Medicine Schools and Programs in Mauritius

Medicine Studies in Mauritius

The study of medicine can be both rigorous and rewarding.  Today, students pursuing a degree in medicine have many options at their disposal, including the opportunity to study and live abroad for a portion of their education.  There are currently a number of programs that afford students the unique opportunity to study medicine at institutions around the world, including a select few that offer programs on the beautiful island nation of Mauritius.

Mauritius, or in official circles, the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, positioned about 2,000 kilometers (2,000 km) off the southeast coast of the African continent.  The sovereign nation’s territory includes the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues (350 miles east of the principal island), the islands of Agalega and the archipelago Saint Brandon.

Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, situated 800 miles to the northeast.  Also claiming sovereignty to Chagos is the United Kingdom, which excised the archipelago from Mauritian territory prior to Mauritius' independence, and gradually depopulated it. The islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion, located 110 miles  (170 km) to the southwest, form part of the Mascarene Islands. The total area of the country is 2,040 square kilometers and its capital is Port Louis.

Mauritius is a very diverse country, both ethnically and culturally.  The country’s population is multilingual, and English, French, Creole and Asian languages are all used. The government system is organized and closely modeled on the Westminster parliamentary system. Mauritius ranks high in indexes of democracy and economic and political freedom.  The island of Mauritius was the only home of the renowned Dodo bird, which became extinct fewer than eighty years after its discovery.

Medical Education in Mauritius
 
The country of Mauritius offers many programs in the study of medicine, among them the Master’s of Medicine Program offered by the University of Mauritius, the most comprehensive university on the island.
 
The Masters Degree program in Medicine, offered in collaboration with the University Victor Ségalen de Bordeaux 2 in France, is a post-graduate program spanning three years in duration. The program, previously known as the Deuxième Cycle des Etudes Médicales, is accessible to graduates who have previously earned a Bachelor of Science degree in a scientific discipline.
 
The objective of the Master’s Degree program in Medicine is to offer nine modules which are in line with the curriculum at the Université Victor Ségalen de Bordeaux 2 (UB2), thereby providing an extensive basis for clinical knowledge and skills in Cardiovascular Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Neurology and Psychiatry. These modules, as well as clinical placements, are organized with the collaboration of the UB2 and the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life in Mauritius.
 
As a member of the program, the Masters student acquires the status of “Etudiant hospitalier” with specific roles and duties during the clinical training, under the supervision of the Maître de Stages and overall responsibility of the Hospital Director.  During the course of the program, the Master’s candidates will acquire a sound theoretical and practical basis, empowering them to work as “Etudiant hospitalier” in a clinical and multi-disciplinary setting.
 
Why Study Abroad in Mauritius
 
Mauritius offers prospective study abroad students the unique opportunity to experience an alternate educational environment and perspective, but it’s the sights and attractions outside the classroom that serve as the real draw for this beautiful island nation.  Two of the island’s most famous sights include:
 
François Leguat Reserve
 
In 1691, François Leguat wrote that there were so many tortoises on the Mauritian island of Rodrigues that “one can take more than a hundred steps on their shell without [ever] touching the ground.”  Unfortunately, this account of the giant tortoise went the way of the dodo bird, but the François Leguat Reserve, memorializing the giant tortoises and caves, has grand plans to re-create the paradise described in the logbooks of the island's early explorers.  Today the project is well underway, with hundreds of tortoises roaming the grounds (the outcome of a successful breeding program); a small enclosure with several giant fruit bats (the island's only endemic mammal); and over 100,000 indigenous trees, planted over the last four years.
 
The on-site museum of the François Leguat Reserve tells the history and settlement of the island, and offers detailed information about the now-extinct dodo and other animals.  Each day the reserve offers guided tours of the on-site caves, and enthusiastic guides point out peculiar rock shapes and discuss the island's interesting geological history.
 
Blue Penny Museum
 
Far more wide ranging than its name may suggest, the Blue Penny Museum is the perfect place for gathering information on the history of Mauritius’ exploration, settlement and colonial period.  Located in the capital city of Port Louis, it is considered the finest museum on the islands, offering a terrific selection of antique maps, engravings from the various periods in history, and impressive photographs that show a then-and-now look at Port Louis.   

The museum takes its name from the two rare stamps that are housed there: the red one-penny and blue two-pence “Post Office” stamps issued in 1847.  To preserve the stamps’ colors, they are only lit up for 10 minutes at a time: every hour, at 25 minutes past the hour. The stamps are considered a national treasure and are probably the most valuable objects on the entire island. On the ground floor, visitors are treated to the country's most famous work of art: a splendid life-like statue by the Mauritian sculptor Prosper d'Épinay, carved in 1884.  Based on Bernardin de St-Pierre's novel Paul et Virginie, the sculpture depicts the young hero carrying his sweetheart across a raging torrent.