Medical Programme at LMU

Many people have asked me to clarify the medical curriculum in the German universities. I will take the curriculum at Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität in Munich as an example.


It consists of 2 main parts, called Studienabschnitte (Segments). After the first segment, which lasts 2 years, the first medical exams are coming. After those are taken, starts the second segment, lasting for 4 years, including one practical year. After the practical year ends, the second wave of medical exams need to be passed. 


During the first 5 years of study, there is also the so-called Longitudinalkurs or L-Kurs. It consists of: 

• Epidemiology, medical Biometry and medical Informatics
• General Medicine
• Palliative care and Pain therapy
• Work medicine
• Social medicine
• Forensic medicine
• History, Theory and Ethics

The first Segment (the first 2 years) consists of:

• Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Medical Psychology
• Medical Sociology

The students come into contact with patients in their second year.

The second segment (the next 3 years) is a lot more complicated and divided into 5 Modules:

• Module 1 - Basics of clinical medicine:
• Genetics, Hygiene, Microbiology, Virology, Clinical chemistry, Laboratory diagnostics, Pathology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Imaging procedures, Radiotherapy, Radiation protection, Infectiology, Immunology
• Module 23 - Interdisciplinary Basis year:
• Nephrology, Urology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Neuropathology, Radiology, Trauma, Rheumatology, Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Surgery, Physical Medicine, Anesthesiology, Intensive Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Inner Medicine, Pain Therapy, Immunology, Orthopaedics
• Module 4 - Nervous System and Sensorium:
• Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Ear-Nose-Throat, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology
• Module 5 - Life cycles:
• Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rehabilitation, Geriatrics, Practical period general medicine, Optional subject
• Module 6 - Project semester

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