Benefits of Attending Medical School in Europe

European colleges and universities offer a modern education for those who seek to study various fields, including medicine. Studying medicine in Europe offers opportunities to meet new people, experience new cultures, and learn a new language. It further allows you to put yourself in a position to practice medicine anywhere in the world, since medical degrees granted in Europe are recognized globally.

Some common features come with studying medicine in Europe. One is the low-cost fees. Medical schools in Europe are significantly less expensive than in the United States. The average cost of medical school fees in Europe ranges from $3,000 to $30,000, whereas it would likely cost almost quadruple that amount to study in the United States or Canada.

It should be noted that the fees being affordable do not reflect the standard of education received. World-class medical organizations recognize that medical degrees obtained from Europe are among the best. As such, practicing in your home country should not be a challenge.

Further, studying in Europe presents you with shorter study periods. It takes an average of eight to 10 years (including residency) to become a medical doctor in Europe. In the United States, on the other hand, medical school and a residency program take about 11 to 15 years to complete.

Notably, in Europe, there is no requirement to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) or to earn a pre-med degree to enroll in medical school. In most cases, the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma. Thereafter, you may be required to pass an admission test if required by your chosen university. Additional requirements may include English language proficiency.

Regarding paperwork, you will need to have a valid passport. It can also be necessary in some circumstances to submit a personal statement or reference letter.

There is also no language barrier to studying medicine in Europe. Most schools lecture in English, and as a result, keeping up with classes is seamless. It should be noted that there are language classes during the first semesters for international students to learn the country’s language. This comes in useful when communicating with patients who are not fluent in English.

Additionally, the simple credit transfer feature in Europe’s school system compared to other regions makes studying there easier. Most medical universities use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to transfer credits within Europe. The effort students put into learning is defined in terms of credit under the ECTS system. Usually, a student’s workload for an academic year ranges from 1500 to 1800 hours, and one credit typically equates to 25 to 30 hours of school work. As a result of this generalized scheme, many European universities allow medical credit transfer within the same program. It implies that a medical student can switch to another medical university within Europe that offers a 6-year program without losing out on a year.

Finally, you have an option to also work in your home country if you wish to practice medicine with a medical degree from Europe. All that is required is taking the licensing exam of the country, for instance, the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) to practice in America and the PLAB test (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test) to practice in the UK.

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