About college

 

MEDICAL COLLEGE OF LIEPAJA, LATVIA

The Medical College of Liepaja is the only medical college in the west of Latvia. Precondition for eligibility to the studies is full secondary education. Average age of the students is 18-35 years.
There are three first level higher education programmes available at the Medical College of Liepaja: Nurse, Doctor’s Assistant and Midwife - total duration of the studies - 3 years, 120 CP.
One programme providing professional education - Nurse’s Assistant - 1 year, 40 CP
Average number of students - 200.
Medical College of Liepaja is a public institution.
Length of an academic year - 40 weeks.
The study process is split as follows:
    40% theoretical knowledge
    40% practical skills
    20% independent work
Total hours of Theoretical instruction 2448
Total hours of Clinical instruction 2352
Total    4800 (120CP)
The students acquire basics of the medicine during the first study year (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology a.o.). During the second year the students acquire knowledge about diseases and care, and the third study year is oriented towards the community health care and elaboration of the Qualification Paper.
The major practice sites involve the Regional Hospital of Liepaja, Oncological Hospital, Social Care units, Emergency Service.
Upon graduation of the Medical College of Liepaja the students may choose to work in health care establishments both in Liepaja and all over Latvia or foreign countries. They work in different hospitals, health centre, outpatient department, Nursing home. 
Medical College of Liepaja participates in the Leonardo da Vinci mobility projects since 1998.
We have had a lengthy co-operation with Sweden, Gothenborg (9 years). Since 2007 MCL participates in Multinational Network of child – disabled – elderly care.
Our foreign partners for co-operation have been Belgium-Namur, the Netherlands-Deventer - we have implemented mobility projects and projects of exchange of the teachers and the students as well as exchange of experience.
We have been the hosting country for the projects of students and teachers of Tampere, Finland. Major areas for the co-operation for the teachers are comparison of the study programmes, mastering of new teaching methods, team work; for the students - training in the hospitals, care in multicultural environment.
There is the Association for Nurses in Latvia.
Upon graduating from the College the nurses are registered in the Register of the Medical Persons and he/she should collect 150 credit hours within 5 years, in order to automatically prolong his/her registration.
In case the person has not worked as a nurse for 5 years, he/she shall be automatically excluded from the Register. The person will be required to pass the examination again, in order to obtain the registration.