Entry Requirements for Medicine in Europe

Admission into UK medical programmes is quite competitive due to the high number of applicants and relatively few seats available. In contrast, entry requirements for Medicine in Europe can be far more liberal. Universities usually evaluate applicants' academic performance and character to find the perfect candidate. Here are the most common entry requirements for medicine abroad.

Secondary Education Entry Requirements for Medicine in Europe

Academic performance in secondary school is usually a good indicator of future achievements. European medical universities typically have minimum grade standards for A-Levels, GCSEs, or International Baccalaureate. For all other secondary education certificates, they’d accept scores corresponding to the ones listed above.

The A-level requirements for medicine in the UK are usually AAA, with A*AA for the most competitive universities and AAB for the least competitive ones. In contrast, some European medical universities can accept Cs, and there are even schools that do not place minimum requirements.

The GCSE requirements for medicine are in the 8-9 range for the most prestigious universities and as low as 6 for institutions that are not as competitive in the UK. Again, many European medical universities accept applicants with a grade of 6. Some don’t even have minimum requirements.

Examination Entry Requirements for Medicine Abroad

UK medical universities count on standardised admission tests. Some require the BMAT exam, while others prefer the UCAT. Students might want to prioritise one test over the other by focusing on their favourite universities' requirements.

The situation in Europe is far more varied. While some universities accept the UCAT and BMAT, most usually hold their own exams. Applicants are usually required to pass Biology and Chemistry examinations to study Medicine in Europe. Since each university administers its test, Medlink Students acquires the proper preparation materials to help students ace the test.

In addition, some universities accept test scores from the SAT or MCAT exams. Thus, students from the US can consider applying to European schools. Moreover, international students applying for American schools might gain admission to European schools instead.

Furthermore, universities require English language proficiency exams or certificates for non-native speakers. Good IELTS or TOEFL scores are often sufficient.

Last but not least, there are medical universities that require no exam for entry. They usually consider other admission factors, such as high school performance and character evaluations.

In summary, here are the various exam entry requirements to study Medicine in Europe:

• University administered examinations in Biology and Chemistry
• UCAT or BMAT scores
• SAT or MCAT scores
• English proficiency for non-native speakers
• No entry exam

Character Requirements for Medicine

While secondary education grades and test results are good indicators of academic aptitude, many universities are also looking for desirable character traits. After all, the medical profession requires a certain state of mind and conviction. It would be a shame for an academically gifted student to realise their heart was never really into Medicine three years into the programme.

Many universities require an interview, personal statement, or motivational letter from applicants.

While being authentic is always a good way to approach these tasks, preparation can still significantly help aspiring doctors. There are some tried and true methods to write the perfect medical school personal statement. Moreover, many of the standard medical school interview questions are open secrets.

Extracurricular Activities for Medical School

While medical schools don’t require any of the following extracurricular activities, they definitely do consider them. Students use interviews and personal statements to tell admission offices why they will make excellent doctors. However, extracurriculars go even a step further - they show why. And action always speaks louder than words.

Here are the best extracurriculars for future doctors:

• Shadow a doctor
• Community service and volunteering
• Scientific research
• Leadership skills
• Patient exposure
• Relevant hobbies

Graduate Entry Medicine Requirements

Graduate Entry Medicine is available for people who already have a Bachelor’s Degree and want to pursue an accelerated medical programme. That’s why it is often called Fast Track Medicine. It is a very popular route for science graduates to become doctors.

Requirements are very similar to regular entry. However, the grade requirements are for the degree diploma instead of the secondary education one. In addition, most universities require a science degree, though some will accept a non-science degree.

Here is a summary of what graduate-entry applicants into Medicine need:

• A copy of their previous university transcript
• A passport
• English proficiency for non-native speakers

European Universities with Low Entry Requirements for Medicine

Many students seek to study medicine in Europe without the highly competitive and stressful entry process. Several universities in Europe take a more laid-back approach to the admission process. The lack of an entrance exam is a key component of the entry criteria to these medical institutions.

Here are the universities with the lowest entry requirements for medicine:

1. Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy (Georgia)
2. European University In Tbilisi (Georgia)
3. Medical University of Bialystok (Poland)
4. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Romania)
5. University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova (Romania)
6. Near East University (Cyprus)

Even though it says low entry requirements, these universities allow students to show that they have the capacity and motivation to study medicine despite not performing at their best during their high school years. The universities give prospective medical students a chance to prove they deserve to become doctors after successfully completing the medicine course.

Apply to Study Medicine in Europe with Medlink Students

Indeed, studying abroad can be a convenient way to pursue your dream of becoming a doctor. Still, some bureaucratic, logistical, and even cultural factors can put stress and inconvenience on students. That’s why Medlink Students exists.

Our comprehensive service includes over 30 contractual obligations, including:

• Pre-application advice on selecting the best university and liaising with universities and relevant authorities.
• Professional completion of the application process and everything it involves, such as notarisation, legalisation, visa assistance, etc.
• General support during your studies begins with an airport pickup and initial setup of basic necessities.
• Post care that includes support with the GMC registration process.

Schedule a free WhatsApp consultation with one of our expert student advisors to discover your European options.