Pre-Med, Foundation Medicine Courses to Help You Meet Med School Requirements

“How can I make sure I meet all medical school requirements?" is a question that we get often, and luckily, there's a sure-fire way to ensure you meet all of them. Thousands of strong applicants fall short of the standard medical school entry requirements each year, but that doesn’t mean the dream is over; it just means you need the right bridge.

In this guide, we will explain in detail what medicine foundation courses are, how they can be the bridge you need to get into your dream med school, and the best pre-med schools in Europe.

The key takeaways of this blog include:

• Pre-med and foundation courses fill gaps in science subjects and entry requirements for medical school
• Foundation courses boost confidence, study habits, and skills needed to handle the demands of medicine
• Many programmes guarantee or significantly increase your chances of admission into medical school
• Students benefit from early labs, clinical exposure, and being on the same campus as med students

What is a Foundation Medicine Course?

Pre-med or a foundation course in medicine​ is a preparatory university programme that fulfills the core sciences and prerequisites you’ll need in Year 1 of medicine. It’s often modular and focused on content gaps and is designed to prepare students for the rigorous demands of medical school and the medical profession. 

This programme is typically for students applying to medical school who didn't take the necessary science classes in high school, didn't get enough A grades, didn't get into medical school on their first try, aren't sure if medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine is the right career for them, or simply want an extra year to get ready.

You can go deeper into the details of medicine foundation courses and pre-med qualifications on our Medicine Foundation Courses page.

How a Foundation Year Helps You Meet Med School Requirements

There are many reasons you might not tick all boxes on your 1st medical school application, and that’s totally okay. Here’s how pre-med brings you back on the correct route:

• You acquire missing medical school prereqs, as often the barrier isn’t a lack of talent but missing specific subjects or grades. Foundation courses provide the equivalent of A-Levels, filling those gaps so you're eligible for medical school.

• You will build the confidence and academic habits that medicine demands, such as time management, critical thinking, and handling pressure. Pre-med courses at some universities include labs, assessments, and small-class formats, helping you gain confidence before actual medical studies start.
• You increase your acceptance chances into med school, removing the uncertainty of reapplying, as universities offering pre-med programmes often guarantee progression into their medical school.
• You smoothly transition into medicine since you’ll often be on the same campus, working in the same or similar faculty, and sometimes even doing Year 1 modules alongside your Year 0 course.

The Best Universities for Medicine Foundation Courses

Choosing the right pre-med or foundation course can make all the difference in meeting medical school requirements. Below are some of the best universities offering trusted foundation programmes that prepare international students for success in medicine.

Please keep in mind that these tuition fees are accurate as of August, 2025, but are subject to change.

1. University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA) 

Location: Piccadilly, Antigua
Tuition fees: €12,550 or €5,600 by applying through Medlink Students
Programme length: 3 semesters or 1 condensed year by applying through Medlink Students

Founded in 1982 in Antigua & Barbuda, USHA provides an online 90-credit pre-medical programme that prepares high school graduates for the MD programme. More importantly, successful completion guarantees entry to the MD at USHA. The university combines Caribbean campus clinical links with international hospital affiliations and is a prominent part of the global medical scene.

UHSA has built strong international connections with almost 30 hospitals and clinics around the world. This gives students who apply to their medical programme many chances to gain experience in hospitals, choose different degree paths, and more.

2. McDaniel College Budapest

Location: Budapest, Hungary
Tuition fees: €7,250
Programme length: 1 year

Since 1990, McDaniel College Budapest has specialised in pre-medical training tailored to Hungarian university entrance exams. With a ~90% placement success rate, it’s ideal for students who want a tested route into EU medical schools. The college offers credit-bearing courses and exam-focused content. These programmes take around 2 semesters, from September to mid-May. However, you will also have a longer 3-semester option, starting in June and ending in mid-May of the following year.

3. Medical University of Lodz (MUL)

Location: Kaunas, Poland
Tuition fees: €6,500
Programme length: 8 months

MUL has designed and created a comprehensive pre-med course with nearly 1,000 hours of teaching, including labs, medical English, and Polish language sessions. If your science background could benefit from some extra support and you need both content and clinical practice exposure, MUL’s prep course is 1 of the most substantial options in Poland.

4. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU)

Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
Tuition fees: €2,200
Programme length: 10 weeks

Known for training outstanding medical professionals since 1922, LSMU is the largest biomedical university in Lithuania, with clinical practice bases in Sweden, Spain, the UK, the USA, Israel, and more. Its short 10-week pre-med packages are perfect for students who need a targeted or specific course(e.g., adding chemistry knowledge or polishing English) before applying to a full 5 to 6-year medicine programme. LSMU is an excellent choice if you want a high-quality clinical basis plus a short, focused prep.

5. Riga Stradins University (RSU)

Location: Riga, Latvia
Tuition fees: €10 per academic hour
Programme length: Depending on needs

With a strong background in research and international recognition, RSU offers modular pre-courses that can be taken online or in person. The transparent per-hour pricing and modular format are excellent if you only need specific subjects and want to save on expenses, making it practical for students who wish to control both time and costs. These courses, typically offered in January and August, are accessible entirely online through Zoom and the RSU e-studies platform.

These are just a few of the top options available to students wanting to study pre-med courses to meet the requirements of medical school.

If you’re still confused about which university would suit you the best, you can book a free consultation with 1 of our expert advisors who will guide you through all the best options in Europe and the Caribbean. You can also check our complete list of 100+ medical universities in Europe, which includes 34 that offer pre-med abroad courses.

Ready to Take the Next Steps in Your Med Journey?

Similar to the pre-med programme, Medlink Students helps you stay on the right track to get into your dream med school. The Student Success Programme (SSP) is a step-by-step service that covers:

• University selection and guaranteed pathways.
• Complete application processing, document checks and translations.
• Entrance exam prep (we gather past papers and mock tests).
• Visa guidance, accommodation help and on-ground support.
• Post-graduation support for licensing or residency steps.

If you want to ensure that you have a good chance of joining your dream med school, start with a free consultation, pick a pre-med that matches your gap (we’ll recommend exact modules), and join the SSP to get 1-to-1 mentorship with our expert advisors.

FAQ: Pre-medicine Courses