The Medicine program is one of the most sought-after undergraduate programs for new prospective students to study at UGM. In 2023, 93 people competed through the UGM independent admission test (UM-CBT) pathway for one seat quota in Medicine, 70 through the national entrance test (SNBT), and 42 through the academic excellence-based entrance selection (SNBP).
For you, as a prospective new student, the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) offers not only the Medicine program but also two other undergraduate programs that you can choose from: the Nursing Science program and the Nutrition and Health program.
In the Nursing Science program, students are educated to become graduates capable of providing nursing care to individuals, families, groups, and communities across the health-disease continuum in all healthcare settings based on evidence and cultural sensitivity. Graduates from this program are known as professional nurses.
Meanwhile, in the Nutrition and Health program, students are educated to work and dedicate themselves to improving nutrition and standardized nutrition care efforts. Generally, graduates from this program are known in the community as nutrition consultants or nutrition experts (nutritionists).
Dean of FK-KMK UGM, Professor Yodi Mahendradhata, stated that the educational learning and teaching activities aim to produce innovative, adaptive, morally upright graduates who can become pioneers of change in medicine and health.
“To support the increasingly high quality and internationally standardized academic education, we regularly conduct program accreditation and strive to obtain international certification,” said Dean Mahendradhata on Friday (Mar. 22).
The Dean said the Medicine and Medical Doctor Profession programs have been accredited by the Akreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge der Ingenieurwissenschaften, der Informatik, der Naturwissenschaften und der Mathematik (ASIIN).
Furthermore, the Nutrition and Health program has been internationally certified by the Asean University Network – Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).
Meanwhile, the Nursing Science program is undergoing international accreditation from The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), an international nursing education accreditation body based in the United States.
Nabila Najma (20), a Nursing Science student currently serving as the Chair of the faculty’s Student Executive Board (BEM), shared that Nursing Science is a major she has chosen since high school.
“Because I entered the major I wanted, I enjoy the learning process. Many lecturers and seniors always help me when I encounter difficulties,” Najma recounted her experience.
In the Nursing Science program, Najma mentioned therapeutic communication learning, which is helpful for future nurses to communicate effectively with patients. Furthermore, days are filled with practicum activities to enhance skills labs, where practical simulations on specific topics are conducted according to the block system.
Fortunately for Najma, since the beginning of her studies, she has tried to adapt to campus life by always seeking the latest information to avoid falling behind her peers. She also tries to build relationships with her classmates to help each other when facing challenges.
“I learn to manage my time for academic and non-academic aspects,” she explained.
Her interest in joining student organizations has led Najma to be elected as the Chair of BEM. Being part of BEM provides her with new experiences, as she can make new friends from other majors.
“In BEM, I learned how to organize well, and I can also sharpen my soft skills,” she said.
Najma mentioned that she always makes small daily work agendas to balance her time between classes and organization activities. Even for sudden organizational needs, she schedules meetings mainly in the evenings to avoid disturbing her study schedule.
“Nevertheless, academics always come first for me,” she emphasized.
Maulana Sabrang expressed similar sentiments. A 2021 Medicine program student at FK-KMK UGM, he admitted that one of the biggest challenges for Medicine program students is time management.
He always practices time discipline and prioritizes tasks, especially during his undergraduate education, when classes and practicums became routine. Nonetheless, he still allocates time for activities like self-study, organization, and socializing with friends during leisure time.
“I also use a priority matrix to determine what tasks I must execute soon and what activities I can temporarily put aside,” he said.
According to Sabrang, the medicine curriculum at UGM is comprehensive and follows the Indonesian Doctor Competency Standards (SKDI). He mentioned that academic activities in his program are diverse and consist of integrated lectures among departments, practicals, focus group discussions (tutorials), and basic clinical competence training (BCCT).
There are Community and Family Health Care Interprofessional Education (CFHC-IPE) activities, a joint activity between Nursing and Nutrition students in guiding a partner family.
The teaching system in Medicine is structured in block systems, with one semester consisting of three blocks. Each block includes two cumulative exams and a tentamen. At the end of the semester, there are final exams (UAS) and an Objective-Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
As for tips to excel in classes, Sabrang admitted that balancing time between studies and organizations is key.
“One of the keys to surviving in medical school is sincerity and balancing time between studying, socializing, and being involved in organizations,” he conveyed.
When asked about his plans for a medical specialty, Sabrang admitted he is still undecided about it.
“I have several interests. I’m interested in becoming an obstetrics and gynecology specialist because I enjoy engaging with pregnant women while educating patients. However, I also feel interested in cardiology or cardiovascular thoracic surgery. I’m still unsure,” he said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie