This is the ultimate guide for how to become a medical doctor in Germany. Whether you are a student thinking of studying medicine in Germany or a medical graduate thinking of completing your residency in Germany this guide is for you.
How can I study medicine in a German University?
If you want to study medicine in Germany there are three possibilities we will discuss.
- High school from Germany
- High school from the EU
- High school from outside the EU
If you want to study medicine and you are a graduate of high school from Germany:
Even for someone who studied school in Germany and graduated with the Abitur (German high school degree) To get a place in medical universities in Germany is one of the toughest most competitive things ever.
A couple of years ago, universities had limited training spots training spots. And universities have a closed number of places given exclusively and only to students with the highest high school grades.
Things are a bit easier now. Universities accept not only students with the highest grades but a wider range of applicants gets a chance now.
The new decision by the Standing Conference of the Länder Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs that the closed spots will continue to exist but with greater flexibility allowing students with great motivation to study medicine.
Thus, to implement this new criteria More Universities are using a Standard Assessment Test for Students of Medicine, which also makes access possible for study applicants without top grades.
If you want to study medicine and you are a graduate of high school from EU:
If you have graduated from a school from inside the European Union the secondary school degree is automatically recognized.
But Students from outside the European Union have to apply for the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB).
The Akademisches Auslandsamt (International Students’ Office) of each university evaluates qualifications based on the anabin database.
International applicants may be able to apply directly to the universities via the Application Services for International University Applications, known as Uni-Assist.
Only 4 and 6 percent of spots are held open for foreign students.
But what if your school certificate is not recognised in Germany!
If you want to study medicine and you are a graduate of high school from outside EU:
Well, there is another option.
Prospective students can enroll in a foundation course of one year that leads to a Feststellungsprüfung (university qualification assessment examination).
With these results, you can try again for a spot in a medical program.
In addition to all these requirements, some programs require a Test For Medical studies. This tests knowledge, experience and general ability to study.
For example, The University of Heidelberg acts as a TMS coordination site.
Where to study medicine in Germany
According to DHM (Deutsche Hochschulmedizin e. V.) There are 35 Academic Medical Centres in Germany represented by the German Association of Academic Medical Centres (VUD) and the 39 medical faculties by the German Association of Medical Faculties (MFT).
Some of the most popular programs can be found at:
The “Harvard of German Medical Schools” is the most competitive school to get in to.
It is world-wide renowned.
And is the oldest university in Germany founded in 1386.
Charité – Universitätsmedizin:
In Berlin, it is also one of the best settings for international students with online material, coursework, and even lectures in English. For clinical work, students still need excellent German language skills in order to work with patients.
Universitätsklinikum Tübingen:
One of the oldest classical universities, the medical department is internationally renowned and associated with several medical Nobel laureates.
This university town has students from around the globe with a medical staff of over 10,000 professionals.
How can I pay for medical school in Germany?
This is the best part of studying medicine in Germany. For most international students, tuition and fees are considerably low in Germany.
Students in public universities in Germany do not need to pay tuition fees. However, to get a visa you will need proof that you can support yourself (closed bank account). As of 2023, this is a closed bank account of around 11,500 euros.
Students need to pay semester fees to the student administration (AstA) and cover everything from student IDs to access on the city’s public transport. They usually cost no more than 250 euro.
But you can fund your education with several resources:
DAAD: Germany’s largest scholarship provider with excellent English information.
Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (Federal Student Financial Aid Program or BAföG): Aimed at German nationals and EU students, this fund provides for some select foreigners such as refugees.
Medical school coursework & testing to become a doctor in Germany
Once accepted, you are now on your path to becoming a doctor in Germany. Your medical training will cover both pre-clinical studies and clinical practical years.
You will study basic science (two years), clinical science (three years), and final clinical year.
Requirements based on the Approbationsordnung (Licensing Regulations for Physicians):
- Undergraduate medical studies of no fewer than six years and three months (a minimum of 12 terms with each term lasting about 6 months) at a university or equivalent academic institution.
- 48 consecutive weeks of practical training (practical year)
- First aid training
- Three months of nursing experience
- Four-month clinical elective
The first two years (Vorklinik) cover subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, medical terminology, medical psychology, and sociology and introduction into clinical medicine.
Clinical work follows with hands-on training. You can complete the first aid course, elective subject, and three months of work experience in nursing anywhere, including outside of Germany.
The last two semesters of medical training (one year) consist of an internship or PJ (Praktisches Jahr) at a medical facility.
Medical examination or approbation in Germany
The Hammer exam is the name medical students in Germany use to refer to their final exams. This exam is done on three stages based on the Approbationsordnung für Ärzte (Regulation of the Licensing of Doctors or AppOÄ):
M1: The first stage of the medical examination, Physicum, takes place after two years of study in the field of medicine. It covers on anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology and has two parts written and oral-practical.
M2: The second stage takes place after five years of study and successful completion of the first exam. It is a written case-related exam.
M3: The third stage takes place one year after completion of the second stage following a total of six years of study in the field of medicine. It is an oral/practical examination.
Passing the Approbation earns students their medical license and right to practice medicine.
The license is permanent, valid for all of Germany and can only be revoked for disciplinary reasons.
Now you are a doctor in Germany. However, you can not ask your patients to call you doctor yet!
Getting the license to practice in Germany doesn’t give you a doctor title! To get that you need to write a dissertation.
The majority of doctors continue on to write their dissertation or thesis and earn the title of “Dr. med”.
Some hard-working students complete their dissertation while studying in year three or four so they can hold the title and increase their job prospects as soon as they have passed the last test.
If you need help in writing your dissertation in Germany contact us and we can help you. I studied medicine outside Germany: How can I get my foreign degree recognised in Germany?
International medical graduates from outside the EU may still practice medicine in Germany, but you need to take some steps first.
First your education will be assessed for equivalency. Depending on the evaluation they may offer a full license (approbation) or a provisional license (Berufserlaubnis) with time to prepare for an assessment test (Kenntnispruefung).
The Oberste Landesgesundheitsbehörde (state health authorities) evaluates foreign doctors’ education to judge if it is Gleichwertigkeit (equivalent) to medical training in Germany.
For the evaluation you need to send specific documents with official German translation.
They may include:
- Passport
- Führungszeugnis (clean criminal record)
- Ärztliche Bescheinigung (certificate of health)
- Proof of German knowledge (certification of at least B2 level
- Specific Medical German test – (Level C1 of CEFR). Check our medical German course on Udemy.
- Birth certificate
- CV (German format, in German)
- A copy of degree and the full curriculum of your university that you studied.
- To learn more about the Medical German test – check the course in the description.
- If the relevant medical license authority finds significant differences between your medical education in your home country and Germany, it may insist on taking an equivalency or assessment test.
This equivalency assessment of education and professional experience is a case-by-case review.
Can I work in Germany while waiting for the exams?
To fully work you need the full license (Approbation).
The medical knowledge test [Kenntnispruefung (KP)] is a clinical-practical test with patient presentation that takes between 60 and 90 minutes. Who ends up failing the KP has two other chances (3 trials in total).
While preparing for this test, foreign doctors and after passing the medical german test you get a limited license to practice (maximum two years). Afterwards, or meanwhile, you can take the KP.
Officially, during this time, foreign doctors with the limited license work as PJ.
Need more info? Here are some useful links
Preparing for a medical residency in Germany can be challenging, but having the right resources at your disposal can make the process much smoother. In this section, we’ve compiled a list of useful websites, organizations, and online platforms to help you navigate your medical residency journey in Germany.
Websites and online platforms
- Ärzteblatt – A German-language website featuring news, articles, and job postings for medical professionals.
- Marburger Bund – The largest professional association for physicians in Germany, offering information about working conditions, contracts, and open positions.
- Doctolib – An online platform for finding and booking appointments with doctors and specialists across Germany.
- Goethe-Institut – A worldwide organization promoting the study of the German language and offering language courses and exams.
Organizations and institutions
- German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) – The national organization representing the interests of physicians in Germany.
- National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung) – An organization representing the interests of physicians who treat patients covered by statutory health insurance in Germany.
- International Placement Services (ZAV) – A division of the German Federal Employment Agency, providing assistance in job placement for foreign professionals, including doctors.
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) – The German government agency responsible for migration, integration, asylum, and refugee matters, providing useful information for foreign professionals.
Language learning resources
- Duolingo – A popular language learning app offering German courses for beginners and advanced learners.
- Deutsche Welle (DW) – A German international broadcaster providing free German language courses and resources for all levels.
- Memrise – A language learning app offering a variety of German courses and vocabulary-building tools.
Utilizing these resources will help you better prepare for your medical residency and become a doctor in Germany, from learning about the application process to finding job opportunities and improving your German language skills. Don’t hesitate to reach out to these organizations and make use of online platforms to ensure a successful residency experience.
Working in Germany as a foreign doctor video on YouTube:
So that was the ultimate guide to how to become a doctor in Germany. I hope you found this helpful.
Thank you for reading. To become a doctor in Germany needs patience and focus. Good luck.