University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences

The Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Kragujevac is located in the Šumadija region of central Serbia, around 140 kilometres south of Belgrade. The English-language programme Integrated Academic Studies of Medicine spans twelve semesters and 360 ECTS credits; alongside it there is a five-year pharmacy programme in English. The tuition fee for human medicine is €3,000 per semester, i.e. €6,000 per year. Selection is via an entrance test in chemistry and biology plus a selection interview in which school grades also play a role.

What makes the faculty stand out

The University of Kragujevac was established in 1976; the Faculty of Medicine was founded in November 1977. Today the university has around 20,000 students and 1,200 academic staff. The English-language human medicine programme is relatively young: it started in the 2025/2026 academic year, while pharmacy in English has been running longer. For 2026/2027, 78 places in human medicine and 24 in pharmacy are available.

Cohorts in the English-language programme therefore remain manageable. Clinical training takes place at Kragujevac University Clinical Centre, one of the major hospitals in central Serbia. Anatomy is taught partly on plastinated specimens, and the faculty has its own laboratory rooms for practical courses. Cooperation agreements exist with universities in Berne, Thessaloniki, Salerno, and Cyprus; since 2019 Serbia has held Programme Country status in Erasmus, so exchange semesters within Europe are possible. Medschool Experts has been placing students at this location since 2021.

Where the limitations lie

Serbia is a third country. The degree does not fall under automatic recognition; in Germany the competent state authority carries out an individual equivalence assessment under § 3 BÄO. If substantial differences are found, a knowledge examination follows and Approbation is granted thereafter. There is also an intermediate step in the country of study: international graduates in Serbia must complete a six-month internship before the Serbian professional registration is issued. That registration is a prerequisite for Germany to consider an Approbation application at all.

Teaching is conducted entirely in English; a B2 certificate is required. On the wards, however, patients speak Serbian, and without basic knowledge of the language much of the bedside work remains inaccessible. The entrance test in chemistry and biology is also a genuine filter, supplemented by an interview and an assessment of school grades. And anyone with the Swiss market firmly in mind should know that third-country diplomas are not directly recognised there either.

Who this location suits

Kragujevac suits you if you want to study human medicine or pharmacy in English, if you are keeping a close eye on total costs, and if you plan consciously for the recognition step. Those looking for dentistry should note that in Serbia it is available in English only in Niš, and those who value automatic EU recognition are better served by an EU location even if that is more expensive. Whether Kragujevac fits your situation is something Medschool Experts assesses individually in a free consultation.

Entrance examination instead of school grades

There is no numerus clausus. In addition to the general university entrance qualification, Kragujevac also accepts the Fachhochschulreife and a completed healthcare vocational qualification such as nursing. Admission is not automatic in these cases, as the faculty assesses each educational background individually. Whether your route qualifies is assessed by Medschool Experts in a free consultation. Selection is via a written test in chemistry and biology at school level plus a selection interview in which your school grades also play a role. B2 English is required and must be demonstrated with the application.

Deadlines

The cohort starts in the winter semester; the university does not offer a summer semester entry. The test and the selection interview take place well before the semester start, so the application year begins earlier than for a programme in Germany. Anyone who misses the autumn deadline waits a full year for the next cohort start. Because only 78 places are planned in human medicine for 2026/2027, an early start is worthwhile. Participation in the process is generally fully online; travel to Serbia is not required. Registration, application, and test organisation are handled by Medschool Experts.

Tuition fees and cost of living

Human medicine costs €3,000 per semester, i.e. €6,000 per academic year; pharmacy costs €1,500 per semester. Over six years this amounts to €36,000 in fees for human medicine. Budget €400–600 per month for rent, food, transport, and insurance; a furnished flat is quoted by the faculty at €120–150. By our calculation as of August 2026, the total cost of the medical degree including learning materials and trips home comes to around €70,700 over six years. Earlier figures of €5,000 per year are outdated.

Programme structure and language of instruction

The programme is structured as an integrated twelve-semester course and concludes with 360 ECTS credits; there is no separate bachelor's degree. The first two years cover anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology. The third year brings pathology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical propedeutics. In the fourth and fifth years internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, neurology, and psychiatry follow. The language of instruction is English throughout; a B2 certificate is required.

Clinical training and practice

From the third year onwards practical placements at Kragujevac University Clinical Centre accompany the clinical subjects, one of the major hospitals in central Serbia. The sixth year consists of clinical rotations, emergency medicine, general practice, and the final thesis, and corresponds in structure to the German Praktisches Jahr. Anatomy is taught partly on plastinated specimens, and the faculty has its own laboratory rooms for practical courses. Serbian language skills are not required for admission but are important for patient work. Famulaturen in Germany are possible; recognition is decided by the relevant authority.

Recognition in Germany

Serbia is not in the EU, so automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC does not apply. The competent state authority carries out an individual equivalence assessment under § 3 BÄO. If substantial differences are found, a knowledge examination is required and Approbation is granted thereafter. Preceding this is Serbian professional registration, for which international graduates must complete a six-month internship. The process is manageable and plannable, but it takes time and must be factored in from the very beginning. In Austria, recognition runs via a Nostrifizierung at a medical university.

Life in Kragujevac

Kragujevac is located in the Šumadija region of central Serbia and has around 150,000 inhabitants. In the nineteenth century it was briefly the capital of the Principality of Serbia; from that period date the first Serbian secondary school and the Miloš Palace. Economically the region is shaped by vehicle manufacturing; with several faculties the city also has a visible student scene. The pace of life is quieter than in Belgrade — anyone looking for a large metropolis will not be happy here. Anyone wanting to study affordably and in a focused way for six years will find good conditions.

Accommodation and everyday life

There are student dormitories and a rental market with low prices. A furnished flat is quoted by the faculty at €120–150 per month, with food adding around €150 on top. Overall budget €400–600 per month. The city is compact; distances between flat, faculty, and hospital are short. The choice narrows at the semester start, so those who search early have more options. Belgrade is about two hours by bus; trips home from central Serbia to Germany are no short hop.

Is the degree from Kragujevac recognised in Germany?

Not automatically. Serbia is a third country, so the competent state authority carries out an individual equivalence assessment under § 3 BÄO. If substantial differences are found, a knowledge examination is required and Approbation is granted thereafter. Preceding this is Serbian professional registration, for which international graduates must complete a six-month internship.

Can I study with the Fachhochschulreife or a nursing qualification?

This is possible. In addition to the general university entrance qualification, the faculty also accepts the Fachhochschulreife and a completed healthcare vocational qualification. There is no numerus clausus. Admission is not automatic because the faculty assesses each educational background individually. Whether your route qualifies is assessed by Medschool Experts in a free consultation.

How does the application process work?

The faculty assesses your school grades; you then take an entrance test in chemistry and biology, and conduct a selection interview. School-level subject matter is tested, not university knowledge. B2 English is required and must be demonstrated with the application. Participation in the process is generally fully online.

What does studying in Kragujevac cost?

Human medicine costs €3,000 per semester, i.e. €6,000 per academic year; pharmacy €1,500 per semester. Over six years this amounts to €36,000 in fees. Adding rent, living costs, learning materials, and trips home, the total for the medical degree comes to around €70,700 by our estimate as of August 2026.

Is dentistry available in English in Kragujevac?

No. The faculty does train dentists, but not in English. The programmes available in English at the faculty are human medicine and pharmacy only. Anyone looking for dentistry in English in Serbia will find the corresponding programme at the University of Niš. Psychology and veterinary medicine are not offered in English in Kragujevac either; other locations are needed for those.