After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Use theoretical and practical knowledge in biophysics, biology, pharmacology, anatomy, morphology, and physiology of the human body (in both normal and pathological states) to the extent defined in the descriptions of individual courses.
• Identify states that are life-threatening and provide qualified care.
• Use the basic ways of medical examination using less complex devices and basic laboratory techniques including differential diagnosis of diseases that are common in our population or are especially important due to their severity.
• Provide basic therapeutic and nursing interventions.
• Is familiar with the principles of diagnosing and treating all major health disorders and their classification as to the level of urgency, method, and place of treatment.
• Apply the rules of primary and secondary prevention and promotion of health.
• Has basic knowledge and skills in the area of radiation protection.
• Is familiar with the organization of Czech healthcare and its basic legal principles, knows the economic principles of healthcare facility operation, and understands the social and economic determinants of health and the impact of diseases.
• Is familiar with the basic principles of medical psychology and professional ethics of relationships between doctors and patients and is able to apply them in medical practice.

Graduates can apply for a wide range of positions in all the disciplines of medicine including the food, water, and product safety services and paediatrics. They can also work as research workers in biomedical science disciplines or as specialized representatives of pharmacological companies.

The study plan is structured around the course subject areas. It includes 45 required courses, 20 selective courses, and 10 elective courses, as well as around 40 optional lectures. Students are obliged to register for 5 selective courses during the first six semesters and for another 5 selective courses in their 7th–11th semester. Students can also register for courses offered by other MU faculties as elective courses.

The study programme moves from theoretical to pre-clinical and finally to clinical courses. Theoretical courses are taught mostly during the first two years of studies. Each course typically consists of lectures, practical sessions, and seminars. In the fourth semester, students start attending courses on Clinical Propaedeutics and a four-semester course Theoretical Foundations of Clinical Medicine. During their third year of study, students attend pre-clinical courses as a preparation for clinical courses scheduled for the fourth and fifth year. Clinical courses typically include lectures and internships at various clinics. In the last (sixth) year of study, students work at clinics under the supervision of experienced physicians (pre-graduation internships). In the course of their studies, students complete four summer internships in hospitals. During the first three years, there is a weekly instruction schedule; from the 7th semesters, students attend clinical internships, which are scheduled in blocks.

The study is based on a credit system: to enrol in the next semester, students need to earn a certain minimum number of credits in the current semester (the minimum amount has been 20 credits since the academic year 2012/13). Besides, there is a system of prerequisites, which is used to enforce a strictly defined logical sequence of course registration (so that knowledge gained during earlier years of the study becomes the foundation for more advanced courses later on). Students attend around 30 hours of classes every week and also need to study at home for at each course (at least 15 hours).

In the course of the fourth and fifth years, students complete internships at individual clinics and attend lectures that complement the clinical instruction. During the last year of studies, students attend pre-graduation practical training, working at clinics and departments under the supervision of experienced physicians. In the course of the studies, students also complete 4 blocks of summer practical training where they learn about the operation of healthcare facilities and procedures used in practice.

To complete the studies, students need to pass the advanced Master’s state examination consisting of the following five parts:

Public health (semester 10–12)

Paediatrics (semester 11–12)

Obstetrics and gynaecology (semester 11–12)

Internal Medicine (semester 11–12)

Surgery (semester 11–12)

All components of the state examination are conducted by boards of examiners, with members of the boards appointed by the dean. In three of the courses, students complete several weeks of pre-graduation training in the given field (Internal Medicine – 7 weeks, Surgery – 5 weeks, Paediatrics – 3 weeks). During this training, students work with hospitalized patients under the supervision of experienced physicians: they examine the patients, suggest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and keep records and documentation required for hospitalized patients. The training places great emphasis on appropriate communication with the patients, acquisition of skills in resolving emergency and problematic situations, and adherence to the rules of professional ethics.

The final state examination is the culmination of six years of study. Students must demonstrate not only the knowledge of the given subject area, but also basic knowledge of other clinical, pre-clinical, and theoretical subjects, clinical thinking, and professional manner of expression. In clinical subjects, they must be able to convincingly analyze a health problem according to the following pattern: definition, ethiopathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment.

Graduates of the General Medicine Master’s study programme can continue their studies in one of the 26 doctoral degree study programmes.