Basic Medicine Course (BMC, Premedical Studies)
Duration of studies: 1 year (2 semesters)

                The one-year premedical Basic Medicine Course is recommended to those students who do not have sufficient knowledge in Biology, Physics and Chemistry from high school. The requirements in these premedical science subjects are rigorous, thus it is recommended that students who need a period of preparation prior to beginning the General Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy Program join the Basic Medicine Course. Students successfully completing the course are directly admitted to their chosen program. In addition to the Basic Medicine Course starting each September, our University launches an Intensive BMC in January as well.

 

Class Behavior

Students must not use cell phones to talk or text during class.  Cell phones must be switched off or kept in silence mode during class. In seminars, students will be expected to participate in seminar discussions. Students are encouraged to ask questions related to the topic of the lectures discussed, and participate in solving problems related to the topic of the seminar. Some professors will ask for students to volunteer information, but some professors call on students randomly.  It is, thus, a good idea to come to class prepared so as not to be embarrassed in front of the class. Students should not disrupt the class by talking to each other.  If one continues to disrupt the class, the student may be asked to leave. The usage of electronic devices, textbooks and any form of interaction between students during the tests is strictly forbidden. Electronic devices (cell phones, tablets, dictionaries, etc.), except for approved simple calculators, must not be within the reach (in pocket, in the desk, etc.) of students during tests. It is the students' responsibility to stow these items before the test begins without specific warning by the supervising teachers. Violation of these above mentioned regulations results in an immediate and unconditional dismissal from the program.
 

Requirements

The 2-semester course consists of lectures and seminars. Attending lectures is strongly recommended, attendance of seminars is compulsory and recorded. Everyone must attend the seminars with the group designated by the Registrar's Office.
Absence can significantly affect your understanding and can have serious implications of progression in your studies. One might have a maximum of three seminar absences per semester to have the opportunity to get exemption. Students missing 4 seminars per semester cannot be exempted from the End of Semester Examination (ESE) or Final Examination (FE), regardless of their score reached on the Self Control Tests. Students missing 5 or more seminars per semester are dismissed from the course. Missed seminars cannot be made up, unless one obtains prior permission to be absent.
The knowledge of students will be tested 4 times during each semester using a written test system by Self Control Tests (SCT). The first semester is ended with an End of Semester Examination (ESE) covering the topics of all lectures and seminars of the first semester. Three dates will be set for the ESE during the winter examination period. Unsuccessful students may repeat the ESE twice (B and C chances). Students repeating the course must successfully pass the first semester either with exemption or at least with a score of 45% of ESE, otherwise their studies will be terminated. The ESE is not compulsory for non-repeater students and even who fail may continue their study in the second semester, however, they lose their chance to receive bonus points. Exam exemptions and bonus point policy are to improve the students' performance on SCTs and give them a chance to get exemption of the FE (described below) even with SCT scores lower than 30% in the first semester. Exact details of the exemption of ESE:
- one's average score of the three best first semester SCTs is at least 45%, AND
- (s)he successfully completed all the SCTs at least with 30% score, AND
- (s)he has a maximum of 3 seminar absences for each subject in the first semester.
The course ends with a Final Exam (FE) covering the whole material of the first and second semesters. A minimum of four FE dates will be set during the summer examination period. Unsuccessful students may repeat the FE twice (B and C chances, and the latter ends up with an oral examination part). Exemption from FE is offered for students who achieve excellent academic performance during their studies on the following base:
- the average score of the six best SCTs (out of 8) of the two semesters is at least 45%, AND
- passed all the SCTs with at least 30%, AND
- (s)he has a maximum of 3 seminar absences for a given subject per semester.
OR
- the average of the ESE score taken 3 times plus the scores of the 3 best SCTs in the 2nd semester is at least 45%, AND
- passed all the SCTs with at least 30%, AND
- (s)he has a maximum of 3 seminar absences for each subject per semester.

 

Bonus points will be added to the FE score (in %) of eligible students and calculated as follows:

The average of the ESE score three times and the best 3 2nd semester SCTs OR the average of the best 6 SCTs	Bonus points
40.00-40.99	1
41.00-41.99	2
42.00-42.99	3
43.00-43.99	4
44.00-44.99	5

Students who could not meet the above described conditions for exemption during the two semesters must sit for the FE from the whole material of the first and second semesters. The participation shall be preceded by ID confirmation (i.e. student's card, passport or driving license) before all forms of tests.
Self Control Tests, End of Semester Exams, and Final Exams will be assessed as follows.  

 

Percentage (%)	Mark
0 - 44.99:	fail (1)
45.00 - 64.99:	pass (2)
65.00 - 74.99:	satisfactory (3)
75.00 - 84.99:	good (4)
85.00 - 100:	excellent (5)

Course coordinator: Dr. Beáta Lontay, Department of Medical Chemistry