Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bonn has been training physicians since 1818, making it one of the established medical faculties in Germany. The University of Bonn is among the most successful participants in Germany's Excellence Initiative and Exzellenzstrategie, currently holding six active excellence clusters — more than any other German university.

Curriculum

Studies follow the standard curriculum (Regelstudiengang) as defined by the German Medical Licensing Regulations (ÄAppO). The programme runs over twelve semesters and culminates in the Staatsexamen. The Praktisches Jahr (final clinical year) is completed at the UKB and affiliated teaching hospitals.

University Hospital Bonn

The Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB) is a comprehensive tertiary care centre with 1,341 beds, approximately 9,200 employees, 40 clinics, and 34 institutes. It provides the full breadth of medical specialties and serves as the primary clinical training environment for medical students.

Excellence and Research

With six excellence clusters funded under Germany’s Exzellenzstrategie, the University of Bonn leads all German universities in the number of active clusters. Key research foci in medicine include neuroscience, immunology, and oncology. The research infrastructure offers students exceptional exposure to cutting-edge science throughout their studies.

Siegen Cooperation Site

The Faculty of Medicine operates a cooperation site in Siegen, which focuses on training physicians for regional, rural, and primary care settings. Students at the Siegen site complete their clinical phases in close integration with local hospitals and general practice networks, with the aim of improving physician supply in underserved areas.

Admission

Admission is through the centralised Hochschulstart portal. Places are allocated via three quotas: the best-grade quota (Abiturnote), the waiting-time quota, and the university-specific quota. For the university-specific quota at Bonn, the TMS (Test für Medizinische Studiengänge) is used as the sole selection criterion — no interview is required. Applicants should check current cut-offs and quota details on the university’s official admissions pages.

Finances

The University of Bonn is a public university in North Rhine-Westphalia and charges no tuition fees. Semester fees (Semesterbeitrag) cover the student union, student services, and a Semesterticket for public transport. BAföG is available for eligible students. Bonn is a mid-sized city with moderate living costs compared to major German metropolitan areas.

Recognition of the Degree

The Staatsexamen leads to the Approbation (medical licence) under § 3 BÄO. The degree is automatically recognised throughout the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC and Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. Recognition outside the EU depends on the licensing requirements of the destination country.

Further Training

Postgraduate specialist training (Facharztausbildung) can be pursued at the UKB or at affiliated and other approved training hospitals. The breadth of specialties at the UKB and the strength of research in neuroscience and immunology make Bonn a particularly attractive base for academic careers in medicine.

Campus and Student Life

Bonn is a compact, highly liveable city on the Rhine with around 330,000 inhabitants. As the former capital of West Germany, it has a cosmopolitan character and an active cultural scene. The university campus is spread across the city, with medical facilities located in the Venusberg district.

Students benefit from excellent public transport, a lively student community, numerous sports facilities, and access to the broader Rhine-Ruhr region. The proximity to Cologne (about 30 minutes by train) extends the cultural and social options significantly. Bonn consistently ranks among the most popular German university cities for quality of life.

How many excellence clusters does the University of Bonn have?

The University of Bonn currently holds six active excellence clusters under Germany’s Exzellenzstrategie — more than any other German university.

What does the university-specific quota use for selection?

The university-specific quota at Bonn uses the TMS (Test für Medizinische Studiengänge) as the sole criterion. No aptitude interview is part of the selection process.

What is the Siegen cooperation site?

The Siegen site is a clinical training location operated in cooperation with hospitals in Siegen. It focuses on regional and rural medicine, with the goal of training physicians who will work in underserved areas.

How large is the University Hospital Bonn?

The UKB has 1,341 beds, around 9,200 employees, 40 clinics, and 34 institutes, making it one of the larger university hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia.