Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

With centuries-old medical schools and worldwide-accredited programs for general medicine, dentistry, veterinary and pharmacology studies, Central and Eastern European medical schools are becoming more and more popular among students in North America. According to an article published by the New York Times in August 2013, “The number of foreign university students in Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Austria, Romania and Serbia rose 21 percent from 2005 to 2011 — to 16,465 from 13,601″.

Many of these students come from the United States and Canada in search for more affordable options for medical studies.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Yet there are several issues with choosing these schools. First, despite the quality of the medical education, the challenge of returning to the U.S. or Canada and practising medicine is still significant. Students returning from European medical schools must compete with med students and doctors who have studied in the US and Canada in schools which are more known and respected thus leading to an advantage over students who studied in Europe.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Moreover, in many cases, med schools in Europe, especially in Eastern Europe are perceived as “second world” schools which do not represent the most modern of medical studies. Even though European medical schools must adhere to the European Union standards and have long proved to have excellent medical degree programs, often on par with those found in the leading medical schools in North America (such as Harvard, Yale, Cornell, etc.), the perceptions bear great weight on the mobility and ability of new doctors to practice in the leading hospitals and clinics.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

After all, if we are being honest, would you prefer to see a doctor who studied in Boston or one who studied in Zagreb? In addition, not all European medical schools are up to standard, which, in turn, makes it more difficult to return to the U.S. to practice or to transfer to an American medical school.

That is why it is recommended to look at European medical schools that are recognised by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which has the authority to examine foreign medical programs under accreditation standards by the U.S. Education Department.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Second, to make things even more difficult, the reputation of North American medical students in Europe is sometimes that they only studied there because they couldn’t get into med school in the US, i.e. that they are not as personally qualified as North American med students. But a closer look reveals that this is not necessarily true at all. Many excellent pre-med and medical students are choosing to study in Europe as a first choice. There are several strong main reasons for this:

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Tuition Fees – Studying medicine in the US is without a doubt an expensive investment. Doctors pay off their loans for years, and some carry their debt throughout their entire life. European medical schools are considerably cheaper, and for students who do not have the means to pay their way through medical school, this is quite a crucial consideration. The average cost of a medical degree in the US is $140-240,000 over four years. In Europe, it is almost a third of that, with the average spanning between $60-90,000 over six years.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Med School Requirements & Application – We are all familiar with the dreadful MCATs and endless prerequisites needed to apply to medical school, such as an undergraduate degree, at least 2 years of relevant course work etc. In Europe, on the other hand, the process is much simpler – you need to pass entrance exams (biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy etc.) which are written and oral, and have a high school diploma. Although many do not pass, the process is greatly less tedious and in many ways more friendly than that found in North America.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Duration of Studies – Studies usually last six years in Europe, while North American medical schools go for about four years. However, medical schools in Europe do not require undergraduate degrees, which adds another three to four years to the process in the U.S., making it eight to 10 years of school in actuality. In other words, in Europe, one could begin to study medicine straight out of high school. Furthermore, as the number of North American students grows, European schools have begun to offer shorter programs for those with an undergraduate degree; these programs last four years (e.g. Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poland).

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Combining studies with travel – One further obvious advantage in studying abroad is broadening one’s horizons, seeing the world and meeting students from around the globe. Thus, many feel that by studying overseas they “kill two birds with one stone”. Students can study medicine in places such as Rome, Prague and Budapest. However, one should bear in mind that medical studies are very demanding and it isn’t exactly like backpacking through Europe.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

However, with the low-cost airlines and open borders of the EU, many travels during vacation from school. With these stats and facts it also becomes more evident why more and more schools and courses are offering pre-med preparation courses for the entrance exams of European Medical Schools such as the Princeton Review and M.D. International Studies, which just opened a branch in NYC. But what about the issue of returning and practising medicine in the US? The truth is it very much depends on in which school one has studied in Europe and endless case-by-case variables.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

However, as the world becomes more global and the acceptance to medical school in North America becomes more difficult, it seems that the tides might be changing. The more doctors return from European medical schools and practice in the U.S. and Canada, the more the misconceptions on the quality of the studies and the doctors are dispelled. That is not to say that these have disappeared, of course, but, as the article in the NY Times states, “Doctors, dentists and pharmacists with degrees from accredited universities in eastern Europe may practice almost anywhere within the European Union.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

” If those countries are fully recognised by the EU, it means medical doctors from those countries can and do practice medicine in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Britain and more. In other words, if it’s good enough for Western Europe it’s good enough for North America. Most importantly, students returning to the US must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examinations, which means that no one who does not match the standard can practice medicine, regardless of where they studied.

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

https://www.europe-studies.com/

Study medicine, pharmacy and dentistry in Europe

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Slovakia

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Slovakia officially the Slovak Republic is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The capital and largest city is Bratislava.
Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with one of the fastest growth rates in the European Union and the OECD. The country joined the European Union in 2004 and the Eurozone on 1 January 2009. Slovakia is also a member of the Schengen Area, NATO, the United Nations, the OECD and the WTO.

Study Medicine in Slovakia : Comenius Medicine University , Pavol Jozef Safárik University of Medicine , Jessenius University of Medicine

Study Dentistry in Slovakia : Comenius University of Dentistry , Pavol Jozef Safárik University of Dentistry

Study Veterinary Medicine in Slovakia : University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice

Study Pharmacy in Slovakia : Comenius University of Pharmacy

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Bulgaria

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Bulgaria officially the Republic of Bulgaria is a country in southeastern Europe.
It is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe; a founding state of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE); and has taken a seat at the UN Security Council three times.

Study Medicine in Bulgaria in English : University of Medicine in Varna , University of Medicine in Sofia , University of Medicine in Plovdiv , St. Kliment Ohridski Medical University in Sofia

Study Dentistry in Bulgaria in English : University of Dentistry in Sofia , University of Dentistry in Varna , Plovdiv Medical University of Dentistry

Study Veterinary Medicine in Bulgaria in English : Veterinary Medicine in Sofia , Veterinary Medicine in Stara Zagora ,

Other Fields of Study in Bulgaria in English : Nurse Studies , Midwife Studies , Naval Academy

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Romania

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Romania is the seventh most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city, Bucharest, is the sixth largest city in the EU.
It has been a member of NATO since 2004, and part of the European Union since 2007. Around 90% of the population identify themselves as Eastern Orthodox Christians, and are native speakers of Romanian. With a rich cultural history, Romania has been the home of influential artists, musicians, inventors and sportsmen, and features a variety of tourist attractions.

Study Medicine in Romania : Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu Medicine University, Ovidius University of Medicine

Study Dentistry in Romania : Gr. T. Popa University of Dentistry, Luliu Hațieganu University of Dentistry

Study Veterinary Medicine in Romania : University of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj Napoka

Study Pharmacy in Romania : Gr. T. Popa University of Pharmacy, Luliu Hațieganu University of Pharmacy

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Austria

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Austria officially the Republic of Austria, is a federal republic and a landlocked country of over 8.5 million people inCentral Europe. The majority of the population speak local Bavarian dialects of German as their native language, and Austrian German in its standard form is the country’s official language.
Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. The country has developed a high standard of living and in 2014 was ranked 21st in the world for its Human Development Index. Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955, joined the European Union in 1995, and is a founder of the OECD. Austria also signed the Schengen Agreement in 1995 and adopted the European currency, the Euro, in 1999.

Study Medicine in Austria in German : Medical University of Vienna

Study Dentistry in Austria in German : Medical University of Dentistry

Study Pharmacy in Austria in German : University of Pharmacy

Study Medicine In Europe in English | The Czech Republic

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. The capital and largest city, Prague, has over 1.2 million residents.
The Czech Republic also ranks as the 11th most peaceful country, while achieving strong performance in democratic governance. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the OSCEand the Council of Europe.

Study Pharmaceutical Sciences in The Czech Republic : University of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Study Veterinary Medicine in The Czech Republic : University of Veterinary Medicine

Study Life Sciences in The Czech Republic : Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Hungary

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Hungary formally, until 2012, the Republic of Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country’s capital and largest city is Budapest. Hungary is a member of the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the Visegrád Group, and the Schengen Area. The official language is Hungarian, which is the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language in Europe.

Study Medicine in Hungary : Semmelweis University of Medicine , University of Medicine in Szeged , University of Medicine in Pecs

Study Dentistry in Hungary : Semmelweis University of Dentistry , University of Dentistry in Szeged , University of Dentistry in Pecs

Study Medicine In Europe in English | Serbia

Study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy in Slovakia, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Serbia

Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia is a sovereign state situated at the crossroads between Central and Southeast Europe.
Serbia is a member of the UN, CoE, OSCE, PfP, BSEC, and CEFTA. It is also an official candidate for membership in the European Union which is negotiating its EU accession, acceding country to the WTO and is a militarily neutral state.

Study Medicine in Serbia : University of Medicine in Novi Sad

Study Dentistry in Serbia : University of Dentistry in Novi Sad

Study Pharmacy in Serbia : University of Pharmacy in Novi Sad