Medical studies application

You must apply centrally via the online portal hochschulstart.de for the degree programmes in human medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. You must submit your university entrance qualification and, if applicable, other qualifications such as the score of a completed TMS test. Only with a correct application do you have any chance of gaining one of the coveted study places.

Our guide to applying for a place to study medicine

For the Human Medicine degree programme - just like for Dentistry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine - you must apply via "Hochschulstart", the online portal of the Foundation for University Admissions. From collecting the documents to correctly completing the online application, this can sometimes be complex. We have therefore created a step-by-step guide to help you find your way through the jungle of application deadlines and admission requirements.

Step 1: Register for the DoSV application portal

Your path to the dream of studying medicine begins with an important first step: registering for the dialogue-oriented service procedure (DoSV) of hochschulstart.de. The DoSV application portal coordinates the allocation of study places and supports a fair selection process for degree programmes with limited admission such as pharmacy, human medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.

If you have not yet completed your studies, create a user account as a new high school graduate and secure your applicant ID. This ID is your key to applying to different universities and keeping track of your application status. Start early enough to meet the application deadlines and to be able to prepare and collate your documents for submission to Hochschulstart in peace.

Step 2: Register with AntOn

Once you have registered on the DoSV application portal, additional registration for AntOn is required for medical studies and all other nationally restricted degree programmes. The abbreviation AntOn stands for "Application online".

However, you do not have to enter your data in AntOn in the same detail as with the DoSV application portal, as the information can be transferred automatically via an interface between the two portals. Keep the password for your AntOn access safe, as you may need it later in the application process with hochschulstart.de. After registering with AntOn, you can then proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Create and submit your application

Now it's time to finalise your application to study medicine. Enter all the required data in your user account on hochschulstart.de, including your university entrance qualification and any test results from TMS or other study aptitude tests. 

Then select the universities at which you would like to study. You then need to upload the required documents. Make sure you check the accuracy of your details thoroughly before sending your application.

Submission deadlines for the summer and winter semesters must be strictly observed. Your status will be updated in the application portal. Keep an eye on your e-mail and the portal so that you don't miss any information or notices about your application and can follow the progress of your application online.

Step 4: Set priorities

In the application portal, you decide which universities you would prefer to study at. If you have applied for other subjects in addition to medicine, such as pharmacy, veterinary medicine or dentistry, you will also need to prioritise these. 

Although it is possible to apply for more than one degree programme and more than one university, you will only be accepted onto one degree programme at most. If you have the opportunity to be accepted to several degree programmes based on your qualifications in the application process quotas, you will only be allocated the one that is highest on your list of priorities.

Step 5: Send in documents

Although most applications for restricted admission degree programmes at universities are made online, you must also send in certified copies of certain documents in order to gain a place at a university. These include, for example, your school-leaving certificate and, if applicable, proof of completed aptitude tests.

Step 6: Follow the application phase and accept the offer if necessary

Check the status of your application for medicine regularly on the DoSV portal, especially from the end of January to the beginning of February for the summer semester and from the end of July to August for the winter semester. 

Under "My applications" you can see whether you have already been offered a place at a university. If this is the case, "Offer available" will appear on the screen next to the university.

This shows why prioritisation is so important, because if you receive offers for several study places, only the one that is highest on your priority list will apply.

If you have not yet been offered a place, it is not yet time to give up hope. In the succession procedure, your status can still change until the end of April in the summer semester or September in the winter semester.

Fill in all the spaces on the priority list!

Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the prioritisation list in your Application for medical studies fully. All 12 available places offer you the opportunity to increase your chances of admission to the university in question. 

Only if you cannot, with the best will in the world, imagine studying at a university other than the one you have already chosen should you not include any other universities on your list of priorities.

When filling out the list, always bear in mind that Hochschulstart will only allocate you the highest ranked offer if you qualify for a place at different universities. It is therefore important that this list really reflects your priorities. We would like to illustrate this with a Example clarify:

Let's assume that you would prefer to study at the University of Heidelberg, but in principle any other German university would be an option for you. You therefore enter 11 other universities in addition to Heidelberg. By mistake, however, you have not entered Heidelberg University at number 1 on your list as intended, but at number 12. 

You now perform so well in the application process that you could have a place at both Charité Berlin and Heidelberg. However, as Charité is higher up on your list, you will automatically be allocated this place. Your possible admission to Heidelberg will be cancelled.

Can I apply for several degree programmes at the same time on AntOn?

Yes, the Hochschulstart application portal offers you the opportunity to apply for several degree programmes at the same time. For example, if you are interested in the Dentistry and Pharmacy degree programmes in addition to Human Medicine, you can also send applications for these.

Just as with the prioritisation of universities, you must also prioritise your choice of degree programmes and will only ever be allocated one place. If you would also have qualified for a place further down your list, you will not be offered this place if you choose one of your higher prioritised courses instead. Obtain a study place can.

Be sure to set up only one AntOn access

AntOn access is essential for applying to study medicine or other degree programmes such as dentistry and pharmacy. But be careful: only create one account! Multiple accounts are not permitted, which is why duplicate accounts will be cancelled by hochschulstart.de. All applications created via these accounts will then be lost.

You can apply for admission to several universities and for several degree programmes, but you will only ever be accepted for the place you prioritise most.

Differences between new school leavers and other applicants

If you have not yet completed or are currently completing a degree programme, certain quotas apply to you in the selection process for medical studies:

1. The Abitur quota
2. The additional suitability quota
3. The university selection process

In particular, you have an advantage over applicants who qualify through their profession and who have a high school diploma. Study medicine without A-levels would like to. With the additional aptitude quota, on the other hand, as a new high school graduate you cannot usually show any professional experience, but here you also have the opportunity to qualify via other factors such as a TMS, the test for medical degree programmes.

Other applicant groups

Other groups of applicants include, for example, foreign students, nationals from other EU countries or students who are already enrolled. Different admission criteria and quotas may apply to them. In addition to the regular application procedure, prospective students who apply via the so-called Landarzt quota also have another chance of gaining a place.

As the application process can differ for the various groups, you must correctly assign yourself to one of 4 groups on the hochschulstart.de website. Make sure you do this correctly and keep your chance of getting the university place you want. If you get stuck, you can contact the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Foundation for University Admissions) responsible for hochschulstart.de directly if you have any questions.

Study aptitude tests: a must when applying to study medicine?

By taking a study aptitude test such as the TMS or the HAM-Nat and scoring well in the test in question, you significantly increase your chances of getting a place at university. These tests are taken into account both in the additional aptitude quota and in the university selection process. It is therefore worth taking (at least) one of the two tests described below. Incidentally, these not only improve your chances of gaining a place on a degree programme in human medicine, but are also taken into account in the allocation procedures for places on degree programmes in veterinary medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.

Test for medical degree programmes (TMS)

The TMS is regarded by students as an important addition to the application process for medical studies at German universities. It does not test traditional medical expertise, but rather emphasises cognitive skills and basic scientific knowledge, which are important when studying medicine. 

The TMS plays a role in the allocation of study places via the additional aptitude quota (zEQ), and many universities also recognise this test. A good score can therefore be the NC which applies to this quota, and thus increase the chances of admission. The test takes place on fixed dates at around 50 locations throughout Germany and requires early registration. Information about the exact location and registration deadlines can be found at hochschulstart.de.

Hamburg Science Test (HAM-Nat)

The HAM-Nat is another study aptitude test. It consists of multiple-choice questions and tests a lot of school knowledge relevant to studying in the natural sciences subjects of maths, chemistry, biology and physics. In addition - just like the TMS - there are questions designed to test the basic skills that are important for studying human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy.

However, the HAM-Nat is only considered in the university selection process at 3 universities:

• Hamburg
• Magdeburg
• Greifswald

Charité Berlin, which introduced the HAM-Nat for the first time in the application process for the winter semester 2013/14, abolished it again in 2019 and now uses the TMS, as do most other universities. If you would like to study in Hamburg, Magdeburg or Greifswald, you should generally take the HAM-Nat. The dates for the tests take place directly at the respective universities and can be found on their websites.

When can I do without the TMS or other tests?

Neither the TMS nor other aptitude tests are compulsory for your application for a place to study medicine. This means that, at least in theory, you have the chance of being accepted at any university without such a test. The same applies to other restricted-admission degree programmes in the field of medicine (dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy).

However, one of the most valuable tips for the application phase is that you should only do without such a test in very specific cases.

One factor worth mentioning, for example, would be a really good Abitur. However, you should be aware that the NC for human medicine has been 1.0 or just above for most federal states in recent years. Even with an Abitur of 1.0, there is therefore a chance that you will not get one of the places allocated via the best Abitur quota. This means that you really need to have achieved a lot of points in order to have a good feeling about not taking the TMS.

The NC depends on the federal state

The numerus clausus (NC) for medical studies differs depending on the federal state and university. This becomes clear in the allocation procedure on hochschulstart.de. Depending on the number of applicants and the capacity of the university in question, the A-level grade you need for admission is determined. 

It is also important to know that the exact ranking of your Abitur depends on the federal state in which you obtained it. First of all, lists of the best students from the individual federal states are compiled, which are then combined into a list for Germany as a whole. In recent years, applicants with an Abitur from Schleswig-Holstein or Lower Saxony have needed fewer points than applicants from Berlin or Rhineland-Palatinate.

Especially if you did your A-levels in a federal state where experience has shown that you need a particularly high score for a place at university, it often makes sense to take the test for medical degree programmes, even with a top A-level.

What happens if I do badly in the TMS?

The test can only improve your chances. Negative effects on the allocation of places are therefore not possible. Fear of a poor result is therefore not necessarily a reason not to take part.

What happens if I am unsuccessful with my application?

A rejected application to study medicine does not mean the end of your dreams. It is important to prepare yourself for the fact that the high demand for study places inevitably leads to a very selective allocation process. Be aware that the majority of applicants do not get a place despite having a university entrance qualification. 

But even if you have not been admitted this time, there are many ways in which you can improve your chances for the next winter or summer semester. The following tips and information should help you to plan your next steps and make the best of your rejection.

Making sensible use of waiting times

Waiting semesters are no longer taken into account when allocating university places via hochschulstart.de. Make effective use of the time until your next application to improve your qualifications and chances of gaining a place. 

Complete internships in the medical field or do voluntary work. A voluntary social year (FSJ) or an apprenticeship can also be useful. This will give you valuable experience that can strengthen your suitability for studying medicine. 

If you have not yet taken a study aptitude test, now is the time for intensive preparation. Well prepared, you can then start the next application process with your applicant ID.

Studying medicine in another EU country as an alternative

If applying to study medicine in Germany does not lead to the desired success, a university in another EU country can be an attractive alternative. Many EU countries offer students the opportunity to study human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy under very favourable conditions. Unlike at German universities, there is often no generally applicable NC; instead, applicants are selected on the basis of individual procedures.

The recognition of university entrance qualifications has been facilitated by the Bologna Agreement, so that nationals and EU citizens have equal access to these degree programmes. German nationals with a German Abitur therefore generally have no problem fulfilling the basic requirements for studying at universities in other EU countries.

We help you to get a study place in another EU country

At FutureDoctor, we support you in finding a place to study in another EU country. We know both the application deadlines and the exact requirements of the various universities. Together we will find a university that suits you. 

We will take care of the application for you, and we will prepare you intensively for any upcoming admission tests with our learning app, lots of videos and, if necessary, tutorials. We have all the important information you need. When it comes to paperwork, you don't have to worry, because we've got your back.

FutureDoctor brings you a big step closer to your dream of studying medicine - without overlooking anything important.

Recognition of your foreign medical degree programme in Germany

If you have completed a medical degree in another EU country, it is usually possible to practise as a doctor in Germany without any problems. You must apply for your academic achievements to be recognised and prove that they are equivalent to the German state examination.

Recognition is usually a mere formality. If required, we can take care of the necessary information and help you to have every detail of the recognition process properly confirmed so that you can practise in Germany without any restrictions.