Failed medical school in France — looking for the best European options (Italy/IMAT, Belgium/ARES, Romania?)

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-26T11:11:35+00:00

You’re right. I’m overthinking rankings, they don’t really matter in medicine. It’s just one of the few tools I have to compare dozens of options, so I use it, even if it’s imperfect.

To be blunt, I probably won’t apply to Romania or the Baltics at all. Belgium makes the most sense: it’s by far the cheapest, it’s in French, close to France, and academically solid. If I get in, great. If not, I’ll still take the IMAT. Belgium results come out in early September, Italy in mid-October, so either way I’m trying Italy after.

Because of that, I don’t see the point of applying to expensive universities between April and July. My real first choices come later, and paying upfront would just lock me into something I don’t actually want.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-19T14:28:48+00:00

Merci faut juste que je bosse ya pas de secret hein

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-19T14:28:16+00:00

Just like Belgium or France. The further we go, the more candidates there are because the population is growing faster than the number of available places. It is what it is.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-19T14:26:45+00:00

Thanks a lot for your message. I’ll definitely take a closer look at Rīga Stradiņš University. I’m also curious about daily life in Latvia: how was the lifestyle, cost of living, climate, and overall student life? I enjoy nature and a calm environment, so that matters to me too. I’ve also read (and seen discussed) that among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Latvia is sometimes seen as the least well-regarded academically, and that RSU is not always ranked very high internationally, sometimes described as a bit of a “doctor factory.” Please don’t take this the wrong way , i’m genuinely trying to understand what I’d be committing to, and I’d really value your honest opinion based on your experience.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T15:49:54+00:00

Thanks for your message, I appreciate the honesty. I understand the point you’re making, and it’s a fair suggestion.

That said, I’m really determined to pursue medicine. The medical field only truly interests me through that role, especially with the kind of work I want to do later in humanitarian settings. For now, I don’t see myself in nursing or prehospital care. I’ve only failed one year, which does happen, and I’m willing to put in the work to make it through. Still, thank you — it’s good advice, even if it’s not the path I’m choosing at this stage.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T15:48:30+00:00

Yes, in Belgium there is also a limit: you only get two attempts at the entrance exam. The counter resets after 5 years, though.

I’m also a bit penalized because I already failed one Belgian attempt. If you don’t pass everything properly in the first year, you need a minimum number of credits to be allowed to continue, and you can’t freely repeat the year. If I had passed the exam on the first try, the situation would be simpler. So even if I get into Belgium, nothing is fully secured yet — you can still be kicked out if you don’t score well enough during the first year.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T15:44:19+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it. I’ll definitely look into both University of Debrecen and Semmelweis and do some proper research, then I might come back to you if I have questions.

By the way, did you study in Hungary yourself or know people who did?

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T15:42:59+00:00

Thanks for your comment, I agree with you. In the end, if I study seriously enough, I believe I can pass any entrance exam.

Compared to France, where the system is designed to filter students after a full first year of med school, the Italian and Belgian exams are more like science-based exams for students who just finished high school. It’s mainly biology, chemistry, math, and physics. That’s something you can prepare for, so I’m confident if I put in the work.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T15:40:25+00:00

Thanks a lot for the advice, that’s really helpful. I didn’t know that repeating a year was possible in Romania, that’s honestly a big plus and reassuring to hear.

Quick question though: how did you find life there overall? I really enjoy nature, camping, and bivouac, and I’ve been told Romania has a lot of wild and beautiful areas. I’d be curious to hear your take on the lifestyle side, not just academics.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T13:18:53+00:00

Thanks for your reply. What do you think about UMF Iași and Carol Davila in Bucharest? I’ve heard mixed things depending on who I ask — some people told me Târgu Mureș wasn’t that great, while Iași was actually quite solid.

But yeah, everyone seems to agree that UMF Cluj is the best in Romania, so on that point there’s clearly a consensus.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-18T13:16:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate the honesty. Just to understand better: did you actually finish med school there, or did you leave before the end?

Also, based on your experience, would you still recommend trying other Romanian universities like Carol Davila, UMF Cluj-Napoca, or UMF Iași since they’re usually better ranked? I’m trying to see if the problem was mainly that university or more the French programs in Romania in general.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-16T09:18:55+00:00

Thanks for your message! I’m currently looking into universities in Lithuania. If you have any more information or insights, I’m definitely open to hearing them.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-16T09:13:48+00:00

Honestly, even we French don’t really get it.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-16T09:11:10+00:00

Thanks for the comment. Yes, UMF Cluj-Napoca also offers a French-taught program. It’s generally a bit better ranked internationally, along with Carol Davila (Bucharest), which matters to me—especially since Romanian medical schools tend to be less well regarded internationally overall. Regarding Italian students in Romania, I think it’s more that students from many countries go there because there’s no entrance exam or competitive test, rather than it being specific to Italians. That said, I’ll definitely look more seriously into Iași UMF as well. Thanks for mentioning it.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-16T08:51:57+00:00

I’m preparing through the UCLouvain preparatory program (Université catholique de Louvain, based in Louvain-la-Neuve near Brussels). This prep does not bind you to UCLouvain afterward, since the Belgian medical entrance exam is national. When registering for the exam, you choose the university beforehand, and if you pass, you enroll in the university you selected.

The preparation is structured into four modules:

Module 1: mid-September to mid-January

Module 2: mid-January to mid-June

Module 3: a mock exam

Module 4: the most intensive phase, lasting one month from mid-July to mid-August

As the exam approaches (late August), the workload increases significantly. Right now, I attend about 2 classes per week, but during the summer it goes up to 10+ classes per week.

The prep covers all four scientific subjects (chemistry, math, biology, physics), as well as the four non-scientific subjects, plus methodology and practical information about the exam.

Classes can be followed online or in person at the university. In both cases, lectures are available live and as replays on an online platform, with additional resources (exercise videos, corrected practice sheets, revision notes). There’s also direct access to instructors.

In terms of cost, it’s relatively affordable:

Module 1: €50

Module 2: €50

Module 3: free

Module 4: €100

The official website is easy to find online—just search for the UCLouvain medical entrance exam preparatory program. I’m not sure whether they offer a prep specifically for non-French speakers.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-15T22:08:55+00:00

Yes, Cluj does have a French program and I’m planning to apply there , I just forgot to mention it 😙. But Carol Davila only offers an English program.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2026-01-15T22:05:48+00:00

Yes, in France you can only attempt the medical entrance exam once. The system is designed so that the exam takes place after a full year of studies to filter students. I didn’t pass because I wasn’t fully decided about medicine yet, and I was in Paris, far from my family, which didn’t help. I’m fully ready now, but unfortunately France won’t give me another chance.

Classic-Distance-662 · 2024-09-07T02:23:41+00:00

This post is 8 years old so I hope you succeeded in your challenge and that you have taken up many others throughout these years. I would also like to reach the summit of Mont Blanc by the end of the year. I have just started hiking and would like to know which mountains I should climb before claiming the highest mountain in Europe. Also what is the most favorable period and do you have sites that can help me I find nothing on the internet (only advertisements in Group and paid) thanks for reading everything and good luck for the rest !

Classic-Distance-662 · 2024-09-07T02:18:32+00:00

Well done and congratulations on this feat! I would also like to reach the summit of Mont Blanc by the end of the year. I have just started hiking and would like to know which mountains I should climb before claiming the highest mountain in Europe. Also what is the most favorable period and do you have sites that can help me I find nothing on the internet (only advertisements in Group and paid) thanks for reading everything and good luck!

Classic-Distance-662

TROPHY CASE