Medizin / Medicine (State Examination)

Studying medicine at JLU: Scientifically sound, with a practical and patient-centred focus – featuring simulation centres and personalised specialised curricula.

Titelbild — Foto: Mattia D’Antonio/123rf.com

Overview

A degree in medicine provides you with a scientifically sound foundation and the practical skills required to provide healthcare to patients. You will first study the fundamentals of the natural sciences before moving on to the clinical subjects. In Giessen, simulation centres, skills labs and specialised curricula complement your degree programme with a wide range of learning formats.

Start of studies

Winter semester and Summer semester

Mode of admission

with admission restriction

Duration of studies

6 years 3 months

Language of instruction

German

Degree

State examination

Composition of the Study Programme

What can I expect from this programme?

The study of medicine is uniformly organized in the federal republic through §1 of the medical qualification regulation (Ärztliche Approbationsordnung - ÄAppO).

The programme is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge, skills and competences in all subjects required to deliver comprehensive healthcare to the population. Medical training is based on scientific principles and is practice- and patient-oriented.

The medical degree programme at Justus Liebig University Giessen is largely structured in the ‘traditional’ way, which means: foundational subjects, including natural sciences such as physics and chemistry, in the first stage of the programme (the ‘pre-clinical’ stage) and clinical subjects in the second (the ‘clinical’ stage). However, even the pre-clinical phase includes clinical elements, e.g. GRIPS courses (see below) on basic clinical skills, a course on neurological examination as part of the neuroanatomy module, and immunology and pharmacology in the I+K seminars. The clinic offers a course entitled ‘Anatomy for Clinicians’.

What will I learn?

The aim of medical training is to produce doctors who are scientifically and practically trained in medicine and who are capable of practising medicine independently and on their own responsibility, as well as of undertaking further training and continuing professional development. The course is designed to provide you with the fundamental knowledge, skills and competences in all subjects required to deliver comprehensive healthcare to the population. As part of the degree programme, you will be taught the following:

basic knowledge of human bodily functions and mental and emotional characteristics,
basic knowledge of diseases and patients,
the general knowledge, abilities and skills required for medical practice in the fields of diagnosis, treatment, health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation,
practical experience in dealing with patients, including an interdisciplinary approach to diseases and the ability to coordinate treatment,
the ability to take into account the health economic implications of medical practice,
basic knowledge of the influences of family, society and the environment on health, the organisation of the healthcare system and the management of the consequences of illness,
the intellectual, historical and ethical foundations of medical conduct, based on the current state of research.

The training should also cover aspects of medical communication and quality assurance in healthcare, and encourage a willingness to collaborate with other doctors and with members of other healthcare professions. The university must assess progress towards these objectives on a regular and systematic basis.

What skills and interests should I have?

The prerequisites for a successful degree in medicine are a good knowledge of the natural sciences – specifically biology, chemistry and physics – as well as a basic understanding of medicine and the natural sciences. A knowledge of Latin is no longer a prerequisite, but it is certainly helpful.

How is the programme structured?

1. Preclinical studies – first section of the studies (semesters 1-4)

Preclinical studies include the following subjects taught in the form of practical courses, courses and/or seminars: the scientific basis of medicine (physics, chemistry, biology); physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology; anatomy; medical psychology and medical sociology; introduction to clinical medicine, exploring the professional area, medical terminology and one selected subject
Practical training: a 3-month nursing practical in a hospital is required before the commencement of the studies or during the non-teaching period in the preclinical section of the studies. Also participation on a course "First aid for doctors" is required.

2. First section of the medical examination (commonly called the Physicum, M1)

The examination consists of a written and an oral section. The following subjects are tested in the written section:

Physics for doctors and physiology
Chemistry for doctors and biochemistry/ molecular biology
Biology for doctors and anatomy
Basics of medical psychology and medical sociology

In the oral section the following subjects are tested:

Anatomy
Biochemistry
Physiology

3. Clinical Studies – second part of the course of study (5th semester to 10th semester)

General clinical diagnosis; pathology, microbiology and immunology, pharmacology and toxicology, human genetics, radiology, biomathematics, among others.

Practical clinical training in all important clinical subjects (general medicine, surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynaecology, ophthalmology, urology, orthopedics, etc.)
and general cross-section subjects (epidemiology, history and ethics, emergeny medicine, health economics, maintaining health, prevention and radiological diagnosis, etc.).

During the break between semesters, students must work in a 4-month Famulatur (practical period).

4. Second section of the medical examination (written examination, M2)

The written examination covers the knowledge and skills needed for doctors to act on his/her own responsibility and to work independently. The examination is case-related (it is a case-study). Subjects of the examination are in particular practical work requirements essential for doctors, the most important disease patterns as well as interdisciplinary and problem-oriented questions.

5. The practical year (11th and 12th semester)

The practical year involves 16 weeks work in each of the following areas:

Internal medicine
Surgery
General medicine or in another area, i.e. not internal medicine, surgery or general medicine.

The training takes place in a hospital, exclusively in the general medicine section it may also take place in a doctor`s office, recognized and accepted by the university.

6. Third section of medicine examination (oral/ practical examination, M3)

In the oral/practical examination the student is examined with questions on internal medicine, surgery and on an optional aspect, all asked with regard to a patient.

Stay abroad

Justus Liebig University Giessen has partnerships, cooperation and exchange agreements with more than 70 universities worldwide, more than 210 ERASMUS partner universities add to the international profile of JLU. The Department of Medicine has for a long time occupied the top position with its quota of students who spend a semester and/or a part of their practical year abroad.

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Career Options

Can I go on to do doctoral studies?

In general, the prerequisite for embarking on doctoral studies is a successfully completed university degree. The doctoral course of study will be completed with the written dissertation and an oral exam (disputation). Having been conferred a doctorate, you are allowed to bear the title "Dr.med." / "Dr. hum. biol.".

What career paths can I pursue after graduation?

As a practising doctor in hospitals, clinics and health authorities, in their own practice, as a company doctor in a large concern, as a medical examiner for insurance or the pension office, within the framework of development aid, in old peoples homes, etc.
Work with professional societies;
Work with professional journals - the media and journalism;
Work in research universities and colleges, institutions outside these, pharmaceutical industry;
Work in training and education.

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Application

The intake capacity of this degree programme is limited throughout the Federal Republic of Germany.

Requirements

A valid university entrance qualification (German: HZB) is required for admission to the program.

From Germany: General university entrance qualification (= Abitur or equivalent).
From abroad: You can find out whether the university entrance qualification from your home country qualifies you for direct admission to a degree program in Germany on the information portal for the recognition of foreign educational qualifications (anabin) .

Applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification should also note the required proof of German language proficiency .

Application process

Application for acceptance to the first semester of study: the application must be directed to Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (hochschulstart.de) . More

Application for higher semesters: applications must be directed to Justus Liebig University Giessen. More

Special regulations apply to foreign applicants or those who gained their university-entrance qualifications abroad. More

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Application deadlines

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for a winter semester

May 31st for "old school graduates" who acquired their university entrance qualification (Abitur) before January 16 of the current year.
July 15th for "newly school graduated" who acquired their university entrance qualification (Abitur) after January 15 up to (and including) July 15 of the current year.

for a summer semester

January 15th for both "old" and "new" graduates.

Further Information

Where can I find official documents about the programme?

Examination and study regulations

State Examination regulation / approbation regulations (without Teaching Degree Programmes) (in German)
Study regulations for State Examination Degree Programmes (without Teaching Degree Programmes)

Courses offered in the course cataloge

Electronical course cataloge (in German)

Study programme flyer

Medizin (PDF in German)

Where can I find more information about the faculty?

Faculty 11 – Medicine
Faculty's Deanery
Landesprüfungsamt
Student representatives

Is this course right for me?

Are you still not entirely sure whether the course of study is the right one for you? We support you with a wide range of information, events and advisory services around your study orientation and choice. For example, experience real university atmosphere at our Hochschulinformationstagen (HIT) and the Open Campus Day!

Study orientation

How do I have a successful start at JLU?

To help you get off to a good start with your studies, we warmly invite you to attend our orientation events. Here you will learn
everything you need to know about starting your studies: