The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz is an extension of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (UMK), aimed at training students in medical sciences.

The instruction is organized according to the three stages of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA): In 2020/2021, 4870 students study at the Collegium Medicum, including 551 doctorates and more than 300 foreigners (mainly from Norway, Ireland, The Netherlands).

In addition to a large spectrum of activities (teaching, education, research and development), the medical university conducts highly specialized therapeutic tasks for the entire Voivodeship.

Regular scientific contacts are exchanged with other centers in Germany (Wuppertal, Berlin, Kiel), Switzerland (Aarau), Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris), Sweden (Lund), Norway (Sandvik), Belgium (Antwerp, Liège) and United States (Houston).

The university also conducts operations for the local community, such as the medical science festival "Medicalia" organized periodically at the end of the year in Bydgoszcz.

[5] The origin of Bydgoszcz Medical Academy, present day UMK-Collegium Medicum, dates back to 1951, when was set up in the city the first "Department of Physicians' Development" (Polish: Zakład Szkolenia Lekarzy) in Poland: it was housed by the University Hospital No.

[6] In 1953, the "Institute of Improvement and Specialization of Medical Personnel" (Polish: Instytut Doskonalenia i Specjalizacji Kadr Lekarskich), today's Medical Center of Postgraduate Education (Polish: Centrum Medyczne Kształcenia Podyplomowego), was established in Warsaw: nine of its clinical and diagnostic units were located in the provincial hospitals of Bydgoszcz.

At that time, the 2nd clinic of otorhinolaryngology was established in Bydgoszcz and the postgraduate training of doctors in other medical disciplines was entrusted to the heads of hospital departments.

This decision was reached with the consent of the representatives of the "Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń" and the minister of higher education.

At the same time, in 1972 a "Pharmaceutical Study" was set up by the "Warsaw Medical Center of Postgraduate Education", aiming at training pharmacists from all over the country.

[7] On September 1, 1975, an additional branch of the Gdańsk Medical University was established, which extended the education also to the fourth year pupils.

The Ministry of Health allowed the tentative build-up of an integrated medicine course (from the first year on) in Bydgoszcz, under the patronage and via the financial aid of the WHO.

In 1990, the Medical Academy purchased the building at 13 Jagiellońska street from the former Provincial Committee of the PZPR: there were located the offices of the rector and the dean, faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, the university administration, lecture rooms, a canteen and an additional dormitory.

In 1996, the Psychiatry and Clinic division moved to a facility at Kurpiński street and an Intercollegiate Center of Medical Physics was established.

In 2004, the university completed the renovation of the edifice at 20 Świętojańska street, donated by the city authorities to research and teaching units.

The university launched the first bone marrow transplant center in northern Poland at the Department Clinic of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology.

The Collegium Medicum cooperates to the work aimed at creating a Regional Center for Telemedicine at the "University Hospital No.

In October 2013, the former Prussian Eastern Railway Headquarters located at 63 Dworcowa Street was handed over to the CM UMK in order to install a dentistry faculty.

[13] In 2020, the CM employed over 1,400 personnel (including more than 850 academic teachers) and taught nearly 5,000 students in three faculties: Medicine, Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

[14] Collegium Medicum UMK also offers English studies based on the Polish curriculum: hence the institution welcomed in 2020 around 300 students, mainly from Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Saudi Arabia, United States, Canada, India and Thailand.