9 Best 4-Year Medical Schools In Europe 2023

Did you know? There are 4-year medical schools in Europe, that’s right, instead of spending 6+ years in med school, you can go to Europe and earn a world-class reputable medical degree in just 4 years. There are select countries and med schools in Europe where this is possible and I have provided all of the information you need in this blog post. Have a good read.

The cost and amount of time it takes to get a medical degree is something nearly everyone already knows about. In fact, whenever I think of anything related to medicine or even read about or see a medical person anywhere my brain automatically thinks of long, hard years of expensive education. But then, it is absolutely worth it and highly rewarding.

As a kid, I used to be super interested in the medical field and have always wanted to pursue it. When I became a senior in secondary school, I started making research on what it takes to become a medical doctor. I remembered seeing 8 years of studies, 4 years for undergraduate, and 4 years for med school. That is a long time and I felt discouraged on the spot.

I later found out that the amount of time it takes to complete a medical degree depends on the country. In the US, medical school lasts for 4 years then you will receive an M.D. or D.O. degree and spend another 3-7 years in residency. Adding 4 years of a mandatory undergraduate degree or premed school, as it is commonly referred to, to that, it takes between 11-15 years to become a fully-fledged medical doctor in the US. In the UK and other European nations, it takes between 5-6 years to complete medical school.

There are even some accelerated medical programs in Europe that take 4 years to complete and that is the focus of this article. The accelerated medical programs are also referred to as ‘Fast Track Medical Programs’ or ‘Graduate Entry Medicine Program’ and it is designed with the aim of better preparing medical forces in Europe. The program is open to students from all nationalities.

Furthermore, medical schools in the US that offer 8 years of medical education and medical schools in Europe that offer 6 years of medical studies are on par with each other. Their academic qualifications in the field of medicine are globally recognized, however, Europe offers better advantages to aspiring medical students because of its affordable tuition fee, multiple financial aid options for home and abroad students, post-study work visa opportunity, and the shorter amount it takes to complete the degree.

Such opportunities make Europe a heaven for students who dream of building successful careers in the medical field. Some of the countries with 4-year medical schools in Europe include Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, and Ireland. These countries house prestigious medical schools that offer cutting-edge medical programs.

Best 4-Year Medical Schools In Europe

Just like any other program, there are requirements and other criteria that aspiring medical students MUST fulfill to enter one of the 4-year medical schools in Europe. These requirements vary based on students’ residency status and the school and can be pretty strict. They are split into academic and non-academic requirements which applicants must provide to be assessed if they are fit for the program.

The academic requirement may include the medical entrance examination such as UCAT, minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, TOEFL or IELTS score and the non-academic requirements may include transcripts from previous institutions attended, personal statement, essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, online or in-person interview, extracurricular activities, work experience, and background check.

Let’s move straight to why you are here; the best 4-year medical schools in Europe.

The University of Nicosia Medical School
The University of Groningen Medical School
Dnipro Medical Institute
The University of Sheffield
Medical University of Silesia
Queen Mary University of London
European University in Tbilisi Georgia
Poznan University of Medical Sciences
The University of Oxford

1. The University of Nicosia Medical School

UNIC Medical School is one of the well-known universities in Europe that uses cadavers as an educational aid. Medical students will also have the opportunity to experience early clinical years – thanks to tits 4-year medical degree – which will allow them to become competent doctors. The institution is located in Cyprus but has other branches in New York, Athens, and Bucharest.

The Graduate Entry Medicine program offered by UNIC Medical School attracts over 10,000 students from different nationalities every year to earn quality academic degrees in a short time. Entry requirements into the program include voluntary experience in the healthcare or medical field, a minimum of 7.0 and 6.5 respectively in TOEFL or IELTS, online interview via Zoom, and immunization against Hepatitis B.

2. The University of Groningen Medical School

This is a prestigious public research university in Groningen, Netherlands famous for its high reputation in academic teaching and research, and a large international network. Its medical school accepts students from every nationality who have proficient English or Dutch language proficiency skills.

At the University of Groningen Medical School, domestic and international students can complete medical education in 36 months. It is a full-time study with an estimated cost of 32,000 euros for international students and 2,315 euros for citizens and other EU/EEA residents.

3. Dnipro Medical Institute

Dnipro Medical Institute is one of the best 4-year medical schools in Europe that you may consider applying for and can even get into if you meet the entry requirements and satisfy other criteria. The institute is based in Ukraine and it is one of the very few in the nation to be designated as a “National Medical Institute” by the Ukrainian Government.

The institute offers the Graduate Entry Medicine program that takes 4 years to complete a medical education and it is taught in English to make it accessible for international students. No entrance exam or interview is given or required but you must have a recognized English language proficiency test score to apply if you are a non-native English speaker.

4. The University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a prestigious university in the UK globally recognized for its exceptional teaching, impactful research, and outstanding student experience. It is also a member of the Russell Group. The university offers a 4-year full-time medical education designed for graduates with a degree in life sciences.

The program is based on a patient-centered approach and dives straight into clinical teachings, practical classes, and personal development to prepare students to become graduates with all the abilities they need to succeed. All applicants must satisfy the health requirements as well as other academic requirements to enter into the program.

5. Medical University of Silesia

Here is another med school located in Poland offering a 4-year medical degree. It is the largest medical school in Poland with only 5 faculties of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, and health sciences. It completely focuses on giving students the best medical education and developing them to be the best in the field.

International and transfer students are accepted into its Graduate Entry Medicine program which takes in students once a year in February. Applicants are assessed based on their performance in the entrance exam set by the school and their high school grades in chemistry, physics, and biology.

6. Queen Mary University of London

The Queen Mary University of London is home to the largest academic health science center in the world, thus, attracting scores of medical and healthcare professionals from different parts of the world and offering opportunities for students to gain expert knowledge from the world’s best. Coupled with that, students aspiring to become medical professionals can apply for the 4-year medical program at this university and start practicing in no time.

The opportunities this school offers comes at the expense of tough entry requirements. To enter the 4-year medical program at the Queen Mary University of London, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a scale of 4.0, take the UCAT, and have good knowledge of English.

7. European University in Tbilisi Georgia

To enter the Graduate Medicine Entry program at the European University, you will be required to submit your high school diploma and demonstrate English language proficiency. For such a world-class medical program, the entry requirements are easy and the fee is not high either. This is because the Faculty of Medicine at the European University aims to train as many people as possible to become healthcare and medical experts.

Students take up clinical tasks almost immediately by working and training at hospitals around Georgia and working with real patients. The program is taught in English to accommodate international and transfer students who want to pursue a medical degree in Europe.

8. Poznan University of Medical Sciences

Poznan University of Medical Sciences is a reputable Polish medical university reputable for its high success rate in medical licensing exams, high rate of alumni employability, and intensive clinical immersion. It is among the best 4-year medical school in Europe accepting aspiring medical professionals from far and wide to help them achieve their dreams.

To enter the 4-year graduate entry course, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in life sciences, a high school certificate or an equivalent, and pass the PUMS examination to qualify for the interview.

9. The University of Oxford

This is one of the best universities in the world with academic and research excellence on par with the Ivy Leagues. Its Medical Sciences Division is offering a graduate entry accelerated medical program to those who aspire to pursue a medical degree.

As a world-class institution, you can imagine that the entry requirements are tough, and yes, they are. You need to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered and possess at least an A in chemistry at A-level. English language proficiency test score is also required for non-native English speakers. All nationalities are encouraged to apply.