Shandong University is one of the earliest universities that admit international students for study toward M.B.B.S (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) in clinical medicine in China. The training program was launched in 2002 at SUSOM. The aim of this program, which takes five to seven years, is to train highly qualified physicians and surgeons through lecturing, laboratory teaching and supervised clinical practice. Two teaching modes, in Chinese and English, respectively, are offered. Among the current international students of over 300 at SUSOM, most select the English teaching mode. According to the data released by Ministry of Education of P.R.China in 2008, Shandong University was one of the 25 universities accredited for enrolling international students for M.B.B.S in English.