Exchange report - incoming students
Melbourne
Home university: Monash University
Study programme: Medicine
Exchange programme: INK
Semester: Spring semester 2014/2015
Name: Caius Martin
Email address: camar18@student.monash.edu

Arrival and registration

On arrival all new exchange students were greeted by KI and members of the student organisations. The welcome was warm and it was fantastic to meet other students from abroad for the first time. All medical students undertaking hospital placements were required to visit the student health centre and complete an MRSA screening test.
Utsikt över Melbourne från Eureka Skydeck

Acommendation

I applied for accomodation using the UAC/KIHousing. I stayed in Pax, which I found to be a fantastic arrangement for an international student due to location (2 min walk from metro station), living arrangements (shared kitchen, own bathroom) and other students living there also.
St Kilda

Leisure time and social activities

Global Friends does an extremely good job of providing events to meet other students and later participate in activities which would otherwise be much more expensive. Meetigng other students near the start of semester is helped a great deal by events by Global Friends, the International Committee and Medicinska Foreningen.
Jag vid Great Ocean Road

Pre-departure

I applied for exchange as I felt it would a be a great opportunity to study abroad and experience a medical system different to Australia's. My home university has an exchange partnership with KI and as such the exchange program I took part in was the only one available. The information provided by KI and the international coordinators was clear and their replies prompt, hence I found it quite easy to organise my exchange via email.

Courses during the exchange period

D10X01 : Clinical Medicine - emphasis on reproduction and development
This course was overall very good, with good theory and clinical experience. The course supervisors are experienced and competent, and after completing the course I was quite satisfied with my learning outcomes. The examination format was sensible and encouraged revision prior to the exams, meaning my learning was consolidated.
2EE090 : Emergency Medicine
This rotation was very poorly organised. Although with proper supervision the rotation could have been great (seeing many patients, seeing patients independently and reporting back to the supervisor), my experience was not good as my supervisor was both not working much and engaged poorly with me. When I enquired regarding a replacement supervisor, no replacement was given and instead only temporary supervisors were available to me. This could be improved greatly with better organisation and communication from the supervisors.

Summary

Overall I had a fantastic exchange experience with KI. I was pleased to have been able to further my learning both academically and socially.
Jag i Grampians National Park

Language and Culture

I participated briefly in a Swedish language course. Unfortunately, the lessons were too slow-moving for my taste and I found I could not make the lessons each week due to other commitments and priorities. Other students may have had a different experience.

Studies in general

I studied the Paediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynaecology courses at Karolinska University Hospital, Solna. The supervisors and administrators of these programs were extremely friendly and approachable, working very hard to make sure any questions were answered and that we could concentrate more fully on our studies.

For a non-Swedish speaker there is a language barrier on the wards and with patients. This can mean that clinical experience is less rewarding sometimes, but clinical experience is still worthwhile and study from lectures, other teaching and books is also valuable.