Medical English
Who should take this course?
Students who wish to master specific medical vocabulary and idioms, and improve their ability to communicate in English in a hospital or clinical setting will benefit from the Medical English program.
Placement Test
Students with high-intermediate and advanced levels of English proficiency are welcome to apply to this program. All new students must take an online placement test to determine their English level before starting the Medical English. The placement test is part of the required online pre-arrival orientation. Students who do not obtain the required English level for this program will take Conversation and Fluency (high-beginner, pre-intermediate, and intermediate levels).
Additional Admission Requirements:
- Participants must have previously taken an anatomy/physiology course.
Dates
2023
- January 9 - February 3
- February 6 - March 3
- July 3 - 28 (July 4 is a holiday)
- August 7 - September 1
2024
- January 8 - February 2
- February 5 - March 1
- July 1 - 26
- August 5 - 30
View a complete list of all program dates.
Application Deadline
All programs close when they are full. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis until all seats available are taken. Acceptance deadline is 3 weeks before the program start-date.
All enrolled students are required to complete an online pre-arrival orientation before starting the Medical English program.
Program Schedule
- Monday – Friday
- 15* or 20 hours per week
- Schedule varies
Program Description
Students and professionals who want to master medical terminology and increase English fluency within clinical context will benefit from participating in the Medical English program.
Topics include:
- U.S. healthcare delivery system
- The language of patient interaction
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Development of presentation skills
UC San Diego is a major center for medical research and development in healthcare. This program features expert guest speakers from campus and community medical centers and clinics, when available according to campus guidelines. Visits to hospitals and clinics are prohibited because of patient privacy laws. Therefore, we cannot guarantee visits to hospitals and clinics nor observations of actual medical procedures as part of the Medical English program.
In the 15-hour* per week part-time Medical English schedule, writing, pronunciation refinement, reading practice, and vocabulary reinforcement will not be included; guest speakers and field trips will vary according to availability during the schedule of this less intensive program.
Cost (in U.S. dollars)
2023 & 2024
- Application Fee: $175 (nonrefundable)
- Part-time Tuition: $2,300 (15 hours per week / 60 hours total)*, OR
- Full-time Tuition: $2,600 (20 hours per week / 80 hours total)
- International Student Service Fee: $200
- UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance: $220
- Books/Materials: Approximately $150-175 (Payment CANNOT be made in advance. Books and materials must be purchased upon arrival at UC San Diego.)
* Part--time program not eligible for the Form I-20.
Interested in studying Online?
Are you unable to come to the U.S. to study Medical English in person? You may find the following Medical English Online series useful and affordable. These online courses are credit-bearing (1.5 units each) and students can receive an official transcript (for $17) at the completion of the course. Please note that these online classes are not eligible for a certificate. Each online course is only $225 USD.
Programs You May Also Like:
For a complete list of all programs, please visit our Courses and Programs page.
Advisory About Variable Enrollments
Enrollment numbers in our 4-week English language programs vary from month-to-month. Therefore, if we have low enrollments in the original 4-week program, we will notify you within 30-days of your program start date, so that you may cancel your enrollment or enroll into another 4-week program.
If our online pre-arrival placement tests indicate that your English proficiency level does not permit placement in the original 4-week program class, we will place you in 4 weeks of study in a corresponding 4-week or 8-week program or provide a combination of classes and individual tutoring to ensure a program of 15 or 20 hours per week for 4 weeks. Alternatively, we may decide to place all 4-week program students in level-appropriate classes in a corresponding 4-week or 8-week program in order to provide a program of 15 or 20 hours per week for 4 weeks. When this happens, the students’ 4-week program will have the features described for the new 4- or 8-week program, not the features described for the original program. The tuition and fees for the students’ 4-week program enrollment will remain the same.