Getting admission to medical universities could be stressful and time-consuming. Every university has different admission rules – while the majority of schools in Europe have written entrance exams sometimes followed by an oral interview (typically in the Czech Republic), there are also medical faculties, which are giving admission based on results from secondary school, BMAT, UCAT, SAT, extra-curricular activities, etc. We will take a look at those, where you don’t need to write an entrance exam. Application fee in most of these universities is below 100€.
You can get admitted to medical schools in Latvia, Poland, Cyprus, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Croatia without an entrance exam.
Medical schools without entrance exams in Latvia
Riga Stradins University, Riga
Riga Stradins University is offering programs in General medicine and Dental medicine in English for international students. There are two intakes (September and February intake), which are exceptional in Europe. Applicants need to submit English proficiency certificates, 2 letters of reference, a motivational letter, and academic documents from secondary school. The most important is good or excellent results from biology, chemistry, mathematics, and chemistry. The minimum mark required is 70%. Students can submit also a language certificate instead of a result from secondary school. The application fee is 100€, and results are announced after the 1st of July (for September intake) or after the 1st of December (for February intake). Academic documents need to be translated into English.
Check more information about medical or dentistry programs at RSU
The University of Latvia, Riga
The University of Latvia is offering 60 places for international students of general medicine. Students will submit required secondary certificates and the decision will be made in the following way: the value of subjects – Chemistry (40%), Biology (40%), and English (20%) grade OR your Natural sciences (80%) and English (20%) grade if you haven’t studied Chemistry or Biology. It is mandatory to score at least 60% from every subject to be eligible to apply. Results will be announced by mid of July, the application deadline is mostly mid of May.
Medical Schools without Entrance Exams in Poland
Medical University of Silesia in Katowice
Applicants from OECD, EU, EFTA or Switzerland can apply for admission without an entrance exam. The University requires satisfactory marks at the Advanced/ extended level from Biology (mandatory subject) and one subject of choice (Chemistry or Physics of Mathematics). Based on submitted marks, the final score will be calculated and the ranking of students will be given. If the marks are not satisfactory, the student is asked to participate in the entrance exam. Successful applicants will get conditional acceptance and after submission of the required documents final admission letter. We collaborate with the Medical University of Silesia, in case you need more information.
More information: https://medhead.eu/medical-schools-in-poland-for-international-students/medical-university-of-silesia-in-katowice-poland/
Medical University in Szczecin
There is a language certificate needed (for precise information on language certificate level, please check: https://www.pum.edu.pl/english/admissions-office/application-requirements/english-proficiency-certificates). Also marks from secondary school in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics (if you had all 4, the best 2 results will be taken into consideration). They must be completed at a certain level – for precise information, please check page: https://www.pum.edu.pl/english/admissions-office/application-requirements/educational-criteria
Applicants from Germany must have an average mark better than 2,7 from Abitur.
Source: https://www.pum.edu.pl/english/admissions-office/application-requirements
Medical University in Bialystok
Admission is given based on (A) the official high school transcript/maturity certificate/ and on the candidate’s request, grades recorded in the other certificates (SAT II subject test exam or other post-graduate university courses), and (B) oral interview. Positive results from 2 out of 4 subjects must be shown – subjects are biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. The oral interview is focused on the motivation of the applicant, predisposition for the medical profession, and English level of knowledge. There are programs General medicine and Dentistry offered.
Source: https://www.umb.edu.pl/en/s,8982/Admission_requirements
Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicumin in Bydgoszcz
There is no entrance examination, only a recruitment interview. The interview includes questions concerning knowledge in the field of natural and exact sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) at the level of secondary school, as well as motivation to study medicine. It also aims to check the candidate’s proficiency in English. The interview can be conducted online if needed. Topics of interviews can be found on the University website as well. An interesting fact is, that the deadline for application is mid of September. A program of General medicine is offered.
Source: https://study.cm.umk.pl/medicine-left/admission.html
Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce,
Candidates will be chosen by an open competition on the basis of grades on the high school certificate (transcript of grades). There are only 50 places offered. Results from biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics are taken into consideration. University is offering a program of General medicine in English.
Source: https://www.mdkielce.edu.pl/admissions-1-1/general-requirements
Medical University in Lublin
If a candidate has graduated from high school in one of the countries belonging to the EU, OECD, or EFTA or is a holder of the International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma, they do not take an entrance exam to the Medical University of Lublin. Evaluation is performed on the basis of their high school diploma or the confirmation of the final secondary examination or university results. The subjects required for admission are Biology and two subjects out of the following: Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics for Medicine and Dentistry or Biology
Students from other countries need to take an entrance exam.
Source: https://www.umlub.pl/en/candidates/admission-requirements-and-procedures/
Medical University in Wroclaw
The Medical University in Wroclaw does not organize an entrance exam, as admission is awarded based on open competition of grades. The results of the following subjects must be presented on the High School Diploma: Chemistry, Biology – mandatory, and Physics or Mathematics – one of them. This will be checked during the enrolment procedures. Candidates will be chosen by open competition on the basis of grades on the high school certificate (transcript of grades). Please note that the High School Diploma has to entitle the candidate to study at university level in the country of the candidate’s origin where the diploma has been issued. English language certificate is required as well.
Medical university without entrance exam in Romania
The University Of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova
There are 2 study programs for international students in Craiova – General medicine (6 years, 6000€ per year, 50 study places) and Dental medicine (6 years, 6000€ per year, 30 places). Students will submit applications online and pay a 200€ application fee. Only complete files will be considered. The selection process of the university will then take a place – selected students academic documents will be then submitted for nostrification to the Ministry of education. Those who will pass both scrutinies will be offered a place at the University (the decision should be announced in mid of August)
Medical universities without entrance exams in Cyprus
The University of Nicosia
Medical program – The school is located in Cyprus and has 18,000-22,000€ fee per academic year.
Students need to send the following documents:
High School Leaving Certificate with 90% overall score (Ί8/20 overall in the Greek/Cypriot High School Leaving Certificate), to include similar grades in Biology and one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths.
Or: GCE A’ Levels with grades ABB, to include Biology and one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths, and one more subject.
Or: International Baccalaureate with 32 overall and a combined score of 16 at Higher Level, to include Biology and at least one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths.
Candidates are reviewed holistically, so all grades will be reviewed including in Chemistry, Physics and Maths to ensure your knowledge and achievement in these areas meets the demands of our curriculum.
and English certificate:
6.5 overall in the IELTS (with 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 6.0 in all other elements),
Or: 213 overall in the computer-based TOEFL (550 paper-based, 79 internets based),
Or: grade 5 in the GCSE (or B with the old grading system),
Or: a score of 5 in English in the International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL),
Or: a score of 70% in English in the European Baccalaureate.
Those students who will pass both requirements will be invited for an online or offline interview with the management of the faculty. Applicants need to demonstrate through volunteer experience that they have an understanding of the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of medicine to support their application displaying suitability for a career in medicine.
The European University in Cyprus
International applicants must submit an official copy of their high school leaving certificate (or its equivalent) and mark sheet of their secondary school record together with the application. To be considered for admission, candidates must have an average grade corresponding to 90% or above or its equivalent on their high school leaving certificate. All applicants must have passed Biology plus one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Maths or Physics at their native country’s national exams or will need to have passed GCE A’ levels in the respective subjects or their equivalent. Applicants are also expected to submit an English certificate, personal statement, letter of recommendation, or confirmation of voluntary work.
There are specific rules for applicants from Greece, Germany, and Cyprus and holders of bachelor’s degrees.
Source: https://euc.ac.cy/en/admissions/how-to-apply/medical/
Medical school without entrance exam in the Czech Republic
the 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
The faculty may accept up to 25 students (out of 75 students) without obligation to do an entrance exam. Students may get accepted based on A levels (marks AAB), SAT (85 percentile is required), IB result. The condition is that they must be submitted before the 15th of March, so students who obtain it in later months are not eligible for admission without entrance exam.
Medical schools without entrance exam in Croatia
the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Rijeka
Students might get accepted based on their completed premedical college or pass other internationally recognized exams. This list contains the following exams: MCAT with a minimum score of 125 from each section, Meditest EU with over 70%. BMAT. Students with Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences with good marks in Biology, Chemistry, and Chemistry will be exempted as well.
the Faculty of Medicine, University of Split
Students are accepted based on their submitted documents and oral interview. There are 40 seats for students (6 years program conducted fully in Split) and 30 seats with combined program (3 years in Split and 3 years with Regiomed clinics in Germany). Deadline for submission of documents is mid of June.
Conclusion
Most of the medical schools in Europe require one to take an entrance exam. This could be problematic for students, who would like to apply to more universities, but the question preparation materials are different for different schools (for example question banks in Slovakia have 1200 questions in Kosice and 1400 in Bratislava, which requires several weeks of intensive preparation).
There are several schools in Europe, that may issue acceptance letters based on the submission of academic documents or previous education. I suggest considering keeping these universities as a backup option, especially if your primary goal is to study at a different university.
