University of Zagreb School of Medicine

Graduate Programs of Studies

The interest for the integrated study of medicine in the Croatian language noted a slight decrease at the end of the 1990s and in the first decade of the 21st century. Thus, for example, in 2008 there were 2.3 applicants in the Republic of Croatia competing for one out of 500 student places. After the planned and organised popularisation of the medical studies in 2010 the ratio in Croatia was improved to 3:1, while at the School of Medicine in Zagreb it was 3.5:1. According to the indicators presented in table 2‐1a. the interest of the prospective students for the medical studies is on the increase and in the last academic year the ratio was 4:1, while for all (with the exception of one enrolled student in the academic year 2014/15) this was also the first choice of studies. In the past twenty years we have continuously monitored the reasons for the enrolment in the medical studies (through an anonymous survey carried out on the first day of the studies). The results obtained point to the high intrinsic motives for chosen the medical program of studies (“to help people who are suffering”, “successful treatment of patients”, help to improve the health of our nation”), low extrinsic motives (“earn a lot of money and live prosperously”, “became a member of a profession with a status and have a safe and steady income”), as well as early made decision on the future vocation. The result of the survey in the period from academic years 2004/05 to 2013/14 demonstrate the fact that the majority of students surveyed at the beginning of their studies see their future career in the hospital settings (70%) with the most wanted residencies in surgery (18%), internal medicine (9%) and pediatrics (7%).   Since academic year 2011/12 the admission of students is based on three criteria as follows: the scholastic success during the four‐year high school education, the success at the State Matriculation Exam taking into account the candidate’s performance in the Croatian language, mathematics and English (the only among the medical schools in Croatia who requires the highest level of knowledge – A level)., as well as the result demonstrated at the medical school admission test. The decision to reintroduce the admission test was based on the positive effects recorded upon taking the admission test – the passing rate at the first year courses (such as Medical Physics and Biophysics,, and Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry) was increased from some thirty to more than almost seventy percent. Such requirements make sure that only the best and the highly motivated students will be selected for the medical studies. Thus, students who attain the highest sores at the admission test and who have successfully enrolled into the ZSM are best both as far as their high‐school knowledge, as far as their ranking at the admission procedure are concerned. The requirement that prospective students must meet the essential score requirements for each course taken at the State Matriculation Exam guarantees that they must have demonstrated a desired scholastic achievement in that area during their high‐school education, which later helps them in preparing exams for the given courses.  The students who get enrolled have completed high school and have a very high grade point average in their past education (from 4.4 to 4.8). According to the indicators in the current and past two years, the students are highly motivated, have excellent high school education and have shown their qualities also at the entrance examination not only by passing the threshold but by getting among the first 300 who can regularly study medicine at the expense of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia. According to the indicators of the enrolled students in this academic year, approximately 50% of the enrolled students come from the high schools of the Zagreb area, while others come from high schools 110 from other parts of Croatia. 91% of the enrolled students have completed the general education or mathematical high school program, while only one enrolled student finished the secondary medical school.