in Slovakia match those in the European Union (doctors and dentists), the Member States of the European Union are obliged to recognise diplomas issued in Slovakia, regardless of the language of instruction.

Das Credit-System

In the academic year 2001/2002, in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), the credit system was introduced. This system enables access to courses in other countries of the European Union. The ECTS promotes mobility, as it allows students to study in other European countries, while at the same time guaranteeing full recognition at the host university. Furthermore, it leads to transparency in the curricula, which in turn improves the recognition of the degrees.