The International Undergraduate Program (IUP) in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) is UGM’s first international class program.
This program has been running for 23 years since its establishment in 2002.
It adopts a program-based learning system and provides significant opportunities for students to build international connections. With a student quota of around 80 students, it is a good choice for international students.
Rr. Siti Rokhmah Projosasmito, MD, from the IUP at FK-KMK UGM management and the person in charge of UGM’s IUP in Medicine, stated that one of the main advantages of this international class program is the opportunity for students to take elective courses at overseas universities for one semester.
Additionally, students benefit from having more visiting professors compared to the regular class.
“This program is designed to help students pave the way for international careers in healthcare,” said Projosasmito in her statement to reporters on Friday (Feb. 21).
Projosasmito mentioned that many IUP graduates are now spread across Eastern Europe and Austria, giving them valuable experience in various global health systems. She admitted that the selection process for prospective students entering this program is rigorous.
Additional tests, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Situational Judgment Test (SJT), are conducted to assess personality compatibility and decision-making abilities and ensure the quality of prospective students.
“We are looking for students who can demonstrate action, not just dreams or narratives. We seek those with strong motivation in the medical field, who are humanistic and possess integrity,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Novrizal Abdi Sahid from the IUP at the Faculty of Pharmacy mentioned that the program has offered significant international exposure since its launch in 2021.
One of the flagship programs is a joint course at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, which has been successfully implemented and has received positive feedback from both students and the institution.
“Students are indeed required to participate in international mobility programs for at least one month, such as short courses, research, or community empowerment in countries like Japan and the Netherlands,” he said.
Although the faculty is still facing challenges with different international curriculums and has only recently introduced the IUP, the Faculty of Pharmacy remains ambitious in offering a double degree program in the future.
International certificates are currently awarded to recognize IUP students’ achievements in the pharmaceutical field.
“For the current IUP, the degree is fully from us (UGM). However, we do provide our acknowledgment for IUP students. The double degree is currently available at the postgraduate level,” said Dr. Sahid.
The Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) started offering IUP in 2023, and nine IUPs are currently available. These programs include Urban and Regional Planning, Chemical Engineering, and Geodetic Engineering.
In 2024, IUPs in Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Informatics, and Geological Engineering were added. In 2025, the IUP in Mechanical Engineering will be launched.
“We offer various international exposure options such as student exchange, short-term academic programs, and double degrees,” said Dr. Bertha Maya Sopha from the IUP management team at FT UGM.
Although newly launched, the double degree programs partner with prestigious overseas universities, such as the University of Dundee and the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
Additionally, FT UGM offers a fast-track scheme in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, allowing students to complete undergraduate and master’s programs in just five years.
FT UGM emphasizes that prospective students are assessed based on academic scores and their motivation, passion, and self-management abilities.
For desk evaluation, students may choose to use either their report card from semesters 1-5, SAT scores, UTBK scores, or results from UGM’s independent admission test (UM UGM).
Furthermore, IUP suggests a minimum overall TOEFL paper-based score of 500 for English proficiency certification. School report cards will also be evaluated based on individual subject grades, not rankings.
“We strongly advise prospective students to prepare all necessary documents and meet the admission requirements for IUP,” added Dr. Sopha.
Author: Lintang
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya