It didn't start with medicine
My story begins during the COVID period, when I was in Year 11. At that point, the plan was clear: I was going to study business and economics. My family has always been in the car and transport industry, and when school shut down during the lockdown, I took over one of my parents' car detailing businesses and started working there. It was my first proper job, and a stable one. During school hours I was in class, and in the afternoons and weekends I was at the car wash, working. That continued through both Year 11 and Year 12. I've always wanted to run something of my own, so the plan was simple — study economics and build a business. And in a way, I was already doing exactly that.
I wanted to be my own boss
So I followed the plan. I applied for a business degree at OsloMet, and I got in. On paper, everything was in order. But it didn't last long. I dropped out fairly early, and the reason was almost laughable: I was sitting at the back of a maths lecture, staring at the numbers on the screen, and I just thought — what is this? That's when it hit me — maths and I are not on the same team. I didn't want to drop out without a plan, and I wasn't particularly excited about taking a gap year either. So there I was, with a degree I'd just left, and no real plan B.
Medicine was actually Plan C
Here's the strange part: medicine was genuinely Plan C for me. But once I decided, things moved quickly. I had a friend already studying here in Košice who helped me navigate the application process. That was absolutely crucial — there was so little information available online, and it was really hard to figure things out on your own. Without good people guiding me, I probably never would have found the way. I sat the entrance exam quite late, sometime in September. And I'll be honest: I didn't pass — but I was very close to the minimum score and ended up on the waiting list. I had no science background from school, so I had no real foundation in chemistry or biology at all. What I did was essentially memorise the question bank I was sent, and hope for the best. I ended up on the waiting list, and eventually got a late offer. And that's how I ended up here, in Košice.
I don't regret it for a single second
And I mean that genuinely — not one second of regret. The student community is great, the students are driven, the professors are approachable, and the university itself is excellent. I'll go as far as to say — and I tell this to everyone — that Košice is the best student city there is. It's not too big, not too small. Prices are reasonable compared to other major European cities. And you always find people to spend time with. What I thought was a backup option turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Now I'm here, ready to start my fifth year.
To anyone who feels like their path is messy
If you're reading this and recognising yourself in any part of it, I want you to know one thing: the road to medicine doesn't have to be straight. Mine certainly wasn't. Maybe you don't have a science background. Maybe you've already started studying something completely different. Maybe medicine isn't even Plan A for you — it was Plan C for me. That doesn't mean it's wrong. Sometimes it's exactly the detour that leads you to the right place. I thought I was going to be a businessman in the car industry. Instead, I'm sitting in Košice on my way to becoming a doctor — and I haven't regretted a single day. Who knows, maybe I'll end up as a self-employed doctor one day too.
Do you want to study medicine or dentistry abroad?
If you're dreaming of studying medicine or dentistry in Europe but don't know where to start, I want to give you the same advice I wish I'd been given earlier: you don't have to figure it out alone. Reach out to Medently. They'll help you — completely free — to find the right university, understand the admission requirements, and get through the application process. That's exactly the kind of guidance I was searching for when I started. No UCAT, no BMAT, no agency fees. You don't need a perfect A-level profile or a flawless background. You need the right information — and someone honest enough to give it to you.
Can you get into medicine in Europe without science A-levels?
Yes. As Suleman's story shows, it is entirely possible to be admitted to a medical school in Europe — specifically UPJŠ in Košice, Slovakia — without a science background. Admission is based on the university's own entrance exam, not your high school subject choices. With focused preparation on the biology and chemistry syllabus, students without prior science qualifications regularly pass and begin their medical degrees.
When Saif was applying, agencies tried to charge thousands of euros for basic document handling. He built Medently to change that. Medently is officially partnered with and funded directly by European universities. Guidance, mock exams, and application support cost students absolutely nothing. No catches, no hidden fees — ever.
No science background? No problem.
Suleman got into medicine at UPJŠ without A-level sciences. If you're worried your background isn't strong enough, talk to us first. Medently helps students from Norway, the UK, and the UAE find the right path to medicine and dentistry in Europe — no UCAT, no BMAT, no agency fees.
Get free guidance →Sometimes it's exactly the detour that leads you to the right place.
5th-year medical student at UPJŠ Košice. Shapes Medently's content strategy to inspire and inform students on their way to studying medicine and dentistry in Europe.
