What Does a Typical Day as a Medical Student Look Like? Bosnia vs Germany
17.09.2026
Key Takeaways
- There is no single typical day: in both countries, packed compulsory days alternate with almost free days — planning happens week by week.
- Attendance requirements are strict: in Lübeck, usually only one missed day per practical is tolerated; in Bosnia, three missed hours already puts the required signature at risk.
- Both students rely on realistic study plans with buffer time rather than perfection — and both admit they do not always stick to them.
- Failing is part of the process: in Bosnia, of approximately 130 students, often only around ten pass all three major subjects on the first attempt — the system deliberately plans for resits.
Does a Typical Day in Medical School Even Exist?
The first insight of the episode: not really. In Bosnia, the basic structure has stayed the same over the years, only the in-person component decreased in the second year — in the first year, Saturdays and even Sundays were sometimes on the timetable, which Erika describes as a mild culture shock. In Germany, day-to-day life changes noticeably after the Physikum: the first two years are packed with in-person sessions, after which things loosen up considerably.
“With us it’s always like that — one day you have nothing at all, the next day everything is full again.” – Erika, medical student in Bosnia
Exactly this alternation between full and empty days is the true common denominator. Anyone who rigidly schedules four hours in the library every single day will run into reality — it is more effective to plan capacities week by week. What a day looks like at another location is illustrated in the experience report A Day in Medical School in Sofia.
How Full Is the Timetable — and How Strict Is the Attendance Requirement?
Unlike many other degree programmes, you do not put your own timetable together in medical school: in both Lübeck and Bosnia, it is set in advance and viewable online weeks ahead of time — in Bosnia usually three weeks in advance, sorted by groups. The earliest lecture starts at 8 a.m. in both places. In Bosnia, however, a full day can stretch from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., sometimes with eight hours of lectures and lab classes in a row, where only a room change leaves time to eat.
Attendance requirements are particularly strict. In Lübeck, one absence per weekly practical is the maximum; a second absence means fighting for the practical's recognition. In Bosnia, three missed hours trigger a requirement to write and present a seminar on an assigned topic — and any further absences put the signature at risk that is needed for admission to the final exam.
| Daily Life and Obligations | Bosnia | Germany (Lübeck) |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest lecture | 8 a.m. | 8 a.m. |
| Full days | Up to 8+ hours | Varies by semester |
The author's view
The line of the episode for me is Erika’s observation that of 130 students, only a handful pass all three major subjects on the first attempt — and that nobody there is thrown off course by it. I studied dentistry in Sofia myself, from 2015 to 2021, and I experienced exactly this system of multiple exam dates as one of the greatest advantages of studying abroad: the pressure is distributed rather than piling up into a single date.
What I can add from advising: applicants almost never ask me about daily life — yet it is exactly what determines whether those six years go well. That is why this episode is worthwhile for everyone: studying medicine in Bosnia is not fundamentally different from studying medicine in Germany — except that resit opportunities are far more generous, which means overall pressure is lower.
Conclusion: The Perfect Student Day Does Not Exist — and That Is Fine
- Full and empty days alternate — plan per week, not per day.
- Take attendance requirements seriously: missed days are tightly rationed in both countries.
- Create constants: a canteen break, a run, coffee with friends — especially during exam periods.
- Plan realistically, build in buffer time, let go of perfectionism — failing an exam is no disgrace.
Sophie’s closing words of the episode sum it up: it is fine to be stressed and not be the perfect student. Nobody has to have run a half marathon by 7 a.m. — as long as you keep the overview, everything is fine. How the first year with its subjects and exams is structured is covered in Episode 3: The First Year of Medical School Compared.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daily Life in Medical School
How many hours a day are you at university in medical school?
This varies a great deal. In Bosnia, a full day can run from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., sometimes with eight hours of programme in a row — while other days are completely free. In the German preclinical phase, practical days often involve a full morning through late afternoon; things loosen up noticeably after the Physikum.
Is there compulsory attendance in medical school?
Yes, especially in practicals and small groups. In Lübeck, usually only one missed day per practical is possible; in Bosnia, three missed hours trigger a requirement to write and present a seminar — with more absences, the signature needed for exam admission is at risk. Large lectures, by contrast, are often attendance-free.
Can you work alongside medical school?
In the preclinical phase, the fixed timetable makes this difficult — most of Sophie’s friends could only work on the side after the Physikum. In Bosnia too, the pace of lectures and lab classes leaves little room for a side job.
Are there classes at the weekend in medical school?
In Germany, normally not. In Bosnia, the first year of study sometimes included Saturdays and the occasional Sunday — from the second year onwards, this stopped and the overall in-person component was lower.
What is the best way to plan studying in medical school?
Two tried-and-tested methods from the episode: count the material in pages or Anki cards, divide it by the available days and plan in two buffer days — or, about a month before the exam, block time slots per topic in the calendar and orient yourself by learning objective catalogues. More important than the perfect plan is simply getting started.
Is it bad to fail an exam in medical school?
No. In Bosnia, failing is planned for — with multiple exam dates, and even with two failed subjects the academic year is considered passed. In Germany, a resit is usually scheduled about a month later. A failed exam says nothing about whether someone will be a good doctor.
Is there time for hobbies and friends in medical school?
Yes — if you consciously make time for them. Both students maintain fixed rituals: running, university sports, walks, or coffee with friends. This balance is especially important during exam periods to avoid isolation.
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About the author
Marcel Kloos
Swiss-licensed dentist and founder of Medschool Experts
Marcel Kloos founded Medschool Experts while studying abroad; since then, over 500 study places have been secured. The Stuttgart-born dentist studied dentistry from 2015 to 2021 in Sofia and holds a Swiss dental licence.
Today he lives in Bern and runs Medschool Experts full-time as its owner.
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