From the Szczecin Medical University:
Admission criteria
QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY for ENTRANCE to the ENGLISH PROGRAM at the POMERANIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
The candidates have to:
(1) POSSESS the high school diploma or matriculation diploma equivalent of such a standard, which is required to enter the university medical school in their country of origin.
(2) POSSESS an adequate knowledge of chemistry, physics or biology and English.
(3) BE preferably under 27 years of age.
(4) NOT POSSESS Polish citizenship (but may be ethnically Polish).
In other words? piece of cake. Hardly heard of anyone NOT getting accepted in Poland for Medical studies(apart from Polish that compete for far fewer, free spots). People who have barely passing grades from high school study there!
Eastern European universities accepting too many students(cause they pay so much) are the main reason one in eight new Norwegian graduate the coming years will be a medical student... A number that will hopefully, for the Norwegian specialisation systems sake, decrease due to the fact that universities in Eastern Europe are failing more and more incapable students(unconfirmed second-hand information).
Getting accepted to dentistry? Would imagine it to be even easier, although a fair average in your sciences from HS wouldn't hurt(and if those classes in Canada are as easy as in the US, less than a B average on highest level wouldl be a given to cope with the workload).
For dentistry it is easier workwise as well, you won't have to fight the bureaucratic, national health systems across Europe, you would probably even have a good shot of getting work permits for practicing in the EU afterwards(apart from Poland), dentists are in great demand here and salaries are good. Unless you want to go back to Canada.
But remember, easy in doesn't necessarily mean easy out. People do have to pass all exams and courses, and as mentioned; I believe more and more are kicked out.
I am keeping Ireland, Italy, Germany and then Latvia(cheaper)/ Poland/Hungary/Czech Republic as alternatives to the dental schools in Scandinavia I am applying to. Italy has an admissions test and Germany have less stringent reqs than Scandinavia at least. But then there is the language of course, you will probably have to learn a bit of Polish over the course of studies.
Quality? Eastern European medical universities are great on theory, on practice I've heard many different stories, and I probably wouldn't expect shiny, sexy facilities and extremely accommodating professors available for students at all times.
Bear in mind my information is all second hand(but there is a lot of it). If you really want to do dentistry in Poland, go for it; you will become a dentist, it's up to yourself what you make of the education! If I don't make it in here maybe I'll see you there in the autumn!
Good luck!
