University of Split School of Medicine

Split is Croatia's second-largest city, built around a Roman imperial palace, and its medical faculty is comparatively young. It became independent on 26 March 1997, though its roots stretch back to 1974, when the University of Zagreb established a campus here for upper-year students. This combination defines the place: a faculty without centuries of institutional inertia, but with visible ambition and a clear commitment to evidence-based medicine and research.

A young, English-taught programme

The English-language MD programme launched in the 2011/2012 academic year with 21 students from across Europe and has since grown to up to 60 places per cohort. The programme lasts six years and covers 360 ECTS. The faculty is registered with the FAIMER Foundation and listed in the International Medical Education Directory, meaning its students are eligible to sit the American USMLE examinations and the Canadian MCC examinations — relevant if you want to keep options open beyond Europe. Clinical training takes place at the University Hospital of Split and affiliated institutions.

Two tracks, one binding decision

Split is the only Croatian faculty that offers two separate study pathways. In Category 1, you complete all six years in Split. In Category 2, you study the first three years in Split and the final three at the partner institution, the Sana Klinik in Coburg, Germany. You may only apply for one of the two categories, and switching is not possible after enrolment. This is a decision worth thinking through carefully before applying: the Germany pathway brings you back early into a familiar healthcare system and a German clinical structure, but commits you for the entire clinical phase to a single partner institution and its location.

How the programme is structured

The workload increases considerably over the years: from 820 hours in the first year to 1,310 hours in the sixth, with 60 ECTS each year. Croatian is a compulsory subject in the first and second years at 60 hours each — the teaching is in English, but the wards are not. The sixth year consists of four clinical rotations: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Mother and Child, and Emergency Medicine. The practical component in the final year is thus clearly structured and accounts for the majority of study time. The faculty emphasises its focus on evidence-based medicine and collaborates with a number of international universities — students with an interest in research will find early opportunities in Split, particularly in the areas of cardiovascular research, oncology, public health, and neuroscience.

Selection without a written entrance examination

Split differs from Zagreb and Rijeka in this regard: the official prospectus for the English-language programme does not list a written entrance examination in biology, chemistry, and physics. The requirements are a completed secondary education with passed leaving examinations and at least twelve years of prior schooling. Since the faculty may adjust its process from one cohort to the next, you should always check the current prospectus rather than relying on information from previous years.

Process and deadlines

The application process consists of three stages: direct contact with the faculty, registration with the central admissions office, and selection of the programme via the national portal Postani Student. The deadline for an autumn start was most recently mid to late August — for 2026/2027 it falls on 18 August 2026. Intake is only available at the start of the winter semester.

Costs

Tuition fees are 12,000 euros per academic year. The fee for the first year is due in full within one week of receiving an offer, and refunds are excluded. An application fee of 200 euros also applies and is likewise non-refundable. You should have your finances in order before applying, given the tight payment deadline.

Cost of living

Split's rental market is heavily influenced by tourism, with many properties let on short-term contracts during the summer. This can make finding accommodation and securing longer-term leases more complicated than in inland cities.

Structure and scope

The programme lasts six years and covers 360 ECTS, distributed as 60 ECTS per academic year. The workload grows from 820 hours in the first year to 1,310 hours in the sixth — the emphasis shifts noticeably from lectures to clinical practice over the course of the programme. The language of instruction is English throughout.

Croatian and practical training

Croatian is a compulsory subject in the first and second years at 60 hours per year. The sixth year consists of four clinical rotations: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Mother and Child, and Emergency Medicine. Practical training takes place at the University Hospital of Split and at affiliated institutions. Students who opt for Category 2 complete the final three years at the Sana Klinik in Coburg.

Degree and recognition

Graduates receive the title of Doctor of Medicine, awarded by the University of Split — even if the clinical phase is completed in Germany. Croatia is an EU member state, and the degree is therefore subject to automatic recognition under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. You apply for a licence to practise medicine through the relevant regional authority in Germany, and will also need to demonstrate German language proficiency, typically at B2 level plus a medical language examination. Beyond Europe, students of the faculty are eligible to sit the USMLE and MCC examinations.

Life between a palace and the sea

Split is a city on the water. Diocletian's Palace is not a museum but a living neighbourhood — full of bars, washing lines, and students — alongside the Riva promenade, the Marjan hill, and beaches within walking distance. In summer you share the city with a great many tourists; in winter it becomes quiet. Both are part of the experience.

Accommodation

The rental market is seasonal: many properties switch to short-term lets in summer, making year-round contracts correspondingly sought after. Those who start their search early and are willing to live a little outside the old town will have an easier time. Student hall places for fee-paying international students are not typically available at Croatian universities.

Getting there and the student community

Split Airport is very well connected to German cities in summer, but the schedule thins out considerably in winter — book flights home during term time early, or be prepared for connections via Zagreb. Croatia has been part of the Schengen Area and the eurozone since 2023. German-speaking students can be found in Split not least through Category 2, whose clinical phase takes place in Coburg.

Is there a written entrance examination in Split?

The official prospectus for the English-language programme does not list a written examination in biology, chemistry, and physics, as required by Zagreb and Rijeka. The requirements are a school-leaving certificate with passed final examinations and at least twelve years of prior schooling. That said, always check the current prospectus, as the faculty may adjust its process.

What is the difference between Category 1 and Category 2?

In Category 1, you study all six years in Split. In Category 2, you spend the first three years in Split and the final three at the Sana Klinik in Coburg. You may only apply for one category, and switching after enrolment is not permitted.

What does the programme cost?

Tuition fees are 12,000 euros per academic year and are non-refundable. The fee for the first year is due in full within one week of receiving an offer. An application fee of 200 euros is also payable.

How is the final year of the programme structured?

The sixth year consists of four clinical rotations: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Mother and Child, and Emergency Medicine. At 1,310 hours, it is by far the most practice-intensive year of the programme.

Can I work outside the EU with a Split degree?

The faculty is registered with FAIMER and listed in the International Medical Education Directory, and its students are eligible to sit the American USMLE and Canadian MCC examinations. However, eligibility to sit an examination is not the same as holding a licence to practise — the immigration and professional licensing rules of the respective country apply in addition.