How Many European Graduates Become Doctors in the UK and How Hard Is It Really?

Every year, thousands of students choose to study medicine in Europe, drawn by world-class medical universities, lower tuition fees, and flexible admission criteria. But let's be honest, 1 question matters the most here: Can European doctors work in the UK?

In this blog, we’ll answer that question, explore how many European medical graduates go on to practice as doctors in the UK, and which European countries train the most UK-registered doctors.

*Please note that all prices in this blog are accurate as of October 2025, but are subject to change.

The key takeaways of this blog include:

• Thousands of students choose to study medicine in Europe each year because it’s more affordable, offers flexible admission criteria, while still providing high-quality and internationally recognised medical education
• There are currently over 38,000 EU-trained doctors working in the UK
• Graduates from accredited universities in Europe can easily register with the General Medical Council (GMC) to become doctors in the UK

Reasons for Choosing European Medical Schools

Before we dive into the numbers, let's understand why students choose to study Medicine in Europe in the 1st place:

Quality of Medical Education

Medical universities in Europe offer high-end academic standards, modern facilities, and extensive clinical exposure, all taught entirely in English. In fact, 10% of all GMC-registered doctors have studied medicine in Europe, proving that the quality of their education competes head-to-head with UK-based medical schools.

These programmes are also accredited by agencies recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), which guarantees that students who study medicine in Europe receive medical degrees that open doors to study medicine abroad, not just in Europe but also in the UK and the US.

Cost-Effectiveness 

Another major reason thousands of students are turning to Europe is the massive cost advantage. Many European universities will cost you as little as £3,100 annually. For example:

• European University in Tbilisi: *£4,500 per year
• Georgian National University SEU: *£4,450 per year
• University of East Sarajevo Faculty of Medicine: *£3,100 per year.

Living costs in Europe are equally attractive. Students in Eastern Europe spend around £600 to £750 per month, compared to over £2,000 in the UK. Combined, this means you could save hundreds of thousands of pounds over 6 years.

Flexible Admission Criteria

1 of the biggest reasons students are turning to Europe is simple: getting into medicine elsewhere is brutally competitive. In the UK, for example, there are around 24000 applicants competing for only 7500 seats. That means about 70%  of all the applicants get rejected, even if they have strong grades and a genuine passion for medicine.

European medical universities offer a fairer and more accessible path. Many even have direct-entry programmes that allow students to start medical school straight after high school. You can learn more about this in our blog that showcases Top Medical Schools Abroad for UK Students According to Stats, Price & Quality.

The European Countries That Train The Most Doctors in the UK

As of 31 October 2024, there are a total of 390,520 registered doctors on the register in the UK. Around 38358 graduated from medicine in Europe. Below are some of the most popular destinations for UK students:

Bulgaria

If you want a proven, reliable route out of the UK, Bulgaria is it. It has 1 of the highest counts of UK-registered graduates on this list, meaning their degrees are rock solid and trusted. More importantly, Bulgaria’s medical schools feature modern facilities and access to high-quality hospitals and clinics for clinical training, meaning you get a great, hands-on medical education without having to sell a kidney to pay for it.

These universities include:

1. Medical University of Varna
2. Medical University in Sofia
3. Plovdiv Medical University
4. Trakia Medical University
5. Pleven Medical University
6. Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University Faculty of Medicine

Poland

Poland is a powerhouse in Central Europe, known for giving you a world-class education that prepares you for anything. Not only are their programmes fully taught in English and EU-accredited, but they also use the ECTS credit system. What does that mean for you? It means credit transfer is a walk in the park, all while making it easy to pursue a career anywhere from London to the US (they even offer prep for USMLE/PLAB).

Poland has currently graduated 3,031 EU doctors in the UK​, all from top-tier universities that include:

1. Poznan University of Medical Sciences
2. Medical University of Lodz
3. Medical University of Bialystok
4. Medical University of Warsaw

Hungary

Hungary is known for its history of medical innovation and educational system, which is ranked 22nd globally. Many medical schools here grant pre-med courses, in case needed, and their med degrees are recognised all over Europe, UK and beyond.

You can also expect luxurious, low-cost dormitories, giving students a high standard of living at a fraction of the cost. It has 4 universities that accept over 850 new students annually, these are:

1. McDaniel College Budapest
2. University of Pécs 
3. Semmelweis University of Medicine 
4. University of Veterinary Medicine

Georgia

With 195 UK-registered doctors having graduated from its medical universities, Georgia is the perfect choice for students looking to skip the competitive entrance exams. Combined with some of the lowest tuition fees in Europe, roughly *£3,470-£5,640 (or *€4,000-€6,500), and super-low living costs, it’s a high-value, low-stress route into medicine. Georgian medical schools include:

1. Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA)
2. The European University, Caucasus International University (CIU)
3. Georgian National University SEU
4. Alte University
5. Georgian American University

The Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is where you go for serious academic prestige. Home to Charles University (founded in 1348), 1 of the best universities to study medicine in Europe​, world-renowned and focuses heavily on medical research opportunities. You get full EU accreditation, fantastic research exposure, and a very high standard of living in beautiful, historic cities like Prague. The higher-end tuition reflects the premium quality and prestige of these top-tier faculties, while still being relatively affordable.

You would also enjoy the benefits of EU-wide accreditation & recognition, a well-structured clinical training environment, excellent research opportunities, strong standards of living, and access to modern hospitals and labs in cities like Prague, Brno, and Olomouc.

Leading universities include:

1. Charles University First Faculty of Medicine
2. Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine
3. Charles University Third Faculty of Medicine.

Romania

Romania has officially cemented its place as a top destination, with the highest number of EU doctors working in the UK​. If choice matters, Romania has it, with over 40 universities to study medicine in English, of which 3466 UK doctors graduated from. The biggest draw here for students is the super low living costs; we’re talking as low as *£350 to £600 per month.

Medical schools here also offer some of the lowest tuition fees in Europe, as low as €4,950 per year. More importantly, Romanian universities are known for their strong clinical training, modern facilities, and straightforward admission process that often doesn’t require a complex entrance exam. These include:

1. Carol Davila University of Medicine of Bucharest
2. University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova
3. Titu Maiorescu University of Bucharest. 
4. Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad
5. Ovidius University Constanta
6. Iuliu Hartieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Latvia, particularly Riga Stradins University (RSU), is a preferred destination for students who want to become competent doctors, not just textbook readers. They have built their curriculum around integrated clinical practice from the earliest stages. You get valuable patient-centred training early on, preparing you effectively for the real-world pressures of residency.

RSU is also known for its modern facilities, from 3D anatomy visualisation tables and science hubs, to a library of national importance that provides a unique range of medical literature.

Lithuania

Lithuania is 1 of the EU’s fastest-growing economies, and its medical schools are just as modern. The real unique selling point, however, is that Lithuania has special recognition agreements that allow graduates to move into residency in Scandinavian countries much faster and easier than graduates from other nations.

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LMSU) in Lithuania is known for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities. Graduates benefit from 240 strong international partnerships, including clinical practice bases in places like Germany and the UK. This provides unmatched, hands-on training and helps secure career mobility across Europe.

Croatia

Croatia offers a fantastic quality of life and high academic standards. Some of their medical faculties are known for a unique block-course structure, meaning you focus intensively on 1 subject at a time, usually for around 4 weeks before moving on, making it perfect for deep learning.

Croatia hosts 3 excellent medical universities: the University of Zagreb, the University of Split, and the University of Rijeka.

Slovakia

Slovakia is an excellent choice if you want the prestigious academic quality of Central Europe; and with 619 UK-registered doctors already practicing in the NHS, the pathway is well-established.

Slovakian universities, such as Jessenius Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University and Pavol Jozef Safarik University, are both equipped with modern facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, and a state-of-the-art simulation centre, which allows students to practise their skills in a safe and controlled environment. A significant plus of studying medicine in Slovakia is that many universities offer affordable student dormitories right on campus, which helps keep your living costs low and guarantees comfort while you study in a beautiful country known for having the highest number of castles per capita.

Pathway for European Graduates to Practice in the UK

Start by applying for registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Make sure your medical degree is recognised by checking the list of acceptable overseas medical qualifications. At last, you'll have to submit all the required documents, which should include proof of a 12-month internship or equivalent clinical training experience.

It’s also important to have passed both parts of the PLAB test within the past 2 years.

Once registered (or while your application is in progress), you can apply for positions in UK hospitals through the NHS Jobs website and other healthcare portals. If you plan to work as a GP, you’ll also need to join the GP Register and may have to complete an induction or assessment programme.

Do you feel a little lost? Book a free consultation with Medlink Students today, and we'll explain every step of the process to you. You can also check out our blog on GMC Registration Steps for EU Medical Graduates.

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