Views on the effect of foreign language medium of instruction on undergraduate medical education in a foundation university

The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate the effects of English medium of instruction (EMI) as a non-native language in medical education on educational processes. The data collection phase of the study was conducted between April and August 2018 in a medical school of a foundation university with EMI in İstanbul. The study consists of in-deep interviews with 27 faculty from departments of basic, medical and surgical sciences, and six focused group and one in-depth interview with students from all years as well as in-depth interviews with international students, alumni, administrative staff and two executives for data gathering. Demographic data and information on educational background were obtained using a constructed questionnaire. Qualitative data was analyzed with thematic analysis method. All participants concur that today English proficiency is a sine qua non for a physician, English proficiency is linked with advantages in gaining access to knowledge sources, international education, professional development and work opportunities, the first prerequisite to improve quality in EMI medical education is to improve the English proficiency level of faculty and in cases where this condition cannot be fulfilled the education is impaired and provision of clinical education in English does not seem to be practicable. The points which need to be subjected to further discussion are when, and how medical English and English proficiency in general should be provided and the balance between the pros and cons of EMI medical education as practiced today. Key Words: medical education, English medium of instruction, education in foreign language, medical education in foreign language, medical education in English.