Studying medicine in Germany will not only give you access to world-class education in medicine. Additionally, you will have access to countless employment and career development opportunities. In Germany, the universities are fully equipped to offer excellent training to future medical professionals. Generally, you will have in-depth knowledge that can be implemented in Germany and other parts of the world.
However, studying medicine in Germany can be competitive. Most universities have just a 5% slot for international students in their medical departments. The screening exercises are usually strict. Therefore, only those who meet the eligibility criteria and have the required qualifications have the opportunity to study medicine in Germany.
In this piece, I will guide you through the basic academic qualifications that are needed for studying medicine in Germany.
Requirements for Studying Medicine in Germany
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Academic Qualifications
You need to have a secondary school leaving certificate that is equivalent to a German certificate. You need to have good grades and a strong foundation in subjects such as Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Additionally, you need to make sure that your certificate is eligible and equivalent to the German certificate. However, if your certificate is not eligible, you need to attend the Studienkolleg (one-year preparatory course) and sit for the Feststellungsprüfung Exam.
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Submit Academic Proficiency
You need to submit your academic transcripts during your application. Generally, your transcripts should contain all the courses you studied as well as the grades.
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German Language Proficiency
Most of the medical schools in Germany teach in German. Therefore, you need to be familiar with the German language to be able to learn in those schools. You need to write tests such as TestDaf Level 4, Goethe Institute Certificate Level C2 and DSH German Language Examination Level 2 or 3.
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English Language Proficiency
You need to have a strong knowledge of English. It would help if you were good enough to be able to understand scientific literature. Therefore, you need to show proof of your English proficiency. You can submit tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
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Entrance Examination
Most universities might require you to sit for an entrance examination as a requirement for obtaining admission. It would help if you took tests such as the TestAS or the Test for Medical Studies.
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Professional Training or Volunteer Experience
Some Universities in Germany will require you to have a professional or volunteer experience in the healthcare sector. However, this is not recommended by all universities. But it can give you a greater advantage over other applicants.
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Student Visa
International students require a German Student Visa to study medicine in Germany. Therefore, you need to apply for your visa three months in advance to have a smoother process.
How to Apply
The mode of application varies based on your residency status. Non-EU students should make sure that the University they choose to study in is a member of Uni-Assist. Firstly, you should submit your application to Uni-Assist. After verification, you can proceed to submit your application to your university of choice.
EU students should submit their application through the Foundation for University Admission.
Duration
The duration for studying medicine in Germany is six years. However, you might spend extra months completing state exams.
Tuition Fee
The cost of studying medicine in Germany is relatively low. Most public universities in Germany have zero tuition fees, however, in Baden-Württemberg where students pay approximately €3,000 per year. Additionally, students are expected to pay a semester fee of €300 – €500 per semester.
Universities in Germany that Offer Medicine
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen
- University of Augsburg, Augsburg
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum
- University of Bonn, Bonn
- University of Cologne, Cologne
- Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden
- Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg and Essen
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt
- University of Freiburg, Freiburg
- University of Göttingen, Göttingen
- University of Greifswald, Greifswald
- Universität Hamburg, Hamburg
- Hannover Medical School, Hannover
- Kiel University, Kiel
- Leipzig University, Leipzig
- University of Münster, Münster
- Technical University of München, Munich
- University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg
- Universität Regensburg, Regensburg
- University of Rostock, Rostock
- Saarland University, Saarbrücken
- University of Tübingen, Tübingen
- Ulm University, Ulm
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg
- Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg
- University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg
In Conclusion, studying medicine in Germany is one of the most challenging and competitive courses to get into. Therefore, you need to prepare early and ensure that you have the right qualifications. Additionally, you should verify the language of instruction that is used by the school you are applying. Some Universities use purely German while some may use English. Therefore, you should verify this information before you submit your application to a particular university. Feel free to reach out to us for further inquiries and assistance.
Good luck!