Studying medicine in the native language of -insert EU country-

[epimed]

Hi all, newbie to the forums, though I have been reading many threads for weeks.
So, I'm obviously (just like most of you) interested in studying medicine in Europe. I would prefer the country to be a member of the European Union, regardless of whether its in Eastern or Western Europe. Through the many threads that I have read a handful of people have mentioned that if you study medicine in the native language of the respective european country, then the tuition fees will be quite low. Is this true? I am not a citizen of any European country (I am a Canadian citizen).

Assuming that the answer is no, is the following scenario possible:
Study medicine in the native language of that country for 3 or 4 years (hopefully thats the number of years needed to become a citizen of that country, also assuming that the country allows you to carry two citizenships). Then, I believe, the tuition fees will go down significantly after I become a citizen of that country. Is this possible?

Thanks!

I have a number of other questions but I decided to make a separate thread for them later on for the sake of simplicity.

[devildoc8404]

So, I'm obviously (just like most of you) interested in studying medicine in Europe.

Most VMD posters are Carib students, but there are certainly EU students here as well.

I would prefer the country to be a member of the European Union, regardless of whether its in Eastern or Western Europe.

Yes, an EU university is the best option... while there are some fine universities in EU-candidate countries, until EU membership is conferred it leaves things a bit unsettled for practice rights in the EU, etc.

Through the many threads that I have read a handful of people have mentioned that if you study medicine in the native language of the respective european country, then the tuition fees will be quite low. Is this true?

Sometimes, but not always. For example, if you are accepted to a German medical university the fees are low no matter where you are from. If you are a non-citizen studying in Bulgaria, even in the Bulgarian language programs, you pay a (significantly) higher fee than the Bulgarian nationals. It will vary from country to country... possibly even from university to university, in some places.

I am not a citizen of any European country (I am a Canadian citizen).

EU citizenship helps in some cases. I believe that EU citizens here in BG pay less than other foreigners.

Assuming that the answer is no, is the following scenario possible:
Study medicine in the native language of that country for 3 or 4 years (hopefully thats the number of years needed to become a citizen of that country, also assuming that the country allows you to carry two citizenships). Then, I believe, the tuition fees will go down significantly after I become a citizen of that country. Is this possible?

Nice idea, but no... it doesn't work like that. Time spent as a student in a country does NOT count toward residency for citizenship purposes. I have a friend who did his master's degree in England, for example, and is now working at his second job in London (his first one was a placement through his university program, like a paid internship), and he is only NOW beginning to calculate time that counts toward eventual UK citizenship.

Also, 3-4 years is not generally enough in any EU country. Most of them that I have seen are 5 years or so, and it has to be time working and contributing to the economy, etc. Sorry, student status doesn't hack it!

If you're a Canadian, I would recommend the programs in Ireland (Atlantic Bridge: US and Canadian students studying medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine in Ireland). As Commonwealth countries, this could grease the skids somewhat to return to Canada for practice, if you decide to do so, while also opening up the EU if you are interested in that option.

Good luck.

[bidiboom]

...Through the many threads that I have read a handful of people have mentioned that if you study medicine in the native language of the respective european country, then the tuition fees will be quite low...

Besides, the native programs are said to be more fruitful than the English programs.

[epimed]

I took a look at Ireland but it is quite expensive, that's why I'm considering studying medicine in the native language of an EU country. I would also really prefer if the school has a pre-med program in which I will obviously be taught the language of that country along with the sciences in that language as well. I'm off to searching German med schools found in CMB's approved list (since I'm planning to take a shot at the USMLEs, but really if Germany or any other EU country members offers significantly low tuition fees if I study in their native language then thats great), but any help is appreciated.

[bidiboom]

Among the schools I looked at, there are some that provide premed year, including native language course, as well, as a part of the program; some are year long and some from January to May. If you consider Germany, to take the premed year in an E-EU school and later to jump to a med school in Germany may be an option. But I have a question mark as, if you need premed, how will you provide an excellent GPA as a prerequisite for the med schools in Germany. I dont know your CV, so I put into account all scenarios: Maybe you are an old graduate and despite you have a great GPA, you need premed refreshment. If not, how can a Germany option be possible I cant see. Is it possible to have premed year in Germany and get it counted as a part of your GPA, or is it possible to count the premed year in one of E-EU schools? I dont know.

But there is always an E-EU med school option with premed year, especially in Hungary I saw in a couple of schools. This is a summary limited with some of those schools, but there are many other schools as well in the region:
Medical Schools
(there are other schools in the next page)

[epimed]

I did take a look at Hungary and just like you said they offer pre-med programs (even for the English programs). Debrecen offers a one year Basic Medicine course and according to the website you posted, successful completion of the course results in direct admission to medicine without doing the exam. Pecs does offer a similar program, and I e-mailed them to find out if I'll have to do the entrance exams if I successfully complete the preparatory program. It's not that I don't want to do the exam, it's just that I don't want to spend one year doing the preparatory program and even if I do well in it and also in the entrance exams I might get rejected due to competition. As for Semeleweis, they also offer a similar program and the entrance examinations are required.

So Hungary is currently my #1 choice.

[shrey]

Charles University in Czech Republic also offers one year pre-med programs. There are two of them actually: one in Prague, offered by the 3rd faculty and the other in Podebrady, Moravia (south of CR near Austria.) You can also take the intensive one year language course (which is highly rigorous!) that will allow you to study in the native Czech program.

I would also like to point out that if you are choosing a central European medical school, it's not such a great idea to study in the native language program as the competition in most central European schools (and possibly eastern European ones too) is very stiff and tons of students get weeded out during the first 3 years. In my faculty, there were around 600 students in the 1st year studying in the Czech program, and now there are roughly around 125 students left (and these are the ones that will graduate in the end.)

Regarding the citizenship process, devildoc is absolutely right. The number of years you spend in an EU country studying does not count towards obtaining a citizenship. In order to become a permanent resident, you need to have stayed for at least 5 years in that country (on a working visa!) I don't know how it is for other countries but if you're a medical student doing a 6 year program in Czech Republic, it will be equivalent to 3.5 years of stay in terms of applying for a permanent residency. So you need to stay for 1.5 years more (and some students who are interested in living in this country do so by enrolling themselves into a PhD program.) After obtaining permanent resident, it takes another 4-5 years of stay in the country to obtain citizenship. So in reality, it takes 9-10 years to become a Czech/EU citizen.)

Most other countries also have very similar rules, with the exception of Sweden (which grants you a permanent residency after 3 years of stay, followed by a Swedish citizenship 5 years after obtaining the permanent residency.) Most EU countries do not allow for dual citizenship (unless you are of European origin) with the exception of Sweden, France, and a few other western European countries.

[epimed]

So the First Faculty of Medicine in Prague (which offers an English program) has a pre-medical program (just to confirm)?

"...it's not such a great idea to study in the native language program as the competition in most central European schools (and possibly eastern European ones too) is very stiff and tons of students get weeded out during the first 3 years."

So I take it the programs in English are not as competitive? I know that med schools have to be competitive, which is really the way it should be, but I really hope that getting into medical universities in Hungary and Charles University 1st faculty is easier than Canadian universities. I got rejected by two medical schools in Ontario, and it really had nothing to do with my marks or the interview (which I believe I did well in), but rather due to the extremely stiff competition that takes a hundred of students out of thousands (which is the nature of Canadian med schools).

[devildoc8404]

The English programs in E-Eu are generally viewed as a money-maker for the universities. That's a simple economic fact. The foreign students pay a load more tuition than native students, and many of them accept students who probably would not get a sniff at the native program. With this reality, the onus is on the student to work extra hard and succeed in spite of a program that will probably not be filled with first-rate students. Yes, Chuck's First and Semmelweis are competitive, even in the English program, but not to the same degree as the native program.

Canada is currently incredibly competitive for medical school admissions... worse than the States, and it is plenty competitive there. You will simply not find many of the same calibre of students in English language programs in E-Eu, across the board.

If you are applying to Canadian medical schools, then you have a bachelor's degree and are eligible for 4-year programs, right? For the love of sweet Saint Bigglesworth, please do not waste your time in a European 6-year program, for crying out loud. That will do little but waste your time and cost you two+ years of income as a practicing physician. Get into an E-EU 4-year program, kick tail on your boards, and get cracking on your career. Wasting your time completing a pre-med/language program to try to save a few thousand dollars in tuition is akin to being penny-wise and pound-foolish, considering the income potential of a North American physician.

Just my .02.

[devildoc8404]

I took a look at Ireland but it is quite expensive, that's why I'm considering studying medicine in the native language of an EU country. I would also really prefer if the school has a pre-med program in which I will obviously be taught the language of that country along with the sciences in that language as well. I'm off to searching German med schools found in CMB's approved list (since I'm planning to take a shot at the USMLEs, but really if Germany or any other EU country members offers significantly low tuition fees if I study in their native language then thats great), but any help is appreciated.

All of the German medical schools are CMB approved. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a W-Eu medical school (native language curriculum, at least) that is NOT CMB approved. It is the English language curricula that often have not been reviewed for CMB approval.

IMHO, one probably ought not be in a huge hurry to dismiss the Irish schools (which are both EU and offer English as the native language of instruction... the best of both worlds). Looking at things long-term, cost should not be a major deal-breaker, at least assuming you have access to student loans. In the long run, the overall cost is well worth it to have a Commonwealth/EU degree, as well as an Irish medical degree on your CV. Plus, you save the time of language training and "pre-med" (which you should already have, if you are applying to Canadian medical schools).