Medical education abroad: admission, university rankings, preparatory programs, fees, scholarships.
Medical education abroad is one of the most popular and sought-after areas of higher education. It is distinguished by the long duration of studies, complexity of training courses, variability of the programs, and high competition. In this article, we will cover the main aspects of medical education programs in different countries.
A doctor is a professional with theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to treat patients. To become a doctor, you need to hold a degree in medicine, love sciences and people, as well as be determined and patient, since the studies are difficult and take many years to complete, and the profession itself places great stress and responsibility on its owner. The duties of physicians include making diagnoses, counseling, seeing and treating patients. Doctors have a large number of specializations: pediatrician, surgeon, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, veterinarian, dentist, allergist, endocrinologist, etc.
To become a doctor, you need a university degree, a love for science and people, as well as determination and patience. Studying is difficult and takes many years, and the hard profession forces great stress and responsibility on the specialist. Such a person continues learning for their entire life and manages to combine firmness of character with great empathy.
The ethical principles o a physician’s behavior were laid down by Hippocrates. The original version of the oath prohibited the doctor from abortion and assisting suicide. But over the centuries, its meaning has changed. Today, the oath obliges a medical professional to honestly fulfill their duty, keep medical confidentiality and treat any patient with care.
The "ideal" qualities of a doctor differ from country to country. In Russia, for example, at the moral and legislative levels, a doctor must not promote euthanasia and otherwise push the patient and their relatives to the idea of voluntary death. But, for example, in the United States, a healthcare professional vows to respect the patient's privacy and will. If they choose to leave this world, the doctor must meet that colossal responsibility with humility and awareness of life’s unavoidably perishable nature.
| Direction | Description |
|---|---|
| General medicine | General medicine program, after which students can work as therapists or get a narrow specialization: surgeon, cardiologist, pediatrician, obstetrician, etc. The usual duration of study is six years. |
| Pharmacy | The branch of medicine is about the discovery, production, control, and use of drugs. The pharmacist must know the types of drugs, their application and side effects, as well as the methods of treatment. |
| Dentistry | The branch of medicine that studies, diagnoses and treats diseases of the oral cavity. |
| Branch | Description | Expected occupation | Universities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports medicine | Fitness, treatment and prevention of sports injuries. | Doctors in this area diagnose, treat, and prevent sports and exercise-related injuries. You can work in sports clinics, professional sports teams, sports events, national sports governing bodies. | University of Melbourne, University College London, University of Georgia, University of Northern Iowa |
| Oncology | Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases. | Clinical oncologists treat patients with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological agents, and hormone therapy. | University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, University of Helsinki, University of Auckland |
| Epidemiology | Research on the emergence, spread and control of chronic and infectious diseases. | Work in government medical organizations, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, non-governmental organizations, universities, research institutes. Positions: Researchers, Scientists (Lecturers, Senior Lecturers and Professors of Epidemiology), Public Health Policy Advisers, and others. | Imperial College London, University of Bristol, Utrecht University, University of Melbourne |
The job of a physician differs between countries. One of the most obvious discrepancies is the level of wages, which is generally several times higher in Europe and the USA than it is in the rest of the world.
It is better to work in the medical field in the country where the doctor had studied. If a graduate of a medical university from, say, the Middle East, wants to work abroad, they often have to retrain or improve the qualification. In order to confirm a medical diploma abroad, it is sometimes easier for young specialists to enter a local university and study there again.
To get a job abroad, applicants take a national language test. If the interview is successful, the foreign candidate gets a job as a trainee or doctor's assistant in the clinic. In some countries, doctors open private clinics. For example, there are 256 of them in Switzerland, and 1200 and 2000 in the USA and Germany, respectively. Graduates also can become representatives of pharmaceutical companies or be engaged in scientific activities.
The best medical programs in the world are taught in these universities.
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In Western institutions, only medical assistants are trained in vocational schools. All the other medical specialties are taught in universities. Typically, vocational college studies last from eight months to two years.
Important! Don't confuse the professions of a nurse and a medical assistant. Their responsibilities are very similar, but nurses receive in-depth education. Therefore, they can help patients with chemotherapy, severe allergic reactions and administer complex medications.
As a rule, vocational education in the field of medicine is provided by private institutions. Experts regularly validate their certificate to maintain the right to work in the medical field.
To obtain the profession of a doctor, students may need to study in foreign universities for up to ten years.
Don't go to a foreign university if you don't want to work abroad. Requirements for students and educational programs differ significantly between countries. Therefore, if you decide to transfer to a foreign university or get a job abroad, you must go through the diploma legalization procedure. Often, university commissions do not recognize education received in another country. Therefore, if you have studied for five years at a Russian university, and then spontaneously decided to re-enter a university in the United States, you will have to participate in the general competition for first-year applicants, as if you haven’t had previous education.
Graduating from a university and obtaining a medical degree does not imply direct access to the doctor’s profession. In any country in the world, after receiving medical education, it is necessary to undergo medical practice at a hospital (for example, residency) and only then gain access to the medical labor market. Below is a brief description of medical education in various countries.
In the US, it is not possible to begin medical training immediately after leaving secondary school. To qualify as a Medical doctor (MD), you must have a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the United States or Canada, with a particular emphasis on obtaining academic credits in organic chemistry, biology, and general chemistry. Therefore, the training takes place in 2 stages:
In general, it is possible for a foreigner to enroll in medical programs in the United States, but this is a rather complicated and rare phenomenon. As of 2019, only 48 medical schools were accepting international students, and of the 1890 foreign MD applicants, only 325 were enrolled[1]. The small number of universities that accept foreigners is explained by the complexity of obtaining a work visa for further residency.
Each university sets its own requirements and procedures for admitting international applicants. Before entering some top schools (for example, Stanford University School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine), you must study 1-3 years at an accredited college / university in the United States / Canada / England or get a bachelor's degree in the USA / Canada (less often, for example, at Mayo Medical School). Many universities also advise students to complete 30-90 credit coursework in the field of science at a US / Canadian university if previous education was obtained in third countries.
The entrance test for admission is the unified MCAT exam. Most US medical schools use the American Medical School Application Service (AMCAS). However, AMCAS does not accept foreign transcripts (or their translations) and does not verify courses taken outside the US unless they have been accepted by an accredited American or Canadian higher education institution. You can still attach them to the application, but a GPA will not be calculated. Individual medical schools request the transcript using their own application form (secondary application) and based on this form they make a decision whether to accept the transcript or not. Additionally, many educational institutions require confirmation of the ability to pay the full cost of the tuition.
It is extremely difficult to get into medicine in the USA also due to the high competition. The applicant must not only have strong academic performance (admitted applicants had a GPA of 3.72 and an average MCAT score of 511 in 2018-2019), but also a unique life story and a catchy motivation letter.
It is worth mentioning that the medical education process of the United States is copied by most of the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean. These include Grenada, Barbados, Anguilla, Jamaica, and others. After graduating from medical schools in the Caribbean, it is possible to gain access to a residency in the US.
Medical education in the UK takes about 10 years. It is subdivided into several main stages:
For admission to medical schools at British universities, various unified exams (BMAT, GAMSAT, UKCAT) are considered. A foreigner also needs to prove knowledge of English (IELTS/TOEFL). More detailed information can be found in the Entry requirements for UK medical schools guide 2021.
The format of Canadian medical education is a mixed type of British and American. The duration of training varies. There are 4-year medicine programs that require a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Biology (as in the US). Additionally, 5-year programs are offered, where the first year is preparatory.
To be admitted to Canadian medical schools, you must pass the MCAT. Some universities in Canada (for example, the University of Quebec) offer training in French. However, only a limited number of Canadian medical schools accept foreigners, for example, McGil University, McMaster University, Queen's University, University of Toronto. The rest of the requirements differ depending on the institution.
Australian medical education lasts for 4-6 years depending on the training program:
For admission, foreigners must pass language exams (IELTS/TOEFL) and pass an interview (not always). For more detailed requirements, please, contact the universities directly.
In Germany, medical education lasts for 6 years: 2 years — pre-clinical classes in basic sciences, 3 years — training in clinical subjects, 1 year — practical year. The studies are conducted in German, with the exception of a few master's programs. The country has a Numerus Clausus principle — a limit on the number of students enrolled in medical faculties. To enter, a foreigner needs to know German at a level not lower than C1, overcome a high competition (grades in biology and chemistry are important), and have a previous education that meets German standards. You can check the suitability of a diploma or certificate from the universities themselves, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), or the Standing Conference of Ministers. If the document is not recognized, you will have to take a one-year preparatory course.
Each university sets its own requirements, therefore, it is necessary to clarify the information directly with the universities. Sometimes universities hold entrance exams.
Medical education in France takes about 9 years. As in Germany, France has the principle of Numerus Clausus, according to which the number of places in medical specialties for local and foreign applicants is regulated every year. Despite this, approximately every 5th student in France cannot complete 1st year and pass the PACES exam in basic medicine.
Medical education in France is divided into 3 main stages:
For admission, as a rule, it is necessary to prove the French language proficiency (DELF) and have a certificate of complete secondary education with a high GPA.
More and more universities are starting to offer medical education programs in English. Tuition fees at public European universities are significantly lower than at US, UK and Australian universities. Therefore, the competition for these programs in Europe is steadily growing: many students from English-speaking countries strive to receive an inexpensive medical education here. Moreover, among the competitors for admission are not only English-speaking applicants, but also the best graduates of schools in local countries who want to study in English.
A standard set of documents for admission includes the following:
Medical entrance exams vary from country to country but are almost always required. In Eastern Europe, exams in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics are held at universities. Some universities, for example, Charles University, take exams not only at the university itself, but also in foreign cities, though only on certain days of the year. In Western Europe and the USA, unified exams are generally used: MCAT, BMAT, IMAT, GAMSAT, UKCAT, HPAT.
More information about the exams
| Country | University | Exam | Min. TOEFL | Min. IELTS | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Johns Hopkins University | MCAT | 100 | 7.0 | 15 October |
| USA | Harvard University | MCAT | 100 | 7.0 | 2 November |
| USA | Georgetown University | MCAT | 100 | 7.0 | 2 November |
| Great Britain | University of Oxford | BMAT | 110 | 7.5 | 15 Oct |
| United Kingdom | Imperial College London | BMAT | 100 | 7.0 | 15 October |
| UK | University of Warwick | UCAT | 100 | 7.0 | 15 October |
| Ireland | Trinity College Dublin | HPAT | 90 | 6.5 | 1 February |
| Ireland | University College Cork | HPAT, GAMSAT | 90 | 6.5 | 1 February |
| Canada | University of Toronto | MCAT | 100 | 6.5 | 1 October |
| Canada | University of Saskatchewan | MCAT | 86 | 6.5 | 1 October |
| Australia | University of Sydney | GAMSAT, MCAT | 85 | 6.5 | 23 July |
| New Zealand | University of Auckland | UMAT | 100 | 7.0 | 1 December |
| Italy | University of Milan | IMAT | No | No | 23 July |
| Spain | University Cardinal Herrera | BMAT | No | No | 28 February |
| Netherlands | University of Maastricht | Yes | 90 | 6.5 | 1 November |
| Poland | Medical University of Poznan | Yes | 79 | 6.5 | 31 July |
| Cyprus | University of Nicosia | No | 79 | 6.5 | End of June |
| Czech Republic | Charles University | Yes | No | No | 30 Apr |
| Slovakia | University of Comenius | Yes | 60 | 5.5 | 17 July |
| Bulgaria | Medical University of Plovdiv | Yes | 60 | 6.0 | 15 July |
| Hungary | University of Pecs | Yes | B2 | B2 | 30 June |
| Lithuania | Med. Academy of the University of Lithuania | Yes | 65 | 5.5 | 5 July |
| Croatia | University of Zagreb | Yes | 60 | 6.0 | 20 June |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | University of Sarajevo | Yes | - | - | 15 May |
| Israel | Ben-Gurion University | MCAT, GAMSAT | 89 | 6.0 | 1 May |
Check the actual deadlines and requirements on the website or with the admissions office of a particular university.
| № | Country | University | Cost/year |
| 3 | Great Britain | University of Cambridge | 75,841 USD |
| 9 | USA | Yale University | 42,120 USD |
| - | Spain | Cardinal Herrera University | 23,722 USD |
| 51-100 | Netherlands | University of Groningen | 34,917 USD |
| 51-100 | Netherlands | University of Maastricht | 34,917 USD |
| - | Czech Republic | Charles University | 15,552 USD |
| 351-400 | Hungary | University of Pécs | 16,900 USD |
| 301-350 | Hungary | University of Debrecen | 16,900 USD |
| - | Cyprus | University of Nicosia | 18000/24,006 USD |
| 501-550 | Lithuania | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | 13,639 USD |
| 351-400 | Israel | Ben-Gurion University | 38,500 USD |
| Country | University | Directions | Cost/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | University of Milan | Medicine and surgery | 934 USD |
| Bulgaria | Pleven Medical University | Medicine, pharmaceuticals, public health | 8,184 USD |
| Romania | Vasile Goldiş West University of Arad | Medicine, dentistry, pharmaceuticals | 4,300 USD |
| Slovakia | Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice | Medicine, sciences | 11,457 USD |
| Bulgaria | Medical University of Plovdiv | Medicine, pharmaceuticals, public health, dentistry | 8,729 USD |
| Poland | Medical University of Bialystok | Medicine, pharmaceuticals, health science | 12,003 USD |
| Latvia | Riga Stradiņš University | Dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmaceuticals, physiotherapy, speech therapy, medical massage, pediatrics | |
| Croatia | University of Zagreb | Medicine |
| № | Country | University | Directions | Cost/Year | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151-200 | France | Bordeaux University | Medicine, neurology, pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology | 3,023 USD | French |
| 51- 100 | Canada | Montreal University | Biochemistry and molecular medicine, bioinformatics, neurology, kinesiology, microbiology and immunology, etc. | 15,221 USD | French |
| 31 | Germany | Heidelberg University | Medicine, dentistry, biosciences | 3,273 USD | German |
| 101-150 | Germany | Hamburg University | Nursing, speech therapy, medical supervision and management, medical pedagogy, medical technology, physiotherapy | Free | German |
| 201-250 | Austria | Medical University of Graz, | Medicine, dentistry, nursing | 1,637 USD | German |
| 101-150 | Switzerland | University of Bern | Medical, pharmaceutical sciences, veterinary medicine, dentistry | 2,203 USD | German |
| 51- 100 | Italy | Milan University | Dental, medical biotechnology, medicine and surgery, nursing business, pharmaceuticals | 934 USD | Italian |
| 51 - 100 | Italy | University of Rome La Sapienza | Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy | 3,191 USD | Italian |
| 51 - 100 | Spain | University of Barcelona | Medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, immunology, allergology, dermatology, oncology | 3,273 USD | Spanish |
All data in the charts is approximate. Please, contact the universities for more details.
For applicants who have potential, but feel insufficiently prepared, special preparatory programs in medicine have been developed, which emphasize biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and language. They usually last about 1 year and allow you to prepare for the entrance and language exams.
| Country | Duration | University | Language | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 1 year | University of Buckingham | English | 23,521 USD |
| Great Britain | 1 year | University of Dundee | English | 24,305 USD |
| Great Britain | 2 years | University of St. Andrews | English | 75,791 USD |
| Malta | 1 year | Domain Academy | English | 14,185 USD |
| Malaysia | 1 year | International Medical University | English | 11,598 USD |
| Ireland | 7-9 months | Dublin International Foundation College | English | 19,423 USD |
| Australia | 11/7 months | University of Newcastle | English | 18,244 USD |
For more information and exact costs check the websites of the desired universities.
In the USA Pre-Med preparatory programs are common for bachelor’s who are aiming for admission to medical schools.
Medical students have the opportunity to transfer to a university in a different country. Most of the documents usually coincide with the requirements for applicants entering the first year of bachelor’s. Usually you need to:
Each case of transfer is considered individually, after which the selection committee makes a decision on which year the student will be transferred to. It happens that the selection committee does not agree to transfer a student to the appropriate university year. For example, in 2016–2017 68 applications for transfer to medical school have been submitted to Imperial College London, 15 students were invited to the interview, but only six of them have been admitted to the university. The decision depends on the difference in the curriculum of the countries and on competition. For this reason, it is only possible to transfer to the first year of studies at UK universities. It is much easier to transfer to Eastern European universities, including English-language medical programs.
| Direction | Description |
|---|---|
| Medicine | The program of general medicine, after which students can work as practitioners or get specialization of surgeon, cardiologist, pediatrician, obstetrician, etc. The usual duration of study is 6 years. |
| Pharmacy | A branch of medicine about the discovery, production, control, disposal and use of drugs and medicines. The practice of pharmacy requires knowledge of drugs, their mechanisms of action and side effects, and methods of treatment. |
| Dentistry | A branch of medicine consisting of the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, usually in the dentition, but also in the oral mucosa, adjacent and associated structures and tissues, especially in the maxillofacial region. |
| Field | Description | Exemplary positions/jobs | Universities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Medicine | Study the medical field that deals with the physical fitness, treatment and prevention of sports injuries. | Physicians in this area diagnose, treat, and prevent sports and exercise-related injuries. You can work in sports clinics, professional sports teams, sports events, national sports governing bodies. | University of Melbourne, University College London, University of Georgia, University of Northern Iowa |
| Oncology | The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancerous tumors. | Clinical oncologists treat patients with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological agents, and hormone therapy. | University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, University of Helsinki, University of Auckland |
| Epidemiology | A branch of medical science that studies the emergence, spread and control of chronic and infectious diseases. | Work in government medical organizations, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, non-governmental organizations, universities, research institutes. Positions: researchers, scientists (lecturers, senior lecturers and professors of epidemiology), public health policy advisers, etc. | Imperial College London, University of Bristol, Utrecht University, University of Melbourne |
In different countries, it is customary to assign different degrees:
If a university has not only the medical faculty, but also several others, scholarships are commonly distributed on general conditions among all the students, regardless of their specialty. The scholarships' sizes depend on the degree program. If the student meets the requirements, they receive financial support. Such scholarships are most often awarded to local candidates, but options for international students are not uncommon either.
There are faculty-specific scholarships. Some universities offer both — students may apply for the general and the specialized scholarships, but only receive one of them.
There are also scholarships granted by different private companies and foundations. They are usually aimed at students from developing countries, minorities and volunteers.
IT’s impossible to get a proper medical education online, except for few isolated specialties. They include Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Even then, the education tends to be mixed with face-to-face format. Students still have to pass exams at the university and undergo internships. However, if the profession is not directly connected to working with patients (e.g. Management in Medicine), it can be mastered via platforms like Coursera, Skillshare, and the like.
There are numerous refresher courses available online. Large EdTech platforms offer medical courses supplemented with a graduate certificate. In general, online medical education can be divided in three categories:
According to Indeed.com, healthcare workers are among the 15 most in-demand occupations[2], but medical education abroad is fraught with pitfalls.
This is especially true for medical programs in English in non-English-speaking countries. After receiving a diploma, before becoming a doctor, a student will need to undergo an internship, which is available only in the language of the country where the training was received. This means that even when entering an English-language program in the Czech Republic, a student will most likely have to learn Czech in order to gain access to the local medical labor market in the future.
After mastering the local language and passing the internship, both the prospects of medical practice, and scientific career are open for a graduate. Today international scholarships for PhD programs are present in almost all countries, so if a graduate has the strength and desire for scientific work, then he should continue his studies — this will significantly increase his value in the labor market.
Another difficulty may await a graduate if, after training, he returns to a home country, since a diploma from a foreign university will need to be recognized.
| Country | Min. salary/year | Wed salary/year |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 68,922 USD | 105,968 USD |
| United Kingdom | 40,509 USD | 83,740 USD |
| Australia | 45,071 USD | 79,033 USD |
| Canada | 50,738 USD | 106,608 USD |
| Hong Kong | 48,855 USD | 132,702 USD |
| South Korea | 29,649 USD | 811,289 USD |
| Germany | 43,079 USD | 116,754 USD |
| France | 46,702 USD | 134,213 USD |
| Czech Republic | 28,460 USD | 74,649 USD |
| Russia | 3,139 USD | 4,395 USD |
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