Ethiopia is a country known for its rich culture, history, and natural beauty. Beyond this breathtaking landscape lies amazing medical schools. For aspiring medical professionals, Ethiopia offers a unique and rewarding path. In this blog, we’ll be embarking on a journey to explore the best medical schools in Ethiopia, where we’ll highlight what makes them special and unique.
Ethiopia is the second most populated country in Africa, behind Nigeria. Also, the country has high-quality education, affordable schooling, low cost of living, internationally recognized faculties, and they have diverse cultures.
Studying medicine in Ethiopia is more than just acquiring knowledge from textbooks. It’s about immersing oneself in a vibrant culture and facing real-world challenges in a resource-limited setting. The same could be said regarding some of the best medical schools in both Cameroon and Ghana.
Moreover, there are also some very affordable medical schools in Europe for int’l students that might be perfect for you.
Let’s get started with these schools.
Best Medical Schools in Ethiopia
In as much as there are approximately there are around 38 universities in Ethiopia with medical programs we decided to choose the best of the best, our list might not be as large as others, but they are the schools that can give you exactly what you need and deserve.
1. Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University is not just one of the best Medical Schools in Ethiopia it is also the best college in this country, the 13th best in Africa, and 573rd best in the world according to U.S. News and World Report. Also, the school is the oldest and largest higher learning and research institution in Ethiopia.
Due to the excellence and popularity of the school, they have grown from 33 students when established, to 48,673 students.
Their College of Health Sciences houses lots of schools including the School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Medicine, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery, School of Pharmacy, Preventive Medicine and so many others.
Furthermore, their school of medicine has lots of prestigious departments which are;
- Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Physiotherapy
- Dermatovenorology, int. Medicine, Psychiatry, Neurology, and Nuclear Medicine
- Dentistry and Ophthalmology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pharmacology and Biochemistry
- Anesthesia and Anaesthesiology
- Faculty Profile
- Emergency and Family Medicine
- Microbiology, Parasitology, Immunology, and Pathology
2. University of Gondar – College of Medical and Health Sciences
The University of Gondar is another best Medical colleges in Ethiopia and also appears to be the second-best college in Ethiopia, the 34th best in Africa, and #930 in the world according to U.S. News and World Report. Also, the college is well recognized for its Infectious Disease Research and the U.S. News ranked them #161 for their excellence.
Their College of medical and Health Sciences has six departments which include Medicine, Midwifery, Public Health, Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
3. Jimma University
Jimma University is one of the most prestigious universities in Ethiopia, and they are also recognized in the world for its citation prowess. They are ranked #1 in the world for Citation (Field Weighted Citation Index, FWCI) by the Time Higher Education (THE).
The Institute of Health has 3 faculties which are; Health Science, Medicine, and Public Health. And, within these faculties, you will find 22 departments, 700 academic staff, more than 3400 undergraduates, and more than 1000 master’s students. Moreover, it has students in 21 Ph.D. programs, 15 specialty programs, and 5 sub-specialty programs.
4. Arba-Minch University – School of Medicine
Arba-Minch University is one of the top medical colleges in Ethiopia and the recently inaugurated full-fledged university in June 2004, they started offering both undergraduate and graduate programs in several fields including the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Their School of Medicine consists of seven departments namely the Department of Internal Medicine, surgery, dermatology, gynecology and Obstetrics, pediatrics, anatomy, and Biomedical Science.
Also, due to the school’s standards, they are currently working as one of the National Research Universities.
5. Bahir Dar University – College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Bahir Dar University is one of the best Medical schools in Ethiopia that has 4 schools in their College of Medicine and Health Sciences, they include;
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Midwifery and
- Health Officer
They also offer Medical PhDs which include;
- Gynecology and obstetrics (Specialty)
- Internal Medicine (Specialty)
- General Surgery (Specialty)
- Orthopedics and trauma Management (Specialty)
- Pediatrics and Child Health (Specialty)
And master which includes;
- Medical Microbiology (MSc)
- Medical parasitological and vector control (MSc)
- Epidemiology (MSc)
- General MPH (MSc)
- Reproductive Health (RH) (MSc)
- Clinical Midwifery (MSc)
6. Wollo University – College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Wollo University is located in Dessie city in the Amhara region of South Wollo, Ethiopia, and is one of the universities recently founded in 2005. The University has two campuses, one at Dessie and the other at Kombolcha towns.
Wollo University has 7 colleges, and the College of Medicine and Health is one of them.
7. Debre Markos University
This is one of the best Medical schools in Ethiopia that produce competent, ethical, and innovative graduates. The school also provides the best education its students would need.
8. Hawassa University – College of Medicine and Health Sciences
This is another Top Medical university in Ethiopia that aspires to bring a difference in the quality of training and healthcare service providers in the Country. The school prioritizes research, student-centered training, and patient-centered health care delivery.
Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, their main teaching Hospital, has been functioning since its establishment in 2003. And, they provide a wide variety of tertiary care services including, but not limited to Neurosurgery, Neurology, Oncology, Paediatric Surgery, ENT, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery to more than 20 million populations in Sidama and neighboring regions.
9. Wolaita Sodo University – College of Health Sciences and Medicine
This University also has a College of Health Sciences and Medicine that encompasses 7 schools which are;
- School of Public Health
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Medical Laboratory Science
- School of Nursing
- School of Midwifery
- School of Anesthesia
- School of Medicine
Also, there are 13 undergraduate academic programs, 8 graduate programs, 4 medical specialty programs and one doctoral degree (PhD in public Health) program.
Grades you need to Study Medicine in Ethiopia
To study in most Medical Schools in Ethiopia, you need to;
- Have Completed grade 12 (high school) with a minimum of Grade C and provide the original certificate
- Have a brilliant academic track record from a previous institute, or secondary school
- Have passed the entrance exam
Note: Excellent performance in science subjects can compensate for slightly lower grades in other subjects.
Key Takeaway
There are no two colleges that are the same, even though we have listed these Top Medical Schools in Ethiopia, you also need to ensure they meet your particular needs. Location is also another thing to consider when choosing a medical school in Ethiopia.
After graduating with a degree in health education in Ethiopia, what subjects can you develop into a doctor?
You should first know that in Ethiopia, becoming a doctor requires completing a medical degree from a recognized medical school. Here are some options you can develop to become a doctor; Public Health, Community Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Education and Promotion, Health Communication, Global Health, Medical Anthropology, etc.