How can one attend university after making Ausbildung in Germany?

Question

My plan is to start medicine Ausbildung in Germany. However I never studied medicine before. My question would be, is it possible for someone who attended and finished the Ausbildung in Germany to attend the university later on? In this case, medical university. Can it be done at all or there are limitations when it comes to further education?

Answer 1

Dear @firstbornUnicorn, 

thank you for sharing your question with the Wefugees Community!

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If I understand your question correctly, you want to know if it is possible to study medicine without a high school graduation (A-Levels/in German: Abitur) but with a vocational training (Ausbildung) in the medical field.

First of all, I am not an expert on this field. But I did some research and find out that there are basically two ways how to study medicine:

1. The first way is that you need to finish school at an intermediate level with a so called "Mittlere Reife" and then choose an Ausbildung in the medical field (f. e. practice nurse, medical assistant, physiotherapist) that lasts at least 2 years. You have to finish this Ausbildung with a grade better than 2,5. After that you will have to work for three years in the medical field an gain work experience. 
2. Another way is to do an Ausbildung in another area that doesnt have to be related to medicine but give you the opportunity to do a kind of vocational upgrading training. You can find more information about via this link (https://***.wefugees.de/805976/can-go-the-university-with-realschulabschluss-ausbildung) but I think the first alternative is what you asked for. 

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I found all the information via this website. I will link it for you although it is in German. It also lists the various universities in Germany and their information about studying without a high-school-graduation: https://***.praktischarzt.de/blog/medizinstudium-ohne-abitur/

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I hope this helps and please don´t hesitate getting back to the Wefugees Community if you have further questions!

All the best

Melina

Comments

Thank you for your answer!

I would like to add, I did finish my secondary school ( economic orientation ), which has nothing to do with medicine. From what I understood, to be able to access the medicine university in Deutschland I would have to get so called "Abitur", which means I would go to the secondary school again, such as gymnasium. This is why I considered Ausbildung as a better option. Only that this way it would take me, according to your words, 5 to 6 years in total before I can get access to Uni.

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Yes, you are right!

It definitely takes some time to do it this way. Another opportunity - as you said - would be to attend school again and finish with ‘Abitur’.

So this is something that you have to consider for yourself. But to help with your decision: if you decide doing your Abitur first and then study medicine regularly at the university you have to keep in mind that it is not so easy to get into medicine at the university since the grade you need to have at your Abitur for studying medicine unfortunately is very high. Many universities in Germany ask for a grade like ‘1’ to ‘1,5’. Another pro of doing an Ausbildung first is that you earn money during Ausbildung and after as well and that you already gain experience in the field so it maybe would be easier to study medicine.

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Perfectly understood!

One last thing, if not a problem. Considering the high level of interest and competition in medical field; does it automatically give advantage to students, that are coming from gymnasium for example, with excellent grades, over those who intend to access the University without Abitur but had done both Ausbildung and those 3 extra years of practical experience? I'm wondering if the experience/knowledge earned through Ausbildung system is in any way inferior to the prior one, or in both cases students would have equally the same chances.

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Good question!

To be honest, I have no idea. But I will **** into it and try to get back to you with a reply as soon as possible!

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Thank you for your attention to this matter!

I am also trying in every possible way to find some valid informaiton, unfortunately without any success so far.