Transferring out of Ukraine? These universities offer affordable medical degrees

For many years, cheap tuition fees and living costs were primary reasons why international students from African and Asian countries sought a degree in medicine from Ukrainian institutions. Universities such as Kyiv Medical University and the Kharkiv National Medical University offer internationally-accredited medical programmes, allowing students to practice or further their studies in other European Union countries. 

Sadly, the current situation will likely put an end to many international students’ study plans in the country. If you’re enrolled in a Ukrainian university, and are looking elsewhere to continue your degree, here are cost-friendly medical schools in Europe to consider:

Affordable universities to consider for a degree in medicine

University of Szeged, Hungary

The Medical School at the University of Szeged benefit from a world-class education at an attractive city with a lower cost of living. Source: University of Szeged, Hungary

Located in Hungary’s third-largest city, the Medical School at the University of Szeged has a 35-year history of training doctors in the English language. The university provides a solid foundation for clinical training in diverse services, and its sophisticated laboratories offer students plenty of opportunities for research work.

The 12-semester Doctor of Medicine programme accepts students who have pursued a medical degree in English elsewhere without taking its entrance exam, subject to preconditions of transfer by the faculty. The Credit Transfer procedure can take up to three weeks after students have completed their applications online. 

Tuition fees are around 15,200 euros annually, with scholarships available for international students. Living costs are among the lowest in Europe, ranging between €600 to €1,000, with easy access to beautiful tourist attractions as a bonus. 

University of Messina, Italy

Known for its subsidised fees that range anywhere between €200 to €4,000 annually, a degree in medicine in Italian public universities is among the cheapest in the world. It’s also intensely competitive, yet the benefits of getting a European-level medical education is worth the try. 

The six-year degree in medicine at the University of Messina is fully taught in English, and practical training can be done abroad at partner universities within and outside of the European Union. International students pay a fixed fee of €150, in addition to fees that are calculated based on a sliding scale according to the student’s financial circumstances, up to a maximum of only €2,100 per year. 

Medical University of Lublin, Poland

With over 70 years of experience in medical education, the Medical University of Lublin has an English language curriculum for international students to pursue a degree in medicine at its faculty. The university has partnerships with Gulf Medical University in the United Arab Emirates and Wenzhou Medical University in China, and its MD degree entitles graduates to practice medicine worldwide. 

Students who successfully complete the programme will be awarded the MD degree, and applicants who have prior medical knowledge can apply for course exemptions. The international fees for a degree in medicine starts at €13,000 annually,  and the university’s Financial Aid Office can certify educational loans offered by foreign banks, in addition to advising international students on the best options for funding their studies.

Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria

The low cost of living in Sofia, Bulgaria, is ideal for international students who are pursuing their medical degrees in the city. Source: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP

 The Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria offers a six-year degree in medicine qualification taught in English that is organised in three stages. Rotational clinical practice occurs at the university’s departmental hospitals, and the final state examination consists of five exams in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Hygiene and Ecology.

The university admits transfer students from other institutions with at least one year of completed studies, and international tuition fees cost €8,000 per year. The cost of living in Bulgaria’s capital city is around €800 monthly, making it one of the world’s least expensive cities to live in.