The lack of medical degree graduates is not due to the number of students capable or willing to achieve relevant qualifications but a bottleneck in the academic system prevents students from participating degrees because of a lack of places or because the academic requirements are set too high. In some cases capable students do not have the relevant ‘A’ Levels to progress directly to a medical degree and although this is a setback for many students there is no need for it to be the final word. If the Universities in your country are unable to provide you with a place on a degree course you may still be able to study for the same qualification abroad.

English Medical Degree Courses
The Czech Republic is world renowned for its academic excellence and the widespread ability of the general population to speak English. Their Universities offers an excellent opportunity for students from other countries to study medical degree courses in English.

A number of their Universities run courses which are taught in English, over the course of six years and in some cases, where the relevant experience can be demonstrated it is possible to gain the degree in five years.

Degree Course Entry Requirements
Candidates with ‘A’ level qualifications in Chemistry, Biology and Physics, wishing to study medical degree courses in the Czech Republic are subject to an initial written exam. This is moderated by senior members of the faculties from the Universities offering admissions. If a student has a related ‘A’ Level such as Mathematics instead of one of the sciences and wishes to apply, they must prove in an interview situation that they can demonstrate satisfactory knowledge. These exams are held twice per year, once in June and again in August/September. Some colleges also offer a two week intensive revision course for students to prepare.

Czech Universities offering Medical Degrees to International Students
Currently two Universities in the Czech Republic are admitting international students for medical degree courses. The Charles University, in Prague is one of the top universities in the Czech Republic and the Masaryk University in Brno is one of the most modern.

As part of the degree you will need to learn conversational Czech, to be enable you to consult with patients during work experience in the Czech Republic.

Students without any of the relevant ‘A’ Levels can still study for medical degrees by taking a foundation course, which is typically a year long and is equivalent to the first year of a degree course.

Other familiar department stores of interest would include Debenhams, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Kotva, and C&A Department Store. The famed Bohemian crystal, porcelain, and hand-blown Moser glass can be found in stores in Old Town. There are also a large number of antique stores offering antique watches and jewelry, paintings, historical glass and china.

Handcrafted jewelry can be purchased at specialty stores like Blue Rabbit, where it is said that no two pieces look exactly alike. Czech garnets, which should come with a certificate of authenticity, are easily available at stores around the city. Another interesting Prague souvenir is the marionette. They come in all manner of sizes and quality and the prices vary accordingly. They can be gifted as toys to children or even as showpieces to adults since they make good conversation starters.

The open air market in Holesovice is a shopper’s paradise due to the wide availability of bargains in a single location. Heavy bargaining will solicit some major discounts, particularly if more than a single item is being purchased. The stalls offer watches, clothing, shoes and boots, handbags, knives and swords, perfume, and jewelry. A number of Chinese takeaway stalls offer good food at low prices here.

For those interested in wrought iron handicrafts, blacksmiths in the Old Town Square work within view of the public. One simply has to make a request and the item will be forged right there. Prices vary according to the item.For a glimpse of art in action, take a walk down Charles Bridge, where artists have their works on display. The most popular of these are the watercolor renderings of the landscape, all of which are done in minute detail. Best of all, you can bargain for and buy your favorite paintings.