Roman Fishchuk (22) is a sixth and final year student from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.

 

How’s university life in Ukraine?

I love my university life in Ukraine. You have to live it if you really want to feel what it is like. You go to classes. Spend time with your groupmates. Go to hospitals where you meet patients and try to learn how to communicate with them. After classes you have things to do that are connected with your students activities. You discuss future projects, go to different meetings. After that you finally get home and try to study. Between all those things you have to find time to eat something. The day finishes late. You go to sleep and next morning everything starts from the beginning. Isn’t it great!?

 

Is it financially possible for everyone to study medicine in Ukraine?

To study medicine for Ukrainian students at my faculty costs 1800 USD a year. To study dentistry for Ukrainian students costs 1950 USD a year. Foreign students pay more because they are provided better facilities than Ukrainian students. 1/3 of students’ study is paid by the Ukrainian government. But after graduation these students have to work for 3 years in the place where the Government sends you (usually it’s a rural area). Banks offer student loan for studying. Not all Ukrainians can afford to study either medicine or dentistry. These specialties are one of the most expensive in Ukraine.

 

What do you think is the best part of the medical education in Ukraine?

I think it’s the practical part. We get to see, talk, work with real patients in all classes.

 

If you can change one thing of the medical education in Ukraine, what would that be?

I would like the universities to work for the students in the first place but not for the teachers.

 

What do you think that is the biggest difference in study medicine in The Netherlands and Ukraine?

I think the biggest difference is in the level of student activity and quantity of student organisations. Dutch students have more opportunities to express their potential in my opinion.

 

Describe your life in 2020…

By the year of 2020 I would like to achieve changes in the field of healthcare on the national level. I would like to implement projects that will improve the quality of life of Ukrainian citizens. Besides work I would like to have a nice family, live in a private house with my family and drive a good car.

 

 

If you have any questions after reading this interview, you can contact Roman Fishchuk

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