Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy: the entrance exam tests your English
The Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy pages say a language certificate is not required, but Semmelweis expects upper-intermediate English: you should express yourself fluently and spontaneously, produce clear, detailed text and explain a complex viewpoint. Basic biomedical English (the terminology of biology and chemistry) is also needed to pass.
The written exam is an online test, taken on your own computer through the university's Moodle platform, in Medical Biology, Medical Chemistry, General English and Biomedical English, with 20 questions in each part. A personal interview follows, in person or on Zoom; it covers motivation and your communication skills in English, and includes an oral exam in the same subjects.
An IELTS score therefore does not replace the entrance exam, but preparing for IELTS Reading and Speaking is useful practice for it. The Medicine page lists tuition of EUR 9,340 per semester plus one-time fees, and a USD 400 admission procedure fee payable on application.
Health sciences: accepted English certificates
The Physiotherapy, Nursing, Nursing MSc, Dietetics and Optometry pages ask for an English language certificate or equivalent document and publish the same list of accepted results. Each of these programmes also has an oral orientation entrance exam on the field of study.
| Test | Minimum accepted |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 51+ |
| Duolingo English Test | 85+ |
| TOEFL | 50+ |
| Cambridge English Scale | 162+ |
| CEFR / Aptis ESOL | B2 |
| TOEIC | 605+ |
| EF SET | 51+ |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II (paper) / ISE Digital 80 |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | B |
| Oxford Test of English | 111+ |
Free test: are you at Semmelweis University's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Free test: take an IELTS mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Which applies to you
If you are applying for Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy, put your effort into the entrance exam rather than a certificate. If you are applying for a health-science BSc or MSc, IELTS 5.5 is the simplest proof, and PTE Academic 51 or Duolingo 85 work too.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Semmelweis programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Semmelweis University publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need IELTS for medicine at Semmelweis University?+
No. Semmelweis says a language certificate is not required for Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy; the online entrance exam includes General English and Biomedical English, and the interview checks your spoken English.
What IELTS score does Semmelweis ask for nursing or physiotherapy?+
IELTS 5.5, or PTE Academic 51, Duolingo 85, TOEFL 50 or Cambridge 162, among others, plus an oral entrance exam.
Does Semmelweis accept PTE or Duolingo?+
Yes for the health-science programmes: PTE Academic 51 and Duolingo 85.
Is the Semmelweis entrance exam online?+
The written part is an online test taken at home. The interview is held in person or on Zoom, and the university tells you which in advance.
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Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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