Medicine · Diploma programme
Medicine — diploma programme
Medicine as a diploma programme (Diplomstudium) is how doctors are trained in Austria: 12 semesters leading to Dr. med. univ., then specialist training. Admission is through the MedAT entrance test.
Checked by StudyInFocus, october 2026
About the speciality
The diploma programme in medicine trains doctors along the same broad curriculum — from the structure of the body to the clinical subjects — but ends with a diploma thesis and the degree Dr. med. univ. (a diploma degree, not a doctorate) rather than a state examination.
It takes 12 semesters. This form is used in Austria, for example; afterwards doctors complete basic clinical training and then training as a general practitioner or a specialist.
Facts
German nameHumanmedizin (Diplomstudium)
LevelDiploma programme
What is studied
First semesters
- structure and function of the human body: anatomy, histology, physiology
- biochemistry, biology, chemistry and physics for medicine
- medical psychology, communication with patients
- first aid and basic clinical skills
Clinical modules
- diseases by organ system: heart and vessels, lungs, digestion, nervous system and more
- pathology, pharmacology, microbiology
- surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, psychiatry
- public health, medical ethics and law
- research skills: the studies end with a diploma thesis
Clinical practical year
The last year is the clinical practical year (KPJ, 48 weeks): students work on hospital wards and in general practices under the supervision of doctors.
Core school subjects
The school subjects the studies build on — worth strengthening while still at school.
By country
What is particular about studying it in each country.
Austria
Dr. med. univ. (Diplomstudium)12 semesters
Taught at the medical universities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and Linz; places are allocated by quotas after the MedAT test.
- MedAT is held once a year, in summer; registration is earlier.
- 75 % of places go to holders of an Austrian school certificate, 20 % to EU citizens, the rest to all other countries.
- Teaching is in German: C1 level is required.
How to apply as an international student
1
Register for the MedAT
Once a year in spring; the test itself is in summer.
2
German at C1
Teaching is in German. More →
3
The MedAT test
Places are split by quotas: for holders of Austrian school certificates, EU citizens and all other countries.
4
Studies
12 semesters, then entry in the register of doctors and specialist training.
- Duration
- 12 semesters (Studienplan Humanmedizin, MedUni Innsbruck)
- Quota for applicants from non-EU countries
- 5 % of places (§ 71c UG)
Checked by StudyInFocus, october 2026
Careers
Right after graduation
Doctor (physician)
Arzt/Ärztin
Assistant physician (resident)
Assistenzarzt/-ärztin
Ward physician
Stationsarzt/-ärztin
After specialist training
General surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin - Allgemeinchirurgie · specialist training
Anaesthetist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Anästhesiologie · specialist training
Anatomist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Anatomie · specialist training
Cardiac surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Herzchirurgie · specialist training
Chief physician
Chefarzt/-ärztin · specialist training
Child and adolescent psychiatrist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Kinder- u. Jugendpsychiat. u. -psychoth. · specialist training
Clinical pharmacologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Klinische Pharmakologie · specialist training
Dermatologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten · specialist training
ENT specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde · specialist training
Forensic physician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Rechtsmedizin · specialist training
General practitioner (family doctor)
Facharzt/-ärztin — Allgemeinmedizin (Hausarzt/-ärztin) · specialist training
Hygiene and environmental medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Hygiene und Umweltmedizin · specialist training
Show all 44 →
Internist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Innere Medizin · specialist training
Laboratory physician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Laboratoriumsmedizin · specialist training
Medical biochemist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Biochemie · specialist training
Medical geneticist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Humangenetik · specialist training
Medical microbiologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Mikrobiol./Virolog./Infektionsepi. · specialist training
Neurologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Neurologie · specialist training
Neuropathologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Neuropathologie · specialist training
Nuclear medicine physician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Nuklearmedizin · specialist training
Obstetrician and gynaecologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe · specialist training
Occupational physician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Arbeitsmedizin · specialist training
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie · specialist training
Orthopaedic and trauma surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie · specialist training
Paediatric surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Kinderchirurgie · specialist training
Paediatrician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Kinder- und Jugendmedizin · specialist training
Pathologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Pathologie · specialist training
Pharmacologist and toxicologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Pharmakologie und Toxikologie · specialist training
Phoniatrist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Sprach-, Stimm- u. kindl. Hörstörungen · specialist training
Physiologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Physiologie · specialist training
Plastic surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · specialist training
Psychiatrist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie · specialist training
Psychosomatic medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Psychosom. Medizin u. Psychotherapie · specialist training
Public health physician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen · specialist training
Radiation oncologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Strahlentherapie · specialist training
Radiologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Radiologie · specialist training
Rehabilitation physician
Facharzt/-ärztin — Physikalische/Rehabilitative Medizin · specialist training
Sports physician
Sportarzt/-ärztin · specialist training
Thoracic surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Thoraxchirurgie · specialist training
Toxikologe/Toxikologin
Transfusion medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Transfusionsmedizin · specialist training
Urologist
Facharzt/-ärztin — Urologie · specialist training
Vascular surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Gefäßchirurgie · specialist training
Visceral surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin — Viszeralchirurgie · specialist training
Continue your education
Specialist training
General surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Allgemeinchirurgie
Anaesthesiology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Anästhesiologie
Anatomy
Facharzt/-ärztin — Anatomie
Biochemistry
Facharzt/-ärztin — Biochemie
Cardiac surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Herzchirurgie
Child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy
Facharzt/-ärztin — Kinder- u. Jugendpsychiat. u. -psychoth.
Clinical pharmacology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Klinische Pharmakologie
Dermatology and venereology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten
Forensic medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Rechtsmedizin
General practice (family medicine)
Facharzt/-ärztin — Allgemeinmedizin (Hausarzt/-ärztin)
Human genetics
Facharzt/-ärztin — Humangenetik
Hygiene and environmental medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Hygiene und Umweltmedizin
Show all 41 →
Internal medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Innere Medizin
Laboratory medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Laboratoriumsmedizin
Microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Mikrobiol./Virolog./Infektionsepi.
Neurology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Neurologie
Neuropathology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Neuropathologie
Nuclear medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Nuklearmedizin
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe
Occupational medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Arbeitsmedizin
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie
Orthopaedics and trauma surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
Facharzt/-ärztin — Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde
Paediatric surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Kinderchirurgie
Paediatrics
Facharzt/-ärztin — Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
Pathology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Pathologie
Pharmacology and toxicology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Pharmakologie und Toxikologie
Phoniatrics and paediatric audiology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Sprach-, Stimm- u. kindl. Hörstörungen
Physical and rehabilitation medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Physikalische/Rehabilitative Medizin
Physiology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Physiologie
Plastic and aesthetic surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie
Psychiatry and psychotherapy
Facharzt/-ärztin — Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy
Facharzt/-ärztin — Psychosom. Medizin u. Psychotherapie
Public health service
Facharzt/-ärztin — Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen
Radiation therapy
Facharzt/-ärztin — Strahlentherapie
Radiology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Radiologie
Thoracic surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Thoraxchirurgie
Transfusion medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin — Transfusionsmedizin
Urology
Facharzt/-ärztin — Urologie
Vascular surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Gefäßchirurgie
Visceral surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin — Viszeralchirurgie