Whether you want to work directly with patients or in another area of the healthcare field, an intense interest in people and their well-being, as well as empathy, creativity, and curiosity are essential requirements for this program of study and profession.

A fascination with medical topics and an interest in the natural sciences and their applications provide a solid foundation for the scientific section of the program, where medicine and technology come together.

A love of learning and a strong work ethic, paired with a certain degree of self-discipline, will further ease your path through the degree program. English proficiency (the international language of science) as well as knowledge of Latin (specialist terminology) are advantageous but not a requirement for this degree course. During your studies, you will take courses on specialist terminology to acquire the necessary knowledge.

The Human Medicine program of study will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to practice medicine. In addition to theoretical and scientific fundamentals, the program includes medical assessment of patients and their diseases, as well as medical treatment procedures. Moreover, you will learn how to communicate with patients during consultations, how to continually further your own professional knowledge, and how to work together with other physicians and members of the healthcare industry.

In order to cover all of these aspects, the degree course consists of three larger phases with the following thematic content:

The first phase of study, the pre-clinical phase (1st-4th semester), ends with the first intermediate medical examination M1.

During the first semesters, you will study the foundational subjects relevant to medicine and science (with a focus on clinical aspects):

• Medical terminology
• Biology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Medical psychology and medical sociology
• Microscopic and macroscopic anatomy
• Physiology
• Biochemistry and molecular biology
• Introduction to the clinical medicine
• Practical impressions of the profession

The second phase of study, the clinical phase (5th-10th semester), ends with the second intermediate medical examination M2.

During the clinical phase, you will learn methods and techniques for identifying illnesses in the human body. You will acquire expert knowledge of clinical medicine in the various sub-fields of medicine. In the cross-sectional areas (so-called “Q-Fächer”, e.g., imaging procedures, radiation treatment, radiation protection), you will acquire interdisciplinary insight into disease processes.

Your studies will thus cover the following sub-fields:

• Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Urology
• ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat)
• Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Internal medicine
• Pathology
• Neurology
• Human genetics
• Orthopedics
• Radiology

… and more.

Although the subjects and the corresponding course sequence are mainly dictated by the German Licensing Regulations for Physicians (Approbationsordnung für Ärzt*innen), you have the opportunity to determine your own specialization through the required elective courses, the type of clinical rotation (internship) you select, and your elective subject during the practical year.

The third phase of study, the practical year (11th-12th semester), ends with the third intermediate medical examination M3.

Practical, clinical training in internal medicine, surgery, and a clinical-practical elective course.

In addition, you must be able to demonstrate that you have completed the following by the end of your studies:

• Three months in nursing services
• A four-month clinical rotation (internship)

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

In general, the best time to study abroad is during the clinical phase of your studies after the first state examination (first section of the medical examination).

It is especially worthwhile to spend a part of your time abroad during the practical year. This is not mandatory, however.

Internships

The study of human medicine encompasses multiple practical elements in the medical field. In addition to the practical content of the program of study, you will also complete the following internships:

• Three months in nursing services
  (to be documented prior to registration for the first part of the state examination; this can be performed before you begin studying or during the semester break in the pre-clinical phase)
• A four-month clinical rotation (internship)
  (internship in a hospital or outpatient institution during the semester break in the clinical phase)

Graduates of this program often go on to obtain further extra-occupational training in order to become a specialist physician.

Physicians work in the following fields:

• As resident physicians at a hospital or institution of public health
• As (self-employed) general practitioners
• In scientific research (university or commercial, e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry)
• As medical assessors (insurance)
• In international organizations (UN, Red Cross etc.) and/or social aid networks
• As medical experts in corporate consulting (on health-related projects, marketing strategies, financial development of hospitals, etc.)
• In medical journalism/scientific journalism
• In medical informatics
• In public health (e.g. epidemiology, prevention, social medicine, etc.), international health
• As health managers and in medical quality management
• In continuing education in management, economics, and marketing

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.