Student review [#87791] for Medicine
at Addis Ababa University

My experience at Addis Ababa University’s College of Health Sciences gave me a solid foundation in medicine, but the program was overcrowded, making it hard to receive personalized attention. In my year, there were too many students for the available faculty to manage effectively. Many instructors didn’t know us personally, and their involvement was inconsistent.

We had senior doctors assigned as advisors in departments like internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and gynecology—about one doctor per three students—which was helpful in theory. However, due to their busy schedules, meetings were irregular, and feedback often felt more critical than educational.

Exams, especially oral exams, were anxiety-inducing since we received little to no training beforehand. Technical procedures were not well taught, and while we were lightly encouraged to get hands-on experience during rounds, there wasn’t enough structured support or follow-through. Lab equipment was available, which helped, but some specialties like psychiatry were especially neglected in terms of active teaching—we mostly observed without guidance.

Extracurricular and additional learning opportunities were limited. Despite these challenges, I still gained valuable skills and knowledge through clinical exposure. With better student-to-teacher ratios, more structured practical teaching, and consistent mentorship, the program could significantly improve.