Croatia is situated in southern Europe in a spot called the Balkans. Croatia was acknowledged into the European Union in 2011 and turned into the 28th part in July 2013.
The country Croatia has a lot to offer, not only regarding its culture but also with its wonderful landscapes. Graced with beautiful lakes on its hinterlands, small streets in the old towns, picturesque squares and amphitheaters from the Roman period, a warm climate, and walks through green areas make Croatia a special country.
The country has a very good infrastructure and for many, it is a dream to study there. Studying in Croatia means, on one hand, living in a fantastic and beautiful country and knowing an exciting culture; on the other hand, it also means obtaining a high-quality study certificate.
Not only Croatia itself and its culture are valuable, but the national education system is also really good. The Universities are renowned and prestigious. They hold a long tradition, also with regard to international students.
The country is very safe and quiet, and its people are really kind and warm even to visitors. Croatia is definitely one of the best decisions when you are considering studying abroad.
The Croatian instructive framework is positioned high in contrast with different nations on the planet and is quickly turning into a famous alternative for universal undergraduates. Read on to find out more about medical schools in Croatia.
Why Study Medicine in Croatia?
Croatia has been pulling in undergraduates from everywhere throughout the world because of the exceptionally high caliber of medical schools and the generally low expenses in the country.
More than 700 undergraduates have considered and earned their medical degrees there.
While you are considering and arriving at your fantasy about turning into a specialist, you will have the advantage of remaining in an extremely powerful yet delightful and loosened city.
Studying medicine in Croatia gives you the opportunity to experience the culture of this stunning Mediterranean country, whilst also studying medicine in English.
A medical degree from a Croatian university is recognized across the EU, as well as in many Western countries including the UK, the US and Australia.
Studying medicine in English in Croatia opens the door to a wide variety of career options, whether you’d like to stay in Croatia, return home, or work in another English-speaking country.
For instance, after graduation, those who study medicine in Croatia are qualified to work in the UK and across Europe and can continue to qualify for specialist training in any UK hospital.
Aside from the advantages of a major cosmopolitan, yet sensibly valued and exceptionally loosened up a city, considering medicine in English in Croatia, with its forward-thinking educational program is a great step for any ambitious student.
The advancement of a wide information base through an extraordinary blend of conventional instructing and imaginative ways to deal with medical training is praised in Croatia.
The early coordination of essential sciences, clinical orders and the psycho-social parts of medicine is an advantage to the students.
The coordination of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) abilities is installed into the educational plan of the institutions in Croatia.
A long custom and greatness in general wellbeing in Croatia gives a heavenly foundation to the education of proof-based medicine.
With the advancement of long-lasting learning aptitudes and undergraduates learn early on that they are liable for the procurement and support of their insight and abilities.
Individual professional advancement is well implemented. The educational plan opens undergraduates to various aspects of medicine, permitting them to settle on professional decisions fit to them and the necessities of the framework in which they will work.
It provides a global standpoint and multi-social measurement. The internationalization of medical instruction is intended to feature the global element of Croatia.
It likewise makes an open door for its undergraduates to survey their expert ability and execution all through the world.
Medicine in Croatia is a 6-year program that is available to all undergraduate candidates. The universities adopt a customary strategy for medical instruction, with three years of preclinical preparation, trailed by three years of clinical preparation.
Educational instructions are given in the Croatian language to guarantee all undergraduates can discuss successfully with patients and also in the English language for international students.
Eligibility Criteria to Study MBBS in Croatia
The universities do not really have any base evaluation prerequisites for selection onto their medical courses.
Zagreb expresses that all candidates more likely than not study Science and Material science at the secondary school level, while this is, even more, a suggestion at Split.
The Split medical school puts a great deal of accentuation close to home proclamation while surveying the nature of an application, while Zagreb uses an affirmation test to rank its candidates.
Admission Process
Candidates need to take the selection test made out of secondary school level science, material science, and sciences.
The test comprises 120 inquiries, with 40 inquiries from each subject. To breeze through the test a candidate needs to answer effectively in any event 14 inquiries from each subject and have an aggregate of 60 right answers. OR
Submit the Score Reports on SAT Subject Tests in Science and Material science. If your score is 600 or above in each of the subjects, you may be called to take the selection tests at the Universities. OR
On the off chance that you have effectively finished a pre-medical school or breezed through universally perceived tests (MCAT-with negligible score of 9 for each segment), or earned a BA/BSc degree in common sciences with great credits in Science, Material science.
Candidates who decide to study in English can just profit from education costs places. Competitors who are neither local speakers of English, nor have moved on from an English-speaking auxiliary school are required to take a globally perceived English language proficiency test with the following average score expectancy: (TOEFL – paper-based test 500, web-based test 60, Computer based test 170, IELTS – 6).
Cambridge and Oxford English language tests and declarations given by schools (C1 level) are likewise acknowledged, just as authentications of English language proficiency.
Regulatory Body
The Croatian health care regulatory body Croatian Medical Chambers requires the professional education of a doctor of medicine specialist and enforces that medicine should not be practiced under any circumstances by a person who does not have the professional title of doctor of medicine.
Every doctor of medicine must be registered as a member of the Croatian Medical Chamber. The Chamber, a regulatory body that represents the rights and interests of health professionals, issues a valid license to perform the activities of a doctor of medicine in the branches of specialty.
The license is issued for six years. During this period, each doctor of medicine specialist is obliged to improve his professional skills and collect a certain number of points if he wants to renew his license.
When the six-year period expires, their license is automatically renewed if they have earned a certain number of points during that period. If they do not gain a certain number of points within the prescribed period, they must pass the exam prescribed by the Chamber.
Risks are minimized by abolishing internships and simplifying administrative procedures for conducting medical practice. These measures have increased the employment of medical doctors and specialists in the health system.
The List of Best Medical Schools in Croatia
- University of Zagreb
- University of Rijeka
- University of Split
- University of Osijek
- University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb in Croatian: Sveučilište u Zagrebu, in Latin: Universitas Studiorum Zagrabiensis is the largest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in Croatia covering Central Europe, south of Vienna, and all of Southeastern Europe.
Medical Faculty/ Medicinski fakultet ( MEF) in Zagreb is a Croatian medical school affiliated with the University of Zagreb. It is the oldest and biggest of all the medical schools in Croatia.
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zagreb is the best among medical schools in Croatia and was founded in 1918. The medical school has a long history of educating international students, dating as far back as the post World War II era.
Ranking: For Medicine
- #1 in Croatia
- #159 in Europe
- #454 in the World
Programs offered: The School offers MD programs in English and they include: General Medicine a 6-year program with a degree as “MUDr” – “Medicinae Universae Doctor” in English (M.D.) Doctor of General Medicine, Veterinary Medicine a 6-year program with a degree as a Doctor of veterinary medicine and Dentistry Medicine a 6-year program with a degree as a Doctor of Dentistry.
Admission requirements: Complete secondary school education (a high-school diploma).
For General & Dentistry Medicine: Entrance Exams: Written & Oral exams in the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physiology & Physics and a high TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language score.
However, students studying general medicine are exempted from this test.
- Tuition: General Medicine: In the range of 12,000 Euro per year
- Veterinary Medicine: In the range of 9,000 Euro per year
- Dentistry Medicine: In the range of 10,000 Euro per year
- Living expenses are approximately 500 Euro per month
University of Rijeka
The University of Rijeka, in Croatian: Sveučilište u Rijeci is in the city of Rijeka with faculties in cities throughout the regions of Primorje, Istria and Lika. University of Rijeka is a modern European university and a center of excellence in the region and beyond.
In addition to being a high-quality institution for educating new generations of young people and a strong knowledge center, the University is developing a system of lifelong learning through which it seeks to ensure efficient diffusion of ideas and innovations in the community, ensuring the wider social development and raising the overall competitiveness of northwestern Croatia.
Founded in 1973, the school is said to be innovative, creative, excellent, and at the same time solid and safe.
The Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka is the most widely recognized scientific institution of the University of Rijeka.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #2 in Croatia
- #335 in Europe
- #1066 in the World
Rijeka faculty of medicine offers an array of programs and they include the following:
Undergraduate programs:
- Sanitary Engineering
- Integrated Medicine
- Integrated Dental Medicine.
Graduate programs:
- Sanitary Engineering
- Integrated Medicine
- Integrated Dental Medicine
Postgraduate programs:
- Doctoral Biomedicine Health and Ecological Engineering
- Specialist Internal Medicine
- Specialist Family Medicine
- Specialist Developing Age Biomedicine
- Specialist Orthopedic and Traumatology
- Specialist Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Specialist Psychiatry
- Specialist Health Promotion and Addiction Prevention
- Specialist Health Management
- Specialist Ophthalmology
- Specialist General Internal Medicine
- Specialist Cardiology
- Specialist Gastroenterology
- Specialist Endocrinology and Diabetology
- Specialist Internal Oncology
- Specialist Ultrasound in Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Specialist Quality Management in Healthcare
- Specialist Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology
Admission requirements:
An entrance exam will be organized on-site at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine premises, and simultaneously abroad or online according to the epidemiological situation at the time of the entrance exam.
Applicants are required to obtain a maximum of 150 points (120 points – entrance exam + 30 points – high school education).
The following applicants may be exempted from the entrance exam:
Applicants who have completed a premedical college or passed internationally recognized exams (MCAT – with a minimal score of 125 for each section), or earned a BA/BSc degree in natural sciences with good credits in Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Applicants who have taken SAT Subject Tests in Biology, Physics, and Chemistry with a minimum score of 600 in each subject.
Applicants who have taken the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) (> 4.0 in all tested categories). Applicants who have taken the MediTest-EU (> 70%).
Applicants who are neither native speakers of English nor have graduated from an English-speaking secondary school or college are required to take an internationally recognized English language proficiency test (TOEFL – paper-based test 500, Internet-based test 60, computer-based test 170, IELTS – 6).
Cambridge and Oxford English language exams and certificates issued by (foreign) language schools (B2 level) are also accepted, as well as certificates of English language proficiency issued by a secondary school a candidate attended.
Tuition: The tuition fee for the 6-year medicine degree is € 9000 a year. It can be paid in 1 or 2 installments.
University of Split
- Website: www.mefst.unist.hr
The University of Split, in Croatian: Sveučilište u Split is a public research university located in Split, Croatia. It was founded in 1974.
The School of Medicine in Split was established as an independent faculty in 1997. It is one of the components of the University of Split.
The Medicine program annually enrolls 90 students, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy enroll 30 each and Medical Studies in English 60.
University of Split School of Medicine (USSM) boasts of excellence in teaching and research, a culture of innovation and an interdisciplinary approach, as well as extensive partnerships with the world’s best universities.
Its focus on evidence-based medicine and health care and globally relevant research and teaching makes it the best place for students wishing to combine modern technological achievements in medicine with a personalized approach to individuals and populations.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #3 in Croatia
- #367 in Europe
- #1192 in the World
Programs offered: The School of Medicine in Split has four teaching programs: Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy (in collaboration with the Faculty of Chemical Technology) and Medical Studies in English.
Medicine and Dental Medicine courses last six years, they have 360 ECTS credits each. Pharmacy lasts five years and has 300 ECTS credits.
Admission requirements: Applicants who completed secondary school education and passed final exams are eligible to apply for admission. See all requirements here.
Tuition: Annual tuition fee: 12.000 EUR (counter value in HRK). The tuition fees for the 1st study year must be paid in full within one week from the date of receiving the formal letter of acceptance in the electronic format.
How to apply: Registration and application is done online. Apply by simply clicking here.
J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek
- Website: www.unios.hr
The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, in Croatian: Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, in Latin: Universitas studiorum Mursensis, commonly known as the University of Osijek (UNIOS), is a public university based in Osijek, Croatia.
Established in 1975, it is the flagship institution of higher education in Slavonia, and one of the largest and oldest universities in Croatia.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #4 in Croatia
- #500 in Europe
- #1823 in the World
FAQs
How much does medical school cost in Croatia?
Tuition fees are between 9,000 Euros to 12,000 Euros per year.
How long is a medical school in Croatia?
6-years!
Medicine Dentistry and Veterinary courses in Croatia are 6 years. You can also apply for a 5-year course in Pharmacy.
Are Croatian schools hard?
Croatia is at number 7 on the list of top 10 hardest education systems.
What is the best school in Croatia?
Best Universities in Croatia according to International Rankings: Times Higher Education Ranking (2022) and U.S. News & World Report Ranking (2021).
- University of Zagreb
- Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
- University of Rijeka
- University of Split
Is Croatian education good?
According to Croatian managers, Croatian workers generally have high reading and writing skills. Computer literacy is very low, particularly for lower-skilled workers.
Communication skills are good, with the exception of knowledge of foreign languages which is quite low. Learning skills are good.
Where can I study in Croatia?
For Higher Education in Croatia you can study in any of the following prestigious institutions:
- The University of Zadar.
- The University of Osijek.
- The University of Zagreb.
- The University of Pula.
- University of Dubrovnik.
- The University of Split.
- The University of Rijeka.
- Dubrovnik International University.
What is a school like in Croatia?
The education system in Croatia consists of kindergartens and preschool institutions, for children from the age of six months until going to school.
The eight-year elementary school is compulsory and free for all children between the age of six and fifteen years.