Studies & Degrees in General and Digestive Surgery
General and digestive surgery is the surgical specialty that treats diseases of the abdomen and the digestive system: the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon and rectum, the liver, bile ducts and pancreas, and the abdominal wall, where hernias appear. In many countries it also covers the breast, the thyroid and other endocrine glands, and the skin and soft tissue. General surgeons carry out planned operations and a large share of emergency surgery, such as appendicitis, bowel obstruction or abdominal injuries.
It is a specialty for qualified doctors, not a first degree. Students first complete a degree in medicine and then train for several years in a hospital. During that training they learn to diagnose surgical disease, to decide when an operation is needed, to operate by open and laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques, and to look after patients before and after surgery.
Qualifications and levels
The name and length of the training depend on the country.
- Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits, which is six years. Graduates then sit the national selection exam for specialist training places run by the Ministerio de Sanidad. The official specialty is Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo and its training programme lasts five years. According to the official programme, the specialist is responsible for planned and emergency surgery of the digestive system, the abdominal wall, the endocrine system, the breast, the skin and soft tissue, the retroperitoneum and the external pathology of the head and neck. In the final year, residents rotate through areas such as liver, biliary and pancreatic surgery, colorectal surgery, advanced laparoscopic surgery and organ transplantation.
- United Kingdom. After medical school, doctors complete a two-year foundation programme and then apply for specialty training in general surgery, which takes a minimum of eight years according to NHS Health Careers.
- United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, physicians and surgeons need a bachelor's degree and a medical degree, which takes an additional four years. The American College of Surgeons states that surgical residencies last a minimum of five years, and that the general surgery residency lasts five years and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Further specialisation takes longer: colon and rectal surgery, for example, requires general surgery training plus one additional year.
Other countries organise the route in their own way, usually as a medical degree followed by an internship, residency or similar postgraduate training in surgery. Ask each university which qualification it awards at the end and whether the health authority of the country where you want to work recognises it.
Where to study it
The directory lists two schools for this subject, one in Ukraine and one in Russia. Both are state medical universities: Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi and Rostov State Medical University in Rostov-on-Don. Bukovinian State Medical University states that it teaches in Ukrainian and, for foreign students, in English, and that its programmes in Medicine lead to master's and doctoral (PhD) qualifications. For either school, check with the university which surgical training it offers to international graduates and in which language.
Because the specialty does not exist as a first degree, most students choose a medical school first and a surgical training post later. Specialist training takes place in the language of the hospital, since surgeons talk to patients and colleagues every day. Doctors who qualified abroad normally need their medical degree recognised and a licence to practise before they can start.
Careers
General surgeons work in hospital operating theatres, wards, emergency departments and outpatient clinics. NHS Health Careers describes general surgery as one of the largest surgical specialties in England, where general surgeons make up 25% of all consultant surgeons. Many later concentrate on one area. The sub-specialties listed by NHS Health Careers include breast surgery, lower gastrointestinal surgery, endocrine surgery, upper gastrointestinal surgery (oesophagus, stomach, liver and pancreas, including weight-loss surgery) and transplant surgery.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of physicians and surgeons in the United States to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The figure covers all doctors, not only general surgeons. In every country the right to practise depends on registration with the national medical authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study general and digestive surgery as a first degree?
No. It is a specialty for qualified doctors. You first complete a degree in medicine and then specialist training in a hospital.
How long does it take to become a general and digestive surgeon in Spain?
The degree in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits (six years) and the specialist training lasts five years, so the minimum is eleven years, plus the time needed to obtain a training place.
What does a general surgeon operate on?
Mainly the digestive system and the abdominal wall. In Spain the official programme also includes the endocrine system, the breast, and the skin and soft tissue.
Is a surgical qualification from one country valid in another?
Not automatically. Each country decides which foreign medical degrees and specialist titles it recognises, so ask the health authority of the country where you plan to work before you enrol.