Applying for a semester exchange

  • If you study medicine at one of our partner universities (e.g. Erasmus+, SEMP), you can apply for a one- or two-semester study mobility within our iMED study program at the Faculty of Medicine of Universität Hamburg. For further information, please refer to Applying for a semester exchange .

  • If you do not study at one of our partner universities, you can apply as a freemover incoming student. For further information, please refer to Applying for a semester exchange .

Applying for a degree program at the Faculty of Medicine

  • For a quick overview, please see the information provided on the website Applying for a Medical Degree .

    Universität Hamburg offers a 6-year medical degree program that concludes with a state examination (Staatsexamen). The Faculty of Medicine does not offer bachelor or master degrees in medicine. Furthermore, Universität Hamburg introduced a new medical curriculum in 2012, the integrated medical degree program iMED which differs a lot from the traditional curriculum in Germany.

    You can find more information about the medicine degree program iMED and the respective application process on the website Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine as well as on the website Applying of the Campus Center.

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. Sound German language skills are essential for your academic success at Universität Hamburg. When enrolling at Universität Hamburg, all prospective students must submit proof of sufficient proficiency in German, e.g. Goethe-Zertifikat C1. Further information concerning the language requirements can be found on the website German language proficiency of the Campus Center.

    Students pay a semester contribution. You can find more information on the website Semester contribution of Universität Hamburg. More information about financing your studies is provided on the website Financing your studies of the Campus Center.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please refer to the website Advising & Contact of the Campus Center.

    Universität Hamburg offers a special program for refugees: #UHHhilft .

  • For a quick overview, please see the information provided on the website Applying for a Medical Degree .

    Universität Hamburg offers a 5.5-year dentistry degree program that concludes with a state examination (Staatsexamen). The Faculty of Medicine does not offer bachelor or master degrees in dentistry. Furthermore, the University introduced a new curriculum in 2019, the integrated dentistry degree program iMED DENT which differs a lot from the traditional curriculum in Germany.

    You can find more information about the dentistry degree program iMED DENT and the respective application process on the website Dentistry of the Faculty of Medicine as well as on the website Applying of the university’s Campus Center.

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. Sound German language skills are essential for your academic success at Universität Hamburg. When enrolling at Universität Hamburg, all prospective students must submit proof of sufficient proficiency in German, e.g. Goethe-Zertifikat C1. Further information concerning the language requirements can be found on the website German language proficiency of the Campus Center.

    Students pay a semester contribution. You can find more information on the website Semester contribution . More information about financing your studies is provided on the website Financing your studies of the Campus Center.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please refer to the website Advising & Contact of the Campus Center.

    The University of Hamburg offers a special program for refugees: #UHHhilft .

  • Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) and Universität Hamburg offer the cooperative inter-university degree program in Midwifery iMID (B.Sc.). Academic and practical training are combined in the course structure and content. Upon completing this undergraduate course, you will be awarded an academic qualification (B.Sc.) and a licence to practice midwifery.

    You can find more information about the midwifery degree program iMID and the respective application process on the website Midwifery of the Faculty of Medicine of Universität Hamburg as well as on the website Midwifery of HAW Hamburg.

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. You may find more information concerning the language requirements on the website Language skills of HAW Hamburg.

    More information about the semester contribution which students need to pay as well as how to finance the studies is provided on the website Semester contribution of HAW Hamburg.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please contact the Student Admissions and Registration Office of HAW Hamburg.

    Students with refugee experience may receive support through #UHHhilft of Universität Hamburg and through the Centre for Migration Research and Integration Practice of HAW Hamburg.

  • You can find information about the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs Molecular Life Sciences and the application process on the website Further Degree Programs .

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. You may find more information concerning the language requirements on the website Language requirements of the university’s Campus Center.

    Students pay a semester contribution. You can find more information on the website Semester contribution . More information about financing your studies is provided on the website Financing your studies of the Campus Center.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please refer to the website Advising & Contact of the Campus Center.

    Universität Hamburg offers a special program for refugees: #UHHhilft .

  • You can find information about the master’s degree program Bioinformatics and the application process on the website Further Degree Programs .

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. You may find more information concerning the language requirements on the website Language requirements of the university’s Campus Center.

    Students pay a semester contribution. You can find more information on the website Semester contribution . More information about financing your studies is provided on the website Financing your studies of the Campus Center.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please refer to the website Advising & Contact of the Campus Center.

    Universität Hamburg offers a special program for refugees: #UHHhilft .

Transfer to Universität Hamburg

  • Universität Hamburg offers a 6-year medical degree program that concludes with a state examination (Staatsexamen). The Faculty of Medicine does not offer bachelor or master degrees in medicine. Furthermore, Universität Hamburg introduced a new medical curriculum in 2012, the integrated medical degree program iMED which differs a lot from the traditional curriculum in Germany. This makes a transfer to our university a little difficult and you will likely have to study longer overall.

    You can find more information about the undergraduate studies of the Faculty of Medicine on the website Application & Admission .

    If you started your studies abroad, you will need to have your previous academic achievements recognised as the “First Part of the Medical State Examination” in order to apply for the second part of the medicine degree programme iMED. Please find more information in this handout and in the following:

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. Sound German language skills are essential for your academic success at Universität Hamburg. When enrolling at Universität Hamburg, all prospective students must submit proof of sufficient proficiency in German, e.g. Goethe-Zertifikat C1. Further information concerning the language requirements can be found on the website Language requirements of the Campus Center.

    Students pay a semester contribution. You can find more information on the website Semester contribution . More information about financing your studies is provided on the website Financing your studies of the Campus Center.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please refer to the website Advising & Contact of the Campus Center.

    Universität Hamburg offers a special program for refugees: #UHHhilft

  • Universität Hamburg offers a 5.5-year dentistry degree program that concludes with a state examination (Staatsexamen). The Faculty of Medicine does not offer bachelor or master degrees in dentistry. Furthermore, Universität Hamburg introduced a new medical curriculum in 2019, the integrated medical degree program iMED DENT which differs a lot from the traditional curriculum in Germany.

    You can find more information about the undergraduate studies of the Faculty of Medicine on the website Application & Admission .

    Currently, prospective dentistry students can only apply for the first semester of the dentistry degree program iMED DENT. The application to any higher semester is not possible.

    If you started your studies abroad, you can have your previous academic achievements recognised by the state examination office (Landesprüfungsamt). However, at Universität Hamburg, even if your academic achievements are recognised, you will not be upgraded to a higher semester and have to study dentistry for the regular duration of 10 semesters.

    You can find more information regarding the recognition process in this handout and in the following:

    Please note that the language of instruction is German. Sound German language skills are essential for your academic success at Universität Hamburg. When enrolling at Universität Hamburg, all prospective students must submit proof of sufficient proficiency in German, e.g. Goethe-Zertifikat C1. Further information concerning the language requirements can be found on the website German language proficiency of the Campus Center.

    Students pay a semester contribution. You can find more information on the website Semester contribution . More information about financing your studies is provided on the website Financing your studies of the Campus Center.

    The website Finding accommodation in Hamburg provides useful information about housing in Hamburg.

    For any further questions concerning the application procedure, please refer to the website Advising & Contact of the Campus Center.

    Universität Hamburg offers a special program for refugees: #UHHhilft .

Traineeships at UKE

  • The UKE offers different possibilities for medical students to undertake a part of their medical training in one of its various departments. The application procedure depends on the year of study you will be in at the time of the elective. Please find further information on application procedures on our website Applying for medical electives .

  • Medical graduates can apply for an observership (hands-off). Undertaking a traineeship (hands-on) is only possible for medical students who are enrolled at a medical school at the time of the traineeship or for graduates who have a German licence to practise medicine (Approbation/Berufserlaubnis). Please find further information on the application procedure on our website Applying for medical electives .

  • In Germany, physicians need to have a recognized full or temporary licence to practise medicine. You can find more information on the website of the German Medical Association .

    Medical graduates who have finished university studies but still need to complete their mandatory postgraduate practical training, have different options to complete their postgraduate training and/or studies. After completing, graduates can apply to get their full licence to practise medicine at the state examination office.

    Option 1: Applying for admission to a higher semester of a medical degree program to complete your medical studies and practical training as a student in Germany.

    • In a first step, you send the required documents to the licensing authorities in Düsseldorf to have your previous academic achievements recognized. You can find an overview of the documents to be submitted on the website of the Landesprüfungsamt für Medizin, Physiotherapie und Pharmazie Düsseldorf . The recognition process can take up to several months.
    • After your previous academic achievements have been recognized, you can apply to transfer to a German university to complete your studies, incl. the practical training (Praktisches Jahr, PJ). Depending on the recognition of your previous academic achievements, you can apply to transfer to a specific higher semester at a German university.
    • It is important to know that in Germany, the practical year is an integral part of the medical degree program and takes place in year 6. It comprises 16 weeks in surgery, 16 weeks in internal medicine, and 16 weeks in a subject of your choice. Please find further information about the practical year (PJ) at Universität Hamburg on our website Praktisches Jahr (only available in German).
    • This option is recommended by the state examination office for medical professions in Hamburg. If you have further questions, you can contact the state examination office for medical professions in Hamburg .

    Option 2: Applying for a temporary medical licence to complete the postgraduate training in a German hospital.

    • Physicians who finished university studies abroad, but have not yet completed the mandatory postgraduate training, can complete the postgraduate training in German hospitals if they have a temporary medical licence. The state examination office for medical professions in Hamburg is responsible for issuing temporary medical licences in Hamburg.
    • The purpose of this option is to complete a postgraduate internship that meets the legal requirements of the country in which you studied and the issue of your foreign diploma. With your foreign diploma, you can apply for a licence to practise medicine in Germany (Approbation).
    • The success of this option depends to a large extend on whether the foreign authorities allow you to complete the postgraduate practical training in Germany and then take the final examinations. In addition, you need to find a hospital that accepts you as postgraduate trainee.
    • Based on previous experiences and the rather poor prospects of a successful application procedure for the temporary licence to practise, this option is rather not recommended by the state examination office for medical professions in Hamburg.

    Questions regarding the recognition of your foreign diploma?

    • If you need support during the recognition process, you can find support through the Information portal of the German government for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications: If you live in Germany: Counselling search ; if you do not yet live in Germany: Service Center for Professional Recognition .
    • You can also contact the Hamburg Welcome Center .
    • In addition, Marburger Bund (organisation representing the interests of physicians in Germany) provides helpful FAQs .

    Other jobs that do not require a licence to practise medicine

    • There might be other jobs in the private sector which only require an academic diploma and not a medical licence (e.g. research assistant for a pharmaceutical company). Therefore, we propose that you get in contact with the Hamburg Welcome Center to discuss your professional opportunities.
    • There is also the possibility to start a vocational training, for example in nursing, as an anaesthesiology assistant, surgery assistant, etc. For further information, please check out the UKE career website .