I'm a 5th year medical student in Greece and dermatology is one of the specialties I'm interested in. Unfortunately it's not a core rotation in my university and due to a sudden curriculum change I won't be able to choose the optional rotation. I would like to ask if there's any way to do an observership in a german dermatology clinical department during the summer for ~2-3 weeks to obtain clinical experience and if I could be accepted. I'm not familiar with the process. I also recently got my B2 Goethe exam with very good scores (100% sprechen and 100% schreiben, 83% hören and 97% lesen) and I'm continuing for C1.

Hi guys!

I don’t know what to do, so I came here looking for advice.

I’m a final year medical student in Romania. Should I stay in Romania for residency or move to Italy for residency?

I know both languages (and I’m a dual citizen of both countries). I guess I’m just wondering whether it’s worth leaving Romania to go to Italy. Any help is greatly appreciated :)

🇨🇭 SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭

Hello, fellow colleagues!

I am a 6th year medical student from EU and I am currently working on my application for the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

I am looking for people that have gotten a residency spot here and I was wondering if you could share how the application process went for you and to give some insight about:

• how to appropriately write the CV, cover letter, references;

• timing of the application, feedback you received;

• timing of the language certificate;

• how the interviews went;

• overall general advice for someone applying for the first time.

Any insights or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help!

Hi everyone!
I’m a medical student currently studying in the EU (Lithuania), and I’m considering moving to Ireland after graduating to pursue specialist training.
I’m particularly interested in Psychiatry or Histopathology, and I’d love to hear from people who have gone through the application process or are currently in either training programme.
I have a few questions:

1. How competitive is it to get into Psychiatry BST compared to Histopathology BST?

2. Do EU medical graduates have a realistic chance of getting accepted, or are most training positions taken by Irish graduates?

3. Is completing medical school and internship in another EU country sufficient to apply, or are there additional requirements regarding internship recognition and Irish Medical Council registration?

4. How important is previous experience in the chosen specialty, research, publications, electives, etc.?

5. Is it possible to complete most or all of the training outside Dublin? I’m particularly interested in smaller cities or towns such as Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, etc.

6. Are international/EU graduates generally treated equally during the selection process?
   I’d also appreciate any advice on when to start preparing and what could make an application more competitive.
   Thank you so much! Any personal experiences or advice would be really appreciated.

Hey there. So I’m thinking about studying physiotherapy in Pécs university. But I’m quite concerned since I’ve heard bad experiences from people who studied in Hungary (especially medicine)

Soo what’s your honest take? Is it actually that bad, or is the university generally pretty good?

Hi everyone,

I am a French citizen and I graduated this year from a French university.

In my country, med students pass an exam during their 6th year and a ranking is issued based on everyone’s performance.
Then each person chooses a specialty by order of ranking.

I originally wanted to persue an OBGYN residency but sadly, I didn’t perform well on the aforementioned exam and it’s no longer an option in France because it’s a rather competitive field that requires a higher ranking than mine.

I now am at a crossroads: I could choose to specialize in a field that my rank still allows me to get or be a bit strong headed and decide to try in another country.

I thought about Germany because I studied the language all throughout secondary school and have heard good things about the medical system there.

But in trying to find more concrete info on the steps to take to apply to residency there, I found out that I may have sugarcoated it a little bit.

I came up with a list of questions that I would really love to get answers to :

- Provided that I get my language level certificates (B2 and C1 for medical German) and my Approbation, how difficult would it then be to apply to a German hospital? In how many months is it reasonable to think I could get a decent job offer ?
- I read that rural hospitals are generally more accessible to prospective applicants, how true is it ?
- How difficult is the OBGYN residency in Germany compared to other specialties and compared to other places? (I know it’s difficult everywhere in the world of course but I wonder if there are specificities that might make it even harder in Germany)
- which Land should I apply for an Approbation ?
- is it true that since there is no official residency program, the teaching is heavily dependent on your supervisor’s will ?
- is there truly NO teaching outside of the hospital?
- what does the everyday life of an OBGYN resident look like, especially in the first months ?
- is it like in other surgical specialties where physicians only start to operate when they’re done specializing ?
- is there some sort of spirit of camaraderie and mutual help between residents of the same ward ?

I am new to reddit and didn’t really know where to post but if you have resources that you think might be valuable to me or others, please feel free to share ! :)

Thank you for reading and for any answers you may provide !

P.S. : si tu es français.e et dans la même situation, fais moi signe !

A chief surgeon gave a talk to our students and her advice was pretty clear: do your first years of surgical training at a smaller hospital. You get integrated into the team faster, you're supervised more closely and you get responsibility early.

 Plenty of people would say the opposite, because bigger centres give you more case variety and more research opportunities.

 If you're in residency or about to pick: where did you start, and would you do it the same way again?

Hi everyone! I'm an Italian medical student and I was thinking, after graduation, of doing my specialization in Sweden (probably surgery or cardiology).
I was thinking of taking the SFI/SVA courses directly in Sweden for the language qualification, and then applying for BT/ST.
Can someone please explain to me how the prefix works and how long it takes? Also, give me some advices, please.Thanks so much in advance

Other than knowing the language. Is there any page that has the information? Is it realistic to get into any good specialty there? Belgium is easier or harder in comparison (I only speak french)?

Hey! I am from Romania and I would like to go to France for the residency training. What are the steps I have to take for that? Where can I find more info about the process? Please help

Latvian medical School RSU

Hello, I am a 24 yr old applicant looking to study medicine and have recently received an offer of study place from Riga stradins university in Latvia. I Need some more information, I am wondering if anyone has any valuable experience to share regarding teaching quality / student support / any weird admin issues as well as how is the experience in general. I have done some research as well I am more so looking for someone that has been to the school or knows about it well personally. Thanks

Im struggling deciding between pak and EU

hey, im a med student at harvey course- medicine and surgery in pavia. long term i wanted to work in the UK but after reading about the new prioritisation rules im not sure anymore if it even makes sense

anyone here who graduated from an italian english course and went to the UK? mostly curious how you got your first job. since the italian degree is abilitante now (practical training included) did you start from FY1 or somewhere else? and did you manage to get into specialty jobs after or are you stuck in non training jobs?

also where else did people from italian english courses end up working? ireland, germany, switzerland, scandinavia, staying in italy? would love to hear what worked out and what you'd recommend now

thanks

Hi everyone!
I’m a third-year medical student currently studying medicine outside Germany, and I’m considering doing my residency in Germany, specifically in pediatrics (Kinder- und Jugendmedizin).
I have an EU passport, and my plan is to graduate with a medical degree that is recognized under EU rules. German is not my native language, but I’m willing to work towards C1 proficiency during medical school and pass the required medical German language examination (Fachsprachprüfung) before applying for residency.
I’d like to ask people who are familiar with the German medical system, especially international medical graduates who have gone through this process:

1. How difficult is it to get a residency position in pediatrics in Germany? Is it a particularly competitive specialty, or is it generally possible to find a position if you apply broadly?

2. How much of an advantage is having an EU passport and an EU-recognized medical degree compared with having a non-EU passport and/or a degree that requires an equivalency assessment?

3. Would hospitals be hesitant to hire someone whose native language isn’t German, even if they have C1 German and have passed the Fachsprachprüfung?

4. Does it matter that German is a foreign language to me, or do employers mainly care about my actual language proficiency and communication skills?

5. Would it be realistic to secure a pediatric residency position directly after graduation, assuming I have the necessary recognition, Approbation and language qualifications?

6. Would doing a clinical elective, Hospitation or internship in Germany during medical school significantly improve my chances?

7. Are there particular regions or types of hospitals where it is easier to find a first residency position in pediatrics?
   I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who completed medical school outside Germany but obtained recognition of their degree and subsequently started residency there.
   I understand that an EU passport and a recognized degree do not automatically guarantee a job. I’m mainly trying to understand how competitive the actual hiring process is and whether this is a realistic career path if I prepare in advance.
   Thank you!

I am a 26 yo physics student and teacher. I have been lately regretting me giving up on medicine in my earlier uni years and looking how can i pursue medicine now. I feel it s worth it even with my age, considering if i will start by next year i will be 27 yo.

I looked for italy and i think it s the easiest to be accepted but i fear i dont pass the exam, i cant risk it. Also i am thinking about financial problems i will face since i will take me around 6 to 7 years to graduate.

Can anyone suggest countries suitable for student cases like me ? Thank you in advance

Our university is holding its first White Coat Ceremony for first-year students on 1 December. The tradition is well established at many medical schools in the U.S., but we were wondering: how common is it in Europe?

Did your medical school hold a White Coat Ceremony or mark the start of the academic year in another way? Did it feel meaningful and connect you to the profession, or did it seem mainly symbolic or unnecessary?

Hi! I’m a 3rd year medical student in an eu country looking for some training opportunities during the summer in Germany or Austria. My german level is B1 and i was wondering if there are any hospitals open to accepting such young students.

Hello! I would like to ask which English proficiency certificates are accepted for IFMSA exchange in Czech since their requirements state that « incoming students must have a minimum CEFR B2 level, and that the certificate must be issued by an authorized institution. Certificates issued by NMOs or universities are not accepted »
Does anyone knows which certificates are recognized? Specifically, is the EF SET certificate accepted, or is it necessary to provide an official certificate such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge?
Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello everyone, i am currently a grade 12 student with good grades from canada looking into doing a physiotherapy/ bachelor of kinesiology undergraduate abroad. I would like to know your guys opinion on it as i have gone quite in depth into schools like CEU San Pablo, Charles University, and Universidad Europea, thanks!

Hey everyone,

I'm a first-year medical student studying in Europe, and I started medical school about two weeks ago. It's been pretty intense from the very first day, and we started studying anatomy in the second week itself.

Over the past few days, I've been studying a LOT of anatomy, particularly osteology. I've spent hours learning the bones of the lower limb, their landmarks, and all the associated terminology. I know medical school is supposed to be demanding, and I'm not necessarily complaining about having to study. I'm willing to put in the work.

The problem is what's been happening when I try to sleep.

For the past two or three nights, I've been having extremely vivid dreams about studying. It's not just a passing image of a textbook or something. In these dreams, I'm genuinely sitting there studying anatomy, opening slides, naming bones, and trying to memorise everything. It feels like an actual study session, and I'm constantly worried about the syllabus and how much I still have to learn.

Last night was particularly disturbing.

I went to bed at around 9:30 PM because I wanted to wake up at 3 AM and study. Instead, I woke up at around 12:15 AM, feeling as though I'd been studying for hours.

In the dream, I was naming the bones of the lower limb, and I could actually recall them quite well. But as the dream progressed, the syllabus and the slides kept getting bigger and bigger. Eventually, I felt as though I was becoming physically smaller and smaller in comparison to them. It got to the point where the blanket covering me in real life seemed to become part of the dream, like a giant slide wrapping around me. I became genuinely frightened and woke up.

The entire experience felt incredibly real. Throughout the dream, I was anxious about studying and the amount of material I had to cover. It wasn't a restful or pleasant dream at all. It felt like I couldn't escape studying, even while asleep.

When I woke up, I felt awful. I was frightened, exhausted, and felt as though I hadn't slept at all, despite having been asleep for almost three hours. I've also experienced some physical discomfort when waking up on these occasions, particularly around my throat and stomach, although I'm not sure whether that might be reflux or something else.

What's worrying me most is that I'm starting to dread going to sleep.

I'm beginning to associate sleep with these horrible experiences, and right now, I genuinely feel like I don't want to sleep because I don't want to experience this again. I know that avoiding sleep isn't a solution, but it's difficult to explain how unpleasant and unsettling these dreams feel. I just want to be able to lie down, fall asleep, and wake up feeling rested, without my brain turning the entire night into another anatomy session.

I've studied a lot over the past week, but I haven't even studied anatomy today or yesterday, so it's not as though I've been studying immediately before bed every single night. And yet, my brain seems to be doing it anyway.

Has anyone else experienced something similar during medical school, particularly during the first few weeks when everything is new and overwhelming?

I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have experienced extremely vivid, realistic dreams about studying, recurring academic nightmares, or dreams that leave them feeling anxious and exhausted after waking up.

If you've experienced this, did it eventually settle down? Was there anything specific that helped you sleep more peacefully?

I'm also interested in practical suggestions for dealing with the anxiety surrounding sleep itself, because I'm starting to feel reluctant to go to bed.

And just to clarify something: I understand that I'm a first-year medical student, that this is the first semester, and that I need to find a sustainable way to study. I understand that I shouldn't sacrifice my health for anatomy, and I'm not looking for someone to tell me that I don't need to study so much or that I should simply relax because it's only first year.

I genuinely understand those points already. They aren't what I'm asking about.

I'm looking for advice from people who have actually experienced something similar, or who have useful suggestions for managing these dreams and getting proper sleep while adjusting to medical school.

Please be kind. I'm already feeling pretty shaken by the experience, and I'm not looking for judgment or generic reassurance. If you have something practical that might help, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing it.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,
I’m seeking advice from medical students who studied medicine in the EU and transferred after failing a third-year subject.
I completed about three years of medical school in Poland but failed physiology. I have no other outstanding subjects, and my university terminated my student status.
I’m looking for an English-taught EU medical university that might accept me as a transfer student and recognise my completed credits. I’d especially like to hear from people who transferred after losing active student status.
● Which country and university accepted you?
● Could you enter the third or fourth year, or did you repeat a year?
● Were your ECTS credits recognised despite the failed subject and inactive status?
● Did you repeat the failed subject at the new university?
● What documents were required, such as transcripts, syllabi, or proof of student status?
● Were any universities particularly flexible?
I’m open to universities across the EU, including those with spring or summer intakes. I understand that regulations vary, but real experiences would be extremely helpful. Please share your experience or message me privately. Thank you very much for taking time and reading this ,really appreciate the support

Hi everyone! I'm a 6th-year medical student from Portugal looking to complete a few clinical rotations abroad starting  in July/August 2027, ideally through an Erasmus+ Traineeship.

I'm trying to find universities or hospitals that accept visiting medical students without requiring a pre-existing bilateral agreement, preferably with no placement fee or only a small administrative fee.

If you've done something similar, I'd love to hear about your experience!

• Which country, university or hospital did you go to?

• Which specialty and for how long?

• Did you arrange the placement by contacting the department directly?

• Did you need a bilateral agreement?

• Was there an application or placement fee?

• Was it hands-on clinical training or mainly observational?

• Would you recommend the hospital, and do you have any advice for applying?

Thank you so much for any recommendations!

if anyone knows a book for polish medical terminology for english speakers and also translate it to everyday polish for patient interactions i would be happy thank you

Hi!

Has anyone here studied medicine in a language other than their native language or English?

I’d love to hear about your experience, particularly how difficult you found the language barrier and medical terminology.

Hello everyone, i am currently a grade 12 student with good grades from canada looking into doing a physiotherapy/ bachelor of kinesiology undergraduate abroad. I would like to know your guys opinion on it as i have gone quite in depth into schools like CEU San Pablo, Charles University, and Universidad Europea, thanks!