Human Medicine

Friedrich Schiller University Jena's medical program stands out for its structured pathway specialisation from the sixth semester onward, allowing students to orient their clinical training toward hospital-based medicine, outpatient care, or biomedical research. A dedicated rural medicine quota further reflects the program's commitment to regional healthcare needs.

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The medical program at Friedrich Schiller University Jena leads to the Staatsexamen — the German state licensing examination that qualifies graduates to apply for full medical registration (Approbation). The standard study period spans six years and three months, divided into a pre-clinical phase and a clinical phase, culminating in a practical year (Praktisches Jahr). ## Pre-Clinical Phase The first two years lay the scientific and theoretical foundations of medicine. Students engage with anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and medical psychology, developing an understanding of the healthy human body and its fundamental molecular and cellular processes. This phase concludes with the First State Examination (M1 / Physikum). ## Clinical Phase From the third year onward, students move into clinical subjects, applying foundational knowledge to disease, diagnosis, and therapy. Core disciplines include internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, and pharmacology, among others. A distinctive structural feature of the program at Jena is the **choice of a thematic orientation ('Neigungslinie')** from the sixth semester. Students select from three tracks: - **Clinic-Oriented Medicine (KoM):** deepening of hospital-based clinical disciplines - **Outpatient-Oriented Medicine (AoM):** focus on primary care, general practice, and ambulatory settings - **Research-Oriented Medicine (FoM):** integration of scientific methodology and biomedical research alongside clinical training This early specialisation allows students to shape the character of their clinical training years before most German programs offer comparable differentiation. ## Practical Year The final year consists of the Praktisches Jahr (PJ), a mandatory clinical rotation across three tertiary blocks: internal medicine, surgery, and a freely chosen specialist discipline. Students work in clinical environments under supervision, consolidating practical skills. The program concludes with the Second State Examination (M2), after which graduates may apply for Approbation — the formal licence to practise medicine in Germany and, with recognition procedures, across the EU.