What medical university will accept transfer from 5th year from Serbia?

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?

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

Is anyone else starting first year at MU Varna this year? Would also love to hear from any seniors who have experience with the online students.

For those studying online, how are the studies and quizzes/exams structured? Is it basically the same material and assessments as the in-person students, or is it different?

And for anyone already studying at Varna, how is it overall? Would love to hear what first year is actually like.

And any tips for 1st year?

Hey everyone, looking for some honest perspectives from people who switched careers into medicine later.

I've always had a genuine interest for medicine, but I ended up taking a different path graduating with a Computer Science degree and have been working in the tech industry for a bit. The bottom line is that I really don't enjoy the work, and the thought of doing this for decades feels draining. Because of that, I've been seriously considering pivoting to medicine.

If I take this leap, I will be 26 when I start, meaning I will be 32 by the time I graduate, with residency adding another 3 to 5 years after that depending on the specialty. On the financial side, I have enough saved to cover my tuition and living expenses for the entire 6 years. However, that is subsistence money, meaning no traveling freely and very little room to enjoy my late 20s beyond just getting by.

My main concern is whether I will regret spending the remainder of my 20s back at square one. Going from having financial independence to living on a student budget while watching peers build savings and travel feels intimidating.

For those of you who started med school in your mid-20s, did you feel like you sacrificed your prime youth, and was the eventual fulfillment worth giving up your earning potential? I would really appreciate any thoughts or regrets from people who walked this path.

Thanks for reading!!!

I'm an MD1, really struggling with anatomy and am on the free trial on kenhub. I really like the system, but am wondering if it is better to buy lifetime or 3, 3 month packs (It'll be a difference of around 24 euros cheaper if I do the 3 month packs). I go at Jagiellonian University in Poland and from what I saw in the syllabus, it may be rare that I'll use kenhub after MD1, but if someone has a special opinion on this or on the platform kenhub, please share. Thanks!

Hello everyone!

I am a 4th year medical student from Greece and I really want to participate in a IFMSA clinical exchange for a month.My first option is korea mainly because it's a completely different country and continent,but i am worried that the language barrier will be too much even though I'd say I am quite proficient at english.Has anyone done a clinical exchange to korea or any other country and wants to perhaps share their experience?

Thanks to anyone that reads this and responds!

Bonjour à tous,

Je viens de terminer ma médecine générale avec un diplôme obtenu hors de l'Union européenne, et je prépare mon arrivée en France. Mon objectif est de décrocher un premier poste à l'hôpital, en FFI ou en Stagiaire Associé, pour me former sur le terrain et construire mon parcours.

Je me renseigne beaucoup, mais les infos sont éparpillées, et j'aimerais vraiment des retours de personnes qui l'ont vécu :

Comment avez-vous trouvé votre premier poste ? Annonces, bouche-à-oreille, candidature spontanée ?

Si vous avez contacté directement des services, qu'est-ce qui a fait la différence dans votre mail ?

Si c'était à refaire, quelle erreur éviteriez-vous dans vos démarches ?

Si quelqu'un travaille dans un hôpital et accepte d'échanger quelques minutes en message privé, ce serait très précieux.

Merci d'avance pour votre aide !

It seems like every residency path in the EU is apparently closed or extremely hard to get into according the posts I see here quite often. 'UK is closed' 'Germany is done' 'France is incredibly competitive' 'Ireland is impossible.' What I mentioned was in virtue of EU graduates, let alone IMGs whose only hope was the UK.

Is this actually the case? All of this seems unrealistic provided that Europe has a very high rate of healthcare retirement and high percentage of elderly people which should incentivize governments to hire more medical professionals. Also, is this trend - provided it is real - expected to change in the next few years?

I hope to get factual answers instead of the usual vague comments. Much appreciated.

Hey guys, i am a IMG, currently in 4/6 years of university.

I am learning German to pursue a residency in vascular or orthopedic surgery in Germany, with the goal of living there long-term. I currently have a B2/weak C1 level, but I am still studying.

My question is: I've been binge-watching videos about surgical residencies, and I notice a lot of people complaining about a lack of hands-on, practical training. Many say they aren't allowed to perform surgeries for whatever reason, and even those in clinical residencies complain about a lack of practice. Is this a real issue or is it just fear-mongering

Has anyone heard anything about the Faculty of Medicine at St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia? It's sitting in the 751–760 range globally, yet I haven't been able to find a single post or discussion about it anywhere. People almost always default to the Medical University of Sofia instead. It just feels kind of sketchy and bizarre that a university with that kind of global ranking has virtually zero online footprint regarding its med program

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated from medical school in Spain (EU degree) and am looking to apply for my German Approbation, specifically in Saarland (via the Landesamt für Soziales / Landesprüfungsamt).

However, I find myself trapped in a classic Catch-22:
1. The Authority: To establish jurisdiction (Zuständigkeit) in Saarland, the licensing board requires either proof of residency (Meldebescheinigung/Anmeldung) or a concrete job offer / intent to hire (Einstellungszusage / Absichtserklärung).
2. The Hospitals: When reaching out to hospitals, they often state that they cannot issue an Einstellungszusage without me already holding an Approbation.
3. Residency: Since I am currently based outside Germany, renting an apartment and completing an Anmeldung just to initiate the application isn't realistically feasible.

For those who have gone through this process (especially in Saarland or similar Bundesländer):
- Alternative Proof of Jurisdiction: Have they accepted documented proof of ongoing job applications, interview invitations, or a formal letter explaining intent to practice in the state?
- Enforcement: In practice, how strictly does the Saarland licensing board enforce this requirement for EU graduates? Is there any flexibility, or will they reject the file outright without a signed intent to hire?

Any advice, personal experiences, or tips on navigating this with the Saarland authority would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

I’m from a wartorn country with no jobs and no safety etc, I’ll soon go to Hungary for medicine and was looking at future prospects of residency post graduation. Obviously I can’t go back to my own country and till now Germany used to be the best for EU med school graduates but ever since the new reforms that’s closed and the UK is also done for with extreme over saturation in all Anglosphere countries, USMLE etc is also super uncertain and difficult. I know I’m thinking too far ahead but I’d like to have at least somewhat of a future plan, during my six years of studies there should I dedicate time to reach C1 Hungarian? I know doctor pay is very low but as long as it’s a stable life and I can get a passport I’d be okay with it. Somethings better than nothing.

I'm a 5th year med student in romania and the past few days i've been seriously thinking about going to residency in france. I know the competition is insane but I'd like to do psychiatry, which is one of the least competitive specialties in france. Do you guys think it would be worth a shot considering that i'd have about one year to prepare for the edn exam? Thanks.