It is pretty much normal for international students to opt to take their medical lessons in schools abroad. They believe a continent like Europe offers a better education than their local countries.
This is true because, in Europe, international students receive a quality education at affordable tuition that cannot be equaled worldwide.
The prerequisite is mainly a study destination where med schools are taught in the English language. This, among others, makes Europe stand out.
Besides, that dream of becoming a doctor cannot be achieved without attending medical school. Therefore, stay with us while we show you the best schools to study medicine in Europe for international students.
Meanwhile, the table of content is right below.
Table of contents
- Why Study Medicine In Europe for International Students?
- What Are Med Schools In Europe Admission Requirements?
- What Is The Tuition For European Medical Schools?
- Why Is It Easier To Get Into Medical Schools In Europe Than USA?
- Best Med Schools in UK
- Best English Medical Schools in Europe for International Students
- Best Places/Countries to study Medicine in Europe
- FAQs on Medical Schools in Europe for International Students
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendation
Why Study Medicine In Europe for International Students?
Did you know all you require to study medicine in Europe is a high school diploma and a written/oral entrance exam? Unbelievable, right?
Now, let’s explore other reasons.
Lower tuition: Many international students want to study at European medical schools because of the lower tuition. The tuition for European medical schools is almost a third of the US medical school tuition.
Shorter duration of study: An ideal medical school in Europe has a study duration of about 6 years. This is shorter than what is obtainable in many countries.
Increased English-taught Programs: Although the prevalent language in Europe is not English, international students need not fear because there are many English- taught medical school programs they can enroll for. These are our focus in this post.
For instance, there are above 35 of these programs, majorly in Italy and Eastern Europe.
Integrated Programs: The European integrated bachelors-masters degree program can save students time and money since their average tuition is under $10,500.
Why is this?
European medical schools typically combine undergraduate and postgraduate work lasting 5 to 6 years.
What Are Med Schools In Europe Admission Requirements?
The admission requirements for med schools in Europe are quite simple. Unlike other study destinations with many requirements, Med schools here have just these requirements. They are listed below.
- High school Certificate/GPA
- Good marks in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math
- Letters of recommendation
- Letter of motivation
- Voluntary or work experience related to healthcare
- Candidates taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) must offer three subjects, including Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level, plus three subjects at Standard Level. Many universities don’t require this.
- Minimum TOEFL and IELTS/UKCAT results
Read this: 407 Medicine Scholarships Undergraduates, Masters …
What Is The Tuition For European Medical Schools?
Medical schools in Europe are considerably cheap. A medical degree tuition spans $60-90,000 over 6 years of education.
When compared to the cost of med schools in the United States and other study destinations, the tuition in Europe is almost a third of it. The average cost of a medical degree in the US is $140-240,000 over four years.
Why Is It Easier To Get Into Medical Schools In Europe Than USA?
The basic reason it is easier to get into medical schools in Europe than in the USA is the admission requirements. Medical schools in Europe have few admission requirements, which we have listed above, while its counterpart (med schools in the USA) have stringent rules that students must follow.
For instance, a high school certificate and a test are required in Europe. Still, in America, you will provide a high school diploma, an undergraduate in Sciences (4yrs), MCATs & Applications to Medical School, and prerequisite courses.
With these, getting into a medical school in Europe and enjoying lower tuition in a high academic-standard environment is more effortless.
Best Med Schools in UK
According to Times Higher and QS, the best medical schools in the UK are listed below.
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London
- The University of Edinburgh
- King’s College London
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- The University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Glasgow
- University of Liverpool
Wondering how long medical school is? Read: How Long Is Medical School? | Review of some Medical Schools
Best English Medical Schools in Europe for International Students
In Europe, many medical schools do not have an English-taught program. However, the schools listed in this section have English-taught programs that international students can enroll in. We have listed a few of them that are among the 2024 world’s best medical schools.
Our Ranking factor involves the following variables: English-taught programs, accreditation, ranking by THE and QS, and international recognition of the school. These schools are ranked using the 2024 world’s best medical schools ranking.
This list is ranked according to the world’s best medical schools by QS and THE.
- University of Oxford
- the University of Cambridge
- Karolinska Institute, Sweden
- Imperial College London
- UCL
- Kings College London
- University of Edinburgh
- Heidelberg University, Germany
- ETH Zurich
- KU Leuven, Belgium
- Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- LMU Munich, Germany
- University of Paris
#1 University of Oxford
Oxford University Medical School is located in the city of Oxford, England. It is the world-oldest English speaking school.
The teachings in this medical school in Europe are split into Pre-clinical years, which are 1-3 years, and Clinical years from 4-6 years.
It is the best medical school by both THE and QS.
For the tuition, international students are classified as either Overseas or on Islands. The overseas students pay between £26,770 and £37,510, while the Islands students pay £9,250.
#2 University of Cambridge
The Cambridge University Medical School is co-located with Addenbrooke’s Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It is the second-best med school in Europe and the world in the 2024 ranking.
There are both undergraduate and graduate programs. Students can enroll in 11 departments at the School of Clinical Medicine. Before enrolling in clinical school, you require a pre-clinical degree, the first 3 years of your study.
Lastly, the tuition fee for the Cambridge University medical school is £55,272 for foreign students. But, domestic students are to pay £9,250.
#3 Karolinska Institute, Sweden
The Karolinska Institute is a research-led medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area of Sweden. It is Sweden’s best university and one of the largest medical schools in the world.
Medical and health sciences research at Karolinska Institutet covers 40% of Sweden’s medical and health research.
Some programs are taught in English, and the Global Master’s Programmes are only taught in English. Many Ph.D. programs are also taught in English.
In addition, the total tuition fee for the entire medical program for international students, which is 5.5 years, is SEK 1,430,000. This equals $160 510.
Read: Best Universities in Sweden for International Students
#4 Imperial College London
Imperial College School of Medicine is the medical school of Imperial College London in England.
The acceptance rate of this med school is quite low. For the 2024 intake, only 345 students are to be admitted. This brings the application to the admission ratio to 8:1.
There are 8 departments for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. International students’ tuition for preclinical and clinical years is a flat rate of £ 44,000.00.
#5 UCL
University College London Medical School is located in London, United Kingdom. UCL has many great options to offer students, like many undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs, a medical research unit, and an education consultancy unit
Graduating from UCL medicine leads to an MBBS and BSc degrees, a six-year integrated program.
The Medical School is ranked 5th in the world in THE best-med school rankings.
Finally, from 2024, new students will pay £9,250 for full-time study and £4,625 for part-time study.
Check out scholarships from UCL.
Best Places/Countries to study Medicine in Europe
According to Top Universities, there are 233 universities with medical schools in Europe. And they are scattered all over the continent. Taking a cue from the world’s best universities of medicine, we have listed the best places to study medicine in Europe.
1. United Kingdom
The UK is the best place to attend a medical school in Europe. This is because the med schools in the UK are always top as the best in the world.
Of the 233 med schools in Europe, the United Kingdom has the 45 top universities.
Secondly, the UK is home to the National Health Service, which ensures students are trained in facilities outside the classroom for two to three years. As such, med school students learn practically.
England is at the forefront of this achievement; read about the Top 20 Medical Schools in England.
2. Germany
Students who study in Medical schools in Germany enjoy practical and high-quality training at world-renowned universities.
This is because medical education in Germany works hand-in-glove with a network of hospitals, research institutes, and enterprises.
Consequently, the best medical school in Germany is Heidelberg University, the 8th best-med school in Europe. In addition, Germany has a total of 33 top medical schools/universities.
You may need to read this: Medicine Scholarships in Germany.
3. Italy
Med schools in Italy are quite selective.
It is no longer news that Italy is a tourist destination for international students who wish to explore.
Italy prides itself on some of the best medical schools in Europe. It is one of the best places to study medicine in Europe.
This is because of the world’s best universities that teach medicine. 29 universities in the top med schools in Europe are in Italy.
Similarly, specific places are reserved for international students from EU and non-EU nations. This aids the learning process as you’d be studying from students of similar backgrounds.
Lastly, the tuition for medical schools in English is affordable from €500 – €5000 per year.
4. France
Studying medicine in France and Europe is ideal for students who wish to learn nearly. This results from the partnership between the Ministry of Education and Health.
Unfortunately, many public universities in France teach the French language. Hence, mastering the language is vital for students who do not want to attend a private university.
According to the National Association of Medical Students of France, tuition is around €6,000.
Again, France houses 18 of the best medical schools in Europe. Therefore, it is a good place to study medicine in Europe.
It is also important to know that studying medicine in France is one of the longest in the world. The education is divided into 3 cycles, and usually takes 9 years to become a physician.
5. Sweden
Sweden has 8 of the best-med schools in Europe. Education is free for Swedish, Nordic, and EU citizens, although the cost of a Medicine student is estimated to be roughly 1 million Swedish Kronor per academic year. This is $112,018.
A large part of the population in Sweden is from the international community. Therefore, international students willing to learn and gain a broader world perspective will find it interesting.
6. Netherlands
Studying medicine in the Netherlands is done partly in English and Dutch. Well, it will allow students to learn a new language.
Recently, med schools in Netherlands Europe teach full English. International students can attend these schools if learning Dutch will pose a challenge.
Lastly, Netherlands houses 7 of the best-med schools in Europe.
Read 27 Scholarship for Medical Students from Developing
FAQs on Medical Schools in Europe for International Students
Although many do not pass, the process is greatly less tedious and, in many ways, more friendly than that found in North America. Duration of Studies – Studies usually last six to seven years in Europe, while North American medical schools go for about four years.
The best-med schools in Europe are:
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Imperial College London
UCL
Kings College London
University of Edinburgh
Heidelberg University, Germany
ETH Zurich
KU Leuven, Belgium
Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
LMU Munich, Germany
University of Paris
Listed accordingly, these places have the best medical schools in Europe. They are:
United Kingdom
Germany
Italy
France
Sweden
Netherlands
Conclusion
In conclusion, Europe has so many languages residents speak. As a result, not all programs are taught in the English language.
In this post, however, we have listed the best medical schools in Europe with English-taught programs.
We hope this helps in your decision-making. We wish you the best of luck!
References
- USNews.com – Europe medical schools
- Wikipedia.com – Europe med schools
- Medlinksstudents– study medicine in Europe
Recommendation
