Medicine, State examination

Medicine

... looks into questions such as ...

How is the human body organised and how does it work?
How do I interact with patients, how do I ask them questions and examine them?
How do I identify deviations from health and make diagnoses?
How to I treat diseases?
How do we ensure scientific progress in the field of medicine?

„
Don't let yourself be swayed by people telling you medicine is a difficult discipline. Difficult are those disciplines you're not remotely interested in.
“

Lisa Janz, State examination read more ...
„
Being able to analyse and study the human body up to and including the tiniest cells is a fabulous experience. Naturally, you will have to do a lot of cramming.
“

Mirja Lehmann, State examination read more ...

Lisa Janz is a first-year student of Medicine. The degree she is pursuing is the state examination.

What made you choose this degree programme?

I wanted to know how the body works, how diseases originate. I was mainly interested in the fundamental facts.

In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?

I am quite happy in all regards (with the exception of my revision quota, which is not nearly high enough). You learn how the body works in every pre-clinical subject. The fact that you'll have to memorise the names of many body parts and structures, did not come as a surprise. Occasionally, it might not be immediately apparent in how far the memorised knowledge will be necessary to understand how the body works. But this becomes eventually apparent in the follow-up courses.

Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?

Understanding and learning something new. Recognising interconnections. Realising that I have memorised something.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Keeping my nose to the grindstone and studying. I am still struggling with it.

What would you like to become after completing your degree?

A doctor. I'm not sure about the specialisation yet. Currently, internal-medicine disciplines are shortlisted, I also like the idea of being a general practitioner.

Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?

Learn how to learn! Don't let yourself be swayed by people telling you medicine is a difficult discipline. Difficult are those disciplines you're not remotely interested in. And don't focus on remote goals. If your future career is the only aspect you focus on, you will find that studying will always be accompanied by questions such as: “What do I need this for?” or “Do I really need that?” As a result, fun and motivation fade and studying turns into a chore!

Mirja Lehmann is a first-year student of Medicine. The degree she is pursuing is the state examination.

What made you choose this degree programme?

I wanted to study medicine as early as at the age of 14; after completing my A-levels, I spent a gap year doing volunteer work in order to ascertain whether I would be suited for the medical profession. Once the year was over, I was not only dead set on studying medicine, but I was also sure about my future profession.

In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?

When it comes to anatomy, my expectations were surpassed. Being able to analyse and study the human body up to and including the tiniest cells is a fabulous experience. Naturally, you will have to do a lot of cramming that is often conducted into well into the night. Basic subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics, where medical facts were of secondary importance, proved particularly difficult. Initially, there's a lot of theory. Practical training programmes and especially the anatomy class were a nice change.

Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?

The scientific facts. People who are gifted in this regard will find them easy to handle. I am particularly looking forward to being able to apply the knowledge I acquired to help people. Collaboration with my fellow students works out very well, we can truly rely on each other.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

The switch from having a job to university life and moving out from home. At first, I found the curriculum quite overwhelming, and being homesick didn't exactly help. But it simply takes time to find your own rhythm and to establish a routine and an order. Today, I enjoy living on my own very much, and the curriculum is much easier to handle if you set up your own revision schedule.

What would you like to become after completing your degree?

I want to work as an anaesthetist. This is the area of work that I found most appealing during my gap year as a volunteer with the emergency medical services, and I would also like to work as a physician in preclinical emergency medicine.

Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?

You must be aware that medicine should not be taken lightly. It is a discipline that requires hard work. You must be able to deal with setbacks. But if you really want it, you will make it – and this does not mean you have to spend all the time studying. Together with the friends you’ll make here, you can have a lot of fun during and after the lectures. But: never lose sight of your exam schedule!

Degree programmes

State examination

Profile

Degree:	Staatsexamen
Start:	Winter semester
Duration:	13 semesters
Classroom language:	German

Detailed information for international applicants

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What's it all about?

This degree programme is unique, because ...

as an integrated reformed degree programme, it is thematically structured and provides both basic know-how regarding the functions of the human body and hands-on patient care practice.

It provides the opportunity to specialise in the following fields

Ethical principles and code of conduct of practitioners of medicine
Medical interaction
Medical skills
Academic thinking and acting
41 medicine-related subjects and cross-disciplinary fields
Fundamental science in medicine

Course schedule

Who is suited?

Those who wish to enrol in this degree programme,

have:

the ability to grasp new concepts quickly
good interpersonal skills
team spirit

enjoy:

interacting with people
troubleshooting

struggle through:

piles of textbooks and scripts

Graduates from this degree programme frequently work

as medical practitioners in hospitals and doctor’s practices
in academia
in health care management

And else?

A prep course ...

can be covered voluntarily.

Further information about prep courses

An internship ...

nursing practice has to be completed by the end of the 4^th semester. It is recommended to complete it before embarking on the degree programme.
Duration: 3 months

A second internship ...

clinical training has to be completed between the 5^th and 10^th semester.

Duration: 4 months

For the 7th semester, 60 study places are advertised in Ostwestfalen-Lippe. More information at www.uk.rub.de

Studying abroad ...

can be done voluntarily.

Where do I find help?

Academic advisory office

Dr. Dieter Klix
Building, Room: MA 0/50
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-24964
Email: medizinstudium@rub.de
Website academic advisory office

Contact students

Fachschaft Medizin
Building, Room: MABF 0/301
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-23950
Email: fsmed@rub.de
Website Fachschaft

Internet

Degree programmes' website