Study Medicine & Physican Assistance in Germany: All study programmes for state examination + Bachelor & Master in comparison

Human Medicine is one of the most popular degree programmes in Germany, but at the same time it is also one of the most difficult to access. There is hardly a numerus clausus at any private university, but a degree programme in Human Medicine with the final goal of a state examination is currently offered at only 5 private universities in Germany. I will introduce you to all 5 universities and study programmes in the following.

In addition, however, there is a very broad range of degree programmes in the health sciences offered at private universities from Hamburg to Munich. For example: the Bachelor's degree programmes in Physician Assistance, which are very demanding and train students for assisting jobs in medicine. I present these and other study programmes in the field of medicine here.

State examination: Study Human Medicine privately without NC

You can currently study Human Medicine with a final state examination at five private universities in Germany. The courses cost between just under 60,000 euros and 125,000 euros, although some of the universities also offer socially acceptable financing models.

Here is an overview of the five medical degree programmes at private universities:

In the following, I will introduce you to the individual degree programmes in more detail.

Witten/Herdecke University

Witten/Herdecke University was founded in 1982 as a non-profit limited company and is the oldest private university in Germany. The university is located in Witten in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 2,617 students were enrolled at Witten University. The degree programme in Human Medicine at Witten University received state recognition in 2000 and is subject to the licensing regulations for doctors. A maximum of 84 students are admitted per semester.

As a university, Witten University is entitled to award doctorates. In addition, the university's Faculty of Health may replace the first of the three state examinations in the Human Medicine degree programme with internal equivalency examinations.

The study programme is divided into the 3 usual phases:

• the 1st study phase comprises the 1st and 2nd study year
• the 2nd study phase comprises the 3rd, 4th and 5th study year
• the 3rd study phase in the 6th year of study consists of the practical year ("PY").

The medical degree programme at Witten University is NC-free and lasts 12.5 semesters. The general university entrance qualification, i.e. the Abitur or baccalaureate, is required for the application. Furthermore, applicants must have completed a 6-month nursing internship by the time they start their studies. In addition, applicants write a letter of motivation. Finally, applicants may be invited to a personal selection day in Witten.

As a non-profit limited company, Witten University acts in a non-profit manner and helps its students finance their studies through three different payment models. Students can choose to pay their fees monthly in the amount of 951 euros. Alternatively, the contributions can be repaid over a period of 10 years after graduation, depending on income.

Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane

The Brandenburg Medical School is a university with municipal and non-profit sponsorship. The university operates 2 campuses, one in Brandenburg an der Havel and one in Neuruppin, on the grounds of the Ruppiner Kliniken in Fehrbelliner Straße 38. The university was founded in 2014. In WS 2019/2020, a total of 444 students were enrolled at MHB.

The degree programme in Human Medicine at the MHB lasts a total of 12.5 semesters and follows the concept of personal medicine, i.e. attempts to integrate biomedical as well as psychosocial and sociocultural aspects in diagnostics and therapy as well as in the formulation of aetiopathogenesis of disease patterns.

The degree programme is NC-free. 48 courses are offered per semester. A university entrance qualification is required for admission. Students are selected according to personal criteria, especially motivation, practical experience and personality.

In addition, applicants must provide evidence of a 6-month internship before entering the degree programme, at least three months of which must be in nursing (MHB internship); the remaining months can be completed in nursing, in outpatient medical care as well as in a social institution or in a research institution as well as in other professional fields related to medicine. Training periods can be credited.

The study programme costs a total of 125,000 euros.

MSB Medical School Berlin

The Medical School Berlin is a private, state-recognised university based in Berlin and part of a university network with MSH and BSP. The MSB was founded in 2012, and a total of 1,650 students were enrolled at the university in the winter semester 2019/2020. The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Human Sciences have the status of a scientific university and are equivalent to a university.

The full-time study programme lasts 12.5 semesters and is divided into 3 study sections. With the 1st study stage, the pre-clinic, students complete the 1st part of the medical examination. The 2nd study stage, the clinical study stage, comprises a further 6 semesters. Subsequently, students complete the practical year in the 3rd study stage.

The general university entrance qualification is a prerequisite for admission. In addition, applicants undergo a selection procedure.

The tuition fees for the 1st and 2nd stage are 90,000 euros, payable in 60 equal monthly instalments of 1,500 euros each. The fees for the third stage of the programme amount to 4,500 euros, payable in 15 equal monthly instalments of 300 euros each.

The programme is run in cooperation with the Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch.

MSH Medical School Hamburg

MSH Medical School Hamburg is a private, state-recognised university based in Hamburg. The MSH was founded in 2009, and a total of 3,023 students were enrolled at the university in the winter semester 2019/2020. The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Human Sciences have the status of a scientific university and are equivalent to a university.

The full-time study programme lasts 12.5 semesters and is divided into 3 study sections. With the 1st study stage, the pre-clinic, students complete the 1st part of the medical examination. The 2nd study stage, the clinical study stage, comprises a further 6 semesters. Subsequently, students complete the practical year in the 3rd study stage.

The general university entrance qualification is a prerequisite for admission. In addition, applicants undergo a selection procedure.

The tuition fees for the 1st and 2nd stage are 90,000 euros, payable in 60 equal monthly instalments of 1,500 euros each. For the third stage of studies, 4,500 euros are due, payable in 15 equal monthly instalments of 300 euros each.

Health and Medical University

The Health and Medical University is a private, state-recognised university based in Erfurt with another campus at the Villa Carlshagen in Potsdam. HMU started teaching in the winter semester 2020/21, making it the youngest of the 5 private universities offering human medicine studies in Germany.

The full-time programme lasts 12.5 semesters and is divided into three study sections. In the first stage, the pre-clinic, students complete the first part of the medical examination. The 2nd study stage, the clinical study stage, comprises a further 6 semesters. Subsequently, students complete the practical year in the 3rd study stage.

The general university entrance qualification is a prerequisite for admission. In addition, applicants undergo a selection procedure.

The tuition fees for the 1st and 2nd stage are 90,000 euros, payable in 60 equal monthly instalments of 1,500 euros each. For the third stage of studies, 4,500 euros are due, payable in 15 equal monthly instalments of 300 euros each.