Medicine · State examination
Medicine — state examination
Medicine with a state examination (Staatsexamen) is how doctors are trained in Germany: about six years with clinical practice, then specialist training. Core school subjects: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, Latin and English.
Checked by StudyInFocus, October 2026
About the speciality
Medicine trains doctors: from the structure and functions of the human body to diagnosing and treating diseases in all main areas — general practice, surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, neurology.
The programme takes about six years and ends with a state examination, after which graduates can obtain a licence to practise. Almost all doctors then go on to specialist training.
Facts
German nameHumanmedizin
LevelState examination
What is studied
Pre-clinical stage (semesters 1–4)
- anatomy
- physiology
- biochemistry and molecular biology
- biology, chemistry and physics for medicine
- medical psychology and sociology
- medical terminology
- introduction to clinical medicine
Clinical stage (semesters 5–10)
- internal medicine, surgery, neurology
- anaesthesiology, ophthalmology and other clinical subjects
- pathology, pharmacology and toxicology
- hygiene, microbiology, virology
- clinical chemistry and laboratory diagnostics
- epidemiology, medical biometry and informatics
- history, theory and ethics of medicine
Practical training
A first-aid course, nursing practice (3 months), clinical clerkships (4 months) in hospitals and practices, and a practical year (48 weeks) in a hospital at the end of the studies.
Model programmes
Some universities teach a model programme: pre-clinical and clinical subjects are combined from the first semesters, and the first part of the state examination may be dropped.
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.
Germany
36 programmes · 34 universitiesState examination (Staatsexamen)6 years and 3 months
Quota for international students
Applicants from outside the EU apply directly to universities (often through uni-assist) and compete for the places of the quota for foreign applicants — usually 5–10% of places.
TMS — for EU applicants only
The medical aptitude test counts in the general procedure (Germans and EU citizens). For applicants from non-EU countries, who are admitted within the quota for foreign applicants, it brings no advantage.
Studienkolleg M-Kurs
If your school certificate does not give direct access — a college course with biology and chemistry, then an application within the quota.
German at C1
For the studies — DSH-2 or TestDaF 4×4, some universities ask for more. To work as a doctor you need medical German at C1.
If your school certificate does not give direct access — Studienkolleg: M-Kurs.
How to apply as an international student
1
Check your school certificate
Direct access or a Studienkolleg M course. More →
2
German at C1
A language certificate by the time you apply. Non-EU applicants do not need the TMS — it only counts in the procedure for EU citizens. More →
3
Apply to several universities
Directly or through uni-assist, for the quota places; deadlines differ between universities.
4
Studies and examinations
Three stages of the state examination, the practical year, then the Approbation.
- Practical year
- 48 weeks (§ 1 ÄApprO)
- Duration
- 6 years and 3 months (§ 1 ÄApprO)
- Language of instruction
- German, DSH-2 or TestDaF 4×4; some universities ask for more
- Selection
- quota for applicants from outside the EU — usually 5–10% of places; grades decide
- Tuition
- none at state universities in most Länder; semester contribution
- After the examination
- Approbation (licence to practise) and specialist training (Facharzt), 5–6 years
Checked by StudyInFocus, October 2026
Programmes
From the catalogue — by this subject and level.
Medicine, State ExaminationUniversity of Duisburg-Essen · Duisburg
DE
selection by grade
Human Medicine, State ExaminationUniversity of Greifswald · Greifswald
DE
selection by grade
Medicine, State ExaminationJulius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg · Würzburg
DE
selection by grade
Medicine, State ExaminationTechnische Universität Dresden · Dresden
DE
selection by grade
Human Medicine (Model Course), State ExaminationUniversity of Augsburg · Augsburg
DE
selection by grade
All programmes · 36
Careers
Right after graduation
Doctor (physician)
Arzt/Ärztin
Resident doctor
Assistenzarzt/-ärztin
Toxicologist
Toxikologe/Toxikologin
Ward physician
Stationsarzt/-ärztin
After specialist training
Anaesthesiologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Anästhesiologie · specialist training
Anatomy specialist (physician)
Facharzt/-ärztin - Anatomie · specialist training
Biochemistry specialist (physician)
Facharzt/-ärztin - Biochemie · specialist training
Cardiac surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin - Herzchirurgie · specialist training
Chief physician
Chefarzt/-ärztin · specialist training
Child and adolescent psychiatrist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie · specialist training
Clinical pharmacologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Klinische Pharmakologie · specialist training
Dermatologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten · specialist training
Ear, nose and throat specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde · specialist training
Forensic medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Rechtsmedizin · specialist training
General practitioner
Facharzt/-ärztin - Allgemeinmedizin (Hausarzt/-ärztin) · specialist training
General surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin - Allgemeinchirurgie · specialist training
Show all 45 →
Hygiene and environmental medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Hygiene und Umweltmedizin · specialist training
Internist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Innere Medizin · specialist training
Laboratory medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Laboratoriumsmedizin · specialist training
Medical geneticist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Humangenetik · specialist training
Microbiology and virology specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Mikrobiologie, Virologie und Infektionsepidemiologie · specialist training
Neurologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Neurologie · specialist training
Neuropathologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Neuropathologie · specialist training
Neurosurgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin - Neurochirurgie · specialist training
Nuclear medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Nuklearmedizin · specialist training
Obstetrician and gynaecologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe · specialist training
Occupational medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Arbeitsmedizin · specialist training
Ophthalmologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Augenheilkunde · 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 - Kinder- und Jugendchirurgie · specialist training
Paediatrician
Facharzt/-ärztin - Kinder- und Jugendmedizin · specialist training
Pathologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Pathologie · specialist training
Pharmacology and toxicology specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Pharmakologie und Toxikologie · specialist training
Phoniatrician
Facharzt/-ärztin - Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie · specialist training
Physical and rehabilitation medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Physikalische/Rehabilitative Medizin · specialist training
Physiology specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Physiologie · specialist training
Plastic surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin - Plastische, Rekonstruktive und Ästhetische Chirurgie · specialist training
Psychiatrist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie · specialist training
Psychosomatic medicine specialist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie · specialist training
Public health physician
Facharzt/-ärztin - Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen · specialist training
Radiation oncologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie · specialist training
Radiologist
Facharzt/-ärztin - Radiologie · specialist training
Sports physician
Sportarzt/-ärztin · specialist training
Thoracic surgeon
Facharzt/-ärztin - Thoraxchirurgie · specialist training
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
After the next degree
Continue your education
Specialist training
Anaesthesiology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Anästhesiologie
Anatomy
Facharzt/-ärztin - Anatomie
Cardiac Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Herzchirurgie
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Facharzt/-ärztin - Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie
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)
General surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Allgemeinchirurgie
Human Geneticist
Fachhumangenetiker/in
Hygiene and Environmental Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Hygiene und Umweltmedizin
Internal Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Innere Medizin
Show all 46 →
Laboratory Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Laboratoriumsmedizin
Medical Biochemistry
Facharzt/-ärztin - Biochemie
Medical Genetics
Facharzt/-ärztin - Humangenetik
Microbiology, Virology and Infection Epidemiology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Mikrobiologie, Virologie und Infektionsepidemiologie
Neurology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Neurologie
Neuropathology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Neuropathologie
Neurosurgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Neurochirurgie
Nuclear Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Nuklearmedizin
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe
Occupational Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Arbeitsmedizin
Ophthalmology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Augenheilkunde
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie
Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie
Otorhinolaryngology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde
Paediatric Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Kinder- und Jugendchirurgie
Paediatrics
Facharzt/-ärztin - Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
Pain Medicine Specialist
Algesiologe/Algesiologin
Pathology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Pathologie
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Pharmakologie und Toxikologie
Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Physikalische/Rehabilitative Medizin
Physiology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Physiologie
Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Plastische, Rekonstruktive und Ästhetische Chirurgie
Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Facharzt/-ärztin - Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
Facharzt/-ärztin - Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
Public Health Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen
Radiation Oncology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie
Radiology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Radiologie
Sports Physician
Sportarzt/-ärztin
Thoracic Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Thoraxchirurgie
Transfusion Medicine
Facharzt/-ärztin - Transfusionsmedizin
Urology
Facharzt/-ärztin - Urologie
Vascular Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Gefäßchirurgie
Visceral Surgery
Facharzt/-ärztin - Viszeralchirurgie
Master's
Similar study subjects
More about the speciality
Who it suits
Medicine suits people ready for long studies, for working with people in stressful situations and for taking responsibility. If you have doubts, test yourself first: career guidance compares your interests and abilities with medicine and related subjects.
How the studies work
The first four semesters are pre-clinical: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, then the first stage of the examination. Next come the clinical subjects and hospital placements, the second stage, the practical year and the third stage. Model programmes bring in patients earlier.
After the state examination
After the examination you receive the Approbation — the licence to practise. Almost everyone then does specialist training (Facharzt): 5–6 years of paid hospital work and an examination at the medical chamber of the Land.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study medicine in English?
State-examination programmes in English practically do not exist in Germany: studies and work with patients are in German.
Do I need the TMS test?
Not for applicants from outside the EU: the TMS counts only in the general procedure for Germans and EU citizens; within the quota for foreign applicants it brings no advantage.
What if I don't get a place?
Apply again next semester to several universities, or choose a related subject — pharmacy, biomedicine, medical engineering. Programme selection helps you find realistic options.