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Meta title: Slovak Medical University (SZU): Admission and Fees
Meta description: SZU Bratislava: English-taught medicine at $11,360 a year, 15 places, an in-person biology and chemistry test, free Slovak-taught study with B1, housing, visas.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Slovak Medical University in Bratislava (SZU): Admission and Fees

The Slovak Medical University (Slovenská zdravotnícka univerzita v Bratislave, SZU) is a public university run under Slovakia's Ministry of Health that trains only doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals. General Medicine is taught free of charge in Slovak and for $11,360 (€10,000) a year in English — the lowest English-taught medicine fee among Slovakia's medical faculties in 2026/27. The trade-off is a tight admission path: 15 English-taught places, a single in-person exam in Bratislava (held on 1 July in 2026) and no university housing for English-programme students. The 2027/28 conditions had not been published when we checked, so the rules below are from the 2026/27 cycle.

The Slovak Medical University building on Limbová Street in Bratislava. Photo: Wizzard / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SZU_02.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Type | public university under the Ministry of Health |
| History | from 1953 an institute for doctors' postgraduate training (Trenčín, Bratislava from 1966); a university since 1 September 2002 |
| Faculties | Medicine, Nursing and Health Professional Studies, Public Health (Bratislava); Health Care (Banská Bystrica) |
| Students | 2,447 on 31 Oct 2025 |
| General Medicine in English | 6 years, MUDr., 15 places, $11,360 (€10,000) a year |
| General Medicine in Slovak | 6 years, 80 places, free within the standard length |
| Dentistry in Slovak | 5 years, MDDr., 20 places |
| Entrance exam | written, 160 questions split evenly between biology and chemistry, 150 minutes, maximum 640 points |
| Admission fee | $79 (€70) per programme |

## How SZU compares with other Slovak medical faculties {#section-1}

Four faculties in Slovakia teach General Medicine in English. SZU wins on price and loses on flexibility.

| Faculty | City | Annual English-taught fee, 2026/27 | Exam format | Rounds per year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SZU Faculty of Medicine | Bratislava | $11,360 (€10,000) | in person in Bratislava | one (1 July 2026) |
| Comenius University Faculty of Medicine | Bratislava | $14,760 (€13,000) | online | three |
| Comenius University Jessenius Faculty | Martin | $13,060 (€11,500) | online | three |
| UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine | Košice | $14,760 (€13,000) | in person in Košice | several |

Over six years the saving compared with Comenius University is about $20,000 at current fees. But SZU gives you no second chance within the same year: miss the exam or fall short and you wait a year. See the profiles of [Comenius University](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-comenius) and [Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-upjs-kosice), and our comparison of [studying medicine in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-slovakia).

## Programmes at SZU {#section-2}

| Faculty | Programmes for school leavers | Language |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Medicine (LF) | General Medicine (MUDr., 6 years), Dentistry (MDDr., 5 years) | Slovak; General Medicine also in English |
| Nursing and Health Professional Studies (FOaZOŠ) | nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, radiological technology, emergency care, clinical nutrition, dental hygiene | Slovak |
| Public Health (FVZ) | public health | Slovak |
| Health Care, Banská Bystrica (FZ) | nursing, physiotherapy, emergency care, laboratory methods | Slovak |

Dentistry moved to a five-year programme for 2026/27: the faculty received authorisation on 22 April 2026, and everyone who applied to the six-year version is admitted to the new one. SZU has trained doctors after graduation since 1953; specialist training still runs here, and the university operates its own polyclinic.

## General Medicine in English: the 2026/27 rules {#section-3}

| Item | 2026/27 cycle |
| --- | --- |
| Places | 15 |
| Application deadline | 31 May 2026 |
| Exam | 1 July 2026, Bratislava, written |
| Content | 80 biology and 80 chemistry questions at grammar-school level, in English |
| Time and score | 150 minutes, maximum 640 points |
| Selection | ranking by test score until places are filled |
| Fee | $79 (€70), refunded only if the programme does not open |
| Tuition | $11,360 (€10,000) a year; $10,220 (€9,000) for students admitted up to 2023/24 |

You register the application in the MAIS system (English version), then print, sign and post it with the attachments to the SZU study department at Limbová 12, Bratislava. Once the application is complete and the fee paid, SZU emails preparation materials for the test. The conditions do not list a separate English certificate: the test itself, written in English, checks your language.

Demand for the English programme is modest. For 2025/26 SZU received 24 applications for 15 English-taught places, against 676 for 80 Slovak-taught medicine places. In October 2025 the English programme had 61 students in total.

### Documents for the English-taught programme

1. The signed printout of your online application.
2. A certified, apostilled copy of your school-leaving certificate with an official Slovak translation; this year's graduates bring it by exam day.
3. Recognition of your certificate: a ministry recognition statement (doložka) for countries that have one — EU members, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the UK, Iceland, Ukraine, Russia and China — or otherwise a certified copy of a recognition decision from the Regional Office of School Administration (RÚŠS) for your region of permanent residence in Slovakia or the office in Bratislava.
4. A GP's certificate of fitness for medical study and practice, plus proof of hepatitis B vaccination.
5. A CV in English.
6. A birth certificate with an official Slovak translation.
7. A copy of your passport (and Slovak residence permit, if you have one) and one 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo.
8. Proof of the fee payment.

Diplomas and certificates of achievement do not count in the ranking, so do not send them. The recognition routes are explained in our guide to [recognition of school certificates in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-recognition-of-school-certificates-slovakia).

## Medicine and Dentistry in Slovak {#section-4}

For 2026/27 the Slovak-taught programmes took applications until 28 February, with in-person exams from 8 June; a reserve date, 18 June, was granted on written request. The test format is the same — 160 biology and chemistry questions, 150 minutes, up to 640 points — plus bonus points: up to 25 for the grade average of the first three years of secondary school and up to 30 for Slovak subject olympiads, capped at 55 in total, for a maximum of 695.

International applicants (except Czech citizens) need a Slovak certificate at B1 or higher from a language school in Slovakia's official school network, or a Slovak university's confirmation of language preparation. Applicants educated abroad attach certified, translated grades for their last three school years. Exceeding the standard length costs $1,140 (€1,000) a year in General Medicine and $2,270 (€2,000) in Dentistry. If you are starting Slovak from scratch, begin with our guide to [Slovak preparatory courses](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-slovak-language-preparatory-courses).

## Nursing, physiotherapy and public health {#section-5}

For 2026/27 the Faculty of Nursing and Health Professional Studies accepted full-time bachelor's applications until 28 February, with exams from 8 June; physiotherapy and emergency care add a physical fitness test. The Faculty of Public Health admitted without exams in 2026/27, with applications until 30 April. All of these programmes are taught in Slovak, so the B1 certificate matters just as much as it does for medicine.

## What a year at SZU costs {#section-6}

| Item | English-taught medicine | Slovak-taught programme |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tuition, 2026/27 | $11,360 (€10,000) a year | $0 |
| Housing | no university housing; private rental | SZU residence if places are available |
| Admission fee | $79 (€70) | $79 (€70) for medicine |

Newly enrolled English-programme students also pay $68 (€60) for the ISIC student card. Six years of English-taught medicine at the current fee add up to $68,130 (€60,000) in tuition alone; the university reviews fees, so treat this as a guide. English-programme students must find their own housing, which in Bratislava is the largest cost after tuition. City benchmarks and full budgets are in our guide to the [cost of studying in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-slovakia); students paying from Russia should use only the [legal payment routes](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## SZU residences {#section-7}

| Where | What | Price per bed per month (price list as of September 2026) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bratislava, Limbová 12 | 294 beds, mostly double rooms with private bathrooms | $150 (€135); summer $220 (€195) |
| Banská Bystrica | double, triple and quadruple rooms with bathroom and kitchenette | $110–130 (€99–112) |

A limited number of admitted students get a place in Bratislava. The admission conditions state explicitly that SZU does not provide housing for students of the English-taught medicine programme.

## Timing: why a July exam is a visa risk {#section-8}

The English-programme exam falls in early July and teaching starts in September. After admission, a non-EU student applies for temporary residence for the purpose of study at the Slovak embassy accredited to their country — Moscow for Russian citizens, Astana for Kazakh citizens — and the police have up to 90 days to decide. The answer may therefore arrive after the semester has begun. The alternative is to enter on a Slovak national visa and file the application with the foreign police in Slovakia. Which route is realistic for you is covered in our guide to the [student residence permit in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-slovakia).

To save time, arrange apostilles and translations early, and order the criminal record certificate so that it is under 90 days old on the filing date. Get the GP certificate and hepatitis B vaccination done before you apply.

## If you plan to practise in Russia or elsewhere outside the EU {#section-9}

An SZU degree is issued by a Slovak state university. Automatic recognition of medical qualifications under EU Directive 2005/36/EC applies to EU citizens; a graduate holding a Russian or Kazakh passport obtains the right to practise in an EU country under that country's national rules and medical regulator. Practising in Russia requires recognition of the foreign degree first and then specialist accreditation. Russia has a mutual recognition treaty with Slovakia, so documents it covers need no separate Rosobrnadzor assessment, but a doctor still needs a Roszdravnadzor decision on qualification requirements and specialist accreditation. Our guide to [studying medicine abroad](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-abroad) compares the route with other countries; the decisions rest with the Russian authorities, not the university.

## Common mistakes {#section-10}

- Starting preparation in spring. Last cycle's English test was on 1 July and applications closed on 31 May, with no reserve round.
- Counting on a dormitory. SZU does not house English-taught medicine students; look for a rental early.
- Sending only the online application. The signed printout and attachments must arrive by post.
- Bringing a Czech certificate instead of Slovak. Slovak-taught programmes require proof of Slovak at B1.
- Confusing SZU with Comenius University's Faculty of Medicine. They are different universities with different fees, exams and deadlines.

## How StudyU helps {#section-11}

In a free initial consultation we look at your biology and chemistry preparation, language and budget and discuss whether to rely on SZU's single exam or plan across several faculties. Faculty and exam-round selection, a requirements check against your school certificate, a document and translation schedule, preparation of the postal application and the residence permit file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The dean of the SZU Faculty of Medicine decides on admission based on the test, the ministry or RÚŠS on recognition, and the Slovak foreign police on the residence permit.

Other universities are in our [Slovakia study guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-slovakiya); the general procedure is in [applying to universities in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-slovakia).

## FAQ {#section-12}

### How much does English-taught medicine at SZU cost?

In 2026/27 it is $11,360 (€10,000) a year for students admitted from 2024/25 onwards; those admitted earlier pay $10,220 (€9,000). That is the lowest English-taught medicine fee among Slovakia's four medical faculties.

### Can I take the SZU entrance exam online?

Under the 2026/27 rules, no: the written test took place in Bratislava on 1 July 2026. Comenius University's faculties in Bratislava and Martin run their English-programme exams online.

### Do I need IELTS or another English certificate?

The 2026/27 SZU admission conditions do not name a separate language certificate. The biology and chemistry test is in English, so your language level is effectively tested in the exam itself.

### When will SZU publish its 2027/28 conditions?

On 30 Sept 2026 the 2027/28 conditions were not yet online. The faculty approved its 2026/27 rules in November 2025, so new conditions usually appear in late autumn. Last cycle the English-taught programme took applications until 31 May, so prepare your documents from the winter.

### Does SZU provide student housing?

Not for English-taught medicine students — the admission conditions say so directly. Slovak-programme students can apply for a bed at Limbová 12 for $150 (€135) a month, but places are limited.

### Can I study at SZU for free?

Yes, in a full-time Slovak-taught programme within its standard length. You compete in the biology and chemistry exam alongside Slovak applicants and need a Slovak certificate at B1 or higher.

### How is SZU different from Comenius University's Faculty of Medicine?

They are separate universities. SZU is cheaper in English ($11,360 versus $14,760 a year) but offers one in-person exam and 15 places. Comenius runs three online rounds with more places, at a higher fee.

## Sources {#section-13}

- [SZU: about the university and its history](https://eszu.sk/o-univerzite/) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [SZU Faculty of Medicine: 2026/27 admission information, Slovak and English programmes (PDF)](https://eszu.sk/wp-content/uploads/Informacie-o-PK-LF.pdf) and [General Medicine in English, 2026/27 (PDF)](https://eszu.sk/wp-content/uploads/INFO-ADMISSION-GM-2026-2027.pdf) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [SZU: fees for English-taught students, 2025/26 and 2026/27 (PDF)](https://eszu.sk/wp-content/uploads/Priloha2.pdf) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [SZU: Faculty of Nursing admissions](https://eszu.sk/foazos/foazos-uchadzac/), [Faculty of Public Health admissions](https://eszu.sk/fvz/uchadzac/), [accredited programmes](https://eszu.sk/akreditovane-studijne-programy/) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [SZU annual report 2025 (PDF)](https://eszu.sk/wp-content/uploads/Vyrocna-sprava-o-cinnosti-SZU-za-rok-2025.pdf) — student and application numbers — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [SZU: accommodation and prices](https://eszu.sk/ubytovanie/) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [Slovak recognition portal: which foreign certificates have a doložka](https://uznavanie.minedu.sk/en/category/recognition-statement) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [IOM Migration Information Centre: student residence permit guide](https://www.mic.iom.sk/en/residence/temporary-residence/985-temporary-residence-study.html) and [summary of the July 2026 amendment](https://www.mic.iom.sk/en/news/981-changes-in-the-amendment-to-the-foreigners-residence-act.html) — checked 30 Sept 2026
- [Glavexpertcentr: recognition treaties list](https://nic.gov.ru/ru/docs/foreign/confirmation), [Roszdravnadzor: foreign medical education](https://roszdravnadzor.gov.ru/medactivities/specialist)
- Other faculties' 2026/27 fees: our guide to [studying medicine in Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-slovakia), based on the faculties' official pages checked on 24 Sept 2026

All dollar figures are converted from euros at the ECB reference rate of 29 Sept 2026 (€1 = $1.1355), the latest available on our check date; amounts below $100 are rounded to $1 and the rest to $10.

If you want a preparation plan for the SZU test and your documents, send us a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica: Admission 2027/28](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-matej-bel)
- [Technical University of Košice (TUKE): Admission and Fees](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tu-kosice)
- [Studying in Slovakia for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-slovakiya)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying Medicine in Slovakia: Faculties, Entrance Exams, 2026/27 Fees and 2027/28 Dates](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-slovakia)
- [Recognition of School Certificates in Slovakia: Recognition Statement, RÚŠS and Timelines](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-recognition-of-school-certificates-slovakia)

Updated: September 2026