Free Webinar: MBBS in India

Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM

Reserve my Seat
futureMBBS

Free Webinar: MBBS in India

Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM

Reserve my Seat
futureMBBS
Košice, Slovakia

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine

Medicine in English in Košice, Slovakia's second city, at a faculty teaching doctors since 1948.

  • MBBS student
  • MBBS student
  • MBBS student
  • MBBS student

5000+ Students trust us

Slovakia

Country

Košice

City

#1001–1200

QS World Ranking 2027

English

Medium of instruction

Introduction

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJŠ) is one of Slovakia's established medical faculties, based in Košice, the country's second-largest city, in the east of the country. It was founded in 1948 as a branch of the medical faculty of the Slovak (later Comenius) University in Bratislava, set up to train doctors for eastern Slovakia, and in 1959 it became a founding faculty of the new Pavol Jozef Šafárik University. It has taught medicine for more than seventy-five years and trains doctors in a network of Košice teaching hospitals. The General Medicine (MBBS) programme is a six-year, full-time degree taught entirely in English, with 210 places for international students in 2026/27. Admission is through the faculty's own written entrance examination in biology and chemistry, rather than NEET, though Indian students still need to qualify NEET to obtain the eligibility certificate the National Medical Commission (NMC) requires for studying MBBS abroad and for licensing later. The degree (MUDr., equivalent to MBBS) is recognised across the European Union, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and recognised by the NMC, so graduates can pursue licensing in India, the EU and beyond.

  • Study program:MBBS
  • Language:English
  • Duration:6 Years
  • Per semester fees:₹7.16 lakhs
  • Application deadline:31. July
  • Entrance examination:Aufnahmetest
  • International seats:210

A Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine teaching building in Košice
A UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine building on the Košice campus
A UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine teaching facility in Košice
The UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine campus in Košice, Slovakia

A Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine teaching building in Košice

Find out all about your MBBS-abroad options at UPJŠ Košice

Download our free brochure for immediate information, or get personalised professional counselling from our experts.

Recognition & Prestige

Rankings & Recognition

UPJŠ is a recognised public research university in the QS World University Rankings, and its Faculty of Medicine offers a medical degree recognised across the European Union, accredited under a WFME-recognised system, and listed by the National Medical Commission of India.

  • #1001–1200

    QS World University Rankings 2027

The medical degree is recognised internationally. UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), Slovakia's higher-education accreditation agency (SAAHE) holds World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) recognition status, the degree is recognised across the European Union, and it is recognised by the National Medical Commission of India, so eligible graduates can sit the Indian screening examination (FMGE/NExT) for licensing.

Accreditations and Recognition

  • National Medical Commission (NMC) of India emblem

    NMC (India)

    Recognised for Indian students: UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine is recognised by the National Medical Commission, so eligible graduates can sit the FMGE/NExT screening examination and pursue licensing in India.

  • World Directory of Medical Schools emblem

    WDOMS

    Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), the global directory of medical schools.

  • World Federation for Medical Education emblem

    WFME

    Slovakia's higher-education accreditation agency (SAAHE) holds WFME recognition status (valid to 2034), an international standard increasingly required for global licensing, including the US ECFMG route.

  • European Union emblem

    European Union (EHEA)

    As a Slovak degree, the qualification is recognised across the European Union and the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process), supporting registration and practice across the EU.

Complete Information About UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine

Get complete information about Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine in Košice, including tuition, living costs, the entrance exam and the licensing route for Indian students.

Success stories

Student Success Stories

Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.

Academic Excellence

Why Study MBBS at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine

UPJŠ offers more than seventy-five years of medical teaching, a WFME-recognised and EU-recognised degree, modern simulation and research facilities, and an affordable student life in Košice, Slovakia's lively second city.

Over 75 Years of Medical Teaching

Founded in 1948, the UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine is one of Slovakia's long-established medical schools, with decades of experience training doctors and a large body of international graduates.

WFME-Recognised, EU-Recognised Degree

Slovakia's accreditation agency holds WFME recognition status, and the UPJŠ degree is recognised across the European Union, so graduates have strong options for licensing in India, the EU, the UK, the USA and beyond.

Recognised by the NMC

UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine is recognised by the National Medical Commission of India, so eligible graduates can appear for the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT, and go on to practise medicine in India.

Modern Simulation & Research Facilities

The faculty runs the MEDIPARK biomedical research centre and a modern Center of Simulator and Virtual Medicine, giving students hands-on practice on simulators and exposure to a genuine research environment.

A Large Network of Teaching Hospitals

Clinical training takes place across Košice's major hospitals, including Louis Pasteur University Hospital, the Children's University Hospital, the East Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and the East Slovak Oncology Institute.

Affordable Student City

Košice is easier to budget for than Bratislava or Budapest, with typical student living costs of about ₹40,000 to ₹65,000 a month and affordable university dormitories at Medická and Popradská.

A Lively Second City with an Airport

Košice, a European Capital of Culture in 2013, has a beautiful historic centre and its own international airport (KSC) about 6 km from the centre, giving students convenient connections across Europe.

Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure

Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.

How to Apply

Admission Process for MBBS

Admission to General Medicine at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine is through the faculty's own written entrance examination in biology and chemistry, submitted via the university's AiS2 e-application system. Indian students must also qualify NEET to obtain the NMC eligibility certificate required to study MBBS abroad, but admission to UPJŠ itself is decided by the entrance exam, not by NEET rank.

Admission Timeline

  1. 1
    Autumn 2025 – spring 2026Applications Open

    Applicants submit the AiS2 e-application, plus the signed printed application and supporting documents, with a €30 entrance-exam fee. The postmark date is decisive for the deadline.

  2. 2
    17 June / 12 August 2026Entrance Examination

    A 2.5-hour written multiple-choice test in Biology and Chemistry (200 questions, 100 per subject, up to 800 points, no negative marking), held on campus in Košice. Partner-run exams are also offered in Birmingham (25 July), Kraków (22 August) and Warsaw (29 August).

  3. 3
    After the examRanking & Offers

    Applicants are ranked by their entrance-exam score; the pass mark for General Medicine is usually about 75%, and offers are made to the highest-scoring candidates up to the number of available places.

  4. 4
    On acceptanceEnrolment & Fees

    Admitted students confirm their place and pay the first-year tuition to secure their seat.

  5. 5
    Summer 2026Visa & Residence

    Students complete the Slovak student visa and temporary-residence steps, with documents issued by the faculty's international office.

  6. 6
    September 2026Classes Begin

    The winter semester begins for the new intake in Košice.

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Qualification

Applicants must have completed Class 12 (or equivalent secondary education) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and Indian students must have qualified NEET for NMC eligibility. Strong biology and chemistry knowledge is essential for the high-volume entrance exam.

Subjects:

BiologyChemistryPhysicsEnglish

Age Requirement

Candidates should be at least 17 years old in the year of admission, in line with standard MBBS-abroad and NMC requirements.

  • Minimum 17 yearsRequired age in the year of admission

Requirements

Applicants must sit and pass the UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine written entrance examination. Applications are submitted through the AiS2 system, with a signed printed application and documents sent to the faculty by the deadline.

  • Entrance Exam

    A 2.5-hour written test in Biology (100 questions) and Chemistry (100 questions), scored up to 800 points with no negative marking; the pass mark is usually about 75%.

  • NEET (for Indian students)

    Indian students must qualify NEET to obtain the NMC eligibility certificate required for studying MBBS abroad and for the screening examination on return.

Entrance Examination

Admission is based on the written entrance examination in biology and chemistry, with applicants ranked by their scores, not on category-wise minimum marks.

ComponentRequirement
Written testBiology (100 questions) and Chemistry (100 questions), 200 in total, over 2.5 hours; each question scores 0–4 points, up to 800, with no negative marking. Pass mark usually about 75%.
Dates & locations (2026)17 June and 12 August 2026 on campus in Košice; partner-run exams in Birmingham (25 July), Kraków (22 August) and Warsaw (29 August).

Required Documents

To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:

  • Signed AiS2 application form and attachment, plus the €30 exam fee confirmation
  • Class 12 / secondary-school certificate with apostille and sworn Slovak translation where required
  • NEET result (for Indian students, for NMC eligibility)
  • Valid passport or ID copy
  • + More

Admission Guidance & Document Checklist

Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.

Program Structure

MBBS Curriculum & Internship Structure

Students follow a structured six-year curriculum: the first three years cover theoretical and pre-clinical science, and the fourth to sixth years bring diverse clinical experience in Košice's teaching hospitals, taught entirely in English.

Medicine (General Medicine) Course

  • Total Duration:

    6 Years (12 semesters)

  • Degree:

    Doctor of General Medicine (MUDr.), equivalent to MBBS

Curriculum Phases at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine

  • Years 1–2

    Theoretical (Pre-Clinical Foundations)

    Basic medical sciences focused on the structure and function of the healthy human body, taught through lectures, laboratories and practical classes, supported by the faculty's simulation centre:

    AnatomyHistology & EmbryologyMedical ChemistryBiochemistry
    Medical BiologyBiophysicsPhysiology
  • Years 3–4

    Pre-Clinical to Clinical Transition

    Paraclinical sciences and the first clinical experience in the Košice teaching hospitals, bridging laboratory science and bedside medicine:

    PathologyPathophysiologyPharmacologyMicrobiology
    ImmunologyPropaedeutics of Internal MedicinePropaedeutics of Surgery
  • Years 5–6

    Clinical Training & Final Year

    Diverse clinical rotations across the specialties in Košice's teaching hospitals, with a final practical year of clerkships before the state examinations and the MUDr. degree:

    Internal MedicineSurgeryPaediatricsObstetrics & Gynaecology
    NeurologyPsychiatryClinical rotations

Clinical Rotations

Clinical training takes place across Košice's teaching hospitals from the third and fourth years onwards, beginning with early clinical experience and building to full clinical rotations and a final practical year.

PhaseFocus
Years 1–3Theoretical and pre-clinical lectures, laboratories and simulation-based practical classes.
Years 4–5Diverse clinical experience across the specialties in Košice teaching hospitals.
Year 6A final practical clinical year of clerkships before the state examinations and the degree.

Get the full curriculum

Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.

Global Exchange

Erasmus+ Partner Universities

UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine takes part in the Erasmus+ programme, and General Medicine students who have completed the required years (typically the third or fourth year) can apply to study a semester, or complete clinical clerkships, at partner medical schools across Europe. The faculty maintains inter-institutional agreements with universities in many European countries and publishes its full partner list through its International Relations Office.

CountryErasmus+ Partner Universities (Medicine)
AustriaMedical University of Vienna
Czech RepublicCharles University, Prague (1st, 2nd, 3rd & Hradec Králové Faculties of Medicine); Masaryk University, Brno (Faculty of Medicine); Palacký University Olomouc (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry)
GermanyCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin; LMU Munich; Heidelberg University (Faculty of Medicine); University of Cologne (Faculty of Medicine)
HungarySemmelweis University, Budapest (Faculty of Medicine); University of Szeged (Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School)
ItalySapienza University of Rome (Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy); University of Bologna (School of Medicine); University of Perugia (Department of Medicine); University of Cagliari (Faculty of Medicine and Surgery)
PolandJagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków; Medical University of Lodz
SpainUniversity of Barcelona (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences); University of Valencia (Faculty of Medicine and Odontology); University of Santiago de Compostela (Faculty of Medicine and Odontology)

Explore Your Erasmus+ Options

UPJŠ students can spend a semester at partner medical schools across Europe. Get the latest details and guidance from our experts.

Legacy

Prominent Figures of UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine

The university carries the name of one of the great figures of Slovak scholarship and is led today by senior Slovak physicians and researchers.

Pavol Jozef Šafárik (namesake, 1795–1861)

The university is named after Pavol Jozef Šafárik, a Slovak philologist, poet and historian regarded as a founder of Slavic studies. He is not a medical figure, but his name reflects the university's standing as a major centre of learning in eastern Slovakia.

Prof. MUDr. Peter Jarčuška, PhD (Dean)

Dean of the UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine and a specialist in internal medicine and hepatology, Peter Jarčuška is a well-known figure in Slovak infectious-disease and liver medicine, and represents the faculty's leadership in clinical teaching and research.

Faculty

The UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine is led by its Dean, Professor Peter Jarčuška, an internal-medicine and hepatology specialist, and teaching is delivered by physicians, surgeons and scientists across the faculty's institutes, the MEDIPARK research centre, the Center of Simulator and Virtual Medicine, and Košice's teaching hospitals.

Academic Expertise

  • Led by Dean Professor Peter Jarčuška (internal medicine / hepatology)

  • Experienced physicians and surgeons

  • MEDIPARK biomedical research centre

  • Faculty with international publications

Student Support & Mentorship

  • Simulation-based teaching at the CSVM

  • Personal mentorship

  • Clinical supervision in Košice teaching hospitals

  • An active international and Erasmus student network

About University

History Information

A UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine building in Košice

A UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine building in Košice

Founded in 1948

The Faculty of Medicine in Košice was established in 1948 by a law of the Czechoslovak National Assembly, as a branch of the medical faculty of the Slovak (later Comenius) University in Bratislava, created to meet the shortage of doctors in eastern Slovakia. Teaching began in the 1948/49 academic year.

Birth of Šafárik University (1959)

In 1959 the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Arts joined to form a new university in eastern Slovakia, named Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice after the Slovak scholar. The Faculty of Medicine has been at the heart of the university ever since.

The UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine campus in Košice

The UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine campus in Košice

Decades of International Teaching

Over more than seventy-five years the faculty has trained generations of Slovak and international doctors, and today teaches General Medicine and Dental Medicine in English to students from across Europe, Asia and beyond.

UPJŠ Today

Today the faculty combines classical medical teaching with modern facilities, including the MEDIPARK biomedical research centre and a Center of Simulator and Virtual Medicine, and trains doctors in Košice's network of university and specialist hospitals.

Get all information about UPJŠ in our free brochure

Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine.

Role in medicine

Role in medical education

Medical Education for Eastern Slovakia

Founded in 1948 to train doctors for eastern Slovakia, the UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine has been the region's principal medical school for more than seventy-five years and supplies much of the medical workforce of Košice and the surrounding region.

A Research and Clinical Hub

The faculty combines teaching with research through its MEDIPARK biomedical centre and simulation medicine facilities, and with clinical work across Košice's university and specialist hospitals in cardiology, oncology and paediatrics.

An International Medical Community

The English-taught programme attracts students from across the world, including a growing Indian community, making UPJŠ an established and welcoming choice for MBBS abroad in eastern Central Europe.

Get all information about UPJŠ in our free brochure

Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine.

Affordable education

MBBS Living Cost at UPJŠ, Košice

Košice is an affordable student city and is usually easier to budget for than Bratislava or Budapest. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown for an international student, quoted in Indian rupees.

Monthly Living Cost

Cost ComponentApproximate Amount
Accommodation (dormitory or shared flat)₹10,000 – ₹36,000
Food₹14,000 – ₹20,000
Transportation (student pass)₹800 – ₹1,500
Other Expenses (utilities, internet, leisure)₹6,000 – ₹12,000
Get Free MBBS Guide

Average monthly living cost

₹40,000 – ₹65,000

Housing

Accommodation

UPJŠ offers places in its student residences at Medická and Popradská, and many international students also rent private flats in Košice. Both options are affordable and keep students within reach of the faculty and the teaching hospitals.

Medická Dormitory

The Medická student residence is a popular base for medical students, close to the faculty and the teaching hospitals, and among the most affordable housing options in Košice.

Popradská Dormitory

The Popradská residence is the university's other main student hostel, offering affordable rooms and easy access to the city and campus by public transport.

Rooms and Facilities

Dormitory rooms are typically shared, with communal kitchens, study areas and laundry, and are connected to the faculty and hospitals by Košice's tram and bus network.

Affordable Monthly Cost

University dormitory places are among the most affordable options in Košice, well below private rents, making them a popular choice for first-year students.

How to Apply

Dormitory places are requested through the university after admission and are limited, so students should apply early once they receive an offer.

Private Shared Flats

Students who prefer more comfort or independence can choose privately operated student residences, or rent or share a private flat. Both options cost noticeably more than the university halls, and students organise this independently as the university does not arrange private housing.

Living Near the Faculty

The faculty is at Trieda SNP 1, close to Louis Pasteur University Hospital, and Košice's tram and bus network makes it easy to reach the campus and clinical sites.

Getting Around & Home

Košice has an affordable public-transport network with a low-cost student pass, and its own international airport (KSC) about 6 km from the centre for convenient travel.

Need accommodation details?

Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.

Food & Dining

Vegetarian Options and Indian Food in Košice

Košice is Slovakia's second-largest city, so vegetarian food is easy to find and there are Indian and Asian restaurants and grocery options, alongside affordable university canteens and easy self-catering.

UPJŠ canteens and nearby cafes serve affordable daily meals close to the faculty and hospitals, with vegetarian options available for students who prefer them.

Location

How to Reach UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine in Košice

Address

Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovak Republic

  • Nearest Airport

    Košice International Airport (KSC) is about 6 km from the city centre and is Slovakia's second-busiest airport, with connections via Vienna, Bratislava, Prague and other hubs to India and the world.

  • Local Transport

    Košice has an affordable network of trams, trolleybuses and buses with a low-cost student pass, connecting the faculty on Trieda SNP with the dormitories at Medická and Popradská and the teaching hospitals.

Your Roadmap to Success

Career Pathways After MBBS at UPJŠ

On completing the programme, graduates earn the Doctor of General Medicine (MUDr.) degree, equivalent to an MBBS, recognised across the European Union and by regulators in India and many other countries.

Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway

A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.

Practising in India

FMGE & NExT Details

To practise medicine in India after graduating from UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine, Indian students follow a clear pathway set by the National Medical Commission. NEET qualification is required from the start to obtain the NMC eligibility certificate.

  1. Step 1

    Screening Examination (FMGE / NExT)

    Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. This is currently the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which is transitioning to the National Exit Test (NExT).

  2. Step 2

    Clinical Internship (CRRI)

    After qualifying, students complete a one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, gaining supervised clinical experience across the major departments.

  3. Step 3

    Medical Registration

    The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council, after which the graduate can practise as a doctor in India.

Student Life Style

Student life at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine

Being an MBBS student in Košice is a mix of intensive academics, an affordable and lively second city, and a friendly international community, with the historic old town and eastern Slovakia's mountains close at hand.

Academics

The curriculum is intensive, well structured and aligned with European standards, supported by modern simulation facilities. Students gain hands-on clinical exposure in Košice's teaching hospitals from the middle years.

City and Culture

Košice, a European Capital of Culture in 2013, has a beautiful historic centre built around St. Elisabeth Cathedral, the largest church in Slovakia, with a lively café, theatre and concert scene and a lower cost of living than the big capitals.

Challenges and Growth

The course is demanding, but it builds important skills like time management, resilience and independence, and living abroad helps students grow personally as well as academically.

Social Life

Student organisations and the Erasmus Student Network run events, trips and a buddy system, and a large international community makes social life welcoming, with easy travel to the mountains of eastern Slovakia and to nearby Hungary and Poland.

Overall Experience

Studying MBBS at UPJŠ is about growing as a professional and as a person, building lifelong friendships and gaining an EU-recognised medical education in Slovakia's vibrant second city.

Scholarship & Financial

Scholarship & Financial Aid

UPJŠ students can explore a small number of government and university scholarship routes, though most international students self-fund the programme.

The Slovak government's National Scholarship Programme supports selected international students and researchers with monthly scholarships for study and research stays in Slovakia, administered by SAIA.

Ratings

Reviews & Ratings

Hear from students and alumni about their experience at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine in Košice.

4.5

150 reviews

Academics4.6
Infrastructure4.5
Hostel4.4
Campus Life4.6
Value for Money4.6
  • Serious medical faculty, affordable city

    Student — Medicine 2022

    UPJŠ has a long history and modern simulation facilities, and Košice is affordable and easy to live in. The WFME-recognised, EU-recognised degree gives real confidence for the future.

  • Strong clinical exposure

    Student — Medicine 2021

    The clinical years across Košice's hospitals give real hands-on experience, and the international community is welcoming. The entrance exam is tough but fair, and the city is lovely.

Compare

Compare Colleges

Compare Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.

Quick Comparison:

UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine vs CMC Vellore

University
UPJŠ Faculty of MedicineKošice, Slovakia
CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India
University TypePublicPrivate (minority)
MediumEnglishEnglish
Course Duration6 years (General Medicine, MUDr., MBBS-equivalent)5.5 years (MBBS)
Tuition (per year)~₹13.5 lakh (€13,000)~₹3–4 lakh
AdmissionWritten Biology/Chemistry entrance exam (NEET needed for NMC eligibility)NEET-UG
RecognitionNMC-recognised; WFME-recognised system; EU-recognised; WDOMS-listedNMC-recognised
RankingQS World #1001–1200 (2027)Among India's leading medical colleges

Compare Top MBBS Universities for Me

See key differences in fees, ranking, eligibility and recognition.

Our blog

Medical Education Insights

Articles that turn complex MBBS-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about MBBS at UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine in Košice.