One of my teachers said that the struggle of having competition among working people and complaints regarding reduction of available jobs due to immigration is basically a problem of the low educated population. When I gave it a thought, it appeared to be plausible.
Studying and working in Sweden, I have never come across any situation where I've been discriminated for being a foreigner or a Muslim. Either I have been very lucky till now or it really is the case that my teacher was talking about. I sometimes think when people meet me and see a brown Muslim they begin thinking all kinds of thoughts, but then stop short in their thought process once they hear I'm a doctor and I will be/ already am a part of work force. It might be different for others.
I've come across people saying that you won't get a job due to your last name, you have to work 3 times harder just because you are not from here. My way has been to block out all these voices and continue moving forward at my pace, to take every step openly. It's true that you need "contacts" to get a job but that's true for both natives and us. I always tell people to do the same, to go out there with an open mind and build an understanding of the system by own experience. If we want to live, work and raise our children in this country, it's better to have a positive start.
Hi Nosheen.
ReplyDeleteI've read all your entries and just want to tell you that your blog has been really helpful and I admire you for your courage to keep on going on despite of the adversities. Just now I'm in the process of getting the legitimation, I'm still learning the language so it's going to take some time before I get there, but that's how it is. Reading your blog has given me insight about the process. I got to know about KUL as an option instead of the TULE test which I didn't know before, so thank you for that. According to your experience, would you recommend to go directly for the KUL course instead of trying with de TULE test? I ask because I'm really afraid of the test and I don't want to waste time on a test that, for what I've seen, can be very difficult to pass, and that would mean a lost of time that I could use doing the KUL course... I was just thinking about doing it that way, since it seems that doing the course is a safer way of getting involved in the swedish medical system... Thanks for your help! Ha det så bra!
Hi Oscar! Thanks for appreciation, glad it was of some help.
DeleteOpting for KUL as first choice is what a oot of people are doing these days. That's why the number of applications recieved for KUL is in hundreds for approx. 20 seats in each university. Application for KUL doesn't need any special preparation, but it is helpful to study med books in Swedish and do praktik. Both these things are required for TULE, so many try for TULE while waiting for KUL.
Good luck with whichever way you go!
Please, I need some advice about TULE and KUL. Can I have an e-mail address please. Mine is okoyeokocha@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
I have tried my best to document my experience. Any other questions, feel free to ask here.
DeleteHi , first of all , I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful Blog with really useful information. Secondly, I wanted to ask about the different specialities available from graduates outside the EU.
ReplyDeleteI would be really grateful if you send me your Email address , I have some more questions that I want to ask.
Thank you for your time.
Hi, sorry I don't understand what you mean by specialties available?
DeleteAfter taking medical license here, we have the same opportunities as swedish graduates.
Hi again, I mean that I want to seek a residency in either one of three specialities Radiology/Dermatology/Ophthalmology , will that be possible in Sweden or not? as many other countries don't offer these specialities to IMGs.
DeleteThank you for your time.
If you conplete your degree here, you are just like any other swedish doctor and these specialities are there of course. But if you are already a specialist and want to work here, then I won't dare to say anything. I only know about my path, that is coming from non-EU country, taking license here and then specialize.
DeleteHope I was able to help.
Yes , that's exactly what I was asking about. Thank you very much. I just have one more question , is the 18 months of internship paid or unpaid ??
DeleteThank you.
Like I said, you are treated like any other fresh graduate, so of course every job after completion of degree is paid job.
DeleteHej Nosheen !
ReplyDeleteJag har några frågor angående tidsplan för KUL. Jag kommer att ansöka för HT 2016.
Tack på förhand .
Beshoy
Hej, du får söka i mars, det gör du via antagning.se
DeleteDu är välkommen att fråga, jag försöker mitt bästa att svara.
Mvh
Nosheen
Hi there , how are you ? I wanted to ask what are different ways possible to come to Sweden and study for TULE test there ?
ReplyDeleteTHANKS.
Hej Nosheen, just wanted to say: thank you. For all the important informations, but most of all, thank for sharing with us your ups and downs in such a warm and human way.
ReplyDeleteKatarina
Hi Katarina, thanks for compliments and good luck to you!
DeleteRegards
Hi nousheen.. i want to ask how much time is required to become a junior doctor and practice as one in sweden? I heared it'll take 3-5 years from languaguge test to tule test etc. Kindly help me on this as i am little confused!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Yes that's a good estimate. The least it can take as per requirements and system right now, is 2 years. And that means you clear language as fast as possible and clear the test in first go.
DeleteFor me it took 4 years from landing in Sweden to start working. I was good at language but did miss the test, took the completion degree and had a baby during these 4 years.
Good luck with your endeavours!
Dear Nosheen ,
ReplyDeleteI read your entire blogs with all your posts starting from 2012 till 2015. I felt happy at the end for your success. You didn't give up. you are a warrior.so passionate.
Nosheen, I am new to Sweden. I moved to Sweden,to my husband, a few months ago. I am a no EU medical graduate. I graduated 4 years ago (in 2012) and was into a job & PG preparations at my home country, India for 3 yrs. Now I'm here in Sweden, wondering if I could get into this system asap.
I came here with a plan of preparing for USMLE & moving to U.S. after finishing up my steps. Sitting back in a chair & studying for 3 months,made me finish up just 2 subjects for my step-1. 4 more are remaining & I am scared now. I am a slow reader & it may take more than 6 months for me to be ready for my step-1 board exam. By the time I finish my 2 steps, it may be more than 2 yrs from now (i.e. more than 5-6 years from my graduating time). I heard from the Non-U.S. doctors in U.S. saying that after 5 yr from graduation time, there may be a very few opportunities in getting a placement in residency & for that we may need to wait for more than an year or 2.
This make me rethink about USMLE & practicing in U.S.
So, I discussed with my husband about practicing in Sweden. As he is a non-doctor, he knew less about the medical education system in Sweden. So, I seriously need a suggestion about practicing in Sweden.If the path to practice in Sweden would be a smoother one & a shorter one, I would love to put my efforts into it. But,if learning the entire medicine in a new language (Swedish), would be harder than clearing USMLE steps, waiting for 1 or 2 yrs or more to get into a residency program at states , I would patiently study for USMLE boards. But, if I take back my feet from the shoes that are stepping towards my USMLE path, I may not be able to walk in that road later. So, if I could get any advice or valuable information about practicing medicine in Sweden, it would be extremely helpful for me.
Please give your valuable suggestion.
thank you Nosheen
Hi, it takes time to learn Swedish, clear the exam, complete the degree, and then you can apply for AT (house job) that lasts 21 months. Only then can you begin with ST (PG or residency). Living & working in Sweden and US are totally different in terms of the environment & mentality. So I think you should choose with that in mind. In US there is a lot of competition n private practice, in Sweden you never have to prove yourself, you are respected irrespective of your knowledge and usually don't have to worry about how many patients come and pay. Socialist vs. Capitalist.
DeleteHere's the link to the swedish procedure: http://legitimation.socialstyrelsen.se/en/educated-outside-eu-and-eea/doctor-of-medicine
Good luck to you!
Hi, it takes time to learn Swedish, clear the exam, complete the degree, and then you can apply for AT (house job) that lasts 21 months. Only then can you begin with ST (PG or residency). Living & working in Sweden and US are totally different in terms of the environment & mentality. So I think you should choose with that in mind. In US there is a lot of competition n private practice, in Sweden you never have to prove yourself, you are respected irrespective of your knowledge and usually don't have to worry about how many patients come and pay. Socialist vs. Capitalist.
DeleteHere's the link to the swedish procedure: http://legitimation.socialstyrelsen.se/en/educated-outside-eu-and-eea/doctor-of-medicine
Good luck to you!
Hi nosheen, can you give any information regarding the prospects to work in sweden for people who are specialists in non EU countries.for example someone who has done FCPS in pakistan..my husband is an orthopaedic surgeon and im an anesthesiologist..what steps would we have to go through?.and at what positions would they have us work at?
ReplyDeleteHi, they have changed the rules from 1st July 2016. You can find what you're looking for on this page: http://legitimation.socialstyrelsen.se/en/educated-outside-eu-and-eea/doctor-of-medicine
DeleteGood luck!
Hej Nosheen,
ReplyDeleteI read that you went to Sweden because of your husband. That means you have the 'spouse visa'? What if one is single and want to stay in Sweden just to do exams (learning Svenska and taking Svenska proficiency test and stuffs, AT exam). Would it be possible?
Also, did you take any side job (such as nurse assistant job) during your language courses?
Mvh,
Audrey
Yes I had the work visa, same as my husband. I'm not sure how you can come for taking test only. You get a personal number here if your visa is valid for a year at least, like work or study visa, but I'm not sure if it is a must to have personal number for completion of degree. I'd recommend calling socialstyrelsen with this query.
DeleteGood luck!