u/Tough-Broccoli-27

Hi everyone,

I’m a non-EU medical student currently studying medicine in Slovakia. I have about 3 years left before graduating, and I’m trying to plan my future early.

My long-term goal is to complete a surgical residency in Europe and then return to my home country to work as a specialist. At the moment, I’m mainly deciding between staying in Slovakia for residency or moving to Germany.

Money isn’t really an important factor for me since I plan to return home after completing my training. My priority is receiving the best surgical training and becoming a competent surgeon.
I already have some Slovak from my medical studies and plan to continue improving it over the next three years. On the other hand, I would need to start learning German from scratch if I decide to move to Germany.

One thing I’ve read online is that some surgical residents in Germany don’t get much hands-on operating experience until later in residency, whereas residents in Slovakia may get operative experience earlier. I know this probably depends on the hospital, but I’d love to hear from people with firsthand experience.

If you were in my position, would you:
Stay in Slovakia and continue learning Slovak?
Invest the next three years in learning German and apply for residency in Germany?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi everyone,

I’m a non-EU medical student currently studying medicine in Slovakia, and I’ll be starting my 4th year soon.

Over the past two years, we’ve had Slovak classes at university, so I can manage basic conversations and patient interactions, although I know I’d need to improve my Slovak further.

I’m considering staying in Slovakia for residency after graduation. My main goal is to complete my specialist training here and then return to my home country afterward. I’m not too concerned about the salary—I mainly want good training and a realistic pathway into residency.

For those who have gone through residency in Slovakia (especially international graduates), how difficult is it to get a residency position? Is the process generally straightforward if you’ve graduated from a Slovak medical school? Are there any major challenges I should be aware of, such as language requirements, paperwork, or competition for positions?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any advice you have. Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I’m a non-EU citizen from Seychelles, currently studying medicine in Slovakia, and I have about 3 years left before graduating.

My current plan is to move to Germany for residency (Facharzt training) after graduation and eventually return to Seychelles to work as a specialist or stay in germany (leaving my options open)

To prepare, I’m planning to start German classes from my 4th year and continue throughout medical school, with the goal of reaching at least C1 German by the time I graduate.
I’m interested in surgical specialites, although I know these can be competitive.

My other option is to stay in slovakia and look for residency here but I dont know much about the requirements needed so any help would very much be appreciated.

For those who have gone through this pathway.
What should I realistically expect?
Is starting German now enough time to reach C1?
Or should i focus on my slovak?
Besides learning German, what should I be doing during medical school to improve my chances?

Hi everyone,
I’m a non-EU medical student from Seychelles, currently studying medicine in Slovakia. I have about 3 years left before graduating, and I’m trying to plan my future early so I can prepare well.

My goal is to complete my medical residency in Europe and eventually return to Seychelles to work as a specialist.
I’m looking for countries where:
Residency training is paid (you’re employed and receive a salary rather than paying tuition).
Ideally, residency is available in English.

If English isn’t possible, I’m willing to start learning another language now if it’s worth it.
I’m interested in surgical specialties (currently considering orthopedics, ophthalmology, or plastic surgery), but I’m also open to hearing about other specialties if they offer a better balance of training, lifestyle, and future opportunities.

I’d really appreciate advice on:
Which European countries would you recommend?
Which countries are the most IMG-friendly for someone graduating from Slovakia?
What language level is realistically needed if residency isn’t in English?
How difficult is it to get into residency as a non-EU graduate?
Are there entrance exams or licensing exams?
What is the application process like?
How is the work-life balance during training?