One of Scandinavia's oldest and most research-intensive universities
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Medicine in Europe
Our top 6 routes into medicine: Italy's IMAT and Austria's MedAT
UK medicine places are extremely oversubscribed. Italy's English-taught, IMAT-based medicine degrees and Austria's MedAT-based programmes at public universities have become two of the most credible alternative routes in Europe.
Italy · IMAT
Humanitas University, Milan
Milan, Italy
A private, life-sciences-only university founded in 2014, teaching Medicine and Surgery entirely in English on a modern clinical campus.
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Italy · IMAT
University of Milan-Bicocca
Milan, Italy
A large public university with income-linked fees, offering an established English-taught Medicine and Surgery degree via IMAT.
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Italy · IMAT
University of Pavia
Pavia, Italy
One of Italy's oldest universities, with a well-established Harvey Medical School programme, teaching Medicine and Surgery in English.
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Italy · IMAT
University of Padova
Padova / Venice, Italy
One of Italy's oldest and most prestigious universities, teaching Medicine and Surgery entirely in English, with the programme moving to Venice from 2025-26.
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Austria · MedAT
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Austria's largest and most prestigious medical university, offering a well-established 6-year English-taught MD programme via the MedAT entrance exam.
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Austria · MedAT
Medical University of Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria
A highly-regarded Austrian medical university offering an English-taught MD programme via the same MedAT entrance exam used across Austria's public medical schools.
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Not sure which route fits your child?
Tell us the subject, target country and current predicted grades, and we'll map out realistic options alongside their UCAS applications.
English-taughtDirect applicationLarge international intake
Why students choose it: The Netherlands offers the largest range of English-taught bachelor's degrees in Europe, and Amsterdam is its flagship university, with strong programmes across economics, psychology, law, liberal arts and sciences.
Entry route: Direct application through Studielink, typically based on final grades or predicted grades, with some competitive programmes (e.g. Psychology, PPLE) using additional selection procedures.
Language: No Dutch required for English-taught programmes, though English language proficiency evidence is usually needed.
Good fit for: Students who want a highly international, English-speaking environment with a shorter, more affordable degree structure than the UK, without sitting an additional entrance exam for most courses.
EUR
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Rotterdam, Netherlands
English-taughtBusiness focusDirect application
Why students choose it: Strong international reputation for business, economics and law, with Rotterdam School of Management widely recognised across Europe.
Entry route: Direct application; some programmes (notably International Business Administration) use a selective matching procedure rather than first-come-first-served admission.
Language: English-taught, no Dutch required.
Good fit for: Students set on business, economics or law who want a research-intensive Dutch university with a slightly smaller, more focused feel than Amsterdam.
Why students choose it: Consistently ranked among the Netherlands' top universities, with particular strength in sciences, humanities and its distinctive University College liberal arts programme.
Entry route: Direct application through Studielink; the University College programme has a separate, more selective admissions process.
Language: English-taught, no Dutch required for the programmes above.
Good fit for: Students who want a strong academic reputation in a smaller, historic city than Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
LEI
Leiden University
Leiden, Netherlands
English-taughtOldest in NLDirect application
Why students choose it: The oldest university in the Netherlands, with a strong global reputation in law, international relations, humanities and sciences.
Entry route: Direct application through Studielink; some programmes require a motivation letter or additional assessment.
Language: English-taught, no Dutch required for the relevant programmes.
Good fit for: Students drawn to law, politics or international relations who want a historic, academically prestigious setting.
MU
Maastricht University
Maastricht, Netherlands
English-taughtProblem-based learningVery international
Why students choose it: Known for problem-based learning (small-group, discussion-led teaching rather than large lectures) and one of the most international student bodies in Europe.
Entry route: Direct application through Studielink; competitive programmes use additional selection.
Language: English-taught, no Dutch required.
Good fit for: Students who prefer active, discussion-based learning over traditional lectures, and want an especially international peer group.
TUD
TU Delft
Delft, Netherlands
English-taughtEngineering focusDirect application
Why students choose it: Europe's top-ranked technical university, with strength across engineering, computer science and applied sciences.
Entry route: Direct application; strong Maths and Physics/relevant science background expected, with some programmes requiring an additional numeracy or motivation assessment.
Language: English-taught, no Dutch required.
Good fit for: Strong STEM students, particularly those considering engineering, who want a technical-university culture rather than a broad general university.
TCD
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
English-speakingCAO applicationIreland's top university
Why students choose it: Ireland's oldest and most prestigious university, offering a familiar English-speaking environment with no language barrier at all, alongside a strong all-round reputation.
Entry route: Application via the Irish CAO system, with entry typically based on A-Level or IB point equivalents rather than a separate entrance exam.
Language: English-speaking throughout, including daily life outside the university.
Good fit for: Students who want an international degree and city experience but would rather avoid learning to navigate university life in a second language.
UCD
University College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
English-speakingCAO applicationLargest in Ireland
Why students choose it: Ireland's largest university, with particular strength in business, engineering and the sciences, and a large international student population.
Entry route: Application via the Irish CAO system, using A-Level or IB point equivalents.
Language: English-speaking throughout.
Good fit for: Students wanting a large, comprehensive Irish university with strong business and STEM options and no language barrier.
KUL
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
English-taughtBelgium's top universityDirect application
Why students choose it: Consistently Belgium's top-ranked university, offering a growing number of English-taught bachelor's programmes alongside a huge range of English-taught master's degrees.
Entry route: Direct application, with entry requirements varying by programme; some (e.g. Engineering) require an entrance exam.
Language: Most bachelor's degrees are still Dutch-taught, so English-taught bachelor's options are more limited than in the Netherlands, worth checking programme-by-programme.
Good fit for: Students who want a highly-ranked, research-strong university in a classic university town, particularly for STEM subjects.
IE
IE University, Madrid
Madrid/Segovia, Spain
English-taughtBusiness focusPrivate, selective
Why students choose it: A highly international private university known for entrepreneurship, business, and design-led, discussion-heavy teaching, with strong industry links.
Entry route: Direct application including a personal statement, interview and academic record review, rather than grades alone.
Language: Fully English-taught degrees available.
Good fit for: Students interested in business, entrepreneurship or design who want a smaller, highly international private university experience. Private fees are notably higher than Dutch or Irish public universities.
BC
Bocconi University, Milan
Milan, Italy
English-taughtEconomics & managementEntrance exam
Why students choose it: One of Europe's most respected schools for economics, management and political science, with strong graduate outcomes and career services.
Entry route: Competitive application including Bocconi's own admission test (the Bocconi Test/BAT), academic record and personal statement.
Language: English-taught bachelor's degrees available alongside Italian-taught options.
Good fit for: Strong academic students specifically targeting finance, economics or management careers, prepared to sit a dedicated entrance test.
Why students choose it: France's leading institution for politics, international relations and law, with English-taught tracks (notably on the Reims campus) alongside strong French-language options.
Entry route: Competitive direct application reviewing academic record, personal statement and, for some tracks, an interview, rather than a single entrance exam.
Language: English-taught undergraduate tracks are available, though some French language study is often built into the degree.
Good fit for: Students set on politics, international relations, journalism or law who want one of Europe's most prestigious names in that field.
TUM
Technical University of Munich
Munich, Germany
English-taughtEngineering focusDirect application
Why students choose it: Germany's top-ranked technical university, with an outstanding reputation for engineering, computer science and applied sciences.
Entry route: Direct application based on academic record, with some programmes requiring additional aptitude tests or a portfolio.
Language: A growing number of English-taught master's programmes are available, alongside a smaller but expanding set of English-taught bachelor's degrees.
Good fit for: Strong maths and science students set on engineering or technology who want one of continental Europe's leading technical universities, often at little to no tuition fee.
HSG
University of St. Gallen
St. Gallen, Switzerland
English-taughtBusiness focusHighly selective
Why students choose it: One of Europe's most selective and respected business schools, with exceptional graduate employment outcomes, particularly into finance and consulting.
Entry route: Rigorous assessment centre process alongside academic record, and notably competitive compared with most Dutch or Irish options.
Language: Core teaching is increasingly available in English, though German is widely spoken on campus and in daily life.
Good fit for: Very strong academic students specifically targeting elite business/finance career outcomes, willing to go through a demanding admissions process.
Why students choose it: Scandinavia's highest-ranked university, with particular strength in the natural sciences, law and health sciences.
Entry route: Direct application, generally based on final/predicted grades, with quota systems for EU and non-EU applicants.
Language: A number of English-taught bachelor's programmes are available, though most bachelor's teaching remains in Danish, so options are narrower than the Netherlands.
Good fit for: Science-focused students who want a highly-ranked Scandinavian university, and don't mind a smaller pool of English-taught bachelor's programmes.
Why students choose it: One of Scandinavia's oldest and most research-intensive universities, with a strong reputation across engineering, sciences and social sciences.
Entry route: Direct application via the Swedish national admissions system, based on grades and, for some programmes, additional tests.
Language: A growing number of English-taught bachelor's programmes are available, though most undergraduate teaching in Sweden remains Swedish-taught.
Good fit for: Students wanting a research-strong Scandinavian university with a classic, close-knit student-town experience.
HU
Humanitas University
Milan, Italy · Private
IMAT entry6-year MD~€20,000/year
Overview: Founded in 2014 and dedicated solely to life sciences, Humanitas is a modern, private university teaching Medicine and Surgery entirely in English, attached to a major clinical research hospital campus in Milan.
Entry route: Admission via the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test), Italy's official entrance exam for English-taught medicine at public and several private universities.
Cost: Being private, fees are considerably higher than Italy's public universities, at approximately €20,000 per year, but with a smaller cohort and strong clinical facilities.
Good fit for: Students prioritising a modern campus and strong clinical exposure, who can support the higher private tuition costs.
MB
University of Milan-Bicocca
Milan, Italy · Public
IMAT entry6-year MD€156–€4,115/year
Overview: Founded in 1998, Bicocca is a large public university with over 30,000 students across eight faculties, offering an established English-taught Medicine and Surgery degree.
Entry route: Admission via the IMAT, competing for a set number of English-taught seats allocated to EU and non-EU applicants each year.
Cost: As a public university, fees are income-linked and can be very low (as little as a few hundred euros per year) for lower-income households, up to roughly €4,000+ for others.
Good fit for: Students wanting an internationally recognised MD at a fraction of private university cost, in a major Italian city.
UP
University of Pavia
Pavia, Italy · Public
IMAT entry6-year MD€0–€4,463/year
Overview: One of Italy's oldest universities, Pavia runs a well-established English-taught Medicine and Surgery programme (sometimes referred to as the Harvey Medical School track), with a strong academic reputation.
Entry route: Admission via the IMAT, competing for allocated English-taught seats.
Cost: Public, income-linked fees, ranging from €0 for lower-income households up to roughly €4,463 per year, with different banded rates for non-EU applicants.
Good fit for: Students wanting a historic, prestigious Italian university with genuinely low potential fees, provided family income qualifies for reduced bands.
UP
University of Padova
Padova / Venice, Italy · Public
IMAT entry6-year MD€158–€3,500/year
Overview: One of Italy's oldest and most prestigious universities (founded in 1222), Padova offers an English-taught Medicine and Surgery degree. From the 2025-26 academic year, the programme is taught in Venice rather than Padova itself.
Entry route: Admission via the IMAT, with 50 places for EU applicants (or non-EU applicants resident in Italy) and 10 places for non-EU applicants resident abroad each year.
Cost: Public, income-linked fees ranging from roughly €158 to €3,500 per year depending on family financial circumstances (ISEE).
Good fit for: Students wanting one of Italy's most historic and prestigious universities, with genuinely low potential fees, now in an increasingly popular Venice setting.
MUV
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria · Public
MedAT entry6-year MD~€800/year (non-EU)
Overview: Austria's largest medical university and one of the oldest in the German-speaking world, with a well-established English-taught MD programme and strong clinical training through Vienna's major teaching hospitals.
Entry route: Admission via the MedAT, Austria's standardised medical school aptitude test used across its public medical universities, separate from Italy's IMAT system.
Cost: As a public university, fees are notably low: around €800 per year for non-EU students, and free for EU students.
Good fit for: Students wanting a highly-ranked, public European medical degree at a very low cost, in one of Europe's major capital cities.
MUI
Medical University of Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria · Public
MedAT entry6-year MD~€800/year (non-EU)
Overview: A highly-regarded Austrian medical university offering an established English-taught MD programme, in a smaller, alpine city setting compared with Vienna.
Entry route: Admission via the same MedAT entrance exam used across Austria's public medical universities.
Cost: Public, low fees: around €800 per year for non-EU students, free for EU students.
Good fit for: Students who want the same strong public Austrian medicine route as Vienna, in a smaller city with easy access to the Alps.