Transfer from Szczecin back to Germany: Why the Location Makes It Easier
01.09.2026
Why Szczecin Is an Unusually Good Starting Point for a Return
The curriculum of the Pomeranian Medical University is aligned more closely with the German structure than that of many other international locations. Subject sequence, the split between the preclinical and clinical phases, the weight given to individual disciplines — a great deal of it maps onto what German faculties expect to see.
That has a practical consequence that matters more than any table could show: what you achieve in Szczecin carries weight in Germany from early on. At many other locations, students have to invest several years before a return becomes realistic at all. From Szczecin, the work of the first year already counts for something substantial. Anyone considering a return therefore does not have to sit and wait for a supposedly better moment far down the line.
The second point in Szczecin's favour is one that is easy to overlook: you are not under pressure. Poland is an EU member state, and a medical degree completed in Szczecin is automatically recognised for licensure under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. The route to the German Approbation is therefore open whether you finish in Szczecin or in Germany. A transfer is an option, never a rescue operation — and that is a much better position from which to make the decision.
Why Nobody Can Give You a Number in an Article
The question everyone arrives with is the same: how far back in can I get? It is the right question. It simply has no general answer.
The binding classification is made case by case, on the basis of what you have actually completed — and no two student files look alike. Which subjects you have behind you, how they were assessed, how they line up in content with the target faculty's curriculum: all of that shifts the result. What was true for one student last year is not automatically true for you this year, and the practice changes over time.
That is why we deliberately publish no tables, no checklists and no calendars here. A figure that looks reassuring in an article and then turns out not to apply to you helps nobody. What helps is having someone look at your actual documents.
What We Do Instead
Send us your profile — your transcript of records, the subjects you have completed in Szczecin, and where you would like to end up. We review it individually and then tell you plainly what is realistic: at which university, in which country, we can place you, and where we can get you in on a plan you can genuinely rely on.
For students who are already partway through a degree, we always aim at the highest possible entry point. In practice, transfer students frequently join in the final two academic years. Whether that is achievable in your case is exactly what the review is for — and it is the reason we would rather look at your papers than hand you a rule of thumb.
Our network of official partner universities covers medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine across several countries, so the answer is rarely limited to a single destination. Reviewing your documents takes us a few days and costs you nothing. Book a free consultation and we will go through your situation together.
Whichever Way You Decide
Some students from Szczecin return to Germany. Others stay, finish where they started, and take the same Approbation through EU professional recognition. Both routes work, and neither is the braver one.
What makes the difference is not the route but the timing: knowing early where you stand gives you a real choice instead of a forced one. That first honest assessment costs nothing and commits you to nothing — and it is the single most useful thing you can do with an afternoon.
The author's view
Marcel Kloos is a Swiss-licensed dentist and today owner of Medschool Experts in Bern. He completed his own medical and dental studies from 2015 to 2021 in Sofia, starting at 24 without a conventional background. That experience, combined with advising hundreds of students, shapes his view of Szczecin as a study location. Hardly any other place gives students such a strong position so early, because the first year of study there already sits close to the German curriculum in content.
His assessment: anyone studying in Szczecin who is thinking about a return should not wait for a supposedly ideal later moment. In advising sessions he repeatedly notices that students from Szczecin underestimate how well their curriculum already matches the German system — and postpone the question out of respect for a process they imagine to be complicated. That respect is misplaced. The decision does not have to be made alone, and it does not have to be made in the dark: an early, honest look at your own documents turns a vague worry into a clear picture, and it costs nothing but an email.
He also makes a point of saying the other half out loud. Nobody in Szczecin is trapped. The Polish degree is recognised across the EU for licensure, so finishing there is a complete plan, not a fallback. A transfer is worth considering when it fits your life — not because you fear the alternative.
Summary
Szczecin is one of the friendliest starting points there is for anyone who might later want to continue in Germany: the curriculum sits close to the German structure, the work of the first year already carries weight, and the completed degree is recognised for licensure across the EU in any case. That combination gives you options rather than obligations.
What none of it gives you is a number, and we will not invent one. How far back in you can get depends on your own documents, and it is assessed individually. So send us your profile — your transcript of records, what you have completed so far, and the countries you could imagine. We will tell you at which university, in which country, we can place you, always aiming for the highest possible entry point, and where we can get you in on a plan you can rely on. Our official partner universities cover medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine.
Book a free consultation. The document review takes a few days and costs you nothing.
Further Reading
- Transferring Back to Germany — the central guide to what a return actually involves.
- Pomeranian Medical University — overview of the Szczecin study location.
- Chance Calculator — a first rough orientation on your prospects.
- StudyBackHome — honest guidance on transferring back to Germany.
- Free Consultation — individual clarification of your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Transferring from Szczecin to Germany
Is my degree from Szczecin recognised in Germany?
Yes. Poland is an EU member state, and a medical degree completed in Szczecin is automatically recognised for licensure under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. That applies to the finished degree — which is why staying in Szczecin and finishing there is a perfectly sound plan in its own right.
Why is Szczecin considered a good starting point for a return?
Because the curriculum of the Pomeranian Medical University sits closer to the German structure than that of many other international locations. What you achieve there carries weight in Germany from early on, which is not true everywhere.
How far back in can I get?
That depends entirely on what you have completed, and it is assessed individually — which is why we do not publish a table here that might not apply to you. What we can tell you is our approach: we always aim at the highest possible entry point, and transfer students frequently join in the final two academic years. Send us your transcript and we will tell you what is realistic in your case.
Can I transfer after any semester?
Broadly speaking, a move is worth examining at more than one point in your studies, and the right moment differs from person to person. Rather than guess, let us look at your documents — the review is free and tells you where you actually stand.
What do I need to send you?
To start with, simply your transcript of records and a short note on where you would like to end up. Anything else we need, we will ask for. We do not publish document checklists here because requirements differ from one university and one intake to the next, and they change.
Is it better to stay in Szczecin or to return?
Both routes lead to the German Approbation, so there is no wrong answer in principle — only a better and a worse fit for your situation, your family and your plans. That is precisely the kind of question a consultation is for.
What does the consultation cost?
Nothing. We review your documents, tell you at which university in which country we can place you and where we can get you in on a plan you can rely on. Our partner network covers medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine.
How early should I get in touch?
Earlier than most people do. Knowing where you stand gives you a genuine choice; finding out late often narrows it. There is no cost and no obligation attached to asking.
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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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