THE Penang Medical College (PMC) offers a affordable medical studies for talented students.
PMC offers a medical degree twinning programme leading to the Bachelor of Medicine. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BChBAO) recognized by the Malaysian Medical Council and the Irish Medical Council.
PMC is a partnership between Penang ad two of the oldest and most respected medical schools in Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD).
PMC was set up in 1995 to offer Malaysians a cheaper alternative to further their medical studies overseas.
Through a twinning programmes, tuition fees and living expenses are kept to a minimum compared to pursuing a medical course overseas.
Successful applicants selected by PMC will fly to Dublin to start their two-and-a-half-year pre-clinical studies at either RCSI or UCD and return to Penang for their two-and-a-half-year clinical studies.
Upon registration, students of PMC will be conferred the degrees of the National University of Ireland (NUI) as well as the Licentiates of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
In Ireland, PMC students are engaged in activities as soon as they touch down in Dublin with the Malaysian Society of University College Dublin (MSOC UCD) and PMC Student Association Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (PMCSA-RCSI). The latter is also one of the largest student bodies in RCSI. Just like MSOC UCD, it also offers numerous activities for its members.
According to society secretary Priyaneka Baskaran, “We are an active club and have organized quite a number of activities in the past year. The society is an official student society of UCD dedicated to be of assistance to fellow students pursuing their degrees in UCD. The society runs on a completely voluntary basis and encourages participation from its members.”
The associations are active and helpful, and this is reflected in their activities. Every September in Dublin, there is a week-long orientation on campus.
Seniors pick up juniors at the airport, luggage will be dropped off at respective residences and a meeting will be organized with the international student adviser of each college. They will also assist the new students to register for classes and labs.
A yearly event that they organized is Malaysian Night. This year, it falls on Feb 5. This is the highlight of the year and will be attended by the ambassador, medicine faculty dean, UCD vice president, VIPs, lecturers and international supporters.
Malaysian festivities are also celebrated in Dublin. Students organized celebrations for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Raya Open House, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas. At these events, international students learn about the culture of Malaysian students and meaningful experiences are created.
Sports is not forgotten. In October last year, a paintball event was organized with about 100 members taking part.
It was a good way to let loose after a period of classes and exams.
Other sports events include bowling, RCSI-UCD Sports Day as well as an initiation to the Irish Sports of Gaelic Football, Hurling and Touch Rugby.
Once students are back in PMC, Penang, they can join the Penang Medical College Students Association. Activities are aplenty.
Recently, the students performed in the Say Ahhh!!! A Charity Musical Evening with Doctors, a fundraising event organized by the Penang Family Health Development Association (FHDA) in Penang.
At this charity event, more than 80 specialist doctors from seven hospitals and two medical colleges in Penang swapped their stethoscopes for microphones on Oct 31 in the name of the charity.
Selection process
The PMC selection process starts as early as the end of the year, where candidates will need to apply using their pre-university forecast or actual results to be selected for an interview.
Application forms can be obtained at offices or downloaded at their website. Once the application is processed, students will be called to attend the interview.
A provisional or firm offer will be sent to successful applicants upon deliberation by the interview panel. The intake is only once a year in September.
PMC is listed in the world directory of medical schools published by the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the International Medical Education Directory (IMED).
For details, contact PMC at 03-2166 0223 (Roslina Azarai or May Chin). Log on to www.pmc.edu.my for details and to download your application form. Visit PMC at the Star Education Fair @ Education Ireland Pavillion at the KL Convention Centre.
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