See here for Pharmacy and Dentistry

International Medical Options

When international students talk of wanting to be a doctor, there are several key questions:

1) Where are they legal allowed to practice? (Clue: Their passport country). Students are usually best served by pursuing their medical degree in their home country.

2) Do they have the academic preparation? In general, the key course is Chemistry, followed by Biology.

3) Do they have practical experience? It could be a first aid course or volunteering in a clinic or any summer program focusing on medicine. Read a more detailed explanation for gaining work experience.

4) Do they want to get a degree first (Canada and The US) or go direct entry (UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Australia, Europe)?

5) What are their back up plans? Medicine is one of the hardest majors to pursue with admission rates of only single digits. In my experience, future doctors boil down to two types of motivation: Those that want to heal people and those that are fascinated by the science side of disease and health. For the scientist, a back up plan can focus on medical research or bio-eningeering. For the healer types, an allied health profession such as nurse, chiropractor, physical therapist etc. may provide sufficient satisfaction. Check out this page from King’s College London for guide to careers in medicine, healthcare and sciences.

Click here to explore ways to increase your medical knowledge. 

Country specific information

Check before-hand if the degree will be recognised by your country using this tool

North American

Canada

• First degree required (from any country, should meet essential science classes–Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Calculus)
• MCAT required at most schools.
• Highly Selective for internationals
• In 2013, the Association of American Medical Colleges lists 17 accredited MD-granting medical schools in Canada. For a list, see here.

US

• First degree required (from any country, should meet essential science classes–Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Calculus)
• MCAT required. A higher MCAT does help with admissions:
  • Students with highest MCAT band (greater than 517) gained admission 82.5% of the time while those in the next band (514 to 517) came in at 72.8% compared with an overall admit rate of 41.9%
  • But grades are also important: students with the highest GPA (greater than 3.79) earned admissions 65.5% of the time compared to 47.3% of the time for the next mark band (3.6 to 3.79)
  • See a complete chart here.
• Highly Selective for internationals —Johns Hopkins offers more insight. 
• In 2012, the Association of American Medical Colleges and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine listed 193 accredited M.D.-granting and 30 accredited D.O.-granting medical schools in the United States. For a list, click here.

Here is a compare and contrast of Canadian vs US Medical schools:

US Medical Education overseas (like the Caribbean).

• In 2011, the International Medical Education Directory listed 59 current medical schools in the Caribbean. 54 grant the MD degree, 3 grant the MBBS degree, and 2 grant either the MD or MBBS degree.
• 30 of the medical schools in the Caribbean are regional, which train students to practice in the country or region where the school is located. The remaining 29 Caribbean medical schools are known as offshore schools, which primarily train students from the United States and Canada who intend to return home for residency and clinical practice after graduation. At most offshore schools, basic sciences are completed in the Caribbean while clinical clerkships are completed at teaching hospitals in the United States.
• An excellent resource is this article by Johns Hopkins

UK

• Direct entry possible straight out of high school.
• May require entry tests (UKCAT or BMAT)
• Most will require Interviews
  • The MedicPortal does a fantastic deep dive on questions you can use to practice with.
  • BeMO gives us a thorough exposure to MMI type interviews including their expert responses.
• Admissions for international students is highly competitive and capped at 7%
• A useful chart of who requires what. And download this PDF on Entry Requirements. This report complied by ICS goes into a lot of detail.
• There are currently 32 institutions that offer medical degrees in the United Kingdom
• Typically, a degree lasts 6 years.
• Learn more about Vet science and Dentistry
• Here is a list of UK Medical Schools and contact information
• More great information (Webinars, podcasts etc.) here.

Fantastic Webinar on UK Medical schools

Podcasts with David Hawkins, The University Guy

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Scotland.

Europe

Europe provides a growing set of opportunities to pursue medicine at an affordable price. The Medical Portal provides a sample of schools and costs.

Bulgaria

• Medical University Pleven
  • Plovdiv Medical University, Bulgaria

Croatia

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Croatia taught in English.

• University of Split
• University of Zagreb

Cyprus

• University of Nicosia, Cyprus
  • University of Nicosia Medical School, Cyprus
  • Video Introduction here
  • Entry requirements:
    • Academic review of existing academic achievement and Predicted grades
    • Online Interviews MMI
    • Students are informed one week after interview.
    • Deadline: Rolling
• European University Cyprus

Czech Republic

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Czech taught in English.

• Charles University
  • Entry requirements:
    • Examinations held at the university or inUK, Hong Kong or Brazil (Or at the university) focusing on Chemistry & BiologyMaths or Physics
    • Exam graded immediately; Interviews held onsite
    • Students are informed of outcome on the day.
    • ○No personal statement
    • ○No reference
    • Deadline: April 30
  • Locations:  Charles University has three distinct medical programs. Each operates independently.
    • Faculty of Medicine, Hradec Kralove
      • Video Introduction here
    • First Faculty of Medicine, Prague
      • Video Introduction here
    • Second Faculty of Medicine, Prague
    • Video Introduction here
• Masaryk University
  • Video Introduction here
• Palacky University
  • Video Introduction here
• University of Ostrava
  • Video Introduction here.

Estonia

• University of Tartu

Germany

• Read this article on Becoming a Doctor in Germany
• University Targu Mures

Hungary

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Hungary taught in English.

• Semmelweis University
• University of Debrecen
  • Debrecen University, Hungary
• University of Pecs
• University of Szeged

Ireland

• There are six medical schools in Ireland. For a good concise description, see here.
• Typical a degree last 6 years
• An excellent overview can be found here
• Apply through https://www.atlanticbridge.com/medicine/
• Here is a guide for EU students applying to Ireland.

National University of Ireland, Cork, Medical Faculty *
http://www.ucc.ie/ucc/faculties/medical/
Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork
Tel: +353 21 490 2809, Fax: +353 21 427 0339

National University of Ireland, Galway, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
http://www.nuigalway.ie/med/
Clinical Sciences Institute, Galway
Tel: +353 9152 4268, Fax: +353 9175 0519

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical School
http://www.rcsi.ie/
123 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1402 2100, Fax: +353 1402 2460

University College Dublin, Faculty of Medicine
http://www.ucd.ie/~medicine/
Bellfield Campus, Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1706 7440, Fax: +353 1475 3655

University of Dublin, The Trinity Center for Health Sciences
http://www2.tcd.ie/Health_Sciences/
St. James Hospital, Dublin 8
Tel: +353 1608 1727, Fax: +353 1671 3956

Italy

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Italy taught in English.

There are currently 12 public universities and 4 praivate that have medical programs in English plus one for Dentistry.

• Humanitas University
  • Humanitas University, Italy
• IMS Milan
  • Universita Degli Studi Di Milano, Italy
• University of Bari
• Universita di Bologna: https://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/MedicineAndSurgery 
• Universita Catolica del Sacre Cuore: https://international.unicatt.it/ucscinternational-undergraduate-programs-medicine-and-surgery 
• Universita di Milano: https://www.unimi.it/en/education/international-medical-school-ims 
• University of Naples Federico II: http://www.unina.it/documents/11958/25329007/Medicina_chirurgia_lingua_inglese.pdf
• University di Padova: https://www.unipd.it/en/educational-offer/single-cycle-degrees?tipo=CU&scuola=&ordinamento=2019&key=ME2491 
• Universita di Pavia: https://apply.unipv.eu/en_GB/courses/course/140-harvey-medicine-and-surgery 
• University of Rome La Sapienza: https://corsidilaurea.uniroma1.it/en/corso/2022/30893/home
• University of Rome Tor Vergata: https://web.uniroma2.it/en/contenuto/medicine_and_surgery-51346
• Universita di Torino: https://apply.unito.it/en_GB/courses/course/462-medicine-and-surgery 
• Unicamillus Medical University: https://www.unicamillus.org/degree-in-medicine-and-surgery/ 

Brochure

The total of EU seats in public universities is 543, and 244 for non-EU seats. As for private universities, there are 135 EU seats and 145 Non-EU seats.

University	Region	EU seats	International seats (non-EU seats)
University of Pavia	Lombardia	70	40
University of Milan	Lombardia	34	16
Federico II University of Naples	Campanie	15	10
The University of Milan-Bicocca	Bergamo	22	13
University of Turin	Piemont	70	31
Bari Aldo Moro University	Apulia	42	8
University of Bologna	Emilia Romagna	75	15
University of Rome: La Sapienza	Lazio	38	10
University of Rome Tor Vergata	Lazio	25	10
Luigi Vanvitelli University	Campanie	40	40
University of Padova	Veneto	54	9
University of Messina	Sicily	30	30
University of Siena (Dentistry)	Tuscany	28	12
Cattolica University	Lazio	20	30
The University of San Raffaele	Lombardia	17	25
Humanitas University	Lombardia	130	50
Uni Camillius	Lazio	80	65

Latvia

• Riga Stradins University
  • Riga Stradins University, Latvia

Lithuania

• Lithuania University of Health Sciences, Lithuana

Malta

• Queen Mary University of London, MBBS

Poland

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Poland taught in English.

• Medical University of Lodz
• Medical University Warsaw
• Poznan University of Medical Sciences

Romania

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Romania taught in English.

• Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
• Craiova University in Medicine and Pharmacy.
• Titu Maiorescu University of Bucharest.
• Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad.
• Ovidus University Constanta.
• Iulio Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
• Oradea Medical University.
• Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine of Iasi.
• Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara. r.

Solvakia

TheMASG offers this short, useful guide to Medical Schools in Slovakia taught in English.

• Pavol Josef,
• Jessenius Faculty of Medicine and
• Comenius University

Spain

• CEU Valencia, Spain
• Universidad de Navarra

The Netherlands

• Groningen University, the Netherlands
• Maastricht University, the Netherlands

Learn more about studying medicine and dentistry in English in Europe from our friends at Medical Doorways:

Medical Doorways has a great series of Webinars here.

The Ukraine

Searchable database can help arrow down English taught programs in Medicine (

This article is helpful for understanding some the nuances of studying medicine in the Ukraine.

• Bogomolets National Medical University –is in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine.
• Bukovinian State Medical University
• Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
• Dnipropetrovsk State Medical Academy
• Donetsk National Medical University
• Higher Educational Communal Institution of Lviv Regional Council “Andrei Krupynskyi Lviv Medical Academy
• International Humanitarian University
• Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine
• Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University
• Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University
• Kharkiv National Medical University
• National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia—-Sample medical curriculum   Dentistry (Curriculum Dentistry), Pharmacy (Curriculum Pharmacy)
• Odessa State Medical University;
• National University of Pharmacy
• Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
• Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University
• Poltava State Medical University
• Private Higher Education Institution “International European University”
• Private Higher Educational Establishment «Kharkiv International Medical University»
• Private Higher Educational Establishment “Kyiv Medical University”
• Private Higher Educational Institution “Kyiv International University”
• Private higher education institution “International academy of ecology and medicine”
• Sumy State University–is in Sumy city in the North-East of Ukraine.
• The State Institution “Institute of Neurosurgery named after acad. A.P.Romodanov of NAMS of Ukraine”
• V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
• Zaporizhzhia State Medical University–is a leader in the field of medical education and innovation in Ukraine.
• Zhytomyr Medical Institute of Zhytomyr Regional Council

 

Asia

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong has only two comprehensive medical faculties, the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong and the Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and they are also the sole two institutes offering medical and pharmacy programs.
• Degree last 5 or 6 years depending on students academic preparation
• Note: Students need to be fluent in Cantonese.

Malaysia

• International Medical University Malaysia
• Monash University Malaysia
• Newcastle University Malaysia

Qatar

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Weill Cornell Medicine

Singapore

• Nanyang Technical University
• National University of Singapore

Oceania

Australia

• Australia has recently changed medical schools. Very few offer the traditional direct entry, opting for a 3+3 undergraduate Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine. More details here.
• Most require you take UCAT-ANZ entry exam. Some will require the ISAT.
• Grade requirements vary between universities between ABB and A*A*A, or between 35 and 43 in the IB. Please note that achieving (or being predicted) the minimum grades required makes you eligible to apply; it does not guarantee you a place.
• Undergraduate programs typically last 5–6 years, and by-definition, admit secondary school matriculants. Applicants are usually assessed by a combination of high school leaving certificate performance, UCAT – University Clinical Aptitude Test score and an interview.
• Roughly 20% of seats are taken by international students. Many public universities offer undergraduate and graduate entry full fee places to international students. Private universities are able to offer full fee places to Australian students. On average, a standard full-time year of study in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) can cost over $60,000 for domestic students and $75,000 for international students. You can see a detail report of number of international students here.

See detailed chart of medical schools and more information here.

New Zealand

• University of Auckland
• University of Otago

Americas

• St George’s Grenada

Africa

South Africa

• Free State University, Bloemfontein
• Medical University of South Africa, GaRankuwa
• Pretoria University
• Stellenbosch University
• University of Cape Town
• University of KwaZulu/Natal, Durban
• University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
• Walter Sisulu Medical School, Umtata

Veterinary Sciences