Study Medicine at University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine

University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine · Croatia

English-taught medical degree with around 50 places per cohort.

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Admission through Medschool Experts without entry exam
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Overview

At a glance

The key facts about this university at a glance.

Programmes

Medicine

Tuition fees

6,000 EUR per semester (Medicine and Dentistry)

Duration

6 years

Language of instruction

English

Admission process

Written entrance test in biology, chemistry and physics

Intake

Autumn semester

Recognition

Automatically recognised across the EU

Living costs

approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month

Total students

Safety at a Glance

How Safe Is This Study Location?

Based on assessments from residents and visitors collected by Numbeo over the past five years.

6 years

Climate

Climate

Average daytime highs by month.

Placement without a grade cut-off — we place you regardless of your school-leaving grades. We go through the specific requirements together.

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Location

Where this university is

Drag the map to place the university in Europe — and to judge how far it is from home.

45.3271, 14.4422
Why here

Why study medicine abroad at this university?

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka was founded in 1955 and is the university's oldest institution. The English-taught Medicine programme lasts six years and comprises 360 ECTS, with a maximum of 50 students per cohort. Tuition is calculated at €200 per ECTS credit. The clinical partner is the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka.

  • Programmes: Medicine
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Standard duration: 6 years
  • Start of studies: Autumn semester
  • Requirement: General higher-education entrance qualification. Check in a free study consultation whether you meet the requirements for placement at this university through Medschool Experts.
Programmes

Study medicine or dentistry: programmes and language of instruction

Structure, duration, language of instruction and degree — for every programme at this university.

  • Medicine: The Medicine programme leads to a medical degree. The pre-clinical phase establishes the scientific foundations; the clinical phase adds patient-facing work.
Campus

Study conditions and campus life abroad

The programme comprises six years and 360 ECTS. It begins with two pre-clinical years of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology and embryology, complemented by Croatian lessons. From the third year, the clinical phase follows: internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, neurology and psychiatry, combined with placements at the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka. The final year consists mainly of practical work and works like a full clinical internship year.

Admission

Admission: how to get a place to study medicine abroad

The basic requirement for placement at this location is a general higher-education entrance qualification. When placed through Medschool Experts, there is no separate entrance test. Get in touch to find out whether we can place you at this university, and book a free study consultation.

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  • The right university and a secure placement
  • A study place abroad with an internationally recognised degree
  • Support with your start, preparation and finding accommodation
  • Help with transferring to another university
  • Guidance all the way to your first job
Preparation

Preparing properly with Medschool Experts

We handle the complete application, including all formalities, and submit it on time. We guide you through the study visa, enrolment, and administrative requirements on the ground. Because Croatia is an EU member state, recognition of your degree within the EU is generally straightforward — we advise you on the requirements for your specific target country. We remain your point of contact after your studies begin.

Costs

Tuition fees and living costs to study medicine abroad

The tuition fee is 6,000 EUR per semester (Medicine and Dentistry). Before making any decision, ask the International Office to confirm the amount in writing, specifying whether accommodation, insurance, and registration fees are included.

Additional one-off costs include the application fee, visa, health insurance, travel, and usually a deposit for accommodation. Budget approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month for living costs.

Recognition

Degree recognition and career prospects

The degree from the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine comes from Croatia, an EU member state. Under the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC, the medical diploma from Rijeka is recognised automatically throughout the EU/EEA and in Switzerland. No equivalence assessment or knowledge test is required.

For your licence to practise, contact the competent authority of the country where you want to work. Most countries require proof of medical-level proficiency in their national language, and processing times vary.

After that, you can start specialist training at any accredited hospital or practice, on the same footing as graduates of domestic medical schools. The Croatian you learn alongside your studies in Rijeka is not wasted effort either: it keeps Croatian hospitals open to you as employers.

Alumni now practising internationally

Former students of this university who, according to publicly available sources, now work as doctors or dentists internationally. Anonymised overview — not an indication of any cooperation with Medschool Experts.

We are not currently aware of any publicly known alumni from this university practising as doctors or dentists internationally.
On the ground

The city as a place to study medicine

Rijeka is a port city on the Kvarner Bay in north-western Croatia with around 108,000 inhabitants. In 2020 it was a European Capital of Culture. Its location near the Slovenian and Italian borders makes it easy to reach by car or train from Central Europe. Living costs are lower than in Zagreb or Split, especially rents.

  • City: Rijeka
  • Country: Croatia
  • Living costs: approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month
  • Entry: Student visa required

About the author

Profilbild Marcel Kloos

Marcel Kloos

Federally recognised dentist, founder and owner of Medschool Experts

Marcel Kloos founded the company while still studying abroad himself; since then more than 500 study places have been arranged. Originally from Stuttgart, he studied dentistry in Sofia from 2015 to 2021 and is a federally recognised dentist.

He now lives in Bern and runs the company full-time as its owner. He visits the partner universities in person on a regular basis.

More in the magazine
Studying Medicine in Rijeka: Costs, Structure and Recognition
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Student story

Videos about this university

Campus tour, first-hand accounts from students on the ground and answers to the most common questions — to watch rather than read.

Student Transfer

Student Transfer to This University

Transferring into a higher semester is one of the things we do best. If your studies are not going the way you planned, a transfer is usually the fastest way back on track — and we handle the entire process for you, from the credit assessment to enrolment.

Exams you did not pass

Failed a resit, lost a year, or stuck in the same semester twice? A transfer lets you carry on instead of repeating.

Barred from your programme

Permanently excluded from medicine at your university, or even nationwide? That does not have to be the end of your medical degree.

Tuition no longer affordable

If the fees at your current university have become unsustainable, we find a recognised university that fits your budget.

Any other reason

Language, teaching quality, the city, family — whatever your reason is, we help. You do not have to justify it to us.

How a transfer works with us
  1. You send us your transcript of records, ECTS credits and completed exams.
  2. We check with the faculty which semester you can realistically enter — we aim for the highest one possible.
  3. We prepare the full application and take care of paperwork, translations and legalisation.
  4. You enrol and continue your degree, in many cases without losing a single year.
You want to transfer away from this university?

That works too. If you already study here and want to move on — to a more affordable university, another country, or a programme closer to home — we arrange that transfer as well. Get in touch and we will go through your options with you.

FAQ

FAQ: studying medicine abroad at this university

What are the entry requirements for University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka?

You need a general higher-education entrance qualification (A-levels or equivalent). There is no numerus clausus, so your school-leaving grade does not determine your place. You will also need a sufficient command of English and a student visa.

How do I apply through Medschool Experts?

Medschool Experts handles placement at this location without a grade-based admission cap. Whether we can place you with your profile is something we clarify in a free, no-obligation consultation — where we also discuss which university is the best fit for you.

What does it cost to study at University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine?

The tuition fee is 6,000 EUR per semester (Medicine and Dentistry). Additional costs include the application fee, visa, health insurance, travel, and accommodation. Always ask the International Office to confirm every figure in writing — figures quoted by third-party portals can vary significantly.

How much money do I need per month in Rijeka?

Budget approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month for living costs. This is well below Western European levels. The exact amount depends mainly on whether you live in student accommodation or privately.

How is the programme structured and how long does it take?

The programme lasts 6 years. First comes the pre-clinical phase with the theoretical foundations, then the clinical phase with examination courses and placements at affiliated hospitals. The final year is primarily practical in focus.

Is the degree recognised in the EU?

As Croatia is an EU member state, medical degrees are automatically recognised across the EU under the Professional Qualifications Directive, provided graduation requirements are met. For non-EU countries you wish to practise in, confirm requirements separately.

Will I receive a transcript of records?

Yes. Your performance is recorded in a transcript showing subjects, examinations, and grades. This is exactly the document the authorities need later for the equivalence assessment. Keep all semester certificates and grade reports safely — they are difficult to obtain retrospectively.

Can I transfer to a university in my home country during my studies?

There is no automatic transfer route. A transfer to a domestic faculty involves an individual credit-recognition process and depends on available places in higher semesters. Plan your studies as a complete path to graduation.

How does Medschool Experts support you on the ground?

We organise the application and all documents, support you through enrolment, accommodation, and administrative requirements, and remain your contact after your studies begin. We also tell you upfront where the weaknesses of this particular location lie.

Portrait photo of Ahmad, Medschool Experts client

Ahmad

Portrait photo of Sabrina, Medschool Experts client

Sabrina

Portrait photo of Rami, Medschool Experts client

Rami

Portrait photo of Noah, Medschool Experts client

Noah

500+ students placed.
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