Contents of the programme

Geneeskunde

Doctors serve a very important function in society. We all rely on them when it comes to our health. If you want to be one of tomorrow’s doctors, you can get your medical training at the Academic Medical Centre (AMC).

To do justice to the students’ budding medical talent, many parts of the study programme are presented in small groups. In addition to the focus on human anatomy and the causes of disease and disorders, ample attention is devoted to teaching the social skills that are so important in the medical profession.

The curriculum is practical, and starting in the first year students deal with real patients. Attention is also devoted to scientific research. If you like working with people and are fascinated by the human body, Medicine might appeal to you.  

In a number of ways, studying Medicine at the UvA is not the same as at other universities. The Medical Faculty, one of the largest in the Netherlands, is located at the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) in Amsterdam, which is the largest hospital in the Netherlands. The seven AMC research institutes enable the UvA to keep pace with the latest developments in the world of medicine.
The teaching is rarely done in large lecture halls. Instead there are numerous work groups and lab classes, with personal attention for each of the students.

In the first year, students attend clinical lectures, spend time observing physicians, and observe the procedures at a clinic. There are courses such as: from a molecule to a cell, healthy people and people who are ill, from the cell to the tissue, organ systems and emergency medical assistance.

In the second and third year there are courses in infection and immunity, the heart and the circulation of the blood, the respiration system and psychological functioning. Students also take electives, do an internship and write a thesis. It is also possible to do part of the study programme abroad.

Pre-med and afterwards

The training in Medicine is now divided into a bachelor's and a master's.

When you have finished your Pre-med training, you have various options. Of course it is possible to do an internship of more than two years as a houseman and finish with the final examinations in Medicine, and then work as physician under the supervision of established specialists. It is also possible to specialise in for example neurosurgery, cardiology, urology or gynecology.

It takes three to six years to be trained as a specialist. First you have to apply for a training position in the specialisation you have chosen. After completing the training, you can work as an independent specialist. It is also possible to do a training to become a family doctor or a medical examiner.

If you supplement the study programme with the relevant courses, you can also work in health care management or lecture at the training courses for nurses or physical therapists. With a degree in Medicine there is also the option of doing scientific research.

Quotas

There are quotas for programmes in Medicine and Dentistry. A national system of selection is used for these programmes. Since there are more than three times as many applicants as places that are available, chances of being admitted are not high.

Additional entry requirements

Apart from the entry requirements which apply to all students (see below) the following applies to school subjects:

• Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics

Application and admission

The application procedure for regular study programmes taught in Dutch depends on the country where you have obtained your diploma. Follow the link below for detailed information on application and admission.