Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus has its institutional origins in the Royal Medical-Surgical Academy founded in Dresden in 1815, named after the physician and natural philosopher Carl Gustav Carus. The faculty in its current form, integrated into TU Dresden, has existed since 1993. TU Dresden was awarded the status of Excellence University in 2019, underscoring the strength of its research environment.

Curriculum

Studies are organised as the standard curriculum (Regelstudiengang) under the ÄAppO, enhanced by the Dresdner Modell — a problem-oriented, case-based teaching approach that promotes early clinical thinking. Teaching integrates basic science and clinical medicine across all phases of the programme.

MEDiC — Medizincampus Chemnitz

The MEDiC programme is a model curriculum offered at the Medizincampus Chemnitz in cooperation with the Klinikum Chemnitz. It features a structured selection process including an interview and focuses on training physicians for regional and rural healthcare settings. Students complete their clinical training in Chemnitz, gaining close integration with local hospital structures.

University Hospital Dresden

The Universitätsklinikum Dresden (UKD) with 1,410 beds is the only supramaximal-care hospital in Saxony, providing the most complex tertiary and quaternary care in the region. It comprises numerous specialist clinics and institutes covering virtually every medical discipline.

Research

As part of an Excellence University, the faculty benefits from a rich research landscape. Key areas include oncology (the NCT/UCC is a national cancer centre site), neurosciences, and cardiovascular medicine. Collaborative research structures with other faculties of TU Dresden enable interdisciplinary approaches at the interface of medicine, engineering, and natural sciences.

Admission

Admission to the standard programme in Dresden is through the centralised Hochschulstart portal. Places are distributed across the Abitur grade quota, the waiting-time quota, and a university-specific quota. The MEDiC programme at Chemnitz has its own selection process, including a structured interview; applicants must apply separately and meet the programme's specific criteria.

Finances

TU Dresden is a public university in Saxony and does not charge tuition fees. Semester fees (Semesterbeitrag) cover student services and a Semesterticket for public transport in the Dresden region. BAföG is available for eligible students. Dresden offers a comparatively affordable cost of living among German university cities.

Recognition of the Degree

The Staatsexamen leads to the Approbation under § 3 BÄO. The qualification is automatically recognised across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC and Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. Recognition in non-EU countries is governed by the requirements of the respective national licensing authorities.

Further Training

Graduates may pursue specialist training (Facharztausbildung) at the UKD or at other approved training hospitals. The faculty's excellence in oncology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular medicine offers particularly strong foundations for postgraduate training in these fields.

Campus and Student Life

Dresden is one of Germany's most beautiful and historically rich cities, situated on the Elbe river near the Czech border. The TU Dresden campus is one of the largest university campuses in Germany and offers excellent sports, cultural, and social facilities. Dresden is known for its high quality of life and relatively low cost of living.

Medical students benefit from a vibrant student community, access to TU Dresden's extensive library network, student union activities, and opportunities for international exchange. The city's cultural offerings — from the Semperoper to the Zwinger — make Dresden a highly attractive study location.

What is the Dresdner Modell?

The Dresdner Modell refers to problem-oriented, case-based learning elements integrated into the standard curriculum. It promotes early clinical reasoning by anchoring basic science teaching in realistic patient scenarios.

What is the MEDiC programme?

MEDiC is a model curriculum run at the Medizincampus Chemnitz. It includes a structured selection interview and is designed to train physicians with a focus on regional and rural healthcare. Clinical training takes place at the Klinikum Chemnitz.

Is TU Dresden an Excellence University?

Yes — TU Dresden has held the Excellence University title since 2019, reflecting the strength of its research across all faculties, including medicine.

How many beds does the university hospital have?

The University Hospital Dresden has 1,410 beds and is the only supramaximal-care hospital in Saxony.