Experience Studying In International Medical University, IMU

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Creds to Mr Google 

This Monday, Semester 3 starts and I am officially a second year medical student, Alhamdulillah :') Have to get back on track soon, even though my heart feels heavy to leave home sob sob *said someone who goes back home almost every weekend :p hehe. First year went well, but I would be a great liar if I say there wasn't any breakdown or sadness or the giving-up feeling. Anyway, I don't think you guys wanna read about me... so let's get straight to the main thing haha. I would try my best to summarise the whole one-year journey in the simplest way and manner, but pardon me if it's still overloaded hehe. 

The very first time I came to IMU was a year ago as an interviewee, sitting on the hot seat, in front of a lecturer and 2 other persons (they were students, I think). Before this I only know its existence as among of the top medical universities in Malaysia which I thought I could never get a place into but I never knew how it looks like in real life actually. With only health science courses, IMU in Bukit Jalil is quite small compared to other universities, but you'll feel grateful later on as you don't need to walk far from one lecture to another haha. Currently my batch, ME214 has 200 students with only about 20 Malays-- not really a culture shock to me as I had encountered the same situation and surroundings before when I was in kindergarten and INTI. It's great to make friends with people from different races, religions and countries though :)

I'm going to use different sign posts, so it's easier for you guys to go through.

STUDY
On average for Medical students in IMU, every day we only have 2-3 lectures (1 hour per lecture) and there some days that we have only 1 lecture or none at all! Here, we study by systems (Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System etc) and every semester consists of 3 systems, except for Semester 1 which is the foundation module. That's the best thing about studying in IMU; less lectures per day, no such thing as 8am-4pm classes, although in return we have shorter holidays. But then, other than lectures, we also have PBL, CSU, MMS and lab sessions, which sometimes makes schedule becomes really packed, once in a while.

Update: IMU just changed the system. About the 'shorter holiday', after they have changed the system, we have about 2 months holiday on Jan and Feb. 

Problem Based Learning (PBL) sessions-- in a group of 9-11 people, we will get a case. Then we have to interpret what is it about, find the learning issues to be researched and discuss everything on the next session. Everyone will have the chance to talk and express their views in this session.

Clinical Skills Unit (CSU) sessions-- usually with same group mates from PBL, we learn how to communicate, interact with simulated patients, do physical examinations and all the clinical stuffs step by step with the guidance of manuals provided by CSU. Here's another thing special about IMU-- we have been exposed to clinical skills since the first week of being a medical student. We learn about theories and at the same time we apply them during clinical skills. Some say that it's quite hard to proceed to the next level as OSCE (an exam for clinical skills) is made as a stand-alone assessment which we have to pass even in the first year, but there's a reason behind it. History taking, physical examinations and clinical procedures aren't things that you could be good at for only a couple of days. I still could remember when I was in the first semester, Dr A (real name can't be told) stopped me while I was taking a history from a simulated patient in front of my group mates and said that I didn't show enough empathy. Empathy, empathy, empathy. Empathy isn't the same as sympathy. Empathy is putting yourself in someone else's shoes and it's not easy to master it while taking a history, as you have to focus many things at the same time. As time goes, I reckon I improved quite well in semester 2 if compare to semester 1 hehe (kot). Oh, and we also have the chance to talk to real patients during clinic and hospital visits.

Medical Museum Session (MMS) sessions-- we are divided into a few groups and each group has different session time. During each session, we'll be using plastic models from the medical museum itself and there will be a lecturer to guide us throughout the session. Yes, usually plastic models because IMU has only a few cadaver, hm wait, I think only 1 (which is safely secure under a transparent plastic box).... because they said, "We train you to treat living people, not corpse" -.- hahaha.

Lab sessions-- not every week we have lab session.

All lectures are not compulsory except for CSU, PBL and MPU subjects because IMU adopts a self-independent study and that means whether to go to class or not is up to you, as some students can excel without going to class so IMU gives the right and freedom to students to choose what's best for them.

PASSING SYSTEM
I would like to apologise because I don't really know about other courses, so in this sub topic. I'm going to talk about Medicine course only. Nowadays IMU use a new system, and my batch is the only batch to have the transition semester.. *krik krik*. For my batch, we have to pass Sem 2, Sem 3 (Transition semester), Sem 4 and Sem 5(?) ugh I myself not really sure about it.. By the way, every semester we only have 1 exam (final semester) with a few assignments in between. There's no test after each system. Told ya, studying in IMU is quite relaxing but could be a great dangerous if you too relax all the times haha.

Update: IMU changed the course assessment as well. There's a test after every system ends. A good thing about this is you won't procrastinate until the end of semester and will keep updated about what you have learned.

EAT & TRANSPORTATION
A cafeteria called Pandan Serai is situated at the Lower Ground level and a coffee shop (I think so..) in front of the IMU main entrance, at the driveway. There are also a few stalls just outside of IMU but during weekends most of the stalls are closed so usually I only eat anything I have at home if I don't go back home to Melaka and were too lazy to go out haha.

There's a pasar malam every Wednesday(?) and Saturday in Sungai Besi. When class ends quite late, my friends and I straightly walk to the LRT station, take the LRT and stop at the Sungai Besi station.

IMU is a strategic but a peaceful and conducive place to study. There's an LRT station (Sri Petaling) just behind IMU (only have to cross the road, but there's a pedestrian bridge provided). Sri Petaling station is only 3 stations away from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), that's why I go back home almost every weekend :p hehe. If you feel tired and fed up of having the same food every day, then just take the LRT and go wherever your heart's longing for~~~ haha

ACCOMMODATION
Most students (esp those who live far) stay in Vista B or Vista C which are just about 5-minute walk from IMU. Students prefer to stay in Vista B because it is closer to IMU and much safer if you have to walk back from IMU at night. But Vista C has a higher security system as everyone who lives there need an access card even to enter their own block.

You can either try to look for apartment supervised under IMU, which a lil bit pricey because from water to air-conditioner to internet bills, everything is included and if I'm not mistaken a house keeper comes once a week to clean the house. If you wanna save your budget, you can search for a room in Vista Komanwel website. Some of my friends stayed in vista under IMU for a semester, then they moved to a new house in the next semester together. Normally, apartments in Vista consist of 3 bedrooms (Master, Middle, Small), a kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a living room.

I guess that's all for now. If you guys have any questions, just leave them in the comment box below :)

Assalamualaikum!


P/s: Alhamdulillah, I finally graduated on the 9th of August 2019. Here's a post roughly about the final semester before graduation: Finally, A Doctor :)