Bachelor of Science in Medicine

Medical practitioner is without a doubt one of the most fascinating professions. After all, who would not be fascinated by the wonderful functioning of the human body. Putting this knowledge into practice by curing the ill and improving public health is a particularly exciting challenge for many young people. The study programme, however, comprises more than simply acquiring medical and technical skills. After all, since many medical practitioners have to deal with issues that transcend the purely medical, they must also possess a keen psychological insight.

Ghent University’s Medicine programme has a unique set-up: an academic year is not made up of traditional course units but of integrated modules (in Dutch: blokken; lit. blocks) and (learning) pathways (in Dutch lijnen; lit. lines). Modules are teaching periods grouped together in time, each of them focusing on a specific theme and approaching that theme from different disciplines. In addition to these modules, the (learning) pathways run throughout the entire programme. They teach you clinical, technical and communication skills, but also problem solving and independent academic work (including a Master’s dissertation), and they allow for an exploration into health care. All this is supplemented with a 'studium generale'. 

• Bachelor

About half of the first year curriculum is taken in common with dentistry students. It consists of six modules, five of which are devoted to biomedical topics, and one to health and society. The second year focuses on the different bodily systems in an integrated way (e.g. heart and blood vessels, nervous system …). Theoretical training of the various systems is flanked by simultaneous skills training. A good part of the third year is devoted to an introduction to academic research methodology. Acquiring diagnostic and therapeutic methods in medicine and medical decision-making is given much focus. From the second term onwards, the clinic comes into play.

• Master

The Master’s programme aims at a solid integration of theoretical knowledge and therapy into practice. It consists of skills lab training sessions, and clinical classes on diagnostic approaches with patient contacts. The meaning of clinical findings, the patient’s psychosocial and a rational choice of research methods and treatment (i.e. evidence-based medicine) is given much focus. The programme includes several internships: from (individual) work shadowing and structured internships (in a small group) to a GP internship and longer internships in various disciplines (i.e. emergency, radiology). International internships are also an option.

There are three types of medical practitioners: specialist medical practitioners, general practitioners and medical practitioners working in the non-curative sector.

Specialist medical practitioners usually find a job in their chosen specialisation, either in a hospital, their own practice or a group practice.

General practitioners (GP) usually take into account regional spreading in looking for a job. In recent years, GPs increasingly join other GPs and/or paramedics in group practices. A GP’s tasks are more generalist than those of specialist medical practitioners. To most patients, their GP is their first contact person and usually also their confidant(e). A GP is responsible for coordinating the patient’s care by means of their Centralised Medical Record (in Dutch: Globaal Medisch Dossier).

The non-curative sector cannot be lumped together: every medium-sized company or institution has its own occupational health services. Quite a number of medical practitioners are employed in administrative positions in government service, or are employed in insurance medicine, youth health care, prevention, quality assurance and inspection, etc… . Medical practitioners also find employment in academic research (government service, private companies, universities).