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Hello

I just entered the medicine program of University of Debrecen in Hungary. It might be a bit early to ask these questions, but I hope to have a vision about my future career.

(I am non-EU citizen studying in EU medical school)

I've been doing research about the pathway to work in Sweden after I graduate. I hope to clarify whether my thoughts are right or wrong. After I graduate is this pathway right?

Get license at Socialstyrelsen ---> Get Swedish language qualification ---> Apply to hospitals for residency training(ST) by myself ---> finish residency training (lasts 5 years) ---> open a clinic or work as a specialized doctor in a hospital


A few other questions:
1. Will it benefit my future career if I transfer to University of Semmelweis in Hungary?
2. Will it benefit my future career if I apply again to medical schools in Ireland?
3. If I graduate from Irish medical school, I'll have the choice to specialize in Ireland first then come for license in Sweden or come directly to Sweden and take the AT exam right?
4. Will I be able to do summer internship in Swedish hospitals?
5. Do non-EU citizens with EU medical degree eventually get into a residency training program in a field they like? and about how long will they have to wait?


Sorry for all those questions. I'm hoping to start learning a new language that I'll be able to work in the future.

Thank you very much

Hello Henry!

The pathway is correct, roughly; you can get the Swedish language certificates beforehand. Also, you would need some introduction to Swedish practices, routines and regulations before starting to work as a physician. It might also help your prospects with getting into a residency if you first work for a while and demonstrate your ability to do a good job and communicate well in Swedish.

1. Swedish employers are generally not very familiar with specific foreign universities within other countries, even if the name Semmelweis may be slightly more known. The benefit would probably be marginal.

2. It is quite possible that graduating from an Irish medical school will be regarded as better than graduating from a medical school in eastern Europe, though Hungarian medical school has a good reputation in Sweden when compared to other eastern European countries.

3. If you come to Sweden without a European medical license, you need to enter the AT internship (18-24 months) and then take the AT test to get a Swedish medical license. If you already have a European medical license, you instead apply immediately for a Swedish one. Once you have a Swedish medical license, you can start applying for residency positions.

4. You can do summer internships / summer jobs in Sweden, though I guess you would need to get a work visum first since you are not a EU citizen.

5. I have no information about this. Physicians with EU licenses and qualifications can probably expect a short waiting time while those with qualifications from non-EU countries might face longer waiting times if the authorities involved are unfamiliar with the foreign country in question (i.e. countries that said authorities have not yet established streamlined decision routines for).

Good luck!

Thank you very much for the detailed reply.