Introduction
Many Indian students dream and aspire to study and practice medicine abroad. The academic standards followed in Foreign Universities often lure various students who vie for admission to the top foreign universities. Further, there is intense competition among students who wish to pursue medicine abroad. However, there are several challenges that a student often faces when it comes to pursuing medicine in foreign universities. It is important to understand the positives as well as challenges associated with studying medicine, in foreign countries. This article shall elaborate on some of the commonly faced challenges by students and various ways to circumvent the same, to enrich one’s experience when it comes to foreign studies, in the field of medical sciences.
Language Barriers
One’s quest for a successful medical education may be materially impacted directly or indirectly, by the language used in the nation where one is receiving medical training, or studying. Several nations require incoming students to commit a full year, at the least, to learning the nation’s mother tongue, or the predominant language of the nation. In some nations, medical school doesn't begin until students have mastered the official or predominant language of their nation.
The students will be burdened by this stipulation, and may even veer from their initial course as a result, focusing their academic prowess on learning new languages. The only way to get around this issue is to study in a place where one doesn’t have to devote a lot of time to learning a language. This element will make the pupils worry less about language challenges and make their day-to-day activities in medical school easy.
Accommodation Related Factors
The other crucial requirement for students seeking to pursue an MBBS overseas is housing or accommodation. In some places abroad, the quality of the accommodations won't be as advertised, instead, the facilities are often abysmal, and lacking in various aspects. In some nations, the price of private lodgings, and even shared student accommodations can be very exorbitant, and despite that, the accommodations in most college dorms do not meet the norms and standards that are commonly expected when one goes abroad. Without a comfortable study environment, students often lose motivation and struggle mightily to accomplish their goals and tasks.
Doing thorough research on the amenities and infrastructure of one’s intended hostel or private rental accommodation, or the location is the only way to avoid staying in subpar accommodations. The only way to get around this issue is to attend medical school in an area where one won't have to shell out a lot of money while receiving the most worth out of the money spent for accommodation.
On Ground Challenges
The country's climatic conditions have a significant impact on the student's stay. There are certain places with extreme climate conditions, harsh cold, etc. such as the United Kingdom, Canada etc. that are dream destinations for several Indian students who wish to pursue medicine abroad. The students' lives may be affected as a result of the weather, and they will be less focused on their studies, as it takes time to acclimatize oneself to the weather of a foreign nation.
Further, when it comes to food, some areas have less diversity in available options, and without access to Indian or regional food, students might have to resort to spending extra money at restaurants in order to eat familiar food. Further, Indian cuisine generally is not served in colleges where there aren't too many Indian students. These students are often forced to consume the local cuisine of the nation. There are several cultural and religious considerations when it comes to the food choices of students and therefore one must take into consideration such factors before zeroing in on a university abroad.
Admission Process
Another major challenge, faced by students seeking education abroad, especially in the field of medicine, is by way of complicated and extremely tough admission processes that often involve several rounds of qualifying exams, as well as interviews and other technical requirements this puts an impediment to national/native students who seek to study at a level equal to their foreign counterparts. Those who are not proficient in English often face disadvantages due to not being able to complete the formalities required during the admission process. This challenge can be mitigated by availing the services of institutions providing paid services that facilitate the admission process, and help with the paperwork, visa formalities and other requirements to facilitate admission in foreign medical universities.
Expensive Fees
After a perusal of the need for admission based scholarship and other factors that can mitigate the fees and funds available, it is imperative that the most feasible and safest university must be selected for admission by the student in order to maximize benefits for the student as well as the family, who often supports the students financially. In order to partake in an informed decision about the suitability of any foreign medical university for any person, one must assess whether the course vis-à-vis fees, in which admission is sought by the student best fits the needs of the student, and the student must also be on the lookout for scholarships, concessions, waivers, etc. so that the student does not face any hindrance in the pursuance of their medical education abroad.
Different Curriculum
Another impediment that often hampers the aspirations and dreams of students who seek to study medicine abroad is the existence of different and myriad curriculums that are different based on several factors, such as the standard of medical practices in the nation concerned, medical ability or facilities in the nation concerned, the standard of care that is often taken in the medical institutions of the nation, availability of equipment, as well as medical supplies, and other factors.
Often the curriculum difference affects the knowledge of the student as it limits the mindset of a person based on the practices of the nation where the student is studying medicine. Different types of treatments prevail in different nations, and therefore the curriculum significantly differs from one place to another. However, a student can mitigate the challenges, associated with different medical curricula, by understanding the requirements of practice in the nation where the student aims to practice further. Thus, the student must take into consideration various factors to make the best choice in this regard.
Case Study: Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on a full scale on 24th February 2022, led to the Indian government put into place, ‘Operation Ganga’ to evacuate more than 22,000 Indian Nationals from Ukraine. Amongst the evacuated nationals were several thousands of medical students, who have since been negatively affected due to the advent of the war. However, thousands of students chose to transfer to universities in other countries in the broader region surrounding Ukraine, that offered to take in the students mid-course. Further, students also chose to discontinue their studies in Ukraine incurring several financial losses. However, several hundreds of students have chosen to go back to Ukraine, leaving stability, and braving war, to pursue their impending medical education. Such instances show the challenges associated with pursuing medicine abroad and showcase the uncertainty that often accompanies a decision to study abroad.
Analysis
Pursuing Medicine from Foreign Universities has been witnessing a significant rise in interest from the general medical student, attributable to factors such as increased awareness, a myriad of academic benefits, and other perks that accompany a foreign medical degree. In the Indian context, the shine of a foreign medical degree has been gaining more traction with the availability of different and multiple options with regards to universities available and offering admission to students, ease of admission, specialized curriculum depending on specialization subjects and varying from one university to another, universities catering to every type of student and offering more affordable options for financing a medical degree etc. For those with financial or economic constraints, EMI plans/Fee Break options are also available.
Despite this, several students, even after perusing the budget/fees required, term of study and nature of specialization, financial limitations and other considerations surrounding their medical degree abroad, fail to make the right choice in being mitigation ready in case of unforeseen circumstances. Such challenges can be mitigated simply by finalizing the medical college, with which the person wishes to study, followed by visiting or logging on to the college website, or visiting any education service institution, or guidance centre related to career counselling, interacting with various seniors or alumni of the medical college, to make the right choice, thus concluding the search for a perfect experience abroad.
Way Forward
Thus, it can be stated undoubtedly that selecting a foreign medical university for studying abroad, is of paramount importance for students. Hence, it is advisable that a student must rationally analyze various available options before making a final selection on where to study, as it stands to benefit the student in the long run, by way of increased opportunities, employment offers, and a host of other conducive factors, that will pave the way for a successful and fruitful medical career for the student in the future.