Medical studies consist of three years of undergraduate studies and three years of master's studies, each year divided into two semesters. After these six years, graduates can begin a complementary master's program in general medicine (3 years) or in one of the medical specialties (3 to 6 years).
The first annual block of the bachelor's program
The first semester includes basic physics and chemistry, a course in biology and general embryology, and a course in general histology. This training is supplemented by a course in medical statistics and an anthropology course.
The second semester includes the study of cellular morphology and function. Students also begin the study of biochemistry and anatomy. The philosophy of science, tools for exploring medical literature, and an initial approach to medical practice are taught. Finally, the societal dimensions of health and illness are addressed through epidemiology and public health courses.
The 2nd annual block and the first semester of the 3rd annual block of the Bachelor's program
These three semesters lay the foundation for understanding the human body, its structure and function, both in normal and pathological conditions. These courses include courses in morphology, physiology, and biochemistry.
The anatomy course continues the description of the human body by describing it region by region, as it appears to the physician, during a clinical examination, or through medical imaging. The physiology courses study the functioning of the human body under normal and pathological conditions.
Other courses complete the program: microbiology, pharmacology, human genetics, and psychology.
The humanities seminars aim to integrate the various aspects of humanities training into real-life medical situations.
In the 2nd annual block, a nursing internship in a hospital setting and an observation in a general practice give the student the opportunity to familiarize themselves with clinical practice.
The second semester of the third annual block of the Bachelor's program
This semester marks the beginning of the clinical training program, which will be continued in the Master's program. This clinical training is organized into systems, integrating the various medical specialties, to cover all interventions in the care of a pathology, from diagnosis to treatment. The program includes the study of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as an initial course in clinical practice.
A one-month clinical internship with a general practitioner allows students to integrate the initial clinical concepts learned during this undergraduate program. Students interested in basic research have the option of completing a laboratory internship instead of this general practice internship.