Admission of Medical Students through Graduate Entry as an Alternative for Traditional National University Exam in Iran: A Policy Brief

Admission of medical students holding previously obtained academic degrees through graduate entry (GE) is well underway at many creditable universities worldwide. In Iran, the GE system can lower the pressure on centralized medical student admission and reduce the problems stemming from that. The difference between GE and the traditional one is not limited to student admission and it generally involves accelerated courses in terms of duration. Moreover, the educational process is also different from that of the regular traditional system. Presently, only a small number of medical students are admitted through GE in Iran. This policy brief includes a study of student admission based on the GE method, a comparison and contrast to the traditional approach, a statement of probable problems, and a final presentation of suggestions for the improvement of this procedure. Although a scrutiny of novel educational procedures and an exact prediction of curriculums entail specialized working groups, two preliminary stages for implementation of GE have been recommended in the current policy brief. It is recommended to carefully predict and monitor GE procedures. Given the necessary superstructure and facilities, the resultant procedure should be initially employed in larger universities with students who have prior education related to health sciences, and subsequently be transferred to other universities and bachelor degrees. It is also recommended that a special working group be convened to examine the new curriculum at ministry level and be tentatively convened in one or more universities. Also, economic studies from an educational perspective are recommended to weigh the cost-effectiveness of the new method.