An aerial view from the Adriatic Sea of Split, Croatia (an Atlantis site).
An aerial view from the Adriatic Sea of Split, Croatia (an Atlantis site).

Croatia

Split

$6,499

Overview

Split, Croatia is the second largest city in Croatia and is situated on the Adriatic Sea in central Dalmatia. It has pebbly beaches and turquoise waters up against stunning architecture and history. Split is best known for the Palace of Diocletian, Roman ruins from A.D. 295 that are a UNESCO World Heritage site and actually still in use by the residents of Split. Whether you want to learn about history, relax on beaches, walk down cobblestone streets or hike to a summit for magnificent views, Split has something for you.

 

Destination Information

The City

Split is most well-known for its Roman ruins, medieval old town, stunning beaches and amazing seafood.

Diocletian’s Palace, an impressive Roman ruin situated on the waterfront, was built by emporer Diocletian as his retirement home, but has been occupied since and features architecture and style from Medieval, Renassiance and Baroque periods.

In Split’s old town, you’ll weave through medieval cobblestoned paths to shops, restaurants and bars. Wandering through town, you’ll find yourself at the Cathederal of St. Domnius, which is considered to be the oldest cathedral in the world.

If you’re looking for hiking and views, be sure to check out Marjan Forest Park, which has a 300+ stair climb to a summit overlooking Split.

There is beach access within a 10-minute walk from the city center at Bačvice Beach where you can participate in water sports or just relax on the beautiful sand.

Dates & Availability

  • Summer Break 2025

Dates

Price

Availability

May 10, 2025 - May 30, 2025 3 weeks

$6,499

Open

May 31, 2025 - June 20, 2025 3 weeks

$6,499

Open

June 21, 2025 - July 11, 2025 3 weeks

$6,499

Open

July 12, 2025 - August 1, 2025 3 weeks

$6,499

Close to Full

You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.

Participants may transfer to another program or receive a refund up until a predefined amount of time before the start date.

What’s Included

Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing, housing, some meals, transportation, travel health insurance, and more. Airfare is not included but can be very affordable.

Hospital Overview

University Hospital of Split is a public hospital that also performs specialist advisory health care, and scientific research in medical sciences. The hospital also provides teaching services for teaching the University of Split Faculty of Medicine. Split Hospital is the largest hospital in Dalmatia, and is the central health institution of Split-Dalmatia County as well as the entire southern part of Croatia. This hospital has 1,500 acute and 30 chronic contractual beds and 24 operating rooms. Annually, the University Hospital of Split cares for over 50,000 patients who receive more than 450,000 days of hospital treatment, while the outpatient healthcare clinic has over 600,000 patients a year receiving more than 2.5 million services.

Alumni Favorite

Diocletian’s Palace

Right on the harbor sits Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient Roman structure that is the hub of Split. Unlike many ancient monuments, this palace is not merely a museum, it’s bustling with life – bars, shops and restaurants, as well as homes for about 3000 people – currently exist within the 220 buildings of the palace. Parts of the palace are ticketed, but parts of it weave right through old town. Diocletian’s Palace was also featured in the tv show Game of Thrones as the city of Meereen.

Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia (an Atlantis site).
Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia (an Atlantis site).

Atlantis is a great way to immerse yourself in the medical field. Not only do you get to explore a new country, but learn more about healthcare itself. It was an amazing opportunity to compare healthcare firsthand. In addition, rotating specialties each week truly helps those who are unsure of which area of medicine they want to pursue.

Atlantis students in front of the hospital where they are shadowing (Zagreb, Croatia).
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Excursions

Our excursions are designed to offer a deeper look into your host culture, for both the educational benefit and the enjoyment of exploring a new place with others who share your interests in travel and medicine. Excursions range from historical tours to culinary and cultural explorations.

Your Site Manager will inform you of the excursions they have planned during your program orientation. If you make travel plans outside of your city for a weekend and it conflicts with the events your Site Manager has planned, notify your Site Manager several days in advance so that they can plan accordingly.

Atlantis students on a program excursion.
Atlantis students on a program excursion (Genoa, Italy).

Language Skills Not Required

Most participants do not speak the local language at their Atlantis program. English levels vary within the hospital, but no knowledge of the language is required for Atlantis to be valuable. There is enough English spoken in the hospital for participants to benefit from the programs, as you can read in our testimonials. 

Many patients in your future career will not speak your language and will come from a different cultural background, so the Atlantis experience prepares you for that intercultural perspective. Any slight language barrier you may encounter at Atlantis also helps you develop “resilience and adaptability,” an AAMC core competency.

Clinical Experience that Stands Out to Schools

Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Uniquely, “360 Shadowing” gives you the best version of the 1st, frees you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivates/shows the 3rd to medical school admissions.

Two students walking out of a hospital wing.
Atlantis students in a hospital wing (Lisbon, Portugal).

Funding Your Future

The cost of Atlantis isn’t too dissimilar from the cost of many study abroad programs that you may find. And we’re here to help: from our extensive fundraising guide to flexible payment plans and financing options, we make the process simple and easy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.

An Atlantis student smiling while shadowing abroad.
An Atlantis student on an excursion experiencing culture while shadowing abroad (Athens, Greece).

Bring a Friend

Consider bringing a friend to the same program you’re applying to. Although the vast majority of Atlantis alumni have gone on programs without knowing someone in their cohort, bringing a friend allows your experience to be shared in a unique way, while still allowing you one of the benefits of Atlantis: meeting new pre-health friends from across the country. Consider sharing this idea with your friends.

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students walking and smiling.
Atlantis students exploring together on a program excursion (Athens, Greece).

Med School Interview:
Atlantis Alum vs. Typical Pre-med

Compare a possible medical school interview of an Atlantis alum with that of a typical applicant by looking at responses to common questions.