Is studying medicine in Greece a good idea? A practical checklist for UK & international Applicants.

Why Greece? The Growing Popularity of Studying Medicine Abroad

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience: you grow as a person in a new environment and can explore a new culture. It can also offer opportunities to study medicine if the UK or US admissions systems are not working well.  In general, Europe is an increasingly popular option for UK students looking to study medicine abroad, with programs taught in English, extremely competitive fees, and low cost of living in some parts of the EU.

Greece is a fabulous country for many reasons, ranging from its incredible islands, fantastic food and deep impact on European and global culture to its wonderful people. But studying medicine in Greece isn’t just about six years of holiday: Greece is an increasingly popular destination for international medical students attracted by first-class medical degrees taught in English. If you’re considering studying medicine abroad, Greece is a great place to look.

Are Greek Medical Degrees Recognised Outside of Greece? What You Should Know.

When you’re thinking about where to study medicine, it’s crucial to think about what countries will recognise your medical degree. Medicine is a fantastic degree to travel with, but there are often hoops to jump through to have your qualifications recognised elsewhere. Importantly, these can change regularly, so it’s critical that you do your own research and discuss this with universities before committing to the course if you hope to work in a different country to where you train. As well, you may well want to consider how easy it will be to start postgraduate training. You may also want to look at what support a university will offer you to sit any exams needed to work in the UK or US, for example.

Many Greek medical degrees are well established and recognised worldwide. The University of Nicosia’s Greek medical degree in Athens, for example, is fully accredited throughout the EU and Switzerland (although you may need to take additional language tests). Graduates can also apply to have their degree recognised in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, although you may need to take extra exams.

English-Taught Programs: Are They Available in Greece?

Greece is very attractive for UK students as many programs are available in English! In particular, the University of Nicosia’s course is run completely in English and a high level of English is a requirement for the course.

However, you have to be practical about language-learning: the final two years of any course are based in the clinical environment and your patients will mainly speak Greek. After spending six years in Greece, you’d probably want to learn a bit of the language! An English-taught programme is great as you don’t have to worry about your Greek language skills impacting your grades or understanding of the materials, and you can focus on optimising your Greek for everyday and clinical interactions.

Entry Requirements: How to Qualify for Medicine in Greece

Greek medical degrees can still be competitive and it’s important to put the time in to optimise your application. You’ll need to make sure you have completed all exams to the requisite standard as well as performing well at interview. In general, Greek medical schools will ask for recognised high school / sixth form qualifications with high grades in Biology and Chemistry and proof of English proficiency; some will also use entrance exams and interviews.

Taking the UNIC Athens Medical School offering the University of Nicosia six-Year MD degree programme as an example, they ask for applicants to have:

• At A level, grades ABB, with Biology and one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths;
• At International Baccalaureate, 32 overall and a combined score of 16 at Higher Level, to include Biology and at least one of either Chemistry, Physics or Maths

They also ask for proof of English proficiency via IELTS, but if you are a UK student who was taught in English, this is waived. Applicants will then be invited to an online interview which assesses scientific and psychological aptitude for medicine, including via volunteering experience.

However, it’s important to remember that Greek universities are very keen to assess applicants holistically – you should reach out to the admissions team if you have other qualifications or experience to discuss your application.

The Cost of Studying Medicine in Greece: Tuition Fees and Living Expenses

An undeniable attraction of studying medicine in Greece are the reasonable course fees and low cost of living.

Tuition fees range from €12 000 and €15 000 annually, depending on the university, which is comparable with UK universities. Bear in mind that you will not be eligible for student loans if you are studying abroad! On the other hand, living costs in Greece are a lot cheaper than in the UK, at around €600-€900 per month, of which €300-€500 is accommodation costs. This will depend on where in Greece you’re living: look at the university city and speak to students as well as looking at the course!

Many Greek medical schools will also offer support for students: the University of Nicosia offers both means-tested and academic scholarships covering up to 20% of the cost of the degree.

Living in Greece: What’s it Like for International Students?

Greece is a beautiful, safe and sunny place to live: no wonder thousands of international students choose to study in Greece every year! Depending on where you want to study, you could be enjoying island nightlife on Cyprus, enjoying the costal town of Thessaloniki or the urban delights of the capital, Athens, all on English-taught degrees.

International students who study in Greece speak warmly of the incredible landscape, tight-knit friendships and travel opportunities they’ve had, and feel well prepared to start work as a doctor.

Career Prospects: What Happens After Medical School in Greece?

Greek medical graduates are well prepared to work all over the world, and many Greek medical schools offer high quality careers support to help their graduates do just that. Your options include:

• Staying in Greece to train as a doctor – you may fall in love with Greece and want to stay! Greek residency is complex with doctors applying to individual hospitals and long waiting lists for competitive areas.
• Training in the EU: Greek medical degrees are automatically recognised across the EU and EEA (European Economic Area). However, you may need to be able to demonstrate language proficiency (for example, being able to speak German to work in Germany)
• Training in Switzerland: Greek degrees are also recognised in Switzerland!
• Training in the UK, USA, Canada or Australia: Greek medical degrees are recognised in these countries, but you will need to sit further exams and obtain visas. It’s very doable, but worth spending some time with your academic advisor at medical school to make sure you get it right.

Conclusions

Greek medical degrees, taught in English, are a great option for students looking for a high-quality international experience with sun and sand. Your degree would be recognised across the EU and it’s very achievable to practice in the UK, USA or Canada. Make sure to speak to university advisors and do your homework on admissions to stand the best chance of success with any medical school application!