English for Medical Practice

Health practitioners such as doctors, nurses, and therapists who work in international settings need to communicate effectively in English about complex and sensitive issues. This course enhances your competence to interact with patients and with other health practitioners in a clear but polite way that inspires confidence and trust.

Some of the topics that may be covered include:

  • concepts of physical and mental health;
  • various patient encounters and consultations;
  • writing brief patient histories and consultation notes;
  • advising about prevention and exercise;
  • explaining tests, diagnoses, and treatments so that they are easy for patients to understand;
  • conveying unwelcome news;
  • interacting with other health practitioners and institutions;
  • understanding and presenting research that is relevant to medical practice;
  • delivering a presentation on a health topic.

Course information

Places available
Course level
C1 - C2
Date
10.03.2026 - 26.05.2026
Tuesday, 18:15 - 19:45
24 Lessons
Lecturer
Riana Paola, PhD
Kumiko Masai, PhD
Credit points
2 ECTS
Registration deadline
Sunday 22.02.2026
Course fee
Students and PhD candidates: CHF 315.00
Members of staff: CHF 579.00
Alumni: CHF 579.00
Registration

Target group

Participants must already have completed at least two semesters of study in medicine, nursing, or exercise and health sciences.

Course materials

The course materials will be provided by the instructor.

Attendance

Number of absences allowed: 2

Coursework

Participants are expected to:
  • participate actively in class;
  • complete learning assessments;
  • spend 3 hours per course session on preparing and reviewing the lesson and on autonomous learning.

Credit points

To earn the credit points, students must fulfill the attendance requirement, complete the coursework, and pass the required number of assessments. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis.

Important

The Language Center’s courses and services are open to the groups of people listed under Eligibility for Admission. Students must also be matriculated::
a) You are studying at the University of Basel? Please enter your matriculation number on the registration form.
b) You are studying at another Swiss Institution of higher education or a EUCOR university? In addition to your matriculation number, please upload a valid confirmation of your matriculation with the registration form.

Please note: registrations without proof of your student status cannot be processed.

Placement test

To register for this course, you are required to demonstrate that you are on the corresponding language level in one of the following ways:

a) on the registration form, note the title and semester of a successfully completed course at the University of Basel Language Center from the last two semesters; or
b) upload an officially recognized language certificate or a confirmation of a language course, both from the last two years, during registration; or
c) take a placement test and upload a PDF or other copy of the results during registration.

You are only eligible to register for this course and acquire credit points if your level is not significantly above the course level. In borderline cases, the language head will decide on the basis of an oral examination whether participation with or without credit points is possible.

Date for rescheduled sessions

If the course instructor has to cancel one or more sessions, they will be re-scheduled for Saturday, 9 May 2026, between 10:00 and 16:00.

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