PreMed Program

PreMed is a two-semester program offered by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan to foreign students who want to improve their knowledge and skills in natural sciences before they start their medical studies. The program prepares for the entrance exam to Poznan University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), a sister institution in Poznan as well as Other medical Programs in Poland.

Apart from courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, the program provides an opportunity to get basic skills in Polish and/or to improve English.

The AMU Premed program is taught in the Northern Campus Morasko, a modern facility conveniently connected to the city centre (15 minutes via a direct tram).


The mission of the University is to advance knowledge through high-quality research and teaching in partnership with business, the professions, public services and other research and learning providers.


About Adam Mickiewicz University

Founded in 1919
2 800 academic staff
nearly 50 000 students
over 46 000 undergraduate and graduate degree students,
1 300 PhD students,
hundreds of postgraduate diploma students
1 200 international students

In the following turbulent years of Polish history, science and higher education were always vibrant in Poznań. The key role in their development was played by the Poznań Society of Friends of Sciences which preserved the academic legacy forward in partitioned Poland (1795-1918) until the official re-establishment of the University of Poznan, following the end of the First World War, in 1919.

Ever since the University of Poznań has flourished, and only one more time was it forced to go underground and provide its services in the conspiracy during the Second World War under the name of clandestine University of the Western Lands (1940-1944). Despite the Nazi German occupation it managed to educate and produce over 2,000 graduates with the help of some 300 academic teachers, who risked their lives by offering university courses in Polish, which was made illegal during the war.

If you want to learn more about AMU history, click here.

Supreme academic expertise
Competitive price
Central location: halfway between Berlin and Warsaw; most European
capitals hours by plane!
Multicultural environment
Student-friendly city: every fourth citizen of Poznań is a student! 46,000
of them study at AMU!
Vibrant business center offering career opportunities for students,
Poznań region enjoys the lowest unemployment rate in Poland (around
3.9%)

Comprehensive academic offer: read on! AMU has been ranked among
top-3 Universities in Poland for the last 5 years!
A large number of professional full-time academic staff
Advanced research opportunities: 600 research projects funded by the
6th European Union Framework Program for Research and Technological
Development
Handicap-friendly program: AMU has the largest population of students
with disabilities in Poland!
Easy access to culture: Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra plays in the AMU
Main Auditorium, Poznan Opera House just across the square, National
Museum 10 minutes away by foot!
Exciting sports program to follow in 30 disciplines!

About Poznań

Founded: 9th Century
Town Charter: 1253
Area: 261.3 sq. km
Population: around 550 000 residents, 140 000 students
Unemployment rate: 3.9 %

Poznan has many sports and leisure centers offering plenty of opportunities to spend your free time. During your time off, choose among Poznan’s many restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs. A particularly charming atmosphere awaits you in the Old Market Square Area. It’s the center of nightlife in Poznan. Poznan is a city of music, theatre, visual arts and design. If you want to look for more information about the city, click here.

Accommodation and Enrollment

Deadline: 30.06.2022 (notification of acceptance will be given within 2 weeks after the deadline)
Price: 12 500 USD (the price can be reduced up to 10 500 USD depending on the size of the group)

Registered students might find accommodation in the students' dorms owned and operated by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. The cost is about 100-150 USD per month. If you want to read more about the dorms, click here.

Full sylabus

  • Biology - 250 hours of courses

    1. The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules.
    The diversity of polymers. Carbohydrates. Proteins. Nucleic acids. Lipids.
    2. Prokaryotic cell structure and function.
    Cell surface structures. Motility. Internal organization and DNA (nucleoid, plasmids). Binary fission and conjugation in bacteria.
    3. Eukaryotic cell structure and function.
    Plasma Membrane. Compartmentalization. Cytoskeleton. Endomembrane system: endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi Apparatus and lysosomes. The Nucleus. Ribosomes. Mitochondria.
    4. Cell communication.
    Cell junctions. Local and long distant signaling. Chemical messengers. Receptors. The stages of cell signaling.
    5. Cell cycle.
    Mitosis and meiosis. Cellular organization of genetic material. Phases of cell cycle. The mitotic spindle. Cytokinesis. Cellular organization of genetic material. The stages of mitosis and meiosis. A comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis. Origins of genetic variation among offspring.
    6. Cellular respiration and fermentation.
    Catabolic pathways and production of ATP. The stages of cellular respiration (glycolysis, oxidation of puryvate, citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation). Anaerobic respiration. Types of fermentation.
    7. Viruses.
    Structure of viruses. General features of viral replication cycles. Viroids and prions. Viral diseases. Emerging viruses.
    8. Bacteria and Archaea.
    Cell surface structures. Motility. Internal organization. Reproduction and adaptation. Diverse nutritional and metabolic adaptation – oxygen and nitrogen metabolism, cooperation. The role in the biosphere (chemical recycling, ecological interactions). Beneficial and harmful impacts of Prokaryotes on humans.
    9. Protists
    Structural and functional diversity in Protists. Role of Protists in ecological communities.
    10. Fungi.
    Nutrition and Ecology. Body structure. Sexual and asexual reproduction. Fungi as pathogens. Practical uses of fungi.
    11. Chromosomal and Molecular Basis of Inheritance.
    The chromosomal basis of sex. Inheritance of X- and Y-linked genes. Alternation of chromosome number and structure. Human disorders due to chromosomal alternation. Inheritance of organelle genes. DNA as genetic material. Structural model of DNA. Chromosomes’ structure.
    12. Genetic mechanisms.
    The flow of genetic information. Replication: base paring to a template strain, synthesis of new DNA strands. Transcription: molecular components of transcription, posttranscriptional modifications (alternation of mRNA ends, RNA splicing). Translation: molecular components of the process. Building of polypeptide. Genetic code. Type of mutations.
    Regulation of Gene Expression (promoters, transcription factors).
    13. Tissues and body membranes.
    Structure and physiology of: connective, muscle, epithelial and nervous tissue; serous, mucous, synovial and cutaneous membranes.
    14. Senses.
    Hearing and equilibrium. Visual perception. Taste. Smell. Types of sensory receptors.
    15. Nervous system.
    Organization of nervous system. The central nervous system. The organization of human brain. Peripheral nervous system: motor and autonomic nervous system. Glia. Blood-brain barrier. Nervous system disorders.
    16. Neurons, synapses and signaling.
    Neurons structure and function. Resting and action potential. Conduction of action potentials. Postsynaptic potential. Neurotransmitters.
    17. Hormones and endocrine system.
    Intercellular communication. Endocrine tissues and organs. Chemical classes of hormones. Multiple effects of hormones. Simple hormone pathways. Feedback regulation.
    18. Immune system. Innate and adaptive immunity.
    Antigen. Antibody. The humoral immune response. The cell-mediated immune response. Inflammatory response. Immunological memory. Allergies. Immunization (vaccination).
    19. Cardiovascular system.
    Organization of human circulatory system. Heart and heart’s rhythmic beat. Blood vessels structure and function. Blood pressure. Blood composition and function.
    20. Respiratory system.
    Organization of human respiratory system. Negative pressure breathing. Hemoglobin.
    21. Digestive system and nutrition.
    Essential nutrients. Dietary deficiencies. Organization of human digestive system. Chemical digestion in the human digestive system. Dental adaptation.
    22. Human reproduction and development.
    Female and male reproductive anatomy. Hormonal control of reproductive system. Gametogenesis. Conception. Embryonic development. Birth.
    23. Osmoregulation and excretion.
    Excretory organs. Kidney structure. Nephron organization and function. Kidney function, water balance and blood pressure.
    24. Evolution.
    Evolution of population. Evolution of human being. The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates. Phylogeny and the Tree of Life.
    25. Ecology
    Biotic and abiotic factors, habitats, niches, levels of organization, symbiosis, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism, trophic levels, nutrient cycles (water, carbon and nitrogen), food chains, primary producers, types of consumers, energy and biomass pyramids, limiting factors, tolerance, carrying capacity, adaptation, succession, climax community, pioneer species, biomes.
    26.Genetics of population.
    Genetic drift and effective population size, bottleneck effect, adaptation and phenotypic variance, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis.

  • Chemistry - 250 hours of courses

    1. Atoms
    Atomic theory
    Elements and atomic number Isotopes and atomic weight
    2. The Periodic Table The periodic table and some characteristics of different groups Electronic structure of atoms and electron configurations Electron configurations and the periodic table Electron-dot symbols
    3. Ionic Compounds The octet rule ions and ionic bonds Periodic properties, ion formation formulas, naming ionic compounds Some properties of ionic compounds H + and OH - ions: an introduction to acids and bases 4. Molecular Compounds Covalent bonds and the periodic table Multiple covalent bonds and coordinate covalent bonds Characteristics of molecular compounds Molecular formulas and Lewis structures Polar covalent bonds and electronegativity, polar molecules Naming binary molecular compounds
    5. Classification and Balancing of Chemical Reactions Classes of chemical reactions
    Chemical equations and balancing chemical equations Acids, bases, and neutralization reactions Redox reactions 6.Mole and Mass Relationships The mole and Avogadro’s number Gram–mole conversions
    7. Reaction Rates and Chemical Equilibria.
    Endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions
    Factors that influence chemical reaction rates Chemical equilibrium
    Equilibrium constants
    8. Nuclear Chemistry
    Radioactivity
    Radioactive half-life
    9. Physical quantities
    Metric system of units Metric units of length Metric units of mass Metric units of volume
    Significant figures
    10. Fundamental Chemical Laws
    Law of conservation of mass
    Law of definite proportions
    Law of multiple proportions
    11. Chemical Calculations
    Mole concept and chemical formulas
    Calculations involving chemical equations
    Calculations involving volume and concentration
    12. Solutions Mixtures and solutions Units of concentration Dilution Ions in solution: electrolytes
    13. Acids and Bases Acids and bases in aqueous solution, some common acids and bases The Brønsted–Lowry definition of acids and bases Acid dissociation constants. Acid and base strength Some common acid–base reactions
    Acidity and basicity of salt solutions
    14. Buffers
    Measuring acidity in aqueous solution: pH Buffer solutions Titration
    15. Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes The nature of organic molecules The structure of organic molecules: alkanes and their isomers Drawing organic structures
    The shapes of organic molecules Naming alkanes Properties of alkanes Reactions of alkanes
    16. Cycloalkanes Drawing and naming cycloalkanes 17. Alkenes and Alkynes Alkenes and alkynes Naming alkenes and alkynes The structure of alkenes: cis–trans isomerism Properties of alkenes and alkynes Types of organic reactions Reactions of alkenes and alkynes
    18. Aromatic Compounds
    Alkene polymers Aromatic compounds and the structure of benzene Naming aromatic compounds Reactions of aromatic compounds 19. Alcohols Some common alcohols Naming alcohols Properties of alcohols, acidity of alcohols Reactions of alcohols
    20. Phenols
    Some common phenols Acidity of phenols
    21. Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen Ethers Thiols and disulfides Halogen-containing compounds 22. Amines Amines Properties of amines Heterocyclic nitrogen compounds Basicity of amines Amine salts
    23. Aldehydes The carbonyl group Naming aldehydes Properties of aldehydes Some Common aldehydes Oxidation of aldehydes Reduction of aldehydes
    24. Ketones
    Naming ketones
    Properties of ketones
    Some Common ketones
    Reduction of ketones 25. Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives Carboxylic acids and their derivatives: properties and names Some common carboxylic acids Acidity of carboxylic acids Reactions of carboxylic acids: ester and amide formation
    Hydrolysis of esters and amides
    26. Amino Acids and Proteins Amino acids structures Acid–base properties of amino acids Chemical properties of proteins
    27. Enzymes and Vitamins Catalysis by enzymes How enzymes work Vitamins and minerals 28. Carbohydrates
    Classification of carbohydrates The D and L families of sugars: drawing sugar molecules Structure of glucose Disaccharides, structure of maltose Some important polysaccharides Properties of carbohydrates
    29. Lipids
    Structure and classification of lipids Fatty acids and their esters Properties of fats and oils
    30. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis DNA, chromosomes, and genes Composition of nucleic acids The structure of nucleic acid chains Base pairing in DNA: the Watson–Crick model

  • Physics and maths - 250 hours of courses

    1. Dynamics
    Force, mass, Newton's 1st, 2nd and 3rd law
    Free-body diagrams
    Contact forces: normal force and friction force
    Linear momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum
    Elastic and inelastic collisions, center of mass, translational motion
    2. Electric currents
    Electric current,
    Ohm’s law , electrical resistance and resistors
    Electric power
    EMF and terminal voltage.
    Resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff’s rules
    3. Electric field
    Electric charge, static electricity, induced charge, electric field, field lines, electric potential, equipotential lines, voltage,
    Coulomb’s law
    Electric field, conductors and dielectrics, charge distribution
    Capacitance, storage of electric energy, capacitors in series and in parallel
    4. Elements of kinematics and dynamics of circular and rotational motion
    Angular velocity, angular acceleration, torque and rotational inertia
    Angular momentum, conservation of angular momentum
    Period, frequency, centripetal acceleration , centripetal force
    Condition of equilibrium
    Stability and balance
    5. Elements of modern Physics: early quantum theory and models of the atom
    Photon theory of light, photon energy, Planck’s constant
    Photoelectric effect
    Early models of the atoms, atomic spectra, the Bohr model: energy levels, transitions, absorption and emission
    Wave-particle duality: the de’Broglie hypothesis
    6. Fluids and solids
    Mass and weight, specific density and specific gravity
    Pascal’s principle , pressure, hydraulic lift
    Archimedes' principle, buoyancy and buoyant force
    Elasticity, stress, strain, Hook’s law and Young’s modulus
    7. Geometrical optics and wave nature of light
    The ray model of light
    Reflection of light, formation of image by plane mirrors and spherical mirrors, total internal reflection, fibre optics
    Refraction, Snell’s law index of refraction
    Thin lenses, focal point, focal length, optical power, ray tracing: converging and diverging lenses
    The tin lenses equation; magnification, combination of lenses, lensmaker’s equation,
    Magnifying glass, eye and corrective lenses
    Huygens principle, diffraction, diffraction grating, interference, polarization
    8. Kinematics
    Vectors and scalars, vector components, addition of vectors
    Frames of reference and displacement
    Velocity and acceleration
    Motion at a constant acceleration; falling objects
    Projectile motion
    9. Magnetism and electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic waves
    Magnets and magnetic fields.
    Magnetic field of straight wires and coils supplied with electric current
    Force on an electric current in a magnetic field and on electric charge moving in a magnetic field
    Faraday’s law of induction; Lenz’s law, electric generators, transformers and transmission of power
    Electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, production of electromagnetic waves
    10. Nuclear Physics and radioactivity
    Structure and properties on the nucleus, nuclear size
    Binding energy and nuclear forces
    Radioactivity: alpha, beta and gamma decay; conservation of nucleon number and charge
    The law of radioactive decay; the half-life time
    Nuclear reactions and transmutation of elements
    Nuclear fission and fusion, nuclear reactors
    11. Sounds
    Characteristics of sound
    Sound intensity and intensity level, ear, sound loudness
    Doppler effect
    Sources of sound: vibrating strings and air columns, standing waves
    12. Temperature and kinetic theory of gases
    Temperature, kinetic theory of gases and molecular interpretation of temperature
    Thermal Equilibrium and the Zero-the Law of Thermodynamics
    The Ideal Gas Law
    Heat and internal energy, First Law of Thermodynamics
    Specific heat and latent heat
    Heat engines, Second Law of Thermodynamics
    13. Vibration and waves
    Simple harmonic motion (SHL), energy in the SHL, conservation of energy in the SHL,
    Simple pendulum, resonance, forced vibration
    Wave motion, transverse and longitudinal waves
    Energy transported by waves
    Propagation of waves: reflection, refraction and diffraction
    14. Work, power and energy
    Work, kinetic energy, potential energy, power
    Conservative and non-conservative forces
    Conversion of mechanical energy, energy transformations
    Work-energy principle