Waiting semester medicine

Until 2020, it was possible to collect points for admission through waiting semesters. Anyone who did not want to give up their dream of studying medicine only had to wait long enough after graduating from high school to be allocated a medical degree via the waiting time quota. However, this option no longer exists since 2020. However, there are other ways to collect points for the admission procedure and increase your chances of getting a place.

Just a few years ago, waiting semesters earned points in the admission procedure

Many prospective students used to spend years accumulating a considerable number of semesters on hold.

Medicine has always been one of the most sought-after degree programmes, so it was difficult to get a place on this course at university without a top A-level. However, thanks to the waiting time quota, even those whose grade point average did not fulfil the requirements for starting the degree course straight away had the opportunity to collect points for admission.

Today, points are no longer awarded for the number of semesters you have completed. Nevertheless, misleading information is still available online about waiting semesters and the associated chance of getting a university place. Medical study place to find.

Don't be misled: The statement that you can study medicine at a university by waiting for a semester is outdated. Today, the waiting period no longer counts at any university. 

Since the 2020/21 winter semester, the waiting time no longer counts

Admission to medical studies was reformed in the 2020/21 winter semester. Since then, points for waiting semesters can no longer be collected and credited. Applicants who had already accumulated a considerable waiting period by this time were able to have points credited for this until 2022 as part of a transitional period. 

The waiting semesters are now history. If you don't get a place to study medicine at a university after your A-levels, you won't automatically have better chances one or more semesters later.

A judgement by the Federal Constitutional Court put an end to the waiting period

At the end of 2017, the first senate of the Federal Constitutional Court made a decision on the allocation of study places in human medicine and other sought-after degree programmes such as dentistry.

Every applicant must have equal rights in the admission process. There are concerns about a waiting time quota insofar as it does not take into account the suitability of applicants. On the other hand, the Abitur best quota is not unconstitutional, as a good Abitur score can certainly be regarded as one of the criteria that qualify for a place to study medicine.

Allocation of study places in the past and today

In the past, 20 % of places on medical degree programmes were allocated on the basis of A-level grades. 60 % of the places were available via the university selection procedure (AdH), and 20 % of the places were decided on the basis of waiting semesters. 

Medicine is now regarded as a degree programme that requires an extremely good Abitur. This is partly true, as 30 % of study places are now allocated via the Abitur best quota. If you have achieved a high number of points in your Abitur, you can secure direct access to your desired study place in this way.

A further 10 % of study places are allocated via the additional aptitude quota. This includes other aspects such as the so-called test for medical degree programmes (TMS), which you can use to gain additional points for the admission procedure.

Completed vocational training, training as a paramedic, voluntary work and other factors are also decisive for this quota.

The remaining 60 % medical study places are allocated via the university selection procedure (AdH). The points that are decisive for the individual university are determined by the universities themselves. However, the waiting time must not be taken into account in this area either. The grade of your Abitur often also plays a role in the university selection process. However, there are also other criteria. These can be points achieved in study aptitude tests such as TMS and HAM-Nat or your own interviews. You will also usually receive points in this quota for an apprenticeship, a period of service or a voluntary social year.

Increase the chance of admission through the additional aptitude quota

Since the waiting period has been abolished in the allocation of study places, your actual aptitude for the degree programme has become much more important. Therefore, when applying for a place to study human medicine, make sure you submit all the necessary documents that will earn you points for the additional aptitude quota.

As a rule, it is worth taking the TMS in advance. This test is offered in all federal states in Germany at selected test centres and is associated with a participation fee of 100 euros. It can earn you additional points when it comes to the allocation of medical study places. However, if you do badly in the TMS, this will not have any negative consequences for you.

Good preparation is important for the TMS

A good result in the TMS will earn you valuable points, which can pave the way for you to study medicine. Please note, however, that you can only repeat the TMS once and this repetition must take place within a certain period of time. It is therefore important to prepare well for this step.

Whereas in the previous procedure, points were collected automatically with each semester via the waiting period, you have to actively do something for the TMS. Therefore, find out about the requirements of the test in detail and prepare yourself accordingly. Under certain circumstances, it may make sense to wait one or more semesters after graduating from high school before applying for a place to study medicine and first complete an FSJ or similar. During this time, you can then prepare intensively for the TMS.

University selection process - what you need to consider

Before you apply for a place to study human medicine, you should know the various criteria that will earn you points towards the university quota. 

In addition to your Abitur grade, you can also collect points through other achievements. Study aptitude tests are a way of increasing your chances at almost all universities. Depending on which medical university you would like to get a place at, you should know whether they rely on the TMS, the HAM-Nat or possibly their own selection test.

Internships, training and work experience in the medical field or voluntary work can also provide you with additional points. It is important that you provide this information in your application via the Foundation for University Admissions. Only then can the associated points be recognised.

Waiting for admission to medical school - when is it worth it?

Although the waiting time is no longer recognised, in some cases the question arises as to whether one or two waiting semesters are worthwhile in order to improve your chances of gaining a place to study medicine. However, it must be clear that waiting time does not automatically earn you points, but that you have to actively do something about it.

We would now like to show you what options there are to make the most of a waiting period and thus have a good chance of studying medicine despite the high number of applicants.

Make good use of the time until the next attempt - you have these options

If, due to the very high level of NC If you do not receive a place when the available study places are allocated, you can reapply each semester. However, waiting semesters will not be recognised. If you absolutely must Study medicine you should use the waiting time wisely. The following tips will show you how you can collect points for the selection process.

Education

Completed training in the medical field will earn you points towards the additional aptitude quota and the university selection process. Your chances are even better if you have professional experience in addition to your training.

If you don't want to give up on your dream of studying medicine, but didn't achieve enough points in your A-levels to make it straight to university, you should think about training. The following list shows some of the typical professions that can significantly increase your chances of admission to medicine:

• Nurse
• Medical assistant (MFA)
• Operating theatre assistant (OTA)
• Physiotherapist
• Laboratory technician in the medical field
• Medical-technical assistant (MTA)
• Occupational therapist

These are just a few of the many professions that allow you not to simply sit out a waiting period, but to use the semesters without a place to collect points for your next application. At the same time, you will also learn a lot of things during such an apprenticeship that will be useful to you later in your medical studies.

Voluntary Social Year (FSJ)

A voluntary social year is a very good way to make good use of the waiting time for a place at university. An FSJ is generally a valuable experience and can often even be completed in a medical field. This is possible, for example, in hospitals, care facilities or the emergency services. However, you can also collect points for the allocation of places in other areas by completing a voluntary social year and thus increase your chances of being able to study medicine at university.

There are numerous organisations in Germany that offer FSJ positions in the medical field. Find out about the various opportunities in good time and use this valuable time to collect points for the university award procedures and the additional aptitude quota!

Other study programme

In the past, many applicants did not opt for another degree programme as an alternative because they were not credited with any waiting semesters for medical studies. As the waiting period is generally no longer recognised, this no longer plays a role.

In many other degree programmes there is no NC and you don't have to worry about quotas. It is advisable to choose a subject that is thematically related to studying medicine. This may earn you more points in the university's internal selection process and also involves acquiring knowledge that is also required for human medicine or dentistry.

You can not only apply after completing your alternative study programme Apply to study medicinebut also during each semester. On the website of the Foundation for University Admissions, you will find articles and information on which credits earned during another degree programme can be credited towards admission to a medical degree programme.

Intensive preparation for the TMS

The test for medical degree programmes (TMS) is an important part of the application process at many universities. Although it is not compulsory, it can earn you additional points for the allocation of study places. In the past, many students relied on waiting semesters. Today, however, medicine is a degree programme for which you have to impress with your qualifications right from the application stage. 

A good TMS is a solid basis in the battle for the few places. For this reason, you should not take the TMS lightly, but prepare well for it in order to achieve a competitive level of points.

Many students take one or even several semesters to prepare really well for the TMS. The problem is that you can only repeat the test once and only within 12 months. It is therefore worth taking the preparation seriously.

This does not mean that you cannot do anything else during the preparation period. Preparing for the TMS can certainly be seen as a kind of "waiting period". Many students use this waiting period to work and earn money to make it easier to start university and finance their living expenses.

What exactly is tested in the TMS?

The TMS is not a knowledge test, as it assesses many more skills that are important in medical studies. These include cognitive skills such as logic and memory. Spatial imagination is also put to the test in a considerable number of tasks.

The TMS consists of several subcategories that cover different areas. For example, applicants have to demonstrate text comprehension using various articles and related questions and put figures together. The test is practical and ensures that future medical students have the skills required at university. 

The TMS is a much better way for universities to select applicants than the waiting period. It is about clear criteria that reflect abilities and not simply about automatically accumulating waiting semesters.

Studying medicine abroad as an alternative without a waiting period

As the NC in Germany is high and access to medical studies via the waiting period is no longer possible, numerous high school graduates decide every semester to try their luck at a university abroad. 

Other countries do not count waiting times either, but the NC is often not as decisive as at German universities.

We support you in realising your dream of studying human medicine without being held back by NC requirements and without waiting semesters. Studying medicine at a university in another EU country is not without its challenges. However, most universities have their own selection procedures and we are committed to helping you get through them.

What is important when applying to a university abroad?

Waiting semesters are not usually taken into account at universities in other countries. Instead, the grade point average at the Abitur can also play a role here. However, the university's internal entrance tests are often much more important.

We have many years of experience with recommended universities abroad and can prepare you for the test at your chosen university. A letter of motivation is often also required. In this letter, you explain to the people responsible for allocating study places at the university why you in particular should be offered one of the available places.

What is different about studying abroad than in Germany?

If you decide to study at a university abroad, you should know the most important points that differentiate a foreign university from a German university. Tuition fees at a university abroad are generally higher than at German universities. Nevertheless, it is worth starting there straight away instead of trying again semester after semester in Germany. After all, you earn a good salary as a registered doctor, so you want to accumulate as many years of professional experience as possible before you retire.

We help you to realise your dream of studying at a foreign university

If you have any questions about admission requirements, recognition of your degree programme in Germany, funding, course content or other topics, we are the right people to talk to. We will go through all the points with you and help you find the right university and go through the application process there in the best possible way. If you are interested, you can also read the relevant articles on our website!

Conclusion: The NC is not the only factor even after the abolition of the waiting period 

Although the crediting of waiting times has been abolished, the NC is still not the only factor for admission to medical studies. Numerous universities in Germany take additional criteria such as test results, education, professional experience and social skills into account. A high test score in the TMS or HAM-Nat can earn you valuable points and increase your chances of success when applying for a study place.

In summary, study places are allocated centrally by the Foundation for University Admissions via 3 quotas:

• High school graduation quota
• Additional suitability quota
• University selection process

Use every opportunity to fulfil the necessary criteria and maximise your chances of studying medicine even without a credited waiting period.