10 Best Universities in Germany to Study Medicine

Medicine is a noble profession and thousands of international students are pursuing medical degrees in Germany. Earning an MBBS degree in Germany is not without its accompanying challenges.

Studying medicine in Germany presents unprecedented career opportunities for medical school graduates. Germany is home to numerous universities that provide excellent medical education. Some of the best ranked medical schools in Germany are also among the top medical universities in the world.

If you’re an international student and looking forward to studying medicine at a German university, then this post is for you. Also, if you’re not a student but a parent or guardian, and you intend your child or ward to study medicine at a German university, then you also need to read this post till the end.

Structure of Medical Degrees in Germany

To qualify as a medical doctor anywhere in the world, you need to undergo training. In Germany, human medicine training degrees take at least six years and three months to complete and conclude with the examination (Ärztliche Prüfung). This examination (if you pass) leads to your official Licence to Practice Medicine (Approbation). You’ll complete your medical studies in the following stages:

1.      Stage 1: pre-clinical phase

This stage is four semesters (two years) long and will introduce you to the key basics of natural sciences and medicine. It concludes with the first medical licensing examination.

2.      Stage 2: clinical phase

This is the main phase of the study (six semesters – three years) comprised of the core subjects, taught in lectures, practical courses, internships and seminars.

3.      Stage 3: practical year

The main phase of the study is followed by a practical year. This is one-year of clinical training, in which you’ll be introduced to the practical aspects of surgery, internal medicine and an elective subject. This phase provides on-the-job experience to prepare you for your future profession.

4.      State Examination

The last step in completing your medical degree in Germany is to pass the State Examination, a nationally standardised examination. After taking and passing the examination, you can apply for your medical license (Approbation) and begin working as a certified doctor.

If you so wish, you might decide to continue your education to become a medical specialist, which, depending on what subject you specialize in, can take another five to six years. The advanced training program for this concludes with a specialist examination.

Requirements to Study Medicine in Germany

One of the requirements that you need to study medicine in Germany is a good knowledge of German. You need to prove this with a strong score in a test such as the TestDaF or the DSH.

However, if you don’t have the basic German language skills, you can enrol in a pre-study German course to help get your language skills to the level required for medical study in Germany. Additionally, you also need the following:

• University entrance qualification and your secondary school leaving certificate.
• Strong knowledge of English, in order to understand specialist literature.
• German language proficiency
• Some universities may also require non-EU students to provide results for the TestAS exam, while the Test for Medical Studies (TMS) is voluntary but can help give you an edge over other candidates by demonstrating your academic potential.

10 Best Universities in Germany to Study Medicine

Having said that, lets now take a look at the top 10 universities to study medicine in Germany. This ranking is based on the following criteria:

• Quality of Student Support Services
• Quality of teaching
• University’s reputation
• Quality of facilities

1. Heidelberg University

Heidelberg University is unarguably the best university to study medicine in Germany. The university has a stellar track record of churning up excellent medical professionals for the past six decades.

The department of medicine at Heidelberg University trains its medical students to become professionals capable of tackling the dynamic health and medical challenges of the 21st century.

Every year, several thousands of students apply to study medicine at this university, which is an indication that the competition for admission here might be intense. Nonetheless, you’re sure to get the best quality of medical education that is available in Germany, if you are admitted to study here.

2. Rwth Aachen University

Rwth Aachen University is known as a leader in many fields, one of which is the field of Medicine. The department of medicine is one of the finest in the whole of Germany, and facilities here are world class.

The school’s medical center, the ‘Klinikum Aachen’ hosts a good number of general and specialized clinics, lecture theatres, institutes for specialization, and a number of state-of-the-art facilities that characterize a world class medical facility. More than 5,000 students apply to study medicine here every year from all around the world.

3. Lübeck University

At Lübeck University, graduates of medicine and medical sciences are literally trained to tackle the complex challenges affecting health in the 21st century. They place heavy emphasis on research, practical learning and problem-based learning methods to enable students gain all-round knowledge in the principles and practices of Medicine.

This is one of the best places to study medicine in Germany. Every year, students from all around the world apply to study any of their undergraduate/postgraduate programs.

4. Witten/Herdecke University

This is one of the oldest private institutions in Germany. It was established in the year 1983, and there are currently more than 1,000 students studying undergraduate medicine presently. The university also admits a sizeable number of students into its postgraduate medical training programs.

Getting admission to study medicine at Witten/Herdecke University is not rocket science. Students have to fulfil the university’s eligibility requirements and apply through the stipulated channels. Afterwards, students must explain in an interview why they selected the course as their choice for career, and why they have selected the university as their ideal study destination.

Furthermore, because it is a private university, students here are required to pay tuition fees ranging from 500 – 1,000 euros, and academic/student fees of the same range, for a regular period defined by the university. Nonetheless, they also offer a wide range of scholarship and funding opportunities for students to take advantage of.

5. Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Also referred to as Magdeburg University is one of the most recently-established universities in Germany. It was founded in the year 1993, following a merger of the former Technical University, the Medical School, and the Teacher Training College.

The medical college offers excellent medical education to all students, with a strong emphasis on practical learning. The college is responsible for effectively managing the health of the people of Saxony, by engaging its 1,300 member-strong staff in dealing with peculiar health issues of that region. They cater for at least 45,000 patients annually via a strong collaboration between staff and students-in-training, and students here are exposed to valuable learning experiences during their studies.

6. Würzburg University

Established over forty years ago by the joint effort of Prince Elector Maximilian Joseph and the distinguished Prince-Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn, Würzburg University ranks among the best places you could ever choose to study medicine in Germany.

Also commonly referred to as Julius Maximilian University, the school itself is home to a state-of-the-art library, world class facilities, and numerous institutes. More than 5% of the current 25,000-strong student population are international students, and the student support services here beat most of what is available in other universities.

7. Mϋnster University

Founded in 1780, Mϋnster University (pronounced ‘Moon-stur’) is one of Germany’s most iconic educational institutions. Its school of medicine is also one of the best in Germany.

The university itself boasts more than 37,000 students and a staff strength of more than 5,000 professionals. Students here also get to benefit from bilateral relationships, partnerships and agreements between the school and more than 400 different institutes and universities around the world. The quality of teaching here is standard, making it a great option for your medical education.

8. Tϋbingen University

Tϋbingen University is one of Germany’s oldest universities. It is widely recognized as a top-class university for medical sciences and humanities, and they have produced no fewer than three Nobel Prize winners in the field of medicine and science.

Located in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, the University’s faculty of medicine consists of a world class hospital, scientific research institutes and teaching facilities, making it one of the best places to be trained in medicine in the whole of Germany.

9. Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg

Also called Freiburg University, this is one of the most ethnically-diverse universities in the whole of Germany, with a large percentage of its student population being international students spread across its eleven colleges.

The world-class facilities here make it one of the best universities in Germany for studying medicine, both as an undergraduate discipline and in postgraduate levels.

Like many other universities, the university has its own clinic called Freiburg Medical Center, which is affiliated with the Department of Medicine. It is one of the largest in the whole of Germany, with a combined staff strength of more than 10,000 professionals, providing healthcare for nearly 60,000 patients yearly. Certainly a great option for studying medicine in Germany.

10. Leipzig University

The Leipzig University of Saxony is one of the oldest institutions in Germany and the whole of Europe. Famous individuals who are alumni of this university include Angela Merkel (incumbent German Chancellor), Goethe, Wagner, Leibniz, and more than eight Nobel prize winners.

The college of Medicine at Leipzig University is home to more than 3,000 students from the departments of human medicine and dentistry. The faculty is affiliated with Leipzig University Hospital, and together they consist of 48 clinics and institutes across five departments.