If you’ve been searching for the best medical schools in Europe to enroll in, then this article is for you.
Medical doctors are highly trained healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat patients in a wide range of medical conditions. The job prospects for medical doctors are good as there is a shortage of trained doctors in many countries across Europe.
In this article, we will look at the top 20 medical schools in Europe in 2023 and what you need to do to become one.
Table of Contents
Overview & Job Prospect of Medical Doctors
Medical doctors are in demand all over the world, and they can work in a variety of different fields. There are many different types of medical doctors, including general practitioners (GP), surgeons, and cardiologists.
GPs are the most common form of medical doctors, who will see patients with a wide range of conditions such as coughs and colds to more serious illnesses such as cancer or heart disease. GPs usually work in private practice or hospital settings but some may choose to become part-time specialists working with specific groups such as children or older people only.
Other types of medical practitioners include orthopedic surgeons who fix broken bones; neurologists who diagnose problems concerning nervous systems like Parkinson’s Disease; OB/GYN physicians (OB/GYN stands for obstetrician-gynecologist) whose focus is women’s reproductive health issues like pregnancy complications; pediatricians who specialize in caring for children while geriatricians specialize exclusively with older adults dealing mostly with dementia cases.
How to Become a Doctor
You can become a doctor by completing your medical training. This may take between 6 and 10 years (including internship and job shadowing), depending on the type of degree you achieve and where in Europe you study medicine.
To become a medical doctor, you will need to complete a four-year undergraduate degree and then apply to medical school. Medical schools in the United States typically require applicants to have completed prerequisites in biology, chemistry, physics, and math, as well as to have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Once you are accepted to medical school, you will complete four years of medical education, including classroom instruction and clinical rotations. After completing medical school, you will need to complete a residency program, which typically lasts three to seven years (in total) depending on the specialty you choose. Once you have completed your residency, you will need to pass a licensing exam in order to practice medicine.
How Much Does It Cost to Study Medicine?
The average salary for doctors varies depending on location, specialty, experience, etc., but it usually falls between $50,000 – $100,000 per year, or significantly more.
The cost of studying medicine depends on your country and institution. In most cases, however, it is between $17,000 – $60,000 per year on top of living expenses such as rent and food, etc.
There are several reasons why people choose to become doctors:
- They have always wanted to help people who are sick or injured;
- It provides them with an interesting job that allows them to work independently;
- They like science subjects at school so going into a scientific career would be a logical step forward from studying medicine.
Career Benefits
The medical profession is one that offers a secure and steady career for aspiring doctors. The earning potential of a doctor is quite high, but it also depends on the country you work in and the field of specialization you choose to practice.
The average starting salary for a doctor in Europe is around $50,000, which can increase with years of experience or with higher qualifications such as specialist degrees or postgraduate qualifications.
As far as job security goes, this profession offers an excellent opportunity since most medical professionals report that they are generally happy.
The List of Top 20 Medical Schools in Europe
Are you considering pursuing a medical degree in Europe? Look no further, as we have compiled a list of the top 20 medical schools in Europe. These medical schools in Europe have been collated according to the latest QS university rankings.
- Karolinska Institute
- University of Cambridge
- University College London
- University of Oxford
- University of Milan
- University of Amsterdam
- University of Paris
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
- Heidelberg University
- LMU Munich
- ETH Zurich
- KU Leuven
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Sorbonne University
- Maastricht University
- University of Paris
- University of Bern
- University of Helsinki
- University of Bergen
- The University of Kiel.
Top 20 Medical Schools in Europe
From the UK to Sweden, Europe is home to many top-ranked medical schools. Here are the top 20:
1. Karolinska Institute
Tuition fee: 165,000 SEK ($15,800) – 200,000 SEK ($19,100) per installment. (Up to 4 installments).
The Karolinska Institute is a medical university located in Stockholm, Sweden. It is one of the largest medical universities in Europe and also one of the largest research universities in Scandinavia.
It’s also ranked as one of Europe’s top three institutions when looking at the overall list including both research and teaching performance according to QS World University Rankings which combined means that if you apply there you’re pretty much-guaranteed entry into any university across Europe no matter how difficult their requirements are.
Karolinska Institute is one of the most prestigious medical schools in Europe; which means that a lot of wannabe medical students apply in hordes yearly, hence the rate of acceptance is very low (3.9%). Getting into Karolinska will take a show of sheer brilliance.
2. University of Cambridge
Tuition fee: £63,990 for international students. £9,250 per year for UK students.
The University of Cambridge is a public research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the third-oldest surviving university in the world.
The medical school at the University of Cambridge offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, including the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBChir) program, and the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.
3. University College London
Tuition fee: £47,000 for international students and £9,250 for UK residents.
University College London is a constituent college of the federal University of London and is located in London, United Kingdom. The university’s main campus is located in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, with a number of institutes located elsewhere in central London.
The UCL Medical School is one of the constituent colleges of UCL, and it is a leading medical school in the UK and Europe. The school offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate medical and healthcare courses, including the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree.
4. University of Oxford
Tuition fee: £9,250 for UK students and £39,740 for overseas students.
The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the world, having been founded in 1096. It is part of the University of Oxford and is one of the oldest medical schools in the world, having been founded in the late 12th century. It is located in Oxford, England.
The medical school offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs in medicine, including a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BM, BCh), Master of Science (MSc), Doctor of Medicine (MD), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The medical school is known for its high-quality research and teaching, and its graduates are highly sought after by employers in the healthcare industry.
5. University of Milan
Tuition fee: Up to €3,530 per year.
The University of Milan is a public research university located in Milan, Italy. With approximately 64,000 students enrolled at its main campus in Città Studi (University City), the University of Milan is the largest higher education institution in Italy.
It has a medical school called the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, which offers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs in medicine and surgery. The faculty is one of the oldest in Italy, having been founded in 1809.
In addition to its traditional programs in medicine and surgery, the faculty also offers a number of specialized programs, including programs in dentistry, nursing, and veterinary medicine.
6. University of Amsterdam
Tuition fee: €21,300
The University of Amsterdam is a public research university with campuses in Amsterdam, Leiden, and Utrecht. It was founded in 1632 and is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands.
The Faculty of Medicine has been teaching medicine since its establishment in the 90s, making it one of the first university medical faculties in Europe.
The university offers various undergraduate degree programs such as Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (BSc); Master’s Degree Programmes (MA/MSc) in several disciplines.
7. University of Paris
Tuition fee: €2,770 per year at the Licence level, €3,770 per year at the Master’s level, €380 per year at the Doctoral level.
The University of Paris, also metonymically known as Sorbonne, is a public research university located in Paris, France. It was founded in 1253 and it is the largest university in France, with more than 63,000 students.
The school offers undergraduate studies (license), graduate degrees (master’s degrees), and doctorate programs.
8. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Tuition fee: €16,400
The Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is a university hospital located in Berlin, Germany. It is the second-largest hospital complex in Europe and the largest in Germany. The Charité has been a university medical center since 2002.
The university hospital has clinics for specialists and outpatient departments for general practitioners, as well as several research institutes such as those concerned with cancer research. Its research activities are financed by grants from federal ministries such as those for health or defense.
9. Heidelberg University
Tuition fee: €804.10 per semester (in fees, tuition is free) for local students and €1,500 per semester for non-EU or EEA students.
Heidelberg University is a research university located in Heidelberg, Germany. Its Medical Faculty is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Germany, having been founded in 1386. The faculty offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs in medicine, including a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.
It is home to more than 29,000 students. With a student population that large, Heidelberg University is currently ranked as the best medical university in Germany. The Medical Faculty is also home to a number of research institutes and centers, which focus on a wide range of medical and scientific topics.
10. LMU Munich
Tuition fee: Free but costs €100 per semester for overseas students.
The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich is a public research university located in Munich, Germany. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Germany and is ranked among the best universities in the world.
The LMU has a strong focus on research and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of fields, including the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
11. ETH Zurich
Tuition fee: CHF 730/semester.
ETH Zurich or the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich) is an international university for science and engineering in the city of Zürich, Switzerland. It was founded in 1855 as a polytechnic institute and has since grown into one of the top universities in the world.
ETH Zurich is known for its excellence in engineering research, making it one of Europe’s most prestigious universities for science and technology. However, it equally provides one of the best medical education in Europe. Hence, ETH is also one of the most selective universities in Switzerland.
12. KU Leuven
Tuition fee: €900 – €5,000
The University of Leuven is a public research university in the city of Leuven in the Flemish Brabant province of Flanders, Belgium. It was founded in 1425 making it Belgium’s oldest university.
The medical school at KU Leuven is known for its high-quality education and research and offers a range of degree programs in medicine and related fields, such as nursing, physiotherapy, and biomedical sciences.
13. Erasmus University Rotterdam
Tuition fee: €2,060 – €9,000. Free for EU/EEA students.
Erasmus University Rotterdam is a public university located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was established in 1973 as the second university in the country but has now grown to be the largest university in the Netherlands.
14. University of Barcelona
Tuition fee: €4,900
The University of Barcelona Medical School is a public medical school located in Barcelona, Spain. It was founded in 1450 and is one of the oldest medical schools in the world. The school is a part of the University of Barcelona, which is a research-intensive university located in the city of Barcelona.
The medical school offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of medicine and health sciences, including a six-year program leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree.
15. Maastricht University
Tuition fee: €3,830
Maastricht University is located in the city of Maastricht, Netherlands, and is ranked as one of the top universities in Europe. The institution was founded in 1976, with a medical school established the following year. It has a strong reputation for research, particularly in medical science and technology.
The school offers undergraduate degrees that lead to careers as doctors, surgeons, dentists and pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
16. Imperial College London
Tuition fee: £9,250 for domestic and Ireland students and £46,650 for overseas students.
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. The university was founded in 1907 and received its royal charter in 1907.
Imperial College utilizes its status as one of the best universities in the world to curate one of the best medical courses in Europe that you’ll find. However, the downside is that this school is highly expensive for international students. The school also offers specialized doctoral programs in medicine.
17. University of Bern
Tuition fee: 750 CHF per semester.
The University of Bern is a public research university located in the Swiss capital of Bern. It was founded as a school of law in 1834 and became a full university in 1863.
It is one of Switzerland’s best universities. Some top medical degree programs offered in the school include:
- Bachelor in Human Medicine
- Bachelors in Dentistry
- Master in Biomedical Engineering
- Master in Biomedical Sciences
- Masters in Medicine
- Masters in Dental Medicine
- Masters in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
- As well as other doctorate programs.
18. University of Helsinki
Tuition fees: €13,000, €15,000, and €18,000 per academic session.
The University of Helsinki (abbreviated as UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland. It was founded in 1640 and is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available.
The Medical School is one of the nine faculties of the University of Helsinki. It is a leading institution in Finnish medical education and research and is known for its high-quality research and education in the field of medicine.
19. University of Bergen
Tuition fee: 590 NOK per semester.
The University of Bergen (UiB) is a public university located in Bergen, Norway. It was founded in 1767 and is now organized into six faculties: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Faculty of Philosophy and Education Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Religion Studies.
It is the second-largest institution for higher education in Norway. As one-third of all students will graduate at UiB every year, it can be highly regarded for its contribution to Norwegian education.
20. University of Kiel
Tuition fee: Free for both local and international students. But students are required to pay a “social fee” (€267).
The University of Kiel is a public research university located in Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.
It is one of the most affordable medical universities in Europe; in addition, the school offers one of the best educations in the world of medicine to match.
FAQs and Answers
The following are popular questions students ask about medical schools.
What are the best medical schools in Europe?
If you read this article, you will find out that there are vast options for you to select which medical school you want to study in. At the moment, the best medical school in Europe is Karolinska Institute located in Sweden.
How do medical schools in Europe compare to those in other parts of the world?
Medical schools in Europe are highly regarded and offer high-quality education. Many of the top medical schools in Europe are consistently ranked among the best in the world. In the 2021 QS World University Rankings, 14 of the top 20 medical schools in the world are in Europe.
How do I apply to medical school in Europe?
The application process for medical school in Europe varies depending on the specific school and country. In general, you will need to have strong academic qualifications, including good grades in science subjects. You may also need to take an entrance exam or attend an interview. It is a good idea to start researching the specific requirements and application process for the medical schools you are interested in as early as possible.
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Wrapping It Up
In conclusion, medical schools in Europe are highly regarded and offer high-quality education. Many of the top medical schools in Europe are consistently ranked among the best in the world. If you are interested in studying medicine in Europe, it is important to research the medical schools in Europe that you will love to study, and start making preparations.
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