Study veterinary medicine without NC

The Study of veterinary medicine without NC offers you the opportunity to study veterinary medicine without having to fulfil the numerus clausus requirements. Various universities abroad allow you to study veterinary medicine regardless of your A-level average and thus open up opportunities to realise your dream of working with animals. But in Germany, too, the NC is not the only decisive criterion in determining who gets a place in the admission procedure.

How good does the Abitur have to be to be admitted to a veterinary degree programme in Germany?

In most cases, a very good Abitur is required to study veterinary medicine in Germany, as the admission restrictions are high. The NC published annually reflects the high level of competition. There are significantly more applicants than study places.

However, only 30 % of the seats will be sold exclusively via the so-called High school graduation quota awarded. The Foundation for University Admissions, which is responsible for allocating places, allocates a further 10 % of the places via the so-called zEQ, the Additional suitability quota. These include criteria such as completed training, special tests for suitability for medical degree programmes such as the TMS and completed voluntary services such as an FSJ.

Finally, there is the university selection procedure (AdH), which - just as with Human medicine and Dentistry - 60 % of the total number of places available for the veterinary degree programme for the semester in question. There the Grade from the Abitur Although the level of education does play a role, other aspects such as existing vocational training, completed tests and possibly personal applications can also make a difference here.

The TMS increases your chances of getting a place on the veterinary medicine degree programme

The test for medical degree programmes (TMS) is a good way to increase your chances of getting one of the highly competitive study places for veterinary medicine. The TMS is not a knowledge test, but tests skills that are required for veterinary medicine and other medical degree programmes such as human medicine, dentistry or Pharmacy are important.

The TMS can have an influence on the assessment both in the additional aptitude quota (zEQ) and in the university selection procedure (AdH). It only plays no role in the 30 % study places that are awarded via the Abitur best quota.

We advise you to take advantage of all available opportunities when applying to study veterinary medicine and therefore also to take the TMS after good preparation. In the event that you do not do well in the TMS, this will not put you at a disadvantage. 

In the worst case scenario, the test won't improve your chances, but it certainly won't make them any worse.

Even in Austria, it is not easy to get a place to study veterinary medicine at a university

In Austria, places on veterinary medicine degree programmes are not allocated on the basis of a numerus clausus depending on A-level grades, as is the case in Germany, but the number of applicants for this degree programme is significantly higher than the number of places available.

So you also have to pay for your Medical studies in Austria fulfil strict requirements if you want to study veterinary medicine there. Only those with the best results in the aptitude test can look forward to a place and starting their studies in the next semester.

Alternative degree programmes to veterinary medicine

If working with animals is important to you, but your A-levels do not meet the NC requirements, studying veterinary medicine is by no means the only option. Alternative degree programmes include the following:

• Agricultural sciences: Animal health also plays an important role here
• Biology: Especially if you focus on zoology in this degree programme, you will learn a lot about animals and will be able to work in a corresponding field later on.
• Animal psychology:Here you will research the behaviour of animals and can use your knowledge in animal therapy, for example.
• Equine Science: This degree specialises in horses and their needs in sport, breeding and therapy.
• Wildlife management: Protect and manage wildlife populations and contribute to species conservation.

These 5 degree programmes are just a selection of the many paths you can take at universities if animals are close to your heart. Therefore, always bear in mind that studying veterinary medicine is very attractive, but that there are also many other very good alternatives.

There are good reasons to complete an apprenticeship before studying veterinary medicine

Previous knowledge and practical experience of working directly with animals significantly increase your chances of getting one of the coveted study places. Especially for high school graduates whose grade does not correspond to the NC for medicine it is worth considering completing an apprenticeship first, which will give you an advantage when applying for a veterinary degree programme later on.

For example, if you are a veterinary nurse or veterinary assistant, this will count towards both the additional aptitude quota (zEQ) and the university selection procedure (AdH).

Apart from the better chances of being able to study veterinary medicine, the apprenticeship offers another advantage: you gain deep insights into veterinary medicine and acquire practical knowledge that will benefit you during your studies. Students who have already worked in the medical field often enter the demanding veterinary degree programme with more confidence.

During your apprenticeship, you will also gain more certainty about whether your chosen career path is the right one for you. 

Another not insignificant advantage is the financial opportunities: If you have already learnt a profession, it is usually easier to find a job with attractive pay during your studies, which provides a lot of relief in view of the not inconsiderable cost of living.

Studying veterinary medicine without an NC is common abroad

For many students, studying veterinary medicine abroad is an excellent alternative to degree programmes in Germany. Many universities in Europe, such as in the Netherlands, Austria or Latvia, offer veterinary medicine degree programmes without an NC.

If you decide to take this route, we have compiled a list of universities abroad where you can study veterinary medicine in English or even German.

We take care of the application to these universities for you and support you in realising your dream of studying veterinary medicine at a university abroad. From preparing for the aptitude test to finding a university abroad. WG or flat, we provide you with reliable support and are there for you before, during and after your studies.

Take a look at all the options and the associated framework conditions and requirements of the universities in each country on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Tuition fees abroad are generally higher than in Germany

If you want to study veterinary medicine at a university abroad, you will soon be faced with the question of how to finance your studies. Although universities abroad have the advantage that places are not allocated on the basis of A-level grades, the degree programme costs several thousand euros each semester. You can find a list of the exact tuition fees for each university on our website.

In order to finance your studies, many students are eligible for BAföG abroad. You can receive this even if you would not be entitled to BAföG if you were studying at a German university, as the costs abroad can also be higher due to the tuition fees.

Other alternatives are a scholarship or a student loan, which you only have to pay back when you have long since completed your veterinary degree at university and are already firmly established as a veterinarian.

What about the recognition of studies completed abroad in Germany?

The recognition in Germany of a veterinary degree obtained abroad depends on various conditions. As a rule, degrees obtained within the EU, for example from the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland or Austria, are recognised without any problems. This is another of many good reasons in favour of studying veterinary medicine at a university abroad.

Which universities are suitable for studying veterinary medicine abroad?

As explained in the last section, it is important that your veterinary degree from abroad is recognised in Germany without any complications. Therefore, you should not choose a country for your studies abroad where the teaching content in the natural sciences and, of course, especially in veterinary medicine differs greatly from that at universities in Germany.

We work exclusively with universities where the training is no worse than the German standard. This means that after completing your studies, you can carry out diagnostics and treatment as a vet just as well as you would after studying in Germany. 

Universities in Europe have strict standards for studying veterinary medicine. Therefore, at good universities, you can be sure that you will not end up at a disadvantage compared to a vet trained in Germany. Recognising your studies is usually not a problem either.

Language as an important factor

If you live in another country, you will usually be able to communicate well in the local language after a few semesters at the latest, even if communication is also possible in English in most countries. However, when it comes to your actual studies, it is better if you know far more than just the absolute basics of the language. 

At the universities we recommend, you can therefore study veterinary medicine in English or, in some cases, even in German. This ensures that you will be able to follow all lectures and courses on the degree programme and apply the content yourself later on.

In private settings, such as student parties or hobbies outside the university, you have numerous opportunities to learn the local language, which you should take advantage of. Not only will you be able to study veterinary medicine without an NC and pursue your dream job later on, but you will also acquire additional skills and get to know the country and its people better.

Transfer back to Germany in a later semester of your degree programme?

It is usually possible to transfer from a foreign university back to Germany while studying veterinary medicine. To do this, you must have your previous achievements abroad officially recognised in Germany and can then transfer to the corresponding semester at a German university if it offers you a place.

However, our experience shows that most students are so satisfied with their study programme abroad after a short time that they no longer want to change. Incidentally, this is the case regardless of whether the place of study is the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Latvia or another country with a high-quality veterinary medicine degree programme.

After graduating, however, many vets return to Germany to apply the knowledge they have acquired here and establish themselves professionally. On the one hand, this is of course due to the fact that many of these newly qualified vets still have family and friends in Germany. But the earning potential, which is significantly higher as a vet in Germany than in Eastern European countries, for example, also plays a decisive role for many returnees.

The phenomenon of students doing well and enjoying their studies abroad and then returning to Germany can also be observed in other medical subjects. Students of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy also often stay abroad for the entire duration of their studies and then return to Germany with their exams in their pockets.

The other way round: moving from Germany to another country

Spending one or more semesters at a university abroad is a good opportunity for almost all degree programmes to gain additional experience and broaden your horizons.
Many veterinary students also realise their dream of a year abroad and spend a semester in the Netherlands, Hungary, England or another country, for example. However, this route is less common than in the medicine degree programme, for example, where the semester abroad is seen by some students as a very important step in their medical career.
In veterinary medicine, it can sometimes be difficult to spend a year abroad and still complete all the compulsory internships required in Germany. However, with good planning and in close consultation with the university abroad, this is still possible.

Another alternative is an internship abroad. Students in border regions close to Denmark, France or the Netherlands are particularly keen to take advantage of this opportunity. However, internships further afield can also be recognised with the right documentation and in cooperation with the university.

Studying veterinary medicine is even possible without a high school diploma

If you are worried about the high NC for the veterinary medicine degree programme, you may find the following reassuring: Even if you don't have an Abitur, you can be admitted to the veterinary medicine degree programme under certain circumstances.

The prerequisite for this at most universities is a completed vocational training programme in a field that qualifies you to study veterinary medicine. For example, if you are a veterinary assistant and have a certain amount of professional experience, you have a realistic chance of bypassing the admission restrictions and gaining a place at a university in the university selection procedure (AdH).

However, it is advisable to take a study aptitude test such as the TMS, which was developed specifically for the field of medicine. In this way, applicants can prove that they are ideally suited for a degree programme such as medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry, even if they do not have an Abitur.

Vets without A-levels are by no means worse at their job

Above all, a good vet must be able to deal well with the animal entrusted to him and, of course, be professionally competent. This ability is not dependent on having an A-level. During the 11 semesters of the degree programme, the essential skills required for the future profession are learned - with or without an Abitur.

The experience of numerous veterinary clinics shows that graduates without A-levels are characterised by great determination and impressive commitment. After all, it is not always easy to catch up on the basics of the natural sciences that are taught in the sixth form at grammar school in addition to the existing study workload.

A student who perseveres here shows that he is definitely able and willing to complete the veterinary degree programme to become a good vet.

You must meet these requirements for the Veterinary Medicine degree programme

It should be clear by now that the NC is by no means the most important requirement for studying veterinary medicine. First and foremost, it is crucial for this degree programme that you know what you are getting into and that you really want to go down this path.

The degree programme consists largely of natural sciences, such as biology and chemistry. It is therefore an advantage if you already have the relevant knowledge and can internalise new learning content quickly.

You should also be aware that not all compulsory internships are pleasant. For example, veterinary students have to complete an internship in a slaughterhouse as part of their degree programme, which can be extremely stressful if you have a great love of animals.

But a vet also has to be able to tackle many situations in agriculture and even in small animal practice. You should therefore be neither squeamish nor too squeamish if you want to realise your dream and study veterinary medicine at a university.

Overview of opportunities to study veterinary medicine without a good A-levels

If studying veterinary medicine is really your big dream, you shouldn't give up just because you don't get a place on the programme directly via the A-level quota. To summarise, you have the following options for taking the final exam after 11 semesters and being able to work as a vet:

• Complete a study aptitude test such as the TMS. This allows you to prove that you have the knowledge and skills required for the degree programme.
• Do vocational training that can be regarded as an additional qualification for the veterinary medicine degree programme and apply again after a few semesters. This will give you a promising chance of making it through the university selection process or the additional aptitude quota.
• Apply for a place to study veterinary medicine abroad with our help. In most other countries, your A-level grades are not as important as your direct application to the university and the relevant admission tests.