Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Medicine at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg admits 196 students each winter semester. The standard German Staatsexamen curriculum is followed. Magdeburg is among the most affordable university cities in Germany, with living costs well below the national average for university towns — a practical advantage for students managing their budgets over a six-year programme.

Research Profile

The faculty has a clearly defined research focus in neurosciences and immunology. Cooperation agreements with major national research institutions give students access to cutting-edge research environments: the Leibniz-Institut für Neurobiologie (LIN), the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), and the Max Planck Institute. Students interested in a research career benefit from early access to these networks.

Teaching Infrastructure

Clinical skills training takes place in the MAMBA Skills Lab, where students practise examination, procedural, and emergency skills in a supervised setting before entering clinical rotations. Digital learning is supported through Moodle and VIPER (a virtual patient and interactive resource system). The affiliated University Hospital Magdeburg (UKM) has 1,130 plan beds and is the largest hospital in the city.

Admission

Magdeburg uses the HAM-Nat (Hamburger Auswahltest für medizinische Studiengänge – Naturwissenschaftstest) instead of the TMS. The HAM-Nat tests chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics at Abitur level (Schulniveau). Admission is via hochschulstart (winter semester only). Main quota: Abitur grade plus HAM-Nat score. Additional aptitude quota: HAM-Nat 50%, completed vocational training or relevant work experience (Berufsausbildung/Berufserfahrung) 50%. No tuition fees.

Admission

Winter semester only, via hochschulstart. Magdeburg uses the HAM-Nat (not TMS). Main quota: Abitur + HAM-Nat. Aptitude quota: HAM-Nat 50%, Berufsausbildung/Berufserfahrung 50%. No tuition fees.

Degree Recognition

Graduates receive the German Staatsexamen (Approbation as Arzt/Ärztin), recognised across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC and in many other countries worldwide.

Campus Life

Magdeburg offers consistently low living costs — among the lowest of any German medical faculty city — making it an attractive option for budget-conscious students. The city sits on the Elbe and has a growing cultural scene. The university campus is well connected by public transport. For students drawn to neuroscience research, proximity to the LIN, DZNE, and partner institutes adds a dimension unavailable at most other German faculties.

What is the HAM-Nat and how does it differ from the TMS?

The HAM-Nat (Hamburger Auswahltest für medizinische Studiengänge – Naturwissenschaftstest) tests chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics at Abitur level. The TMS tests cognitive and scientific aptitude through a broader battery of subtests. Magdeburg is one of very few German faculties to use HAM-Nat rather than TMS; applicants targeting Magdeburg should prepare specifically for HAM-Nat.

Are living costs really that low?

Yes. Magdeburg is consistently cited as one of the cheapest cities in Germany for students, with rent, food, and transport costs significantly below the national average for university towns.

What research opportunities exist?

The faculty’s cooperation with the LIN, DZNE, Helmholtz-HZI, and Max Planck Institute gives students with research interests direct access to internationally recognised institutes specialising in neurosciences, neurodegeneration, and infectious disease.