The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) organised English language proficiency tests for students applying to the College of Medicine and Health Sciences from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states for the academic year 2024/2025. The number of applicants meeting all requirements reached 355, comprising graduates of secondary schools from the member states.
The University also held personal interviews with the applicants over two days, during which the admissions committees assessed the students’ capabilities and skills, as well as the suitability of their personalities for the demands of medical study and their understanding of the nature of the profession and the challenges faced by medical students and professionals. The interviews were conducted by 65 faculty members from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, with the participation of 60 sixth-year medical students from the university.
This year witnessed a notable increase in the number of applicants to the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, attributed to AGU’s distinguished academic reputation and its prominent standing in the field of medical education, which is characterised by problem-based learning, medical simulation, and community service, especially after the development of the medical programmes and maintaining institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine in Ireland and the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the University has achieved a high ranking in the QS World University Rankings. A total of 412 applicants applied, with a small percentage not meeting all of the announced admission requirements.
Parents have expressed their confidence in the University and its solid reputation in teaching medicine and graduating competent doctors from all GCC states. They noted that their choice of the College of Medicine at AGU is due to its innovative and creative policies, balancing theoretical study with clinical training, thus providing a comprehensive educational model that deserves trust at the level of the GCC.
Omani parent Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Ali Al Shizawi stated, “AGU was the top choice on our family’s scholarship list, as the University enjoys a prestigious reputation in Oman and high praise from scholars for its advanced educational system and the highly qualified staff it produces, known for their competence and excellence.” He emphasised that Omani students feel welcomed and cared for in Bahrain under the University’s administration.
In the same context, several students applying to the College of Medicine confirmed that their choice of AGU stemmed from their confidence in previous graduates. These graduates noted the flexibility of studying in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the distinguished educational system of the College of Medicine, which follows a problem-based learning approach. This system focuses on developing students’ skills and capabilities throughout their academic years by adopting an integrated curriculum based on different body systems. Faculty members assist students by acting as facilitators for small groups, aiming to implement an advanced educational strategy that provides the necessary knowledge, fosters self-learning, and promotes mastery of professional behaviours. This approach combines academic material with clinical training to fulfill the noble humanitarian mission of patient care.
Students also expressed their admiration for the University for bringing together students from all GCC countries under one Gulf umbrella, as well as for the proximity of distances and the similarity of customs and traditions. Mohammed Hussain Al Saleh, a candidate from Saudi Arabia, stated that he has been passionate about studying medicine since childhood. After graduating from school, he chose AGU after following its activities and achievements through social media and other media outlets, and after consulting relatives who confirmed that it is an outstanding university in the field of health sciences. Today, he is just steps away from achieving his dream of studying medicine at AGU.