Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Charité is the joint faculty of medicine of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and, with 3,293 beds across four sites, is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. Since 2010, teaching has been conducted exclusively within the model medical curriculum: pre-clinical and clinical phases are integrated, content is organized into thematic blocks, and patient contact begins early. The size of the institution brings a breadth of specialties and rare conditions that smaller faculties cannot match; in the QS by Subject Medicine 2026 ranking, Charité stands at position 18, ahead of all other German locations.

This is the right place for you if you are looking for a large, research-intensive environment and can handle a cohort of over 600 people. Since the TMS result carries more weight in the university’s own selection process than the Abitur grade, Charité is also interesting for applicants whose Abitur average alone would not be sufficient. Those expecting close supervision in small groups and short distances are more likely to find that at smaller faculties.

Allocation takes place nationally through hochschulstart.de: 30 percent of places through the quota for top Abitur grades, 10 percent through the additional aptitude quota in which the Abitur grade is not considered, and 60 percent through the university’s own selection process. Charité weights the TMS result more heavily than the Abitur grade in its process — a high standard score can therefore noticeably compensate for a weaker average. Entry is possible in both winter and summer semesters; in 2026, 318 places were allocated to the winter and 317 to the summer semester.

There are no tuition fees. The only payment required is the semester contribution, collected through Freie Universität or Humboldt-Universität, which stood at 376.80 EUR for the 2026/27 winter semester.

Model curriculum instead of classic pre-clinical phase

Charité trains its medical students exclusively within the model medical curriculum. Instead of separate pre-clinical and clinical phases, you progress over ten semesters through a series of sequential modules organized by organ systems and clinical presentations. Foundational subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology run through to the tenth semester and are repeatedly linked to clinical questions. There is no Physikum in the classical sense: the First Section of the Medical Licensing Examination does not apply; instead, each semester concludes with faculty-internal examinations, including multiple-choice tests, OSCE-format practical stations, and written assignments. The examination load is high and demands continuous work throughout.

Longitudinal strands throughout the program

Several threads run through every semester: patient-facing teaching begins with the clinical examination course in the first four semesters and transitions from the fifth onwards to bedside teaching. Additionally, there is problem-based learning in small groups, a dedicated curriculum on communication, interaction, and teamwork, modules on scientific methods, and elective modules in the middle of the program.

Practical year and degree

The sixth year is the Praktisches Jahr with three tertials in internal medicine, surgery, and an elective subject. Training sites are the four Charité campuses as well as numerous academic teaching hospitals in Berlin and Brandenburg; with approval, hospitals abroad are also possible. The Second Section of the Medical Licensing Examination follows after the fifth year of study, the Third after the Praktisches Jahr. Approbation can then be applied for.

Four campuses, one city

Charité is the largest university hospital in Europe and is spread across four campuses: Campus Charité Mitte at Charitéplatz, Campus Virchow-Klinikum in Wedding, Campus Benjamin Franklin in Steglitz, and the research-focused Campus Berlin Buch in the north. Depending on the module and block placement, you move between sites, so commuting across Berlin is part of everyday life. Factor the distances in when looking for accommodation.

Housing and everyday life

The Berlin housing market is the most difficult aspect of studying here. Rents have risen sharply in recent years, shared apartment rooms are highly competitive, and the student accommodation office has nowhere near enough places for everyone. Those not already living in Berlin should start searching very early and remain flexible about location.

Getting around

In return you get a city with dense round-the-clock public transport, a semester ticket covering the entire network, and a wide range of departmental, elective, and research opportunities. Two long-distance railway stations and BER airport make trips home straightforward.

Is there a Physikum at Charité?

No. In the model curriculum, the First Section of the Medical Licensing Examination does not apply. In its place are faculty-internal examinations at the end of each semester, taken in written, oral, and practical formats. Only the Second and Third Sections of the Medical Licensing Examination are standardized nationally.

How competitive is it to get a place?

Charité is one of the most sought-after faculties in Germany; the threshold in the top-grades quota is correspondingly high, and the Medical Studies Aptitude Test plays a large role in the selection process. Applications are submitted exclusively through hochschulstart. Medschool Experts advises on NC-free medical study abroad and does not place students at German state faculties.

Do I have to commute between campuses constantly?

Not daily, but regularly. Modules and block placements are distributed across the sites, and in the clinical phase there are additionally rotations at various hospitals. With a semester ticket and good public transport this is manageable, but it does take time.

How does the Praktisches Jahr work?

The Praktisches Jahr comprises three tertials in internal medicine, surgery, and an elective subject. It can be completed at the Charité campuses, at academic teaching hospitals in Berlin and Brandenburg, or abroad with approval. Places are allocated through a central registration process; popular specialties and hospitals fill up early.

What sets Charité apart from other faculties?

Its size and research density. Charité traces its origins to 1710; among its names are Robert Koch, Emil von Behring, and Paul Ehrlich, and it covers virtually every specialty in its own clinics and institutes. For you this means many choices and access to research — but also a large institution in which you have to organize yourself.