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.

THE MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM IN GERMANY.

The Medical Care System In Germany

Germany offers the best quality medical care system in Europe. On the 2018 Euro Health Consumer Index, it is ranked 12th. As the care system is funded by statutory contributions, it ensures free medical care for people.

Through public health insurance in Germany, residents have the right of entry into the medical care system. Those who aren’t residents in Germany can seek private insurance to access the medical care system while the temporary residents would have to pay for treatments.

THE COST OF MEDICAL TREATMENTS.

The cost of medical treatments in Germany is competitive. It is not the cheapest, also not the most expensive either. The cost of treatment may differ, subject to the required medical needs.

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM.

  1. The pharmacies are open 9 am-12 pm on Saturdays and 9 am-6 pm from Monday to Friday. Always ensure to enquire information from the doctor or pharmacist, about the drugs you are getting from them since in most cases, medications don’t come with dosage instructions.
  2. There are three kinds of hospitals in Germany. The private hospitals, the public hospitals – run by local and regional authorities, and finally, the voluntary hospitals, which do not really make sales. They are usually run by the German Red Cross or churches.
  3. In Germany, it is legal for doctors to give information to patients about the treatment they will receive. This is also a chance for patients to ask their bothering questions. Before giving treatments, patients are to sign consent forms.
  4. The hospitals in Germany offer efficient services as they attend to patients appropriately with operative treatments, which can help patients save time and money.
  5. German doctors take medical laws strictly. They are honest and respectful towards the patients. They tend to tell patients the truth and never hide information, even if it means giving bad news about a diagnosis.
  6. To opt into the private healthcare insurance in Germany, you have to be self-employed, working part-time, a civil servant, an artist, or an employee earning more than 57,600 pounds.
  7. In the women’s healthcare, gynecologists are there to care and support pregnant women and see to sexual health matters and other women’s health issues. Also, statutory insurance cover all maternity costs, except for private insurers who choose not to be covered.
  8. If you have state insurance, you are to pay for your treatments as some doctors in Germany treat private patients.
  9. As a patient, you are free to choose your own doctor. It will also do you well if you are fluent in German as many doctors speak Basic English.
  10. Vaccinations for children in Germany are free. Also, for children under the age of 18, public health insurance covers the finances. If you want as a parent, you are free and it is free to choose a pediatrician for your child as, until the age of 18, pediatricians provides medical care for your child.

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS WHILE STUDYING IN GERMANY

Studying in Germany is a great opportunity. Depending on the level of tertiary education, there are different things you need to know before you decide to study. In this article, we will look at the study abroad programs in Germany respectively, and what to expect of them.

Applying for a Bachelor’s Degree

This is the degree for anybody fresh out of high school and looking to expand their education further. It is the foundation of all other university qualifications, and can lead you on to higher, specialized degrees in your industry. A certain level of German language proficiency is required of each prospective student, and standard German degrees are tuition-free, except for a few administrative costs (between 200 to 350 euros) and take approximately three years to complete. From there, you are free to study a second bachelor’s degree, or proceed with a master’s degree. Here at Kampus Konnekt, we can help you with language training as well as helping you find the perfect school for your needs. With almost 400 officially recognized universities in Germany, you will be assisted in no time.

Applying for a Master’s Degree

This is the second highest degree a university graduate can obtain, after receiving their initial bachelor’s degree in the same educational field. It takes approximately two years to finish, but can be longer or shorter depending on the subject being studied. Like a bachelor’s degree, they are almost tuition-free, and there are also much more opportunities to study courses in English. A basic language proficiency may still be required by some universities, but most programs can be taught fully in English.

Applying for a PhD

Contrary to popular belief, PhDs can be one of the longest qualifications to obtain in Germany. It takes between 3 to 6 years to complete, varying from discipline to discipline. Furthermore, pursuing a PhD is only free for the first three years of study, after which tuition fees are charged, and can vary depending of the educational institution.
Over 50,000 degrees are awarded to international students in Germany annually, and the figures are growing each year. Kampus Konnekt is growing the international community in Germany one student at a time. No matter the degree, we are here to help.

THE PROS AND CONS OF STUDYING IN GERMANY

With almost 200 countries worldwide, picking a suitable destination for your tertiary education can be quite a hard decision to make. However, today, we’ll be going over what it takes to study in Germany.
We’ll dive into some of the factors to consider when considering studying in Germany and present you with some reasons why Germany may or may not be an option for you.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY IN GERMANY?

High-Quality Education

With well-established institutions that date back as far as the fourteenth century, Germany has managed to create a well-respected community of universities that work and strive to bring the best education to prospective candidates worldwide. 

With over 40 internationally recognized universities and more than 17,000 study programmes nationwide, Germany has more than enough options for a high school graduate looking for a potential university match. 

Germany serves high-quality education with a prestigious degree that guarantees you a job, in a world where employment opportunities are continuously depleting. 

Affordable Education

Many countries in the world have respectable universities and greatness to offer, but the difference between them and Germany is that acquiring that education does not create a financial strain on the students. 

As a nation, Germany is strong enough to support its universities through state finance. You do not need to pay high amounts of tuition fees to get access to high-quality education. 

The idea of affordable yet high-quality degrees presents an opportunity to bridge the wealthy and the less wealthy together, giving them a better shot at knowledge and educational growth.

Rich Culture and Lifestyle

As a first-world country with old roots and a great economy, Germany is a great place to be for a university student looking for more than just school and books. Germany has an incredibly rich history, culture, and lifestyle.

 With incredible architecture and classic art and music, Germany stands to give students an enriching experience that will broaden their minds and challenge their perspective – creating the bright, young leaders that are desperately needed to direct today’s world.

Great Location

Positioned fairly close to the center of Europe, Germany seems the perfect place for a student to live, considering how easy it becomes for one to travel to other countries for leisure trips places far and wide. 

Whether by train, plane, or sea, travelling around the continent becomes conveniently cheaper due to Germany’s central location, and with abundant job opportunities for students, studying in Germany also becomes another opportunity to explore the world and what it has to offer.

THE CONS OF STUDYING IN GERMANY

Language Barrier

Although Germany offers some world-renowned education, the degree comes at a cost. The majority of the available bachelor’s degrees are studied in the German language, and specific fluency levels are required to be accepted, at your own cost. 

There are six language levels to conquer, but at least three are required for most universities to successfully admit you, so German language lessons are much needed. 

Here at Kampus Konnekt, we can provide German lessons to help you solve this problem. German is not only needed to study, but it’s also useful in daily life, especially for ease of communication.

Working Limits

As a student in Germany, you can get a job, but your working hours are very limited. An international student is only allowed 120 full working days, with a maximum limit of how much money they can earn before they are required to pay tax and change their insurance costs. This results in higher costs and bills that may prove harder to keep up with.

The opportunity to study tertiary education is valuable, and its requirement in the modern world has grown considerably fast over the last century. 

Kampus Konnekt is here to help you realize your dreams, by connecting you to quality education and helping you conquer any obstacles along the way.