medical doctor

HOW TO BECOME A DOCTOR IN GERMANY

medical doctor

In Germany, over 409,100 doctors are employed. As of 2020, the rate of medical doctors increased to 4.90 per 1000 people. Hence, the competition for getting admitted to medical universities is usually high. This article will help you know how to become a doctor in Germany. Let’s get right into it.

Get a Degree
To become a doctor in Germany, getting your medical degree is important, especially from a German university. Students with the highest grades were the only ones accepted till that was changed.
You can apply to a medical program directly if you graduated from an EU secondary school but if you are a non-EU student, you can apply to a public institution, which provides foundation courses for international students (Studienkolleg) for a period of one year, which leads to a university qualification assessment examination (Feststellungsprufung). Kampus Konnekt is here to put you through this process without stress.

Learn the German Language
Set your priority right by choosing to learn the German language. It is a very important requirement in studying and practicing medicine in Germany, as medicine is taught in German. Here at Kampus Konnekt, we offer German language training for international students who want to get into Germany. Find out more here.

Attempt to take the TestAS
International students are required to take the TestAS. TestAS improves the chances of foreign students of being admitted to a German University. It is both in digital and paper-based form.

Apply to your desired Medical School
Apply to Stiftung fur Hochschulzulassung for your desired university. As soon as you register on the website, begin to monitor your application for updates.
For international students, they would have to ensure the University is part of the uni-assist, before applying. Uni-assist evaluates the applications of foreign students for 180 German Universities.

Here are some Universities in Germany where you can study Medicine:

  • The University Of Lubeck
  • The Tubingen University Hospital
  • The University of Heidelberg
  • The University of Freiburg
  • The University of Charite
  • The university of Herdecke

Reaching your Medical School Goals
For medical programs, it takes over 6 years to complete. Your school medical program starts as soon as you get admitted, so buckle up.

Passing the State Examination and Earning your License.
The state examination is a very important examination that marks the concluding part of your final year in medical school. As soon as you pass this examination, you are qualified for earning your License to practice medicine.
This state examination takes place in three(3) stages.

  • The M1 Stage: it takes place after 2 years of studying medicine. It has to do with anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology. This is both in written and oral practical form.
  • The M2 Stage: this is a written case-related exam that takes place after 5 years of studying medicine and the success of the first exam
  • The M3 Stage: the third stage takes place after one year of the success of the second examination.

For more information about what you need to study medicine in Germany, get in touch with Kampus Konnekt.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IN GERMANY

Germany is one of the perfect destinations for great scholarships. Scholarship applications are brushed up by independent and voluntarily selected committees. Here is the list of scholarships you can apply for in Germany.

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) Scholarship Program
This falls under government-funded scholarships. This scholarship offers different scholarship opportunities to international students in Germany. DAAD scholarships focus on students who have completed their bachelor’s degree program with work experience. Visit daad.de/en/ for more information.

Erasmus Scholarship Program
This is a program founded in 1987, whose goal is to fund international exchange programs. This scholarship also falls under government-funded scholarships.
This scholarship is similar to DAAD scholarship program in terms of the criteria expected of any student wanting to apply. Erasmus offers international students in universities in Germany one year of financial support and a chance to experience and have fun in a foreign country.

Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship
This scholarship is financed by the Einstein foundation, which is up to 5 years. Those eligible are junior research group leaders, who have received funds from the DFG or an ERC grant.

Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships
To apply for this scholarship, you need a doctoral degree or four years of full-time research experience. This program is funded by the European commission. This is offered to students who wish to further their education.

KAAD(Catholic Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships
This is a scholarship institution of the German Catholic Church. Students applying for this scholarship must be from developing countries, have a master’s or Ph.D. degree, and must be fluent in the German language.

Kurt Hansen Science Scholarships
This falls under non-government scholarships. It is funded by the Bayer foundation. This scholarship is open to students willing to study in the field of science.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship
This scholarship is available to undergraduate and postgraduate students studying in Germany and to international students who can’t fund their studies, this is financed by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Click here to know more about this scholarship.

SIST LMU Study Scholarship
Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich is for those with a Doctoral degree. This scholarship is funded by the German Foreign Office. Note that incomplete applications are rejected.

For more advice about scholarship applications, you can visit Kampus Konnekt. We’ll be glad to help.

HOW TO ACE YOUR GERMAN STUDENT VISA INTERVIEW

While admittance into a German university is one of the first steps to getting your degree, successfully processing your German student visa interview is another.

Before you can relocate to Germany, you are required to have an interview with the German embassy in your country for assessment of competency regarding your studies in Germany.

In this article, we will review a few common questions and tips that are likely to come up in your interview, should you require one.

Questions Regarding your Decision to Study in Germany

Most of the questions asked will revolve around your choice to study in Germany – why you picked a specific place, and why you picked your course. Answering this question does not require any specific information.

Generalized answers regarding the quality of education and your passion for your desired course is good enough. The following questions may be asked:

Why do you want to study in Germany?

Why did you pick that specific university/ city?

Why are you interested in the course you applied for?

How did you find out about this university?

Isn’t this course offered by any college or university in your country?

What other universities have you applied to?

Questions Testing your General Knowledge of Germany

Questions in this category are asked to test your familiarity with Germany and its culture. It is advisable to do research on lifestyle and all things German to ace this section. These kinds of questions include:

What tourist places do you know and what are they famous for?

Can you speak German?

Where is Germany located and what are its neighboring countries?

What are the most expensive cities to live in, and what are their average living costs?

How many states are there in Germany and can you name some of them?

Questions Regarding your Study Plans

Seeing as you are going to Germany for scholarly purposes, it is very common for the embassy to ask for details about your studies. Here are a few questions that could come up:

How long is your course and what does it entail?

What is your highest level of education?

What have you done since your last graduation?

Questions to Ascertain your Financial Stability

Although German tertiary education is relatively not costly, the German embassy might question you on your financial security and how you intend to sustain your stay in Germany. Here are some questions they may ask:

How are you funding your education?

How much will you be able to earn after your studies?

Where will you stay in Germany?

What will be the total cost of studies per year?

Questions about your Plans for the Future

Study plans aside, the embassy is very likely to ask about your life after your degree. This section includes:

What are your plans after studying?

Where would you like to work after studying?

What are your career aspects?

Advice For the Interview
Alongside these questions are a few tips that may help you to give the best impression possible. Take note that it is not mandatory, only suggested.

Dress smart. As you prepare to answer the questions in the interview, it is good to also prepare your appearance to depict professionalism and seriousness.

Be punctual. Whether it is a few minutes early, or right on time, make sure not to be late as this may create a negative start to your interview. Try as much as possible to be a pleasant client.

Make sure you have all documents. An interview may prove to be useless if you do not bring all of the required documents needed to process your student visa. It may result in you having to re-sit the interview a second time, or even having your student visa denied.

Applying for a student visa may sound challenging or daunting, but it is a smooth transition if you can prep yourself beforehand. The entire process will feel lighter in the moment, and it will be easier to complete, as you know what to expect.

THE LIFE OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IN GERMANY

As a foreigner in a country you’ve never been to before, you might probably find it difficult to feel at home or to get used to the environment or even how things are done.

As an international student living and studying in Germany or planning to, there are quite some interesting facts you should take note of. Germany has a lot to offer aside from the success of the German educational system.

The Grace of Learning a New Language

I know quite a lot of us find learning a new language fun and interesting. Even if you don’t fall into this category, as an international student in Germany, there is a chance that you’d be tempted to learn the German language for better communication with people. The German language happens to be the most spoken language in the world and the most spoken native language in the European continent. With this, there is an open door of job opportunities waiting for you in German companies globally.

Work Opportunities Available on a Platter of Gold.

In Germany, international students are allowed to work part-time unlike in some other countries where there are restrictions but only for up to 20 hours a week or 120 days full days a year. This could help your employment experience and also help pay bills, reducing the burden on your finances.

You must also keep in mind that, international students aren’t allowed to be self-employed or to freelance and if you want to work past the limited hours, you are to take permission from the local employment agency and the foreigner’s registration office.

Here are some of the part-time roles you can lay your hands on in Germany, as an international student:

  •  A Tutor
  • A German Language translator
  • A Waiter
  • A Babysitter
  • A Writer
  • A Bartender
  • A Cashier
  • A Courier
  • A Library Supervisor at your academic institute
  • A Filling document officer
  • A Media Personae

 Read More on How to Fund Your Studies in Germany

A Chance for Exploration

If you love to travel around Europe and vlog, seeing new places and trying new things, I guess it’s a plus for you as an international student in Germany. There are lots of beautiful places to visit and new food to try, new culture and customs to learn and new friends to make. This gives room for socialization and cultural awareness.

A Low or No Tuition Fee

For public universities in Germany, the cost of studying is low or free. This makes it easy for international students to live and learn comfortably. 

The Standard of Living

The standard of living in Germany as an international student is quite low. The expenses of rent and other finances are affordable. With this, there will be enough to save and probably invest. Read here for more tips on how to live in Germany.

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Internship Opportunities With The ECCEDU

If you are looking for an internship placement, you will be thrilled to learn about the ECCEDU (European Centre for Career Education). The ECCEDU offers you the possibility of choosing from diverse programs to find the perfect internship for you. There are many options available, so you will find what you are looking for! Let’s take a look at the free different programs available: the Advanced Erasmus+ Internship Program, the Short-Term Internship Program, and the Deep Dive Experience Program.

1) Advanced Erasmus+ Internship Program

Many people know about Erasmus+. It is a wonderful project that connects countries from the European Union, and much more. With this ECCEDU special program, you can gain skills abroad for free. That’s right, you can ask for Erasmus+ funding to help you with the expenses. Without this scholarship, you would have to pay between 1.000 and 2.000 euros.

This program allows you to start an 8+ weeks internship abroad, in any European country of your choice. Along with that, you get 8 helpful lectures on core skills in Prague, along with free access to ECCEDU webinars, available from everywhere. And to be a part of it, you only need a C1 level in English, to be at least in your 2nd year of study, and to be granted the Erasmus+ funding from your university or ECCEDU. To apply, all you would have to do is file an application form online, and you will get a response within 24 hours!

2) Short-Term Internship Program

How to get experience without abandoning your studies? If long-term internships are too much of a commitment to you, this program is for you. The ECCEDU takes you on a magical trip to learn about Architecture, Law, Information Technology, or International Business. You will get to spend 3 weeks following practical courses, and 4 weeks of internship among an international company in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, or the United States. The ECCEDU has 450 internship partners in 26 countries all over the world! Benefit from their connections by applying to this program and following your dream. You will take part in a program that already has 74 different nationalities among students.

You can get various scholarships to help you with the cost of this experience. Normally, the cost would be between 1.000 and 3.500 euros, depending on the subject and the package chosen. There is also a group discount from 200 euros to 500 euros, depending on the program. You can apply online and you will get a response after a maximum of 24 hours.

3) Deep Dive Experience Program

With this program, take part in 4 internships and discover a new location each time! You will also follow webinars to help with your studies without even dressing up! This program is perfect for anyone as it is adjusted to the student’s needs. There is no beginning date, no ending date, and you have 4 years to finish the 4 internships. These internships are 6-months long, so you will get 2 years of experience in total, for a price of 9.000 euros. Once again, this program is tailored to each student, which is why it is more expensive. To apply, the conditions are the same as the two precedent ones: fill out a form and wait less than 24 hours for an answer.

Do you want to take part in one of these programs? Like our Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram page and contact us to get a discount code! If you didn’t find what you’re looking for, we suggest you read our other articles a chance, especially the one about DAAD scholarships.

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German Scholarships: The DAAD Scholarships

As you may know, if you read our ebook, the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) offers scholarships to international students. Basically, they help graduates, Ph.D. and postdoctoral students study in Germany for free. Yes, you can get paid just by studying in another country! If you are interested, this article is perfect for you. We will see the requirements, the opportunities, and the prerequisites of those DAAD scholarships.

1) The opportunities

With DAAD scholarships, you can choose different paths. Whether it’s research, an internship, or following a programme outside of Germany. Yes, some internships are funded by those scholarships, and sometimes you can even go back to your home country to follow a “Sur-place or Third country programme”. You can also choose another country if you would like to.

These scholarships are the perfect opportunity to make the world a better place. You can follow your dream freely, without worrying about finance. With DAAD scholarships, you get a monthly payment and a travel allowance. Most of them also include health insurance, personal liability, or accident insurance. Sometimes, you also get funds to learn a language or help your family. You are sure to find what you are looking for, since the DAAD has 95 scholarships you can choose from.

2) Prerequisites

As stated before, these scholarships aim for graduates, Ph.D. and postdoctoral students. So, if you are an undergraduate, you can’t get a DAAD scholarship. Thus, some of them are only available depending on your status. Undergraduates shouldn’t worry though, they can still apply after their bachelor’s, and studying in Germany is not expensive, anyway.

The prerequisites depend on the scholarship you are asking for. Some scholarships are only available to some countries. For example, Nigerians can only apply to 28 of them. Still, you can always find a good one. The other prerequisites are the academic results or the field of study. Obviously, scholarships are for students with good grades. Some internships are specific to a certain field of study, so you will get more chances to be selected by applying for a specific scholarship rather than a broader one.

Also, you should get an English certification. It will help you with your university and scholarship application. The IELTS certification is no longer mandatory so you can choose from the other alternatives. Make sure you select one that is available in your city or country. Some of them will even allow you to take the test via the Internet.

3) The requirements

Some requirements have to be met to successfully apply for DAAD scholarships. It always depends on the scholarship selected. Here are a few examples:

-You shouldn’t be a German resident for over 15 months at the application deadline.

-You must have received your degree less than 6 years before the application deadline.

-If there is a programme attended outside of Germany during this period, it must be mandatory to be funded by the scholarship.

-Third countries students or German students living abroad should contact the DAAD beforehand to know about other specifics.

-You have to demonstrate your language skills by providing a certificate (IELTS, TOEFL…). As stated before, sometimes you will have to do this to apply for the chosen degree, anyway.

These are only a few examples. Please note that each situation is different, so if you have any doubts, it’s always better to contact the DAAD. For example, there are special derogations for people who have been taking care of children, who are suffering from a chronic illness, or else. If you want to know more, you can also get our special e-book about German scholarships!