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Serbia is home to some of the world's best medical schools. The country has rich traditions in medicine, and the local universities hold high educational standards. The affordable tuition fees and low living costs further attract international interest from students. Add the authentic Serbian culture, and you are in for a lifetime experience.
Here, you can discover the best medical universities in Serbia and their admission requirements. In addition, you will get a good idea of the financial situation through the local tuition fees and living costs. You will also learn all the best reasons to study medicine in Serbia in English.
The Republic of Serbia is situated in the Central Balkans and the Southern Pannonian Plain. Although the country is not among the largest, with only 7 million inhabitants, it is among the most preferred ones by medical students. 3 of the largest European universities are located here and offer medicine and dentistry courses in English.
Serbia has had rich traditions in medicine since the late 13th century . The court physicians of king Stefan Dushan combined Byzantine and Western medical doctrines to create new therapeutic procedures. Fortunately, the resulting methods had notable effects on dermatological conditions such as leprosy, psoriasis, and several venereal diseases. In addition, the first Serbian hospitals were built during the same period in the Hilendar and Studenica monasteries.
Therefore, Serbian universities stand on the shoulders of giants when it comes to medical education. At local campuses, centuries of traditions meet modern technologies and methods. University labs perform cutting-edge research, and ambitious students are welcome to join the effort.
Moreover, Serbian schools strictly follow the European rules and regulations. The country is an EU candidate for membership, and local universities should meet the Union’s standards for medicine. Add the World Health Organisation recognition through the World Directory of Medical School listing, and you get worldwide recognition for your degree.
Medical courses in Serbia last 6 years like in most European medical schools, and dentistry takes 5 years. During the clinical years in both programmes, you will start working with actual patients under a teacher’s supervision. This is the most exciting part for each student since you now see what it feels like to practise. In Serbian hospitals, you can acquire highly valued international experience and essential skills.
Check out our price breakdown of medical schools in Serbia
1. University of Nis is located in the third-largest Serbian city of Nis. It was founded in 1965, but the medical faculty opened its doors in 1960. It is a public school with 13 faculties and over 20,000 students. The English-taught programmes here offer medical and pre-medical courses. The medicine programme costs € 5500 per year.
The University of Nis considers only applicants with good grades in their high school leaving certificate. The ranking score is based on the candidates’ entrance exam results. There is a written test in Biology and Chemistry. After successfully passing it, you must attend an interview that evaluates your English skills.
The school is fully accredited by European and international medical institutions. A diploma issued by the University of Nis is recognised globally and gives you the option to choose where to practise.
2. University of Belgrade is a higher education institution with more than 2 centuries of history in teaching. It is among the largest universities in Serbia and Europe, with more than 100,000 students enrolled. It consists of 31 faculties and 12 research institutes. The school constantly takes part in research projects where students can gain extra knowledge and discover new fields of interest.
Here, you can study medicine in English in a 6-year course. The annual tuition fee is € 7000, paid in one or two instalments. The curriculum is divided into 2 parts - pre-clinical and clinical years. The first one is the time when you will intensively study theoretical subjects and attend lectures. The last 3 years or the so-called medical years are mostly held in hospitals, and clinics and they involve a lot of practical training.
Entry Requirements at this university are at least C grades in your high school leaving certificate and a minimum passing score of 31 on the entrance exam. The test includes questions from Biology and Chemistry. The school also accepts student transfers.
The second-largest university in Serbia is the University of Novi Sad. It was established in 1960 and nowadays has grown up to 14 faculties with over 40,000 students. The Faculty of Medicine at this school is equipped with the most modern medical technology. Graduating from this school provides you with an internationally recognised diploma that allows you to practise worldwide.
The University of Novi Sad offers a medicine course that takes 6 years to complete and a Dentistry one with a duration of 5 years. Both programmes cost € 6500 per year. The curriculum includes theoretical lessons as well as practical training. You will have several kinds of practice classes - simulators, lab work, patient care, clerkships, and rotations.
Another programme offered by this university is the foundation year. It aims to prepare prospective students for the main science subjects - Biology and Chemistry. Students who wish to transfer from one medical school to the University of Novi Sad are allowed to do so no later than the 3rd year of study.
Serbian medical schools share common admission requirements. All of the schools require their applicants to sit an entrance exam in Biology and Chemistry. In addition, to study medicine in English, it is obligatory to be fluent in the language.
In some of the universities, part of the admission ranking score is also your high school leaving certificate grades.
Students who wish to brush up their knowledge in Biology and Chemistry can enrol in a pre-medical course in each of the schools.
Serbia offers good educational quality at low tuition fees. Add the low living costs in the country, and you get one of the top European destinations in terms of value for your money.
Tuition prices in Serbia are among the lowest in Europe for English-speaking programmes. Fees for Medicine range from € 5500 to € 7000 per year. Dentistry costs €5500 at the University of Novi Sad. Since the educational quality in Serbia is up to European standards, the country offers very high value to international students.
Furthermore, some universities offer preparatory entrance exam courses in Biology and Chemistry for €500 per subject. You can even enrol for a full pre-med year for around €2,750.
Living costs in Serbia are among the lowest in Europe. The average expenses per month are €450 without rent. The number is a bit higher in the capital of Belgrade (€500) and somewhat lower in Nis (€400).
Rent prices are also higher in the capital, ranging from €280 to €450 for a 1-bedroom apartment. In this regard, the rest of the country is much cheaper. Rent prices in Novi Sad are between €220 and €300 for a 1-bedroom apartment, depending on the location.
There is no medical school in Serbia that offers a graduate entry pathway. Still, you can check your options to apply for the advanced MD route in Poland.
Serbian medical universities offer high-quality education at very advantageous costs for international students. A degree from Serbia will earn you worldwide recognition from medical boards, but this is the least you will get. Earning a degree here will make you incomparably worldly-wise because Serbia has its own worthwhile story to tell.
While the country has been around for 12 centuries, this period has no mere history. Serbia is a saga of triumph and tragedy; it’s an epic of great reach and ruin. And out of hardship, bold freedom fighters are born to seek independence, and dark humour brings light to difficult times. Add the inexplicable magic of local music, and you will get a glimpse of the Serbian soul.
Furthermore, there is a more practical reason to choose the country for medical education. Serbia is a thriving location for medical tourism, especially dental healthcare and corrective and elective surgeries. The educational system works with many experienced doctors, and students' academic and clinical preparation benefits from their expertise.
Here are the top objective reasons to study medicine in Serbia:
Serbia is a very eclectic country in both cultural and geographical senses. The northern plains and valleys, with their Austro-Hungarian history, resemble Central-European architecture and general esthetics. On the other hand, the southern mountains have distinct Balkan and even Mediterranean cultural impacts. The West and the East carry the respective echoes of the Venice Republic and the Ottoman Empire, the Alps and the Carpathians.
Naturally, this variety has a lovely effect on the types of activities, landmarks, and food available in Serbia. Kayaking through river rapids or boating in the Danube? Check. Hiking and skiing in the mountains or cycling in the plains? Check.
In terms of landmarks, Serbia has majestic temples, such as the Zica Monastery with its red walls or the marble spires of the Valide Sultan Mosque, to name a few. The Skull Tower in Nis is a macabre monument of turbulent times. At the same time, the Golubac Fortress on the Danube and the rock sculpture of Decebalus are reminders of immortal glory. The country truly is a cornucopia of historical landmarks, and with 12 centuries of history, no one should expect anything less.
Furthermore, Serbia has marvellous eclectic cuisine that unites the best dishes of the Balkan, Mediterranean, and Central-European cuisines. This is the country where goulash (Hungarian), moussaka (Greek), sarma (Turkish), and ajvar (Serbian) meet together in a delicious experience. The food is perfectly complemented by superb local wines and the world-renowned Slivovitz (plum brandy).
Last but not least, Serbian music is a cultural phenomenon that has shaped generations in the Balkans. The local music scene has a distinct and profound sound in all popular styles, and while it touches on unique Serbian themes, it reaches the very core of the human condition.
Since Serbian medical education has opened its gates for international students, aspiring doctors have been crossing the world to enrol at local universities. Academic quality and affordable costs are potent motivators for medical students, but it’s not all that attracts them.
There is a mystic pull that works beneath the surface. A UK doctor trained in Serbia described his decision to study here as a powerful unconscious urge. “We are all a bit Serbian,” he later adds with a smile.
Do you feel like packing yet?
Medical courses in English in Serbia are at an affordable cost - between € 5500 and € 7000 per year.
Yes, you can. All of the Serbian medical schools accept student transfers.
The medicine courses take 6 years. Dentistry last 5 years.
Yes. Every Serbian university that we work with offers programmes in medicine and/or dentistry entirely in English. They’re suitable for international students who don’t speak the local language.
Serbia is one of the best countries for international medical students. The tuition fees and living expenses alike are extremely low, allowing students to receive a world-class medical education that is significantly more affordable than it would be in the West.
University Of Belgrade, University Of Nis and University Of Novi Sad are considered to be the medical schools in Serbia. They all provide world-class education, rank very well among European universities and have affordable fees.
No. Living expenses in Serbia range around €600-750 per month, depending on the city, accommodations (rented apartment vs dorms) and personal expenses.
Yes. Medical degrees obtained from Serbian medical universities are internationally recognised and will allow you to practise medicine anywhere in the world.
