The pre-clinical years are the first stage of a human medicine degree, in Germany semesters one to four. They cover the scientific and morphological foundations: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, physics, chemistry, biology as well as medical psychology and sociology.
German vor (before) + Klinik, from Greek kliniké = healing at the bedside
pre-clinical stage, foundation studies
preclinical years
The pre-clinical years lay the theoretical foundation. Their centrepiece is the dissection course, in which you work on a body donor. In Germany this stage ends with the Physikum.
At universities in Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia or Hungary the pre-clinical stage also runs for two academic years, but it does not end in a single bundled examination; you are examined subject by subject in colloquia and oral exams. Groups are small, at around ten students, which means a lot of hands-on time, especially in the dissection course. The guide The structure of medical studies in Bulgaria sets out the details.
Free and no obligation.