What does studying medicine abroad really cost? The monthly budget by location

The author's view

When I talk to families about costs, one thing stands out above all: almost always only one side gets calculated. The tuition fee is written large on the sheet, while time does not appear on any line. Yet time is the larger item. Anyone who starts abroad straight after school is in the profession two years earlier than someone waiting for a place in Germany. Two years as a junior doctor is a six-figure gross sum, plus pension entitlements and two years of clinical experience. Set against that scale, the fees look considerably more plausible than they seem at first glance.

My second point concerns the size of the budget you set. I always advise planning with the upper end of the range, not the tightest figure. A buffer of ten to fifteen per cent is not a luxury but the difference between a degree you enjoy and one where every month has to add up to the last Euro. The first year of study should be budgeted higher than the following ones in any case: the deposit, the initial set-up, the textbook package and the journey there fall almost entirely at the start and do not recur later.

From my own student days in Sofia and from my work as a Swiss-licensed dentist, I take away a third thought: the question of cost is the only one of the big study questions that lies entirely in your own hands. You cannot influence school-leaving grades retrospectively, nor an admissions procedure. A budget, by contrast, can be drawn up, checked, underpinned with funding components and adjusted. That is exactly why I regard the full calculation as the most useful first step: it turns a feeling into a table, and a table can be shaped. In the vast majority of cases I have seen, the result was better than the original assumption.

Frequently Asked Questions about the budget

How much money per month should I reckon with?

Depending on the location, 400 to 1.100 Euro for living costs, on top of the tuition fee. Bulgaria and Romania are at the lower end, Malta and Prague at the upper end.

What does a place in a hall of residence cost?

Considerably less than a private flat, in Eastern Europe often less than half. Places are limited, so it is worth clarifying this early.

Do I need my own health insurance?

Within the EU, the European Health Insurance Card covers medically necessary care. For a degree lasting several years, additional international health insurance is advisable.

Can I work alongside my studies?

Legally yes, and within the EU without a work permit. The timetable in a medical degree is dense, particularly in the first two years, which is why work with flexible hours and a subject connection is the most suitable.

Does BAföG cover the tuition fees?

Partly. German student finance for studies abroad includes a tuition fee subsidy of up to 5.600 Euro a year, and this portion is a full grant, so it does not have to be repaid.

How much should I budget for flights?

For two to four trips home a year, roughly 300 to 800 Euro, depending on the route and when you book. Locations with direct connections have a clear advantage here.

What does a complete degree cost in total?

Depending on the location, between roughly 92.000 and 142.000 Euro over six years, including living costs. We work out the specific calculation for the locations you have in mind together in the advisory session.