This table distils the six strongest candidates from across all four detailed comparison tables: two from Europe (TCD and Edinburgh), two from mainland China (Fudan and Zhejiang), and two from non-China Asia (HKU and CUHK). The China options carry a shared structural caveat — EU/Czech licensure verification must precede any application — which is flagged explicitly throughout. The European options are included as the cost-and-proximity anchors; the Asian options as the prestige and research-environment ceiling.
| — | Europe — Ireland / UK | Asia — Mainland China | Asia — Hong Kong (SAR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin Dublin, Ireland · EU member MB BCh BAO · 5–6 yrs | University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland · UK (post-Brexit) MBChB · 6 yrs |
Fudan University Shanghai Medical College Shanghai, China MBBS · 6 yrs |
Zhejiang University School of Medicine Hangzhou, China MBBS · 6 yrs |
University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR MBBS · 6 yrs |
Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR MBChB · 6 yrs |
|
| Rankings & Prestige | ||||||
| QS World 2026 | #81 | #27 | #42 | #44 | #11 Highest of all 6 | #36 |
| QS Medicine rank | 51–100 | Top 30 | Top 100 | Top 100 | Top 30 | Top 50 |
| Cost (Eva as International Student) | ||||||
| Fee status | EU rate applies Czech citizen qualifies | Full intl. rate Scotland ended EU parity 2021 | Intl. rate CSC scholarship available | Intl. rate CSC scholarship available | Non-local rate Entrance scholarship auto-considered | Non-local rate Scholarships available |
| Annual tuition | ~€17,000EU-regulated medicine fee. Verify exact figure each year. | ~€44,600–€60,700£37,500/yr (Yrs 1–3) rising to £51,000/yr (Yrs 4–6) | ~€7,750–9,700CNY 60,000–75,000; premium pricing for Fudan MBBS | ~€5,500CNY ~42,800/yr — lowest of all six options | ~€29,300HKD 249,000/yr STEM rate (confirmed 2026–27) | ~€25,200HKD 214,000/yr; annual increase capped at 3% |
| Total tuition (programme) | ~€85,0005 years × ~€17,000. Massive EU advantage. | ~€316,0006 years at varying intl. rate | ~€46,500–58,100With CSC scholarship: effectively €0 | ~€33,100Cheapest of all 6 — with CSC scholarship: ~€0 | ~€175,8006 × HKD 249,000 | ~€151,2006 × HKD 214,000; max ~€161k with 3% cap |
| Total programme cost (tuition + living) |
€150,000–190,000Cheapest overall. Clear winner on cost. | €393,000–428,0003.7× more than Dublin. Highest cost of all 6. | €77,000–115,000Self-funded. With CSC scholarship: ~€18,000–36,000 for living costs only. | €57,000–76,000Lowest of all 6 when self-funded. With CSC scholarship: near-zero cost. | €211,000–238,000HK living costs are high (Pok Fu Lam). Scholarship can offset significantly. | €181,000–208,000Shatin campus keeps living costs lower than HKU. |
| Scholarship potential | Limited HPAT waiver schemes; EU grants; college-level awards | Competitive Merit scholarships exist but do not close the EU fee gap | CSC full-ride Tuition + accommodation + €320/mo stipend. Eva's profile is competitive. | CSC full-ride Same as Fudan. Pursue actively — transforms the cost case entirely. | Auto-considered HKU Entrance Scholarship; can cover full tuition + living. No separate application. | Apply separately CUHK University Scholarships; strong international applicants competitive. |
| Language of Instruction & Language Obligations | ||||||
| Instruction language | 100% English | 100% English | English (Yrs 1–5) Mandarin (Yr 6 clinical) | English (Yrs 1–5) Mandarin (Yr 6 clinical) | 100% English Cantonese optional, not required | 100% English Cantonese support available, not mandatory |
| Language burden | None beyond English | None beyond English | HSK 4–5 required before Yr 6 internship. ~3–4 hrs/week concurrent Mandarin study throughout degree. | HSK 4 required Same burden as Fudan. Lower threshold than PKUHSC but still significant. | No mandatory language test. Free Cantonese courses available. | No mandatory language test. Free Cantonese courses via Yale-China Language Academy. |
| EU / Czech Medical Licensure Pathway | ||||||
| Czech Medical Chamber (ČLK) pathway | Automatic EU Directive 2005/36/EC applies. Irish MB BCh BAO recognised automatically. No aptitude test. | Individual assessment UK is post-Brexit third country; however, extensive Czech precedent for UK graduates. Well-established pathway, outcome predictable. | Uncertain — verify first Third country. Limited precedent. Aptitude exam possible. Contact ČLK before applying. | Uncertain — verify first Same situation as Fudan. Contact ČLK before applying. | Individual assessment Third country. More European graduate precedent than mainland China. GMC recognition strengthens the case. Contact ČLK. | Individual assessment Same as HKU. CUHK MBChB well regarded; similar European graduate precedent. |
| UK practice (GMC / PLAB) | PLAB accessible RCSI-recognised degree; straightforward GMC route | Direct GMC registration Edinburgh MBChB is GMC-listed primary qualification; PLAB not required — direct route | PLAB accessible Chinese MBBS degrees eligible for PLAB but pathway less smooth than UK/HK graduates | PLAB accessible Same as Fudan. ZJU listed for PLAB. | PLAB accessible HKU MBBS explicitly GMC-recognised. Large HKU alumni cohort in UK NHS. | PLAB accessible CUHK MBChB GMC-recognised. Same PLAB pathway as HKU. |
| Geography & Family Considerations | ||||||
| Distance Prague → university city | ~2.5h Closest Direct or 1-stop flights; multiple daily. Return flight €60–180. | ~3.5h Direct or via Amsterdam/Paris. Return €90–250. | ~11–12h Long-haul No direct PrG–SHA. Return €450–1,000. | ~11h Prague → Hangzhou (via PVG or PEK). Similar to Fudan. | ~11–12h Long-haul Via Frankfurt/Doha/Dubai. Return €400–900. | ~11–12h Same as HKU — CUHK is 45 min from HK airport by rail. |
| Realistic visit frequency | 4–6× per year. Weekend visits feasible. | 3–4× per year. Affordable and straightforward. | 1–2× per year. Budget €900–2,000/yr for flights. | 1–2× per year. Same as Fudan. | 2–3× per year. Budget €800–1,800/yr for flights. | 2–3× per year. Same as HKU. |
| City / living environment | European capital. Familiar cultural context, English-speaking, temperate climate. Relatively easy adaptation. | Major European city. Similar cultural context to Dublin. Cold/wet climate; high quality-of-life. | Major global metropolis. Cosmopolitan but requires Mandarin for daily life. Significant cultural adaptation. | Quieter than Shanghai; Hangzhou is considered one of China's most liveable cities. Still requires Mandarin. | Highly international, English-functional city. Subtropical climate. Dense, fast-paced, cosmopolitan. Easier European adaptation than mainland China. | Shatin campus (New Territories): more suburban, quieter, scenic. Same English-functional HK environment. Lower cost of living than HK Island. |
| Programme Features & Eva's Profile Fit | ||||||
| Defining feature | HPAT + CAO integrated system. Established, well-documented path for Central European students. EU fee status is a structurally unique financial advantage unavailable at any other option in this table. | Edinburgh's research heritage. Founded 1726; among Europe's oldest and most distinguished medical faculties. Exceptional research culture, strong clinical academic track. For Eva: strongest European career credential. | Huashan Hospital + research intensity. Asia's #1 neurology unit. Prolific research output. Shanghai medical ecosystem second to none in Asia outside HK. If research medicine is the goal, Fudan's clinical environment is world-class. | Cost-prestige optimum in China. QS #44 at by far the lowest total cost. Hangzhou quality of life. ZJU's breadth (engineering + medicine + humanities integration). Best value-for-money option across all 6 if EU licensure is confirmed. | Enrichment Year (Year 3) + Distinguished MedScholar track. An entire structured academic year for self-directed research, overseas placement, or humanitarian work — with the option of earning a research MRes[Med] during that year. Unique across all six options. For Eva's profile: the highest intellectual ceiling available. | Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS). Dedicated MBChB track integrating global health, health policy, and physician leadership throughout the degree. The only explicit leadership-medicine curriculum in the full comparison. For Eva: most direct expression of her CliftonStrengths profile. |
| Research integration | Standard Research electives available; some intercalated year options. Not built into standard curriculum. | Strong Intercalated BSc/MSc widely available and encouraged. Strong MBChB research culture; multiple honours options. | Embedded Research project in final years; Fudan lab culture exceptionally strong. International publication expected of top students. | Embedded Research encouraged; ZJU has strong cross-faculty integration (medicine + engineering). Not as intensive as Fudan. | Exceptional Dedicated Enrichment Year for research. Distinguished MedScholar = MRes(Med) built-in. Research publications from undergrads common. | Strong Prince of Wales Hospital is a major research centre. CUHK faculty publish prolifically. GPS stream includes health systems research track. |
| Leadership development | Standard Extra-curricular. No formal leadership curriculum in medical programme. | Good Edinburgh's scale and medical societies; strong alumni network for career leadership. No dedicated curriculum track. | Moderate Student union and international medical associations active. No formal leadership curriculum. | Moderate Similar to Fudan. ZJU's broader university environment is an asset. | Good Enrichment Year creates formal leadership context (humanitarian placements, health admin projects). Large international student body. | Best in class GPS stream IS a leadership curriculum. Admissions explicitly assesses leadership potential. Alumni in WHO, health ministries, global health organisations. |
| AI-resilience of career path | Both European degrees provide a fully generalised medical training that preserves optionality. Graduates can pursue any specialty. AI-resilience depends entirely on specialty choice post-graduation — Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Global Health, and Research-leadership roles are the most AI-durable from any of these six starting points. Edinburgh's intercalated year and research culture provide the best foundation for a physician-scientist track within Europe. | China options provide excellent clinical volume and early AI exposure (both Fudan and ZJU have digital health initiatives). Primary AI-resilience concern is the same as everywhere: specialties depending on pattern recognition (radiology, dermatology screening) are more exposed; emergency/surgical/global health roles are not. Fudan's research environment is particularly relevant — physician-researchers who generate and evaluate AI tools are the least displaced cohort. | HKU Advantage: The Enrichment Year positions a motivated student to embed in AI/digital health research as a clinical AI evaluator rather than passive user — graduates from this track shape the field. CUHK GPS graduates entering health systems and global health policy operate in domains where AI augments but cannot replace human judgment, political navigation, and leadership. | |||
| Admissions test required | HPAT required Sat once per year. Register by October 2026; sit January 2027. Score combined with Leaving Cert / equivalent. | UCAT required Sit July–September 2026 for 2027 entry. Core competency test, not subject-based. | CSCA required New from 2026: Math + Physics + Chemistry in English. Online proctored. Register at csca.cn. Windows required (Mac users: test centre). | CSCA required Same as Fudan. | No mandatory test Non-JUPAS route: academic record + interview + personal achievement only. | Voluntary UCAT Not mandatory, but submitting a strong UCAT score is increasingly competitive in the pool. |
| Application deadline | 1 Feb 2027 CAO (covers both TCD + UCD in one application) | 15 Oct 2026 UCAS — earliest hard deadline of all six options | Dec 2026–Mar 2027 Direct application or CSC scholarship route | Dec 2026–Mar 2027 Same window as Fudan | Rolling — Oct–Mar Most flexible timeline. No single hard deadline. | Rolling — Oct–Dec Apply October–December for best interview window. |
| Work bond after graduation | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Strategic Verdict for Eva Hrnčířová | ||||||
| Recommendation tier |
Tier 1 — Base Case
TCD (+ UCD) is the structurally secure default. EU fee status makes it by far the cheapest option of the six; Czech Medical Chamber recognition is automatic; Prague is 2.5h away. If Eva's goal is to become a doctor in the Czech Republic or Europe with a high-quality degree and minimal financial risk, this is the rational choice. The ceiling is lower than Edinburgh or HKU, but the floor is extremely solid.
|
Tier 2 — Prestige European
Edinburgh is the strongest European career credential — the GMC's gold-standard degree, excellent research culture, intercalated year options, and a global alumni network. For a student who wants to practice and research at the highest European level, it outperforms TCD significantly. The cost (~€400,000 total) is prohibitive without scholarships or family support, but for those who can manage it, the credential is worth more than the price difference in career terms.
|
Tier 3 — Conditional on ČLK Confirmation
Fudan is the China prestige option. Huashan Hospital's clinical environment is world-class; Fudan's research output is excellent. However, pursue only after Czech Medical Chamber confirms a viable recognition pathway. With CSC scholarship, the cost case is extraordinary (near-zero). Without it, Fudan is more expensive than ZJU for comparable or better outcomes. Not recommended as primary choice before ČLK verification.
|
Tier 3 — Best Value Conditional
ZJU is the most cost-efficient option across all six when self-funded, and the most rational China choice given lower Mandarin threshold, best quality-of-life, and excellent research environment. If the Czech Medical Chamber confirms recognition and CSC scholarship is awarded, ZJU offers an extraordinary combination of institutional quality and near-zero cost. Same conditional caveat as Fudan — ČLK verification first.
|
Tier 1 — Peak Ceiling Option
HKU is the highest-ranked institution across all four tables (#11 globally) and the one with the best structural fit for Eva's intellectual profile. The Enrichment Year — with its optional MRes(Med) for Distinguished MedScholars — is uniquely suited to someone with Eva's Learner/Intellection/Input strengths. Fully English-medium, no work bond, GMC recognised, entrance scholarship auto-considered. The main constraint is cost (~€211–238k total) and long-haul distance. If the HKU scholarship is awarded, this becomes transformationally competitive.
|
Tier 1 — Best Profile Match
CUHK GPS is the most direct structural expression of Eva's CliftonStrengths profile available in any of the four tables. The Global Physician-Leadership Stream is an explicit curriculum track for physician-leaders in global health — not an add-on, but the degree itself. At HKD 214,000/yr (capped 3%), CUHK is also the most cost-predictable of the HK/Asia options. Contingent on GPS availability for international Non-JUPAS applicants — this must be verified before applying.
|
| Recommended Application Strategy — Portfolio Approach | ||||||
| Optimal portfolio |
Eva's profile warrants applying to multiple programs simultaneously, since the financial and structural variables (scholarship outcomes, ČLK response, GPS availability) are unknowns that resolve only after the application process. A rational portfolio is: Definite TCD + UCD (CAO, single application, 1 Feb 2027 deadline) — the no-regret baseline. Cheap to apply, automatic EU recognition, close to home. Pursue regardless of other choices. Definite HKU (Non-JUPAS, rolling — apply Oct–Nov 2026) — no admissions test required, entrance scholarship auto-considered, best credential in the set. Apply early in the rolling window for the strongest scholarship consideration. Definite, if GPS confirmed CUHK GPS stream (Non-JUPAS, apply Oct–Dec 2026) — contact CU Medicine admissions (med@cuhk.edu.hk) immediately to confirm GPS availability for international Non-JUPAS applicants. If open, apply. Conditional Edinburgh (UCAS, deadline 15 October 2026) — earliest deadline of all six; requires UCAT (sit July–Sep 2026). Only worthwhile if family budget can support ~€400k total cost or specific scholarship is in reach. Conditional on ČLK verification Fudan or ZJU (Dec 2026–Mar 2027) — pursue only after Czech Medical Chamber confirms recognition pathway. If confirmed, apply to both and seek CSC scholarship through the Chinese Embassy in Prague simultaneously. The single most time-sensitive action: contact Czech Medical Chamber (ČLK, clk.cz) now — before any application is submitted to a non-EU institution. If ČLK confirms recognition, the China and HK options become significantly more attractive; if it cannot, Europe (particularly Dublin) becomes the clear rational choice regardless of ranking differentials. This one phone call or formal written enquiry resolves the most important strategic variable in Eva's entire decision tree. |
|||||