Asalaamu Alaykum,
Ireland - Galway, Dublin, and Cork
Scotland - St. Andrews
England
Poland - Poznan, there were a few other places, I think in cities like Warsaw, Gdansk, and Jagiellonian...etc but can't recall off the top of my head
Hungary - Debrecen, Pecs, and Szeged
Italy - Milan
Malta
Spain - Valencia
New Zealand - Auckland
1. What are the Muslim communities like? Are Muslims accepted or is there a lot of bad feeling toward them there? Are they common?
2. What is the Cost of Living like? Weather? People?
3. What is living like for someone who is an immigrant on a visa (ie not a citizen or resident)?
4. How difficult is it to get residency/citizenship?
5. If children are born there to non-citizen/non-resident parents, do they get citizenship just for being born there?
6. What are medical costs like for people not from the country?
7. The reason I am asking is because my dh is considering applying to some foreign med schools in the countries on this list in the future. We would be there initially on a student visa. If it was a place we really liked and became settled, then we might even pursue his residency and a job there in the future and attempt to become residents or citizens depending on if that is possible. What else, if anything, should I know about the place?
Thanks in advance!
0
Sisters In Europe, Uk, And New Zealand
Started by
Guest_musaafirah_*
, Apr 13 2011 02:46 PM
8 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 13 April 2011 - 03:15 PM
Assalamo alaikum,
I'm in Northern Ireland, which I know isn't on your list but it is close enough to Dublin. I think all of the places you have listed have really tightened up their immigration policies over the last few years. Ireland used to issue the nationality to a baby born in Ireland (regardless of parents nationality) until 2004 because the amount of people coming from all over the world to give birth was overwhelming. Now in UK/Ireland if you come on a student visa you will be entitled to free health care but no other benefits whatsoever. This would mean that you would need to have a good sponsorship to allow living costs. A standard 2 bed flat here would be a minimum of Ģ500 for something quite basic.
I would rule Ireland out unless you get a VERY generous sponsorship salary because the cost of accomodation will be around Ģ1000 per month and the standard of living is VERY expensive.
In UK you have to be working for 5 years before you can apply for permanent residency, then you can apply for passport one year after that. However, the rules are tightening every year.
InshaALlah you will get the right place for you.
I'm in Northern Ireland, which I know isn't on your list but it is close enough to Dublin. I think all of the places you have listed have really tightened up their immigration policies over the last few years. Ireland used to issue the nationality to a baby born in Ireland (regardless of parents nationality) until 2004 because the amount of people coming from all over the world to give birth was overwhelming. Now in UK/Ireland if you come on a student visa you will be entitled to free health care but no other benefits whatsoever. This would mean that you would need to have a good sponsorship to allow living costs. A standard 2 bed flat here would be a minimum of Ģ500 for something quite basic.
I would rule Ireland out unless you get a VERY generous sponsorship salary because the cost of accomodation will be around Ģ1000 per month and the standard of living is VERY expensive.
In UK you have to be working for 5 years before you can apply for permanent residency, then you can apply for passport one year after that. However, the rules are tightening every year.
InshaALlah you will get the right place for you.
#3
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Posted 13 April 2011 - 03:42 PM
AsSalamu Alaikum,
It would be better to go to medical school in the united states, if he is wanting to come back to work here in the united states. I do know that the USA and the UK do not accept each others intership and residency training and if he were to train in the usa and wanted to go to the Uk he would have to do his intership and residency over again. And if he did his intership and residency in the UK and wanted to work in the USA, he would have to do it over again. Also all the testing that is required to become a doctor here in the united states. So have him be very careful where he goes to school and where he does his training.
Why does'nt he want to stay here and go to medical school and do his intership and residency here?
What about some of the states in the united states that have area of need. It would be easier to be accepted if they knew he had a goal to work in an area of need. The work would be rewarding because the community realizes they are short of doctors. And the pay may actually be a bit higher in these areas also.
Kamillah
QUOTE
The reason I am asking is because my dh is considering applying to some foreign med schools in the countries on this list in the future. We would be there initially on a student visa. If it was a place we really liked and became settled, then we might even pursue his residency and a job there in the future and attempt to become residents or citizens depending on if that is possible. What else, if anything, should I know about the place?
It would be better to go to medical school in the united states, if he is wanting to come back to work here in the united states. I do know that the USA and the UK do not accept each others intership and residency training and if he were to train in the usa and wanted to go to the Uk he would have to do his intership and residency over again. And if he did his intership and residency in the UK and wanted to work in the USA, he would have to do it over again. Also all the testing that is required to become a doctor here in the united states. So have him be very careful where he goes to school and where he does his training.
Why does'nt he want to stay here and go to medical school and do his intership and residency here?
What about some of the states in the united states that have area of need. It would be easier to be accepted if they knew he had a goal to work in an area of need. The work would be rewarding because the community realizes they are short of doctors. And the pay may actually be a bit higher in these areas also.
Kamillah
Edited by Sister Kamillah, 13 April 2011 - 03:43 PM.
#4 Guest_musaafirah_*
Posted 13 April 2011 - 04:24 PM
Asalaamu Alaykum,
Ummsalam, cost-wise thats actually not bad at all compared to how much we'd be paying if we were living in the states. Rent and Cost of Living can be quite high here plus we pay for insurance and all which is EXTREMELY pricey.
We'll be using a riba-free Islamic loan inshaallah, there are a couple of brothers who have expressed a possibility of loaning and doing a contract with my husband to pay it back. We are also looking into the islamic loans to see which ones are completely halaal. We'd be taking a portion more than the actual tuition to help with living expenses during his education. Additionally, there are 4 months off a year during which he can work. Also, inshaallah the plan is that I will be a nurse by then so I can look for jobs for the night shift (while the kids sleep) if possible.
Sister Kamillah, the places we are looking at are all compatible with the US inshaallah. I put England upt here but that is really more unrealistic. Ireland is more likely and americans go through the atlantic bridge program. For those who want to come back to the US, they come back to do clinical rotations and residencies. For those who prefer to stay in Ireland, then they do residency there and look for jobs there. We are not tied to the US, if we like another country better and want to stay there afterwords and he wants to work there, there is no need to come back. Same with NZ. For places like Poland, Hungary, Malta, Spain, and Italy, we were looking at specific places which have agreements with the US. For example the school in Poland and Hungary have clinical rotations in the US and agreements with the schools there.
The reason we are looking out of country is because of my husband's scores. His gpa is ok and he did extremely well in the last 2 years when he settled down and studied but he has difficulty with standardized testing and is not scoring great on the MCAT. He planned to apply to DO schools in the US as they offer the same quality of education as the MD schools but because there are less people going that route, the requirements for now are slightly lower, however he would rather do MD somewhere like Ireland or a foreign school if that is a possibility because we would like to make hijrah when he finishes school and is established and MD tends to look better in the Arab world. A lot of people we know go to the Caribbean schools but there is more of a stigma associated with them than with the foreign med schools. He has some good experience and volunteering, published journal articles, and such and plans to work in areas of need and eventually wants to go overseas and work in medically-needy parts of the ummah but med schools in the us are extremely competitive these days and that is not enough. If you have good goals, would be a promising doctors, and have good experience but have an ok gpa and MCAT still in the 20s, most schools won't take you over someone who also has decent experience, a high gpa, and an mcat in the 30 or even 40+.
Ummsalam, cost-wise thats actually not bad at all compared to how much we'd be paying if we were living in the states. Rent and Cost of Living can be quite high here plus we pay for insurance and all which is EXTREMELY pricey.
We'll be using a riba-free Islamic loan inshaallah, there are a couple of brothers who have expressed a possibility of loaning and doing a contract with my husband to pay it back. We are also looking into the islamic loans to see which ones are completely halaal. We'd be taking a portion more than the actual tuition to help with living expenses during his education. Additionally, there are 4 months off a year during which he can work. Also, inshaallah the plan is that I will be a nurse by then so I can look for jobs for the night shift (while the kids sleep) if possible.
Sister Kamillah, the places we are looking at are all compatible with the US inshaallah. I put England upt here but that is really more unrealistic. Ireland is more likely and americans go through the atlantic bridge program. For those who want to come back to the US, they come back to do clinical rotations and residencies. For those who prefer to stay in Ireland, then they do residency there and look for jobs there. We are not tied to the US, if we like another country better and want to stay there afterwords and he wants to work there, there is no need to come back. Same with NZ. For places like Poland, Hungary, Malta, Spain, and Italy, we were looking at specific places which have agreements with the US. For example the school in Poland and Hungary have clinical rotations in the US and agreements with the schools there.
The reason we are looking out of country is because of my husband's scores. His gpa is ok and he did extremely well in the last 2 years when he settled down and studied but he has difficulty with standardized testing and is not scoring great on the MCAT. He planned to apply to DO schools in the US as they offer the same quality of education as the MD schools but because there are less people going that route, the requirements for now are slightly lower, however he would rather do MD somewhere like Ireland or a foreign school if that is a possibility because we would like to make hijrah when he finishes school and is established and MD tends to look better in the Arab world. A lot of people we know go to the Caribbean schools but there is more of a stigma associated with them than with the foreign med schools. He has some good experience and volunteering, published journal articles, and such and plans to work in areas of need and eventually wants to go overseas and work in medically-needy parts of the ummah but med schools in the us are extremely competitive these days and that is not enough. If you have good goals, would be a promising doctors, and have good experience but have an ok gpa and MCAT still in the 20s, most schools won't take you over someone who also has decent experience, a high gpa, and an mcat in the 30 or even 40+.
#5
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Posted 13 April 2011 - 06:46 PM
Assalam alaikum,
I think it would be easier for you to go somewhere, where English is spoken and there is a large Muslim community.
To be honest, I donīt think it would be good for your iman to stay for such a long time in a country with only few practicing muslims, like Poland or Hungary. Would you still feel comfortable being "the only niqabi there"? But then again, it could be a good dawa opportunity if you are the type for it...
Um Safiya
I think it would be easier for you to go somewhere, where English is spoken and there is a large Muslim community.
To be honest, I donīt think it would be good for your iman to stay for such a long time in a country with only few practicing muslims, like Poland or Hungary. Would you still feel comfortable being "the only niqabi there"? But then again, it could be a good dawa opportunity if you are the type for it...
Um Safiya
#6
Posted 13 April 2011 - 10:54 PM
Asalam Alykum,
Although to get into med school is competitive in the U.S., it doesn't mean your husband will not get accepted by at least one institution. The effort and money it takes to move to another country is not easy...been there and done that. This will put a lot of stress on you both unnecessarily. Another thing is that you're depending on loans for this...placing yet another burden because of wanting and needing to pay it back. I think this is a lot to go through without first being absolutely sure there are no schools here that will accept him. How about he finish his studies here (if accepted obviously) and then move when its for the hijrah you both eventually want?
Although to get into med school is competitive in the U.S., it doesn't mean your husband will not get accepted by at least one institution. The effort and money it takes to move to another country is not easy...been there and done that. This will put a lot of stress on you both unnecessarily. Another thing is that you're depending on loans for this...placing yet another burden because of wanting and needing to pay it back. I think this is a lot to go through without first being absolutely sure there are no schools here that will accept him. How about he finish his studies here (if accepted obviously) and then move when its for the hijrah you both eventually want?
Edited by Muslimah72, 13 April 2011 - 10:56 PM.
#7
Posted 14 April 2011 - 06:11 AM
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah
May Allah make it easy for you all, ameen.
This is a bit of a stretch but I would like to recommend Aga Khan University medical school in Karachi, Pakistan. It is perhaps the best medical school in Pakistan and is very compatible with the medical system here. I know several people who have done medicine there and come here to have to pass a certain exam. Living expenses in Pakistan are not that bad compared to here. The school would be taught in English mostly I believe. It's a Muslim country so will be overall positive though conditions in Karachi go up and down in terms of political stability, economic hardships, etc. I think he would be best off coming back to the US for residency, etc. though.
wa Allahu alam.
Remember, trust in Allah sis. He is the Provider. InshaAllah everything is gonna work out!
Zahra
May Allah make it easy for you all, ameen.
This is a bit of a stretch but I would like to recommend Aga Khan University medical school in Karachi, Pakistan. It is perhaps the best medical school in Pakistan and is very compatible with the medical system here. I know several people who have done medicine there and come here to have to pass a certain exam. Living expenses in Pakistan are not that bad compared to here. The school would be taught in English mostly I believe. It's a Muslim country so will be overall positive though conditions in Karachi go up and down in terms of political stability, economic hardships, etc. I think he would be best off coming back to the US for residency, etc. though.
wa Allahu alam.
Remember, trust in Allah sis. He is the Provider. InshaAllah everything is gonna work out!
Zahra
#8
Posted 14 April 2011 - 03:14 PM
Asalam Alykum.
I didn't think of this when I wrote my last post, but what about seeking tutoring that is available to help those with low scores on tests like the MCAT? Insha'Allah may whatever decision you both make come with ease and with benefit in this life and the next. Ameen
I didn't think of this when I wrote my last post, but what about seeking tutoring that is available to help those with low scores on tests like the MCAT? Insha'Allah may whatever decision you both make come with ease and with benefit in this life and the next. Ameen
#9
Sister Kamillah
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Posted 14 April 2011 - 03:50 PM
AsSalamu alaikum,
Aga Khan will not work for someone with low test scores, it is one of the best medical schools in the East and Very competative. Many that go to this school, come back and do residency in the top universities in the united states.
Have him try here for those schools less popular and not top ten or rated the best here. I am thinking of Wayne State in Michigan, it is a good school but may not be that difficult to get into.
Spain is Not muslim friendly, dont go there. I would never go there again..They tried to make me take off my khimaar in front of everyone when entering spain. I would'nt so they took me in the back and had someone who spoke english talk to me. They are very rude and want to make problems for muslims. I would never go there again. I can imagine how you will be treated wearing the niqaab. they are a bit hostle towards muslims.
Aga Khan will not work for someone with low test scores, it is one of the best medical schools in the East and Very competative. Many that go to this school, come back and do residency in the top universities in the united states.
Have him try here for those schools less popular and not top ten or rated the best here. I am thinking of Wayne State in Michigan, it is a good school but may not be that difficult to get into.
Spain is Not muslim friendly, dont go there. I would never go there again..They tried to make me take off my khimaar in front of everyone when entering spain. I would'nt so they took me in the back and had someone who spoke english talk to me. They are very rude and want to make problems for muslims. I would never go there again. I can imagine how you will be treated wearing the niqaab. they are a bit hostle towards muslims.
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