How to Study Medicine in Germany
If you’re looking to get a medical degree, Germany is a great place to do it because it’s one of the world’s most popular non-English-speaking study locations.
Medical students in Germany have many options and specializations and this is a huge advantage for the student. The inclusion of 32 institutions in the most recent QS World University Rankings for medicine is a further testament to the quality of education in Germany.
In Germany, medical training programs are not broken down into bachelor’s and master’s, so you’ll need a solid command of the language to succeed in a medical training program that lasts six years and is conducted fully in German. However, there are a number of alternative medical programs, including several that are taught in English.
In this article, I will provide all you need to know about studying medicine in Europe’s economic heartbeat.
The admission process for MBBS in Germany
You have to book an appointment with the university’s international office at least a year before you want to start classes. This will give you enough time to find out about the university’s admission requirements, procedures, and deadlines.
According to statistics, the admissions process in Germany is very competitive, and the process is based on a controversial policy called the “numerus Clausus” (NC). Still, it’s not clear what changes the government will make after finding in December 2017 that the selection process was “partially unconstitutional.”
The admissions process is different from university to university. The Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Foundation for University Admissions; website in German) is the place to go if you obtained your university entry qualification in Germany or at a German school abroad or if you are a citizen of an EU nation.
You must first create an account with the Foundation for University Admissions website before you can submit your application. This will allow you to submit your application and keep track of the progress of your application. Your university’s website may also require you to complete an online registration process.
Non-EU students must check with their selected university to see if they are a member of uni-assist. Apply through the uni-assist centralized admission process if this is the case. If the university you are applying to is not a member of Uni-assist, you should send your application and copies of other mportant documents, like your high school diploma, directly to the university of your choice.
Most of the time, you have to send in your application by July 15 for the winter semester and by January 15 for the summer semester.
Eligibility for MBBS in Germany
To become a doctor in Germany, one must meet certain requirements.
- As previously stated, you’ll need to demonstrate your fluency in German by doing well on standardized tests like the TestDaF or the DSH. The prerequisite for medical school in Germany is proficiency in German, and if you don’t have that yet, you can enrol in a pre-study German course to help you reach that level. In addition, you’ll want to have
- Your high school diploma or your high school graduation certificate is essential. If you’re a citizen of the European Union, your high school diploma should be considered equivalent to a German high school diploma. If you’re a non-EU student, you’ll need to make sure that your qualifications are acceptable before applying. If it isn’t, you may have to take a Studienkolleg (a one-year prep course) and the Feststellungsprüfungexam.
- The ability to read and comprehend specialist literature requires fluency in English. As a bonus, some knowledge of Latin is helpful but not required.
- knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics from high school.
- The ability to handle stress well is important because medical programs can require up to 25–30 hours of mandatory classes a week, which can put a lot of strain on the body and mind.
- Non-EU students will need a student visa and a residence permit to study in Germany.
- Some universities may also ask non-EU students to take the TestAS exam. The Test for Medical Studies (TMS), on the other hand, is optional but can give you an edge over other applicants by showing your academic potential.
The Best MBBS Universities in Germany
If you are searching for German universities to apply for your medical studies, the following schools are some of the options you can explore.
Lübeck University
A medical school with a strong research profile that is ready to face the demons of 21st-century medicine. The school has met the standards of excellence by putting a lot of emphasis on infection and inflammation and biomedical technologies. Other top areas the school has distinguished itself are medical genetics, metabolism, and brain-behaviour.
The students learn a strong set of real-world skills and abilities, including scientific exploration, strong moral and social skills, and, most importantly, the technical knowledge they will need to be successful as medical experts in the future.
Witten/Herdecke University
Witten/Herdecke University, one of Germany’s oldest private universities, admitted its first set of student in 1983 and is widely regarded as one of Germany’s most distinguished institutions. Approximately 1,200 students are enrolled in undergraduate programs in the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, economics, philosophy, and culture. In order to be admitted, students must be able to convincingly explain why they have chosen a particular career path during their interview. Astonishingly, the interviewers attributed this success to the students’ personalities rather than their stellar academics. Due to the fact that this school is private, students must pay between 400 and 1000 euros a month in tuition. However, students at UWH must spend between 400 and 1000 euros a month in academic fees in order to take advantage of the university’s top-notch learning environment. However, bursaries and scholarships are available to international students.
Leipzig University
Leipzig University, Germany’s second-oldest institution, is located in Saxony. In addition to Leibniz, Goethe, Nietzsche, Wagner, and ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, the current class of Leipzig University students can look up to nine other Nobel laureates as notable alumni. More than 3,000 students study human medicine and dentistry at the Faculty of Medicine, which collaborates with the Leipzig University Hospital. Together with the University Hospital, the Faculty of Medicine is one of Saxony’s largest medical institutions, including 48 clinics and institutes organized into five divisions. There’s a legacy of inventiveness at Leipzig Medical School’s research, teaching, and healing ethos.
Rwth Aachen University
The Department of Medicine at RWTH Aachen University, which was established in 1966, is one of nine faculties housed inside the university. The Klinikum Aachen consists of various specialty clinics, theoretical and clinical institutes, other research centers, lecture halls, schools for medical expertise, and other essential hospital amenities. About 2,700 people apply to study at the Faculty of Medicine at this university every year!
The Heidelberg University
The University of Heidelberg’s Medical School has a long history of excellence in education and research. The department’s goal is to help the community and the world tackle the medical challenges of the 21st century. As a result of these challenges, this department has become known as one of the most renowned in the world for its emphasis on research and the promotion of research agendas. Students from all over the world come to the university because it has a lot going on and is known for its research institutions.
The Cost of Studying Medicine in Germany
In general, medical school in Germany is very affordable. The cost of medical school in Germany is far lower than the expense of medical school in the United States, where it can easily reach the six-figure mark. Accepted students at German medical schools can earn an MBBS for as little as $3,000 in tuition and fees. Even at that price, a medical degree in Germany now costs more than it did in the past.
What it used to be
A report about undergraduate medical education in Germany by the National Institutes of Health stated that a medical degree in Germany used to be completely free. For a long time, German institutions did not charge for postgraduate, professional, or undergraduate degrees. Even though they didn’t have to pay, students were often required to take tests to prove that they were allowed to go to the schools where they were enrolled.
The new reality
Medical degrees in Germany are still substantially less expensive than they were in the past, but they are no longer completely free in most situations. Even though there was an effort to mandate all public colleges to maintain free education, the German Constitutional Court found that this was not allowed. Because of this presumption, the German Constitution grants states the authority to establish and oversee public educational institutions as part of the exercise of those states’ inherent sovereign powers. As a result, if the states chose to begin charging tuition for a medical school degree, they could do it now.
Many states elect to use their legal authority to levy fees on students enrolled in higher education programs. Five state-funded German universities implemented tuition fees in 2010. Some students reacted angrily to the introduction of fees at their institutions. While some schools in the region were considering charging as much as €1500 for tuition, the majority of schools opted to keep their rates and expenses at around €500.
According to a 2009 study by the National Institutes of Health, a medical degree in Germany costs on average €500 per month at state-funded medical schools in that country. A medical school in Germany costs around that much a year because all but one of Germany’s medical schools are state-funded.
The Benefits of Choosing Germany for Your Medical Studies
Job Prospect
After finishing your basic medical training, you have the option of continuing your education in Germany to become a physician or medical doctor there. It is possible to become a specialist after completing Germany’s postgraduate medical program. In a German hospital, one might choose to specialize in a particular area of medicine. In many places, it’s not as simple as one might think it is. There is a lot of competition for jobs among doctors in their own nations. As a result, even if a certain specialty isn’t what you really want to pursue in medicine, you end up settling for something less than ideal. A German education takes this fear away.
Exposure to the best medical facilities and personnel
The medical schools in Germany are among the world’s best. U.S. News & World Report has listed German universities as some of the best in Europe to study medicine. Twelve of the top 50 medical schools in Europe are located in Germany.
Enough Hands-on-experience
You’ll be able to get your hands dirty more quickly than ever before. Students in Germany have an advantage when it comes to gaining hands-on experience, as they can do so much more quickly than in the United States. Hospitals in Germany do not send patients to other states for treatment as frequently as they do in other nations.
Opportunity to study in the world’s best medical schools
The medical schools in Germany are among the world’s best. Several of the world’s greatest medical schools can be found at German universities because of the country’s well-known educational system and reputation. Some of the institutions include: Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, Charite Universitatsmedizin in Berlin, Ruprecht-Karls University in Heidelberg, and LMU in Munich, among others.
Conclusion
Germany is fast becoming a global powerhouse in Medicine, thanks to its investment in quality medical education over the years and this has seen the quality of teaching, learning and research in its medical university improved tremendously over the years.
If you are an international student looking for where to study to become a doctor, Germany should be your first choice. Although the admission process is tedious, the opportunity to learn in one of the best medical schools in the world and the exposure to world class medical facilities and training is something you will be forever proud of.
References
https://www.mygermanuniversity.com/articles/study-medicine-in-Germany
https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/2944/best-english-taught-medical-schools-in-germany-in-2022.html
https://www.mygermanuniversity.com/articles/mbbs-in-germany
https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-procedure-to-get-admission-in-MBBS-in-Germany
https://www.rmcedu.com/study-MBBS-in-Germany-admission-process-fee-structure-and-eligibility.html
https://www.edufever.com/mbbs-in-Germany/
https://www.expatrio.com/blog/2021-10/13-reasons-why-studying-medicine-in-Germany-great-idea
https://www.studying-in-germany.org/top-german-universities-to-study-medicine/