Nicolaus Copernicus University

Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz

Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy

Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu

Who we are

Collegium Medicum is the only public medical university

in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Region, offering a wide variety

of programmes provided by three facul�es: Medicine, Pharmacy and

Health Sciences. It is the youngest and the smallest school

of its type in Poland, which cons�tutes its major advantage – our

philosophy rests on an individual-focused approach to teaching

and a constant development of the student-teacher partnership.

What we offer

Our school offers a rich variety of programmes in the areas

of medicine, pharmacy and health sciences. Currently, we provide

educa�on in Polish in 16 fields of study: audiophonology, biomedical

engineering, biotechnology, cosmetology, dispensing op�cs and

optometry, electroradiology, emergency medical science, laboratory

medicine, medicine, midwifery, nursing, nutri�on science, pharmacy,

physiotherapy, public health, organisa�on of care for elderly people

and in English in 4 fields of study: laboratory medicine, medicine,

nursing and physiotherapy.

Where we are

Bydgoszcz is the 8th largest city in Poland and the capital

of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Region. It has nearly 360 thousand

inhabitants, about 10% of whom are students. The city has a lot

to offer to both residents and visitors, whose mobility is facilitated by

an airport located just 2 miles from the city centre and a well-

developed public transport system.

If you are hooked on sports, there are over 150 sports facili�es you can

visit. These include: Łuczniczka – one of the most modern sports and

entertainment halls in Europe, Zawisza Sports Complex – with

an athle�cs and football stadium, or Polonia Stadium – now mainly

a speedway track hos�ng rounds of the Speedway Grand Prix series.

Bydgoszcz boasts its green spaces. Myślęcinek – the Forest Park

of Culture and Recrea�on – is one of the largest recrea�on areas

in Poland and includes such a�rac�ons as a horse riding centre,

a high ropes park, a zoo, botanical gardens, a narrow-gauge railway,

a skatepark, a ski and snowboarding slope, and suchlike.

Legend has it that the name of the city of Bydgoszcz derives from the

phrase “be our guest”. Thus, the open gates in the city’s coat of arms

symbolise hospitality and a warm welcome of its inhabitants.

fot. Marcin Machoń fot. Marcin Machoń fot. Marcin Machoń

Wyspa Młyńska – also called the Li�le Venice – is one of the most

enchan�ng and picturesque places in Bydgoszcz. Located on the

bank of the Brda River and ringed by renovated historical buildings

and granaries, it hosts numerous fes�vals, concerts and fairs, which

makes it a centre of leisure ac�vity.

Bydgoszcz is currently the home of the Camerimage Interna�onal

Film Fes�val – the biggest and most recognised event dedicated

to the art of cinematography. Every year, it brings together pro-

fessional and amateur filmmakers, as well as many world-famous

stars, such as Keanu Reeves, John Malkovich, Charlize Theron,

or Bill Murray.

fot. Marcin Machoń fot. Marcin Machoń fot. Marcin Machoń

A bit of our history

Our school was established in 1984 as the Ludwik Rydygier Medical

University. It began its func�oning with the Faculty of Medicine,

whose offer covered a full range of medical special�es. In the same

year, the Faculty of Pharmacy was created, launching the programme

of laboratory medicine, and then pharmacy and cosmetology. It was

followed by the Faculty of Nursing, changed a few years later into the

Faculty of Health Sciences due to the growing number of diverse

medical programmes added to its offer. In 2004, the school joined

forces with one of the most pres�gious mul�-profile universi�es

in Poland – the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń – and was

renamed into Collegium Medicum.

Our patron

Ludwik Rydygier (1850-1920) was a Polish doctor, surgeon, professor

of medicine and a brigadier-general of the Polish Army. He was one

of the most significant contributors to gastrointes�nal surgery and

a keen supporter of the latest achievements in medicine. As a prolific

scien�st, he introduced novel surgical techniques in such fields

as orthopaedics, gynaecology and urology, and was the author

of about 200 scien�fic papers.

The campus

The 27 didac�c buildings of our school are located in various parts

of the beau�ful city of Bydgoszcz. Most of them are grouped into two

major campuses situated in the heart of the city. Classes are held

in both historical buildings of classical architecture as well as more

modern, stylish facili�es.

Accommoda�on

There are plenty of op�ons to find your lodging in Bydgoszcz.

Our school offers single, 2-, 3- and 4-person rooms in three

conveniently located and disabled-friendly student houses.

Apart from standard room equipment, we provide free Internet

access, kitchen facili�es, recrea�on rooms and quiet study areas.

There is also a wide selec�on of rooms and apartments offered

for rent by private landlords.

Student’s House No. 3 is one of the most modern and stylish student

dormitories in Poland. The newly built facility was handed over for

use in 2014 and houses 180 elegant rooms with standard equipment,

en suite bathrooms, and fully-fi�ed kitchens for each pair of rooms.

Work placements

The rela�vely small size of the school and number of medical

students combined with the broad access to hospitals, clinics

and other health care ins�tu�ons give all our students the oppor-

Clinical base

There are two university hospitals in Bydgoszcz func�oning

as the ins�tu�onal base for educa�on, scien�fic research

and highly specialised diagnos�c, medical and rehabilita�on

services. The organisa�onal units of Collegium Medicum also

collaborate with many other hospitals and clinics in the city, such as

centres for oncology, pulmonology or infec�ous diseases, hospices,

children’s hospitals, or military research hospitals.

The Hospital Emergency Department of the University Hospital No. 1

in Bydgoszcz is the most modern emergency medicine unit

in Poland. The impressive new facility was handed over for use

in 2013 and was one of the most significant investments

of Collegium Medicum. Fully computerised and supplied with state-

of-the-art medical equipment, the building also houses an opera�ng

room suite, an intensive medical care unit, a central sterilisa�on

room and a new helipad.

tunity to make the most of their work placements and acquire

professional knowledge and skills from prac��oners working in

different areas of medicine.

Centre for Medical Educa�on in English

Our 6-year Medical Programme in English was launched in 2009 with

a group of future doctors from Scandinavia. Two years later,

the Centre for Medical Educa�on was established as a separate

department for students of the MD Programme in English

and has been expanding ever since. The university has recently

enriched its offer by three new programmes in English – laboratory

medicine, nursing and physiotherapy – and is currently providing

educa�on to about 190 students from such countries as Ireland, the

United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Saudi

Arabia, India, the USA, or Canada. The programmes are based

on plans of study for Polish students and all the courses are taught

in English. Our foreign students are invariably enchanted with

the wonderful atmosphere of Bydgoszcz and of the school itself, and

very o�en encourage their friends and rela�ves to come to study

at Collegium Medicum.

Interna�onal programmes

Our school ac�vely par�cipates in the Erasmus+ student exchange

programme. We have signed agreements for over 100 places

for exchange students with nearly 50 higher educa�on ins�tu�ons

from such countries as Belgium, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece,

Germany, Italy, Finland, Slovakia or Turkey. We therefore provide you

with the opportunity to change your surroundings for a period

of three to ten months and enjoy the Erasmus+ experience. Collegium

Medicum also par�cipates in over a dozen research and development

projects funded by na�onal and interna�onal bodies, such as

the Na�onal Centre for Research and Development, the European

Commission, and the Regional Opera�onal Programme for

the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Career development

Medical specialists are in constant demand all over the world,

so there are many career paths open to our graduates. If you

do have concerns about finding your place on the job market,

the Department of Career Services for Students and Graduates will

assist you in the job hun�ng process. They will provide you with

current job offers, arrange a mee�ng with a career counsellor,

organise addi�onal, non-compulsory work placements or work-

shops, and help you prepare all the necessary documents and

le�ers. If you wish to try your luck at star�ng your own business,

the Academic Entrepreneurship Incubator will guide you through

the intricacies of business ventures.

Medical library

The Collegium Medicum Medical Library is fully computerised

and makes use of the Horizon library system. Its collec�on comprises

about 100,000 volumes of books and journals in print. The library

provides access to bibliographic and full-text databases on bio-

medicine (including Polish Medical Bibliography, Clinical Key, Science

Direct, Ebsco), journals (over 100,000 �tles available online),

and e-books (over 100,000 �tles). The Library also houses the Re-

gional Centre for Medical Informa�on and the editorial office

of the university’s academic quarterly.

Educa�on and science

If you wish to broaden your medical horizons and go beyond

the curriculum, there is a wide array of op�ons for you to choose

from. The Student Scien�fic Society welcomes anyone interested

to join one of over 60 ac�ve Student Clubs devoted to diverse areas

of medicine, pharmacy and health sciences. If that is not enough, you

can also become a member of the Laboratory Medicine Student

Associa�on, Young Pharmacy Poland, the Academic Society

for Emergency Medicine or the Polish branch of the Interna�onal

Federa�on of Medical Students’ Associa�ons. Wri�ng academic

papers, par�cipa�ng in na�onal and interna�onal conferences,

a�ending trainings and educa�onal events – these and other

ac�vi�es will help you spread your wings.

Our school takes great pride in the many achievements of our

students. In 2014, a team of Polish students took 1st place and a team

of foreign students took 2nd place at the Na�onal Inter-University

Anatomical Knowledge Compe��on Scapula Aurea. In next year’s

edi�on of the contest, Collegium Medicum students dominated

the podium, taking 1st places in individual and team rankings of both

Polish and interna�onal compe�tors.

Departments and units func�oning within Collegium Medicum

support our academic staff and students in their scholarly

inves�ga�ons. The many research proposals developed by our

scien�sts provide them with grants awarded by the Polish Ministry

of Science and Higher Educa�on and the Na�onal Science Centre.

The obtained funds allow not only to purchase specialist equipment

and carry out highly advanced research studies, but also to achieve

scien�fic development and gain valuable experience. Our scien�sts

present their research results at numerous na�onal and interna�onal

conferences and symposia. The conven�ons and joint research

projects pursued in associa�on with foreign partners result

in coopera�ve scholarly papers published in high-ranking

interna�onal journals indexed in the ISI Master Journal List.

Social Life

There are over a dozen universi�es and colleges in Bydgoszcz, which makes students a substan�al percentage of the city’s popula�on. Pubs and clubs, cafés and restaurants, galleries and museums, parks, stadiums, cinemas and theatres, an opera and a philharmonic – there are so many alterna�ves that you will never have to wonder how to spend your leisure �me or where to go with your friends. Groups of students roaming the streets of the picturesque Old Market Square or the numerous modern shopping centres are a common sight in Bydgoszcz. Let us not forget about events organised by our Student Government – orienta�on par�es, lab coat par�es, sportsmen’s par�es, grill par�es, Halloween par�es, a�er-exam par�es… you name it!

Juwenalia is a na�onal students’ fes�val held in May, during which major Polish universi�es organise concerts and par�es, so that students can have fun and relax a�er a busy academic year. The tradi�on dates back to as early as the 15th century and is cel-ebrated as a na�onal party!

If you are a good singer and would like to further improve your skills, you can join the Collegium Medicum Choir. In over the quarter-century of its existence, the Choir has earned many remarkable achievements and received top awards and prizes in na�onal and interna�onal compe��ons and fes�vals. The Choir is the pride of our school and its performances have become an integral part of all the official ceremonies.

As a medical university, we place a par�cular emphasis on healthy lifestyle and a�tudes. The Aca-demic Sports Associa�on is a dynamically func�oning organisa�on offering a wide range of sec�ons to join. The club organises summer and winter sports camps and takes part in numerous na�onal championships and tournaments. We are proud of our students’ remarkable spor�ng achievements in various disciplines, such as volleyball, athle�cs, indoor rowing, swimming or cross-country running.

Sports passions

Many of our future doctors, nurses, pharmacists, die�cians,

physiotherapists, lab technicians and other medical specialists serve

our local community by organising health awareness campaigns,

blood and bone marrow donor events, first aid courses, open lectures

and workshops for children and adults – all for the benefit of public

health and life quality. One of those is Medical Wednesdays – a series

of open lectures given by our teachers, addressing a variety of issues

in medical science, health promo�on and protec�on. The lectures

have enjoyed popularity among the residents of Bydgoszcz for almost

a decade! Collegium Medicum also ac�vely par�cipates in major

science fes�vals organised in our region with the aim of combining

educa�on and entertainment.

Students for the community

Collegium Medicum

im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy

ul. Jagiellońska 13-15

85-067 Bydgoszcz

e-mail (general enquiries): org@cm.umk.pl