What Students Say About Studying Medicine at The University of Nis, Serbia?

So, you’ve decided to study medicine abroad. A lot of European destinations have probably come to your mind. Well, have you considered studying medicine at the University of Nis?

Serbia isn’t a place that comes to mind for most medical students-to-be, which is surprising because international students currently studying there strongly recommend it. This goes double for the University of Nis, one of the most prestigious ones in the country.

To learn more about Nis and what life is like for a student at the university, we decided to sit down with Anika - a medical student from Germany. Anika just finished her 2nd year of medical education in Nis, so she had some time to answer our questions!

The university's location is optimal for international students, as there are plenty of hotels, hostels, and apartments in the immediate area that offer affordable accommodation. In addition, should students get bored with the university’s canteens, there are about half a dozen restaurants within walking distance. 

Anika told us about a few more benefits that the university’s location offers its students.

“Nis University is easy to reach, especially from Germany - I fly, like, 1h15. The airport is also really close to the faculty. I think I need about 10-15 minutes by taxi,” she said. “Makes it really easy to fly home for the weekend during the non-exam phase.”

During the clinical years, students do rotations in actual clinics and hospitals - which can, for other universities, be quite far from the faculty building. This can inconvenience international students in finding their way around the city. We asked Anika about how the situation is in the medical faculty of the University of Nis.

“Most of the hospitals where we do rotations during our 3rd year are just opposite of our faculty,” she said. 

According to Numbeo - an aggregate crushing crime stats into various safety scores - Nis ranks low and very low on most crime indexes. Those range between overall crime levels, muggings, racially motivated attacks, etc. - and all have a low probability of happening in Nis.

The city’s rating for how safe it is to walk the streets during the day is 92.65/100 - that’s actually higher than most European capitals. For example, London scores a mere 65.52/100 in the same category.

If this sounds surprising, don’t worry - you’re not alone.

“It’s a very underestimated country, and I think many people don’t know much about Nis and Serbia,” Anika told us. “They put a lot into their infrastructure.”

The statistics support this, specifically, the Global Peace Index, which ranks countries based on crime and their current socio-political environment. In 2010, just after applying for candidacy to the EU, Serbia ranked 78th on the Peace Index. A decade later, in 2020, they ranked 41st - a considerable improvement. Underestimated country, indeed!

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The University of Nis, in particular, has seen a surge in popularity thanks to its esteemed medical programmes in English. While the programme is very competitive (with only 50 seats), it provides a world-class education using cutting-edge equipment. The university not only adheres to international standards but, in many ways, surpasses them.

The faculty is deliberately very diverse to ensure that students learn a wide variety of different things. Future doctors will learn not only from a wide range of teachers but also from specialists from various backgrounds. 

“In the faculty, we have people from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Egypt, Norway, Pakistan, Canada… It’s very diverse, and it’s so interesting to get in touch with all those people from different countries and exchange knowledge and information,” Anika told us about her teachers. “That makes studying in Europe that much more valuable.”

How much does it cost to study medicine in Serbia?

When we asked Anika why she chose the University of Nis, she replied without hesitation. “I chose this university because of the low tuition fee!”

And that’s understandable - the costs of studying medicine in Serbia are a fraction of what they are in Germany and other countries like the UK, the US, and Italy. In fact, the costs are so low that you can usually go through your entire programme in Serbia for the same amount as studying for just a few years at a UK university.

While it may be easy to presume that the price inflates when we take living costs into amounts, the truth is that they don’t contribute that much to the overall price tag. Most students in Nis can live just fine with only a few hundred euros per month.

Renting an apartment with flatmates instead of alone should considerably reduce the cost of rent and utilities. However, an apartment far from the university may add to the cost of transportation. Students’ dietary and lifestyle needs may also skew the estimate. 

Even with that in mind, the price of studying medicine at the University of Nis is still significantly lower than in most Western European countries, like Germany and Italy. The affordability of studying in Nis compared to the world-class quality of its education is what ultimately attracted many students to it. 

The University of Nis is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, an index of the internationally recognised and best medical universities worldwide. This gives it a certain prestige and recognition of the quality of education - but more importantly, it means that every country in the world will recognise its diplomas. 

In practice, you can go to Serbia, study for six years at the University of Nis, and then return home to work as a doctor in your own country. Alternatively, you can work in a different country or even stay in Serbia if you fall in love with it (like many of the students we work with have). What matters is that a diploma from the University of Nis opens many doors for you!

Why Students Choose to Study at the University of Nis

One of the primary reasons why students choose to study medicine at the university of Nis is the low tuition fees.

Not everyone can afford a medical education in their home country, and getting into debt may not be worth it. Especially when the alternative is getting the same level of medical education elsewhere at a fraction of the cost.

But the costs aren’t the only thing that attracts Anika and other students like her. She also greatly enjoyed how the teachers gave each student individual attention.

“We’re studying in nice, small groups,” she told us, "which made it very easy for everyone’s voice to be heard and to ensure every student is absorbing the vital knowledge." 

But even after class has ended, the teachers’ support continues. “The nice aspect is that [the teachers] are always available to reach on Viber,” she said.

Hear more about studying in Nis on our Virtual Open Day: "Study Medicine or Dentistry Abroad by Medlink Students":

Interested in studying at the University of Nis?

Every year, we help thousands of students achieve their medical dreams and study medicine in Europe - dozens of which are at the University of Nis. Our team of expert student advisors helps recommend them the best possible university for them based on their preferences and needs and then processes all paperwork to make sure the student is accepted. 

If you’re intimidated by the entrance exams at the University of Nis, we can help with those as well by sending you all the necessary materials to start cramming for them. We’ll even support you once you step into the university by showing you the sights and getting you in touch with Anika and other international students who have formed a tight-knit community.

And even if the University of Nis isn’t quite your thing, or you’d prefer to study dentistry in Europe (a programme not offered by Nis), we can still help. Request a FREE consultation today, and our expert advisors will examine your options together!