Medical Studies Glossary

A quick guide to the most important terms you will encounter in the process of studying Medicine in Serbia and recognizing your degree in Greece.

DOATAP: Hellenic National Academic Recognition and Information Center. The official Greek body responsible for recognizing foreign degrees. For doctors who study in Serbia, recognition by DOATAP is necessary to obtain a license to practice in Greece. The process involves submitting an application file and written exams in selected subjects.
ECTS – European Credit Transfer System: The European system for transferring and accumulating credit units used across all European universities. A 6-year Medicine program corresponds to 360 ECTS. It enables student mobility and the comparability of programs between EU countries.
MD – Medicinae Doctor: The title awarded to graduates of a Medical School. The English-taught programs of Serbian universities (Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Mitrovica) award an internationally recognized MD.
USMLE – United States Medical Licensing Examination: Medical licensing exams in the United States, in three stages (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3). Graduates of recognized Serbian universities are eligible to participate through ECFMG certification.
PLAB – Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board: A two-part exam system (PLAB 1 and 2) for foreign doctors who want to work in the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS). Successful completion leads to registration with the GMC.
GMC – General Medical Council: The professional body that issues medical licenses in the United Kingdom. All doctors working in the NHS must be registered with the GMC.
ECFMG – Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates: The certification body for foreign Medicine graduates who want to work in the USA. It provides the accreditation required before taking the USMLE exams.
WHO World Directory of Medical Schools: An official global list of recognized medical schools maintained by WHO and FAIMER. All state Serbian medical universities are listed, which is a prerequisite for taking part in international licensing exams.
Medical Association: A professional body that every doctor must register with in order to legally practice in Greece. Each prefecture has its own Medical Association. Registration takes place after the license to practice is issued.
License to Practice: A license issued by the Ministry of Health after degree recognition by DOATAP. It is a necessary prerequisite to legally practice medicine in Greece.
Specialty: Postgraduate clinical training of 4 to 6 years (depending on the field) in public hospitals after obtaining a license to practice. It awards a medical specialty title (e.g. Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Surgery).
Panhellenic Exams: National entrance exams for Greek universities. They are not required at all for studies at Serbian universities — admission is made directly through Biology and Chemistry exams in English by each university.
Bologna Process: An intergovernmental agreement among 49 European countries to unify higher education systems. Serbia is a member, so its degrees are fully compatible with European standards and structured in ECTS.
Transfer Exams: Exams to transfer a student from a foreign university to a Greek one. They are held every year by each faculty with specific subjects. They are an alternative path for those who want to move to Greece during their studies.

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