University of Mostar, Faculty of Medicine

The School of Medicine at the University of Mostar has been running an entirely English-language medical program for international students since 2018, alongside the Croatian-language curriculum. The program is structured as an integrated course over six years and concludes with the Medical Doctor degree. Tuition is 4,600 euros per semester, or 9,200 euros per academic year. Cohort sizes are deliberately small: the faculty's 2026/2027 announcement lists 30 full-time places. There is no numerus clausus.

What defines the faculty

The University of Mostar is the largest university in Herzegovina; its medical faculty has existed since 1997. Both programs share faculty, laboratories, and clinics, with the English-language program remaining the smaller group. The campus is in the Bijeli Brijeg district, immediately next to the university hospital. You therefore learn in the same institutes and on the same wards as local students, but in a significantly smaller group.

The clinical partner is the University Hospital Mostar, the largest hospital in the region. It has around 800 beds, employs approximately 2,900 staff, and is divided into 16 clinics, four departments, and five institutes. The hospital serves four cantons and is the primary referral center for a large part of southern Herzegovina. Thirty international students per cohort are therefore exposed to a very broad case mix; the supervision ratio is correspondingly favorable. You will see not only the common presentations but also what is referred in from the surrounding area.

Where the limitations lie

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an EU member. Automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC therefore does not apply to degrees from Mostar. What governs the process is the equivalency assessment under § 3 BÄO by the competent state authority; if material content is missing, a knowledge test follows before Approbation is granted. The process is orderly and plannable, but it costs time that must be factored in between graduation and first employment.

The range of English-medium programs is narrow: only human medicine is offered — not dentistry, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine. Lectures are in English but the clinical environment is not. At the bedside, patients speak the local language; without basic proficiency you will be unable to conduct patient histories independently. Those aiming for practice in the United States should also note that the country's responsible accreditation agency was not on the relevant international list as of August 2026.

Who this location suits

Mostar is a good fit if you want to study in English, prefer a very small cohort to a large lecture hall, and want predictable costs over six years. It also suits those whose entry qualifications do not follow the classic Abitur route. It is less suitable if you are looking for a field other than human medicine or if automatic EU recognition is important to you. Whether Mostar fits your situation is assessed individually in a free consultation.

Admission

The School of Medicine does not conduct a centralized entrance test. Selection is based on your application, supplemented by an English test and a personal interview in which your motivation counts. There is no numerus clausus, so your school leaving grade average is not what determines your place. In addition to a general university entrance qualification, the Fachhochschulreife is also accepted, and applicants with a completed healthcare qualification — such as nursing — can also apply. This is not automatic, as the faculty assesses each educational background individually. Whether your path qualifies is assessed individually in a free consultation.

Deadlines

The program starts exclusively in the winter semester. The faculty's 2026/2027 announcement lists 30 full-time places and 30 September 2026 as the application deadline, or earlier if all places are filled. Starting the process in late summer means working against a tight window. The English test and interview can generally be completed entirely online; travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina is not required. Registration, application, and scheduling are handled by Medschool Experts so you can focus on academic preparation. What is required and when will be clarified in advance.

Tuition and living costs

Tuition is 4,600 euros per semester, or 9,000 BAM in local currency; the faculty lists 18,000 BAM per academic year for 2026/2027, equivalent to approximately 9,200 euros. Over twelve semesters this totals 55,200 euros. There is also a one-time application fee of around 72 euros. Budget 400 to 600 euros per month for rent, food, public transport, and insurance. Including textbooks and travel home, our estimate puts the total at approximately 96,000 euros over six years. Those managing on 400 euros per month would come closer to 89,000 euros.

Structure and language of instruction

The curriculum is organized in thematic blocks and leads over six years without an intermediate qualification to the Medical Doctor. The first two years cover anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, and embryology. Year three brings pathology, pharmacology, and the introduction to clinical subjects. Years four and five cover internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, neurology, and psychiatry. The sixth year consists primarily of clinical placements at the University Hospital, along with examinations and the final thesis. The language of instruction is English throughout; clinical work, however, runs in the local language.

Clinical and practical training

From the third year onward you are regularly at the University Hospital Mostar with around 800 beds and 16 clinics; in the final year almost continuously. Because only 30 international places are allocated per cohort, you get to the bedside more frequently. Your progress is documented block by block and summarized in a Transcript of Records with subjects, examinations, and grades. Elective clinical placements can generally also be completed in Germany; recognition is decided by the authority that later processes your recognition procedure.

Recognition in Germany

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an EU member; automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC therefore does not apply. What governs the process is the equivalency assessment under § 3 BÄO: the competent state authority assesses whether your training is equivalent to the German medical program. If material content is missing, you sit a knowledge test and receive Approbation thereafter. During the ongoing procedure a temporary limited license is possible, allowing you to work under supervision and accumulate specialist training time. In Austria and Switzerland, a comparable individual case procedure applies.

Life in Mostar

Mostar is located in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Neretva River and has a population of around 100,000. The city is known for the rebuilt Stari Most bridge and its Ottoman-influenced old town. The climate is Mediterranean; average temperatures in July are around 25 degrees Celsius, and the Adriatic coast is approximately an hour away by car. The city is manageable in scale: from the Bijeli Brijeg campus to the old town is just a few minutes on foot.

Housing and everyday life

Most international students rent privately, often sharing with one or two others. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs on average around 383 euros according to Numbeo, and approximately 225 euros outside the center; a monthly public transport pass is around 29 euros and a simple restaurant meal just over six euros. During the tourist season the supply of short-notice rooms thins out considerably — those who search early have better options. Getting to Mostar from Germany typically involves a flight to a regional airport followed by bus or car. The cohort is small enough that everyone knows each other within a few weeks.

Is the Medical Doctor degree from Mostar recognized in Germany?

Not automatically. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an EU member, so the competent state authority assesses your degree for equivalency with the German medical program under § 3 BÄO. If material content is missing, you sit a knowledge test and receive Approbation thereafter. The process is orderly and plannable, but costs additional time.

Can I study with a Fachhochschulreife or a nursing qualification?

Either can suffice as an entry qualification. In addition to the general Abitur, the University of Mostar also accepts the Fachhochschulreife and a completed healthcare qualification, such as nursing. There is no numerus clausus. This is still not automatic, as the faculty assesses each educational background individually. Whether your path qualifies is assessed individually in a free consultation.

Is there a centralized entrance test?

No. The School of Medicine decides based on your application, assesses your English, and invites you to a personal interview. The focus is on whether you can articulate why you want to study medicine and why in Mostar specifically. You should still have a solid grasp of upper secondary science fundamentals, as this makes the start of the program considerably easier.

What is the total cost of studying in Mostar?

Tuition is 4,600 euros per semester — 9,200 euros per academic year and 55,200 euros over twelve semesters. Add a one-time application fee of around 72 euros and 400 to 600 euros per month for rent, food, public transport, and insurance. Including textbooks and travel home, our estimate puts the total at approximately 96,000 euros.

Do I need to learn the local language?

Not for lectures, but yes for clinical work. Patients at the University Hospital Mostar speak the local language, and without basic proficiency you will be unable to conduct patient histories independently. The language also helps in everyday life in the city. This learning effort comes on top of your studies and needs to be planned for realistically.