Over 7,500 German Medical Students Study Abroad, Austria & Hungary Top Choices

At least 7,500 medical students from Germany, or 8 percent, are pursuing their education abroad, the latest data has shown.

According to CHE, Center for University Development (Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung), human medicine is one of the most popular study subjects in Germany. However, due to the limited number of study places in this field across the country, one in 12 German students is enrolled in universities abroad.

CHECK “Studying Medicine in Europe” report shows that most of these students are enrolled in universities in Austria and Hungary, Erudera.com reports.

A total of 2,585 German students pursued medical courses at Austrian universities in 2021. Additionally, universities in Poland, Czechia, and the United Kingdom are popular among students from Germany who want to study medicine.

The number of German students in these countries during the same year was:

• 2,051 students in Hungary
• 859 students in Poland
• 422 students in Czech Republic
• 421 students in the UK
• 413 students in Lithuania

German students are also thought to be studying medicine in Italy and Bulgaria. However, data on their numbers are unavailable at present.

Commenting on these statistics, CHE’s head of International Projects, Gero Federkeil, said the survey indicates that most students return to Germany after completing their studies. However, he said it is also unclear what these students will do after graduation.

“Although some international universities stated in our survey that the majority of their German graduates returned to Germany, this information cannot be generalized,” Federkeil explained.

“Even the state authorities in Germany responsible for recognition and approval have almost no information or data on the recognition of Germans studying abroad,” says the head of international projects at CHE.”

The “Studying Medicine in Europe” report has also analyzed admission requirements and the prices of medical courses at 84 universities in Europe.

It was found that international students pay between €3,000 and €29,800 to study medicine abroad per academic year. Researchers explain that, on average, the total cost for six years of studies is up to €178,800.

“For such an investment, all offers and costs, including the different costs of living depending on the country, should be compared,” Caroline Friedhoff, the author of the CHECK study, said.

Overall, the number of German students abroad increased by three percentage points in 2021, meaning 137,700 students enrolled in foreign universities for the year—the majority headed to Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Other popular subjects among German students are economics, administration and law, social sciences, journalism and information technology.

© Gustavo Fring | Pexels