Study Medicine or Dentistry in Slovakia, taught in English

About Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJŠ)

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice is a public research university in eastern Slovakia, named after the Slovak philologist and historian Pavol Jozef Šafárik. While the university itself was established in 1959, its Faculty of Medicine is older still — founded in 1948, it is the oldest faculty of the university and has been training doctors for the region and the wider world ever since.

Since 1992, the Faculty of Medicine has offered English-taught study programmes for international students — General Medicine and Dental Medicine. Students from dozens of countries now study here, making the faculty a genuinely international community while keeping the strong academic standards Slovak medical education is known for.

Clinical teaching is closely linked to the teaching hospital in Košice, where students spend their later years putting theory into practice on real hospital wards. This combination of solid pre-clinical science and hands-on clinical training is at the heart of what makes UPJŠ a dependable route into medicine.

Why study medicine at UPJŠ?

UPJŠ is a strong fit for international students who want an EU-recognised medical degree taught entirely in English, at a lower cost than many Western European options. General Medicine is a six-year programme and Dental Medicine is a five-year programme, both leading to internationally recognised doctoral qualifications in medicine and dentistry.

The faculty uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and has a long, well-established track record with international students — the English programmes have run for more than three decades, and UPJŠ has performed strongly in national accreditation.

Košice is a major draw in its own right: Slovakia's second-largest city, home to around 240,000 people and more than 20,000 students, and a European Capital of Culture in 2013. Students get a lively cultural scene, a walkable historic centre and a notably low cost of living compared with Bratislava or Western Europe.

Admission requirements & application process

Admission to UPJŠ is competitive but clearly structured, and Medently guides every applicant through it personally. Applicants need a completed secondary-school qualification — a high school diploma, A-Levels, IB or the equivalent — and UK students need at least three A-levels (in any subjects). There is no numerus clausus, so a strong entrance-exam performance is what counts most.

All international applicants must pass a written entrance examination in Biology and Chemistry. Both subjects are taken together in a single in-person multiple-choice test lasting about two and a half hours, held on campus in Košice, with dates typically in June and August — plus a sitting in Oslo. There is no interview: the written exam decides. Medently provides full preparation materials, structured study guidance and mock testing.

UPJŠ uses an online e-application system, but the official process also requires a printed, signed application and supporting documents to physically reach the Faculty of Medicine by the stated deadline — and the postmark date is decisive. Late applications are not accepted, so document planning matters. Medently helps you prepare, translate and submit everything correctly and on time.

Accreditation & degree recognition

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University is a fully accredited public university, and its medical degrees are recognised across the European Union, allowing graduates to practise medicine throughout the EU. The faculty is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools — making graduates eligible for the USMLE in the US and Canada — and is recognised by the UK's General Medical Council, with a substantial number of graduates registered to practise in the United Kingdom.

Because the faculty runs on the ECTS credit system, a UPJŠ degree is comparable and portable across European medical institutions, supporting exchange semesters and postgraduate training abroad.

Student accommodation & living in Košice

Košice is one of the most affordable cities for international medical students in Central Europe. University halls of residence provide budget-friendly rooms, while shared flats and private apartments are widely available at modest prices. Medently helps you find safe, well-located housing close to the faculty and teaching hospital. Every current Košice flat is listed in English with photos at medently.com/housing-in-kosice (Medently students sign in with the email and ID from their application).

As a large regional capital, Košice has good transport links, an international airport, historic architecture, parks and a busy student social scene — and the surrounding region of eastern Slovakia offers mountains and outdoor activities within easy reach for weekends away.

Application deadline & next steps

Because the English programmes have limited places and the entrance exam runs on fixed dates, international students aiming to start in the next academic year should begin preparing early — and pay close attention to the document deadline, since the postmark date decides whether an application is accepted.

UPJŠ is one of the most established English-taught medicine options in Slovakia — a medical faculty founded in 1948, more than three decades of international teaching, an EU-recognised degree, hands-on training at the Košice teaching hospital, and an affordable, culture-rich student city. Book a free consultation with Medently today to check your eligibility and start your UPJŠ Košice application.