Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Department of Medicine
Trains skilled and ethically sound medical doctors for the maintenance and development of health care delivery in Somalia and humanity in general, combining a strong foundation in basic and clinical sciences with extensive supervised clinical clerkship.
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Duration
6 Years (12 Semesters)
Total Credit Hours
380 Credit Hours
Total Courses
69 Courses
Language of Instruction
English
Campus Location
Mogadishu, Somalia
Overview
The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme is designed to address the critical need for competent, ethical, and socially responsible medical professionals in Somalia and beyond. The country faces significant health challenges, including high maternal and child mortality rates, infectious diseases, malnutrition, limited healthcare infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified physicians. The programme, housed within the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, provides a rigorous six-year foundation spanning the basic medical sciences, the behavioural and social sciences, and progressively advanced clinical training. Students first build mastery of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, and pathology before applying this knowledge through supervised clinical clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and the clinical specialties, with a sustained emphasis throughout on the diseases and health-system realities most relevant to Somalia.
Background and Rationale
Decades of civil war, political instability, and the collapse of central institutions have left Somalia with a severe shortage of qualified physicians and weak health-system infrastructure, contributing to high maternal and child mortality, a heavy burden of infectious and tropical disease, and widespread malnutrition. Somalia's physician-to-population ratio remains among the lowest in the world, and existing doctors are concentrated overwhelmingly in Mogadishu and a small number of other urban centres, leaving rural and underserved regions with minimal access to physician-level care. The programme was developed in direct response to this need, bringing together instructors with backgrounds in the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine and surgery, and public health, and is explicitly oriented toward producing physicians equipped for practice in the Somali health context.
Vision & Mission
Our Vision at the Faculty is to develop high quality healthcare practitioners who exhibit lifelong learning, leadership, and service, as well as clinically, professionally, and culturally competent graduates.
The mission is to train skilled and ethically sound Medical Doctors for the maintenance and development of health care delivery in Somalia and humanity in general.
Objectives & Learning Outcomes
- 1To equip students with a strong foundation in Basic Sciences, clinical, and behavioural sciences.
- 2To develop competent physicians capable of providing preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare.
- 3To foster professionalism, ethical values, and empathy in medical practice.
- 4To cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and evidence-based decision-making skills.
- 5To train graduates to engage in research that addresses national and global health challenges.
- 6To prepare doctors who can serve effectively in diverse healthcare settings, including rural and underserved communities.
- 7To promote lifelong learning and continuous professional development in medicine.
- 1Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of Basic sciences, clinical, and behavioural sciences.
- 2Apply clinical skills in diagnosing, managing, and preventing common health problems.
- 3Practice medicine with professionalism, ethical integrity, and respect for patients' rights.
- 4Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
- 5Conduct and utilize research to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
- 6Provide community-oriented healthcare with sensitivity to cultural and societal contexts.
- 7Engage in lifelong learning and adapt to advancements in medical science and technology.
Programme Duration
- Total duration: six (6) academic years, comprising twelve (12) semesters, at a rate of two semesters per academic year.
- Years 1–4: basic, behavioural, and systemic medical sciences, delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, and clinical-skills training.
- Years 5–6: supervised clinical clerkships and rotations across internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and the clinical specialties, together with the graduation research project.
- Academic load: 69 courses and 380 credit hours in total, distributed across the twelve semesters as prescribed in the Study Plan.
- Credit-hour equivalence: one (1) credit hour equals 45 contact hours of combined theoretical and practical/clinical instruction.
Admission & Graduation Requirements
Entry Criteria
- High school certificate — grade 12 or equivalent.
- Satisfactory performance on the university entrance examination.
- Satisfactory performance in the personal interview.
Required Documents
- Complete application form.
- Official high school transcript.
- Four passport-size photographs.
- Application fee receipt.
- Successfully complete all required coursework, clinical rotations, and practical components of the programme.
- Pass all courses with no Fail in final comprehensive written and clinical examinations (including OSCE/Practical).
- Demonstrate competence in professional ethics, patient care, and communication skills during training.
- Fulfil all academic, ethical, and attendance requirements set by the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
- Complete any additional requirements approved by the Faculty and University Senate before graduation.
Career Opportunities
General medical practice in hospitals, clinics, and community health centres.
Specialized medical fields through postgraduate training (e.g., surgery, paediatrics, internal medicine).
Public health and preventive medicine programs.
Medical research and clinical trials.
Teaching and academic positions in medical schools and universities.
Leadership and management roles in healthcare institutions.
International health organizations and humanitarian missions.
Occupational and industrial health services.
Health policy, planning, and advisory roles with government and NGOs.
Private healthcare entrepreneurship and consultancy.
Delivery & Assessment
- Lectures and Interactive Seminars — for core basic and clinical sciences.
- Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Case Discussions — to strengthen clinical reasoning and decision-making.
- Laboratory and Practical Sessions — hands-on training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and related sciences.
- Clinical Rotations and Bedside Teaching — supervised patient care in hospitals and health centres.
- Skills Laboratory and Simulation Training — for practising clinical and emergency procedures safely.
- Community-Based Education — fieldwork and outreach for preventive and primary healthcare experience.
- Self-Directed and Research-Based Learning — fostering independent study, inquiry, and lifelong learning.
| Assessment Component | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Written Examinations | 60% |
| Practical / Skills Demonstrations | 30% |
| Continuous Assessment, Assignments, and Logbook | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Contact Information
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Somali International University (SIU)