International Students’ Academic Affairs Department

The Dean’s office of international students was founded in 1957 as a department, reorganized into Dean’s-office in 1972.

In 2023, it was reorganized as the International Students’ Academic Affairs Department.

The first international students of YSMU were those of Armenian descents from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. Subsequently, the University started providing education in Russian (since 1985) and English (since 2000) for overseas/international students and Armenian diaspora representatives. The number of international students is expanding gradually.
At present, YSMU hosts 1562 International students from 32 foreign countries, such as Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, Portugal, Egypt, Sweden, Philippines, Nederland, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Germany, the Great Britain, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the USA, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. ¾ of them has chosen English as the language of study. The number of international graduates is increasing as well. For instance, since the time of its foundation more than 3500 English-speaking and more than two thousand Armenian and Russian-speaking international graduates have become the YSMU alumni.

Karo Deghdzunyan has been in charge of the Department of Students of Diaspora for many years. The Deans of international students were V.P. Hakobyan, A.T. Tadevosyan, M.I. Hovhannisyan, G.A. Navasardyan, Y.S. Sahakyan, S.A. Avetisyan, M.M. Melkonyan, G.F. Avetisyan, A.J. Harutyunyan.

Education of International students is carried out in accordance with the national and international Higher Medical Education standards. Medical education is regulated by the Law on Education and the Law on Higher and Post-Graduate education of the Republic of Armenia. Both Laws are in consent withthe main directives of the Bologna Process. During their studies the students earn credits, with one-year of studies equal to 1800 hours of student work equivalent to 60 credits. The credit system is compatible with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The university offers the following Degree programs to international students

• General Medicine
•  Dentistry (Stomatology)
•  Pharmacy

The mode of study is full-time. As a rule,the academic year starts onSeptember, 1 and makestwo semesters with 20 and 22 weeks duration, respectively.
The durationof General Medicine program involves12 semesters (6 years). The graduates are awarded MD degree and qualified as «MD Physicians». The duration of Dentistry and Pharmacy programs involves 10 semesters (5 years), graduates are qualifiedas of Doctors of Stomatology and Pharmacists, correspondingly.
During the period of study, students learn pre-clinical and clinical disciplines. Great attention is paid to practical skills acquired during the classesand practical training periods in the University Simulation Center, laboratories and hospitals. Modern educational technical aids are widely used in the university.
International students are actively involved in research, educational, cultural and other activities. The Dean’s Office assists international students in organizing celebration of their national and religious events. Dean’s office integrates international students into university students’ life/extracurricular activities and students’ societies, promotes the environment of international tolerance and friendship.

The scope of Dean’s Office activities includesorganization of the academic process, development and invention of new and latest methods of students’ education, such as implementation of problem-based learning and medical research in students’ education, promotion and enforcement of students’ scientificactivities. The Dean’s-office supervises and coordinates everyday activity of the departments and students.