What do you need to study medicine?

What do you need to Study medicine to be able to? You like the idea of studying medicine one day, but you don't know what it actually takes. Is it even possible to get a Study place to get? Do you need certain certificates or qualifications? We answer these questions for you in this article.

Studying medicine: how difficult is the admission process?

Studying medicine is one of the most sought-after degree programmes in the world. This is particularly evident in the number of applicants. In Germany, around 45,000 applicants apply for around 9,500 places every winter semester. This means that on average you are competing against 5 other applicants.

In comparison, there are also around 53,000 applicants for 22,000 university places in America. The competition here is therefore much lower than in Germany, despite the significantly higher salary later on. There are many reasons for this, but this comparison is merely intended to show how competitive admissions in Germany actually are.

What you need to be able to study medicine

The basic requirement for studying medicine is the Abitur. First of all, it is important that you have a "general higher education entrance qualification". How good this is in the end is of great importance when applying. The Numerus Clausus is still the decisive criterion for admission to medical school.

In recent years, a number of additional selection criteria have been added, which means that the NC is not the only criterion used to decide between applicants. The so-called TMS which is now accepted by almost every university. This enables a somewhat more objective admission to the degree programme. The FSJ and vocational training courses are now recognised. Even small awards during school, such as the Biology Olympiad, are recognised.

If you would like more information about the admission requirements for the degree programme, take a look here:

Another option: The 2nd educational pathway

The easiest way to study medicine is to have the Abitur. But even this is no longer compulsory! It is also possible to study without a high school diploma. The number of students without a general higher education entrance qualification has actually been quite high in recent years. Around 6,000 students did not have an Abitur.

So if you want to study medicine without ever having done your A-levels, here are the conditions:

• Intermediate maturity
• Completed vocational training in the medical field (e.g. paramedic, medical assistant, physiotherapist, nurse, occupational therapist)
• Final training grade of at least 2.5
• This is followed by 3 years of work in the skilled profession

With these conditions it is possible to apply to some universities. There is often a further selection process to choose the "best" applicant. However, this varies from university to university.

What do you need to be able to study medicine?

To study medicine, you need at least a secondary school leaving certificate in combination with 2 years of vocational training and 3 years of experience in this field. However, it is easier to take the route via the general higher education entrance qualification. There are many ways to improve your A-level average. Find out more here:

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