In 1946 the first foreign student came to the Odessa Medical Institute. He was a citizen of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – Jang Soo Kim.

In general, there are three stages in the history of teaching foreign students at the Odessa National Medical University. The first one was from 1946 to 1961 – Preparation of Doctors for the People’s Democracy countries, the second – from 1961 to 1991 – Training of doctors mainly for the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America; the third – from 1991 until now. This is the duration of studying in the contractual basis of all interested foreign nationals, including the citizens of CIS.

In the first stage the training was carried out on the basis of international agreements, in the second – on the basis of intergovernmental agreements, inter-party coordination and communication between civil society organizations and trade unions, the third stage is connected with the collapse of the USSR and inability of the CIS to perform previous agreements.

In the first stage the appearance of students from European countries practically did not change the organizational structure of the educational process. Foreign students blended into existing groups and studied together with Soviet students.

The appearance of students from Asia, Africa and Latin America led to significant changes in the education of foreign students, so in 1964 Dean’s Office of the Foreign Students and the Department of Russian Language (1969) appeared in the Institute.

In 1979 the post of vice-rector for international relations was introduced.

Since 1990 there has been the preparation of graduates – foreign citizens in internship, master’s degree, postgraduate, doctoral studies. The same year they started training of foreign citizens.

In 1992 they opened a preparatory department for foreign nationals, where students are trained in the Russian and Ukrainian languages, improve basic knowledge in physics, chemistry and biology.

After passing the final exams students of the preparatory department get a state certificate and can be enrolled in the first course of the chosen specialty in Odessa national medical university or another institution of higher education in Ukraine.

Since 1996 training of doctors in English, and later in French was opened at the university.

Foreign citizens acquire knowledge and skills of the newest medical technologies, endoscopic, laparoscopic, maxillofacial, plastic surgery, transplantation, tissue therapy, implantology and others.

The priority task of the university at the present moment is to expand direct contacts with foreign countries on the basis of mutual agreement, which is aimed at further integration into European and global medical structures in order to study the best practices in the field of medical education and research.

Since 1946 more than 7,000 foreign nationals from 58 countries have got education at the faculty. Many graduates have become leading experts, heads of medical institutions, regional services, schools.

At present more than 1,000 foreign citizens are enrolled at the university, they have an opportunity to enjoy high-quality information services and new electronic student library, learn from textbooks that are written by professors of the University and published in ONMedU publishing house. In ONMedU there is an integrated approach to the organization of studying, which aims to create a favorable atmosphere, good conditions for learning and mutually enriching and comprehensive review of our countries, the history and culture.

The current educational work with foreign students was repeatedly awarded with diplomas of Managing youth policy, the Office for European Integration of Odessa City Council, diplomas of the Office for Nationalities and Religions of Odessa Regional State Administration and representatives of the diplomatic corps around the world.