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Passed the Abitur and now fulfilling the dream of studying medicine - if only it were really that easy. The path from graduation from school to the start of the semester of medical studies in Germany is associated with many hurdles.
"Is my Abi grade sufficient? What is this year's N.C. quota at X University? What can I do to increase my chances of getting into medicine? Will I ever be able to study medicine, if so, when?" - these are just some of the questions that prospective medical students in Germany have to deal with.
Studying medicine is not a decision that should be made on a whim. Studying medicine can change not only your life, but also the lives of many others. As a rule, it takes 5 years to study dentistry and 6 years to study human medicine, but of course it can also take longer.
Therefore, it is all the more important to deal with and understand the whole issue. If you don't get a place at university this year, it is extremely important to plan well for the next opportunity in order to increase your chances and to bridge the time until then in a sensible way.
That's what this blog is all about. We explain how the process of studying medicine works, what resources you can use for better planning, what you can do to bridge the gap until your next attempt and what alternatives there are to studying medicine in Germany. WITHOUT NC gives.
1. school-leaving certificate - how do I get my medical degree in Germany now?
If you would like to apply to a state university for a place to study medicine or dentistry in Germany, you must first register on the application and information portal "hochschulstart.de" register. This is divided into the following steps: Registration in the DoSV application portal, followed by an application via the application tool "AntOn". The deadlines (cut-off period) differ not only depending on whether you are applying for the winter or summer semester, but also on whether you are an old or new A-level student. The allocation of study places is largely based on the NC principle.
You can find the current deadlines here take out.
2. what is the N.C.?
N.C. is the abbreviation for Numerus Clausus and comes from Latin. Translated, the term means something like "limited number". In Germany, the N.C. expresses the grade point average in relation to colleges and universities.
3. when does the numerus clausus come into play?
If the demand for places exceeds the supply, universities can apply for admission restrictions. However, medical degree programmes in Germany are generally considered to be admission-restricted programmes nationwide. In the winter semester 2020 alone, there were 49,885 applicants for 9,660 admissions, according to "Hochschulstart".
The criteria used to limit admission depend on the federal state and the respective university. The numerus clausus is calculated on the basis of the number of applicants, the average grades achieved in the Abitur and the available places.
In this case, the numerus clausus expresses the average grade of the most recently admitted applicant.
A simplified example: If the N.C. is 1.2, for example, applicants with an average grade of 1.2 or better are admitted to the programme. The Numerus Clausus changes every semester and is therefore difficult to predict. However, apps such as NCRECHNER can help you prepare and get an idea of the range of the N.C. at the respective universities in Germany. We will explain in more detail how the app can help you in the course of this blog.
4. What criteria do I have to fulfil to be eligible for a place at a medical school in Germany?
The last major changes to the admission criteria for studying medicine in Germany were not made until 2020. Currently, admissions are allocated on the basis of three main quotas, although a preliminary quota of 20% is applied in advance. These 20% of available places are allocated in advance to hardship cases, students from abroad and second degree applicants, among others.
Applicants who are not affected by the preliminary quota automatically participate in all three main quotas. The main quotas differ not only in their respective criteria, but also from university to university.
The following quotas are taken into account:
- Baccalaureate quota 30%
As the name suggests, this is a criterion that depends on the Abitur grades. Of the available study places, 30% are awarded to the best Abitur students, depending on the total number of points achieved.
If you don't do so well with your Abitur, you still have a chance of gaining a place at a medical school via the ZEQ and the AdH.
- Additional suitability quota 10% (ZEQ)
Only criteria that are independent of school grades are used for the ZEQ. Exactly what the criteria are depends on the university and they are weighted on an individual 100-point scale.
Points can be awarded for study aptitude tests (TMS/HAM-NAT), education, professional activity, service, honorary office, recognised awards and personal selection interviews.
- University selection procedure 60% (AdH)
The majority of places are reserved for the selection procedure of the universities. In addition to the Abitur grade, at least two criteria independent of school grades as well as a subject-specific study aptitude test (TMS/HAM-NAT) must be taken into account in the AdH. An individual 100-point scale is also used here.
Please note that your performance will be compared directly with the performance of the other applicants and a ranking will be created. A 1.0 average is therefore not a 100% guarantee of getting a place at a medical school in Germany, so it should happen, for example, that there are enough applicants with a 1.0 average and a better Abitur score.
5. what is the N.C. calculator?
The NCRECHNER is an app that allows you to easily calculate whether, how and at which university in Germany you would have been admitted to a medical school in the last two semesters. Apps like this can help you to have a guideline for what requirements you would have to fulfil at the respective universities and you can prepare yourself accordingly. It is important to note that this information is only a guess and not a prediction of the numerus clausus to be expected in the next round of applications. Nevertheless, a repeating pattern can often be observed.
The most important functions of the app are the "DreamOn" and the evaluation of the data entered. In the "DreamOn", you can enter data such as your Abitur results, education, TMS/HAM-NAT, work experience, waiting semesters etc. As soon as the app has all the required data, a probability table appears with the universities at which an application would have been successful in the last two semesters.
You can get a more detailed overview in the "Evaluation" tab. Here you can see once again whether and to which university you could have applied successfully or what would have been missing and what options there are to improve your chances.
The app tells you everything you need to know about the influence a service, FSJ, TMS/HAM-NAT etc. at a particular university would have on the individual quotas and thus on your chance of getting a place at a medical school.
The app is available in the Google Play Store and in the AppStore.
6 What can I do to increase my chances of getting a place at a medical school in Germany?
If you are currently still at schoolIf you want to apply for a place in Germany, then please inform yourself as soon as possible about all current deadlines (TMS, application, upload, etc.) and requirements. At the end of the day, you yourself are responsible for your medical school place in Germany. With apps like NCRECHNER, you can easily get an idea of what Abitur average and other criteria you would have had to meet in order to get a place in the last two application rounds.
But even if you're an old high school graduate, the first step to studying medicine is to get informed. Always stay up to date, because you never know when the admission requirements will change.
In order to increase your chances of obtaining a place at a medical school via the ZEQ and the AdH, you should consider the following options for bridging your time:
- Increase your chances of getting into medical school by: TMS/HAM-NAT
A very good "medical test" can compensate for an insufficient Abitur grade. Of course, this depends on the criteria of the respective university.
Attention: The HAM-NAT is only recognised at the universities in Hamburg and Magdeburg.
- Increase chances of a place at medical school through: Vocational training
Bridge your time and prepare yourself with practical experience instead of just theory. Training as an emergency paramedic to bridge the gap to medical studies is particularly popular among applicants. You can find out which other vocational training/professional activities are currently recognised at Hochschulstart.de.
Attention: Only professional activities with a minimum duration of 12 months are considered.
- Increase your chances of getting into medical school through: FSJ and voluntary work
Complete a voluntary service of at least 2 years (e.g. Johanniter, ASB, DRK, etc.) or an FSJ of at least 11 months.
Any additional recognised achievement you perform can give you priority in the event of a tie with an applicant who has the same A-Level score as you!
7. what other options do I have to bridge my time until medical school?
A popular option for many who are not yet sure whether they really want to study medicine or just want to pass the time wisely is to study science in biology or chemistry. Studying these subjects can prepare you for medical school in many ways, especially when it comes to understanding medical topics.
Are there alternatives that allow me to start my medical studies without complications and WITHOUT an NC? And what advantages do they offer me?
Studying abroad is the The easiest way to study medicine without an NC to study medicine. This option is becoming more and more popular due to the too high demand and the too small supply of medical study places in Germany. For many students, studying medicine abroad means living independently and without parents for the first time. Unique experiences, friends and moments are gained that would never have happened if one had not decided to study medicine abroad.
Among other things, studying medicine in Austria is very popular. The medical entrance test used in Austria is a procedure independent of school grades. However, this test is not the easiest and the quota for European applicants is only 20%.
Another option would be to study medicine in other European countries where the admission procedure is somewhat easier. Also, at these universities, there are no quotas in the international courses based on the applicant's origin. So it is a fair competition for each person.
The admission procedure here also varies from university to university. At these 18 top universities in Europe However, a distinction can be made between application processes with an entrance test and without an entrance test. At universities without an entrance test, places are generally awarded on the basis of academic performance and additional extracurricular activities (FSJ, service, etc.), similar to Germany. Nevertheless, the chances of getting a place at a university abroad are generally higher than in Germany.
Studying medicine abroad is associated with additional costs, but if the worst comes to the worst, it saves you a few years of waiting for a place to study in Germany, which hopefully pays off.
Would you like to learn more about alternatives to studying medicine in Germany without an NC? Order a free info pack or arrange an appointment, also free of charge, telephone info calland get all your questions answered.
In summary, the application process for medical studies in Germany can seem extremely complicated at first glance. Therefore, the most important thing, especially if you are about to graduate from high school, is to inform yourself and be aware of what you need to achieve in order to save yourself the agony of a protracted application process. If your Abitur results are not as good as you had hoped, you will have to perform well in order to meet the Numerus Clausus. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the achievements accumulated over the years to be insufficient in the end.
Blogs on this topic, such as this one, are often already informative enough, but we would like to emphasise once again that changes can occur quickly and it is therefore the responsibility of each person to also check the official sites.
If you are aware that you cannot meet the requirements of the N.C. in Germany, you should get a Plan B to avoid falling into the process of hoping and waiting over the next few years. Studying medicine abroad can be the easiest solution in such a case. Save valuable time, increase your chances of getting into medical school and fulfil your dream of studying medicine.
You don't have a plan B yet? Order your free info pack now and find out about possible alternatives to studying medicine in Germany.
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