Basic Info
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montenegro is an educational and scientific institution located in Podgorica, Montenegro. The Faculty of Medicine is a well renowned medical school in the Balkan region. It offers an excellent medical education experience, as well as numerous research opportunities. Throughout our professional study programs we train future physicians, dentists, and pharmacists for their respective field in accordance with the framework of the Bologna Process.
The Faculty of Medicine offers the following study programs:
- Medicine: This is a 6-year program (12 semesters). Upon graduation from this program, students earn a professional degree of a Medical Doctor.
- Dentistry: This is a 6-year program (12 semesters). Graduates of this program earn a professional degree of a Doctor of Medical Dentistry (Doctor of Stomatology).
- Pharmacy: This is a 5-year program (10 semesters). Graduates of this program earn a professional degree of a Doctor of Pharmacy.
- Applied Physiotherapy: The basic studies of this program last 3 years (6 semesters) and an additional 2 years is focused on master studies (4 semesters). Upon completing specialized studies, students earn a Bachelors Degree of a Master in Physiotherapy.
- Higher Medical School: This is an educational program designed for the Studies of Patient Care. This is a 3-year program (6 semesters). Upon graduation from the basic studies, the students earn a Bachelors degree of a Senior Medical Nurse. Students also have the opportunity to continue this program by completing the two-years master studies in patient care. Upon graduation, these students earn a title of a Senior Medical Nurse-Master.
Additionally, the Faculty of Medicine offers doctoral studies in the fields of medicine and dentistry. The Ph.D. studies last 3 years (6 semesters). Once they defend their Ph.D. thesis, students earn the academic title of Ph.D. in Medical Science, or Ph.D. in Science of Dentistry respectively.
The Faculty of Medicine offers education to medical doctors specializing in various fields of medicine, ensuring that they acquire specialized medical knowledge and skills, and get high quality hands-on experience they need as future physician-specialists.
Specialization in Radiology and Family Medicine is carried out according to the plan and program at the Faculty of Medicine and its clinical bases. Doctors completing specialist studies must pass the final exam in front of the committee members who are selected from the Faculty of Medicine professors.
The Faculty of Medicine uses the most up-to-date indicators to measure and ensure the best quality of education possible.
For theoretical lectures, the faculty has modern buildings, amphitheaters, auditoriums, laboratories, computer labs, and classrooms for pre-clinical studies.
Classes for clinical studies are held in the clinical institutions that represent medical educational and scientific base: the Clinical Center of Montenegro, the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro, and the Centers of Primary Health Care in Podgorica.
During their studies, students are given access to a students club, library, reading and computer room, and much more.
MISSION AND VISION
MISSION
The primary mission of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montenegro is to create competent, highly educated healthcare professionals who will be the backbone of Montenegros healthcare system, symbiotically integrating the quality of healthcare services, scientific research, and the overall development of society.
VISION
The vision of the Faculty of Medicine is reflected in the continuous development and improvement of the educational process, ensuring that the learning outcomes of this higher education institution are adequately positioned and recognized as those of a competitive academic institution on the academic map of the region and Europe.
HISTORY OF THE FACULTY
The first lecture at the University of Montenegro Faculty of Medicine, on anatomy, was held on October 8, 1997. It was delivered by Professor Zvonko Đorđević. Classes at the Faculty of Medicine were organized for 41 enrolled students, following the entrance qualification exam. A total of 71 high school graduates applied for admission to the first generation of medical students.
The idea of studying medicine in Montenegro dates back more than a century. It strengthened and developed alongside the advancement of healthcare and academic capacities. The founder of modern medicine in Montenegro, Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut, initiated the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine in Cetinje as early as 1881.
The idea was visionary and bold. The initiative cited the need for physician education, the improvement of healthcare quality, and the promotion of public health as reasons for establishing a Faculty of Medicine in Montenegro.
In 1967, the initiative was revived. A study was conducted on the socio-economic justification for establishing medical studies in Montenegro. During those years, key scientific and educational institutions were being established in Montenegro – the University of Montenegro and the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts. Within this context, initiatives for the establishment of higher education institutions, including the Faculty of Medicine, were formulated. Discussions and the refinement of the initiative for the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine lasted nearly ten years. It was necessary to create a medical institution that would further develop and implement this initiative.
In 1966, the Department for Scientific Medical Research was established within the Institute for Health Protection in Titograd (now the Institute of Public Health). The purpose of this department was to approach the organization of medical scientific research in Montenegro in a systematic and planned manner. Dr. Božina Ćulafić was appointed as the head of the department.
By the decision of the Council of the Institute for Health Protection, the Department for Scientific Medical Research was restructured into the Institute for Medical Research in 1983.
In 1985, the Institute for Medical Research changed its name again and became the Medical Institute. The Medical Institute joined the "Veljko Vlahović" University in Titograd, gaining the status of a university member with all the rights and responsibilities of an independent university unit. Prof. Dr. Branislav Pešić was elected as the director of the Medical Institute. Thus, a competent institution was formed, which, among its various tasks, would work toward the realization of the idea of establishing a Faculty of Medicine in Montenegro.
On May 20, 1994, the Scientific-Teaching Council of the Medical Institute held a session and formed a Commission consisting of Dr. Božidar Bojović, Dr. Branislav Pešić, Dr. Božidar Raspopović, Dr. Miodrag Jovović, Dr. Miloš Cimbaljević, Dr. Ljubomir Ulićević, Dr. Nikola Milačić (dentist), Dr. Mihailo Kuliš, Dr. Veselin Vujović, and MSc Slobodanka Krivokapić. The Commission was tasked with preparing and finalizing the definitive proposal for the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine in Podgorica.
The proposal for the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine was published by members of the Commission of the Scientific-Teaching Council of the Medical Institute in the Medical Records journal in 1994 (Issue 47; pages 9-24).
With the engagement and invaluable assistance of Professor Predrag Obradović, then Minister of Education of Montenegro, the activities and procedures for establishing the Faculty of Medicine accelerated.
Before its official establishment, the Faculty of Medicine existed through the work of the Medical Institute. The Medical Institute, which was the core of medical scientific research in Montenegro, had a strong desire to create a Faculty of Medicine in Podgorica. Everyone involved in the Institute carried and supported this idea. It is important to highlight the contributions of Dr. Branislav Pešić and Dr. Božidar Raspopović, long-time leaders of the Institute, who played a significant role in the process of opening medical studies in Montenegro.
As stated in the Feasibility Study: “The Faculty of Medicine is being established to educate medical professionals and improve the quality of healthcare and public health in Montenegro.” This idea gained support from all relevant institutions in Montenegro in 1996, including the University of Montenegro, led by Rector Professor Dr. Predrag Obradović, the Ministry of Education, led by Minister Dragan Kujović, and the Ministry of Health, led by Minister Dr. Miomir Mugoša.
Thus, the idea of establishing a Faculty of Medicine in Montenegro gained enough strength to move toward its final realization.
On October 17, 1996, the Government of Montenegro officially adopted the decision to establish the Faculty of Medicine, as published in the Official Gazette. A further step in the process was taken on December 12, 1996, when the Government of Montenegro appointed the Founding Commission to carry out preparatory activities for the launch of the Faculty of Medicine in Podgorica. The Founding Commission was responsible for organizing the teaching process, facilities, equipment, and academic staff. Over nine sessions held between 1997 and 1999, the Founding Commission successfully fulfilled the tasks assigned by the Government of Montenegro.
The initial administrative and founding activities were completed with the formation of the Founding Commission. What remained was the continuous work on organizing the Faculty, strengthening its reputation, integrating it into the healthcare system, higher education, and scientific research in Montenegro, the region, and Europe. This process continues today and will