Studying Dentistry in Germany
The topic of studying Dentistry in Germany is very popular and among the most researched topics recently. Dentistry departments are extremely popular not only for foreign students but also for German students. Since Dentists earn more than Medical Doctors in Germany, the demand for these departments is high. Below I will try to give brief answers to the questions I frequently encounter.
How many points should I get for Dentistry in Germany?
First of all, Dentistry requires excellent exam scores as well as very good motor skills. Below I am sharing a table showing the quotas of universities for Dentistry. Considering that 5% of these quotas are reserved for foreign students, you can see that a total of around 75 foreign students are accepted every year. With such a competitive environment, it becomes clear that your NC should be at least 1.2 (If you wonder what NC is, see VPD and NC). The competition is so intense that some universities will ask you to take the TestAS exam in addition to the NC. (See TestAS Exam)
How many years is dentistry in Germany?
Dental education in Germany is divided into scientific and practical study. The structure of the study is basically the same at all German universities and culminates in a centralized licensing examination. The training lasts at least ten semesters and is divided into a pre-clinical and a clinical study section of five semesters each.
Is it expensive to study dentistry in Germany?
One of the recurring questions is how expensive it is to study dentistry, especially in comparison to medicine. On the one hand, you have to stock up on a certain number of basic consumables; on the other hand, many universities also have high one-off costs, such as hand instruments (starting at 600 Euro), technician devices (600 -1000 Euro) and articulators (around 800 Euro). However, these costs are not the same at all universities, you can spend more than 10,000 euros on consumables during your studies.
Studying dentistry is one of the most material-intensive courses. You will certainly need a lot of practice to create people-pleasing teeth. You will use a wide range of materials for this, from simple and cheap pencil waxes to expensive articulators. In some universities, the majority of materials, tools and equipment are provided by the university, while in others students have to buy almost everything themselves. You can find out which special rules apply at your university from the student council, the relevant lecturer or the pre-clinical administration.
How do dental students in Germany obtain materials?
It is important to acquire materials at an early stage, especially at universities (such as Düsseldorf) where instrument tests are conducted. Otherwise it will be difficult to respond to the needs of constantly and rapidly changing courses.
At some universities, such as Jena or Münster, students are provided with a large amount of materials, while at others most of the materials have to be purchased themselves. It is therefore always more reasonable to compare prices or to acquire cheap used sets from previous semesters. But it is also common to buy new complete sets or individual tools. Many warehouses and manufacturers offer student discounts. At the university location, there are businesses in warehouses close to the university where necessary materials and tools for students can be ordered.
At most universities, at least the most frequently used items are bought in bulk (which is usually cheaper than buying them individually). The supply of materials is organized through the student council, the semester spokesperson or materials manager (e.g. Dresden, Freiburg, Hanover, Göttingen, Leipzig, Rostock) or the lecturer. However, check the best information on the school website.
Quotas for Dentistry Programs in Germany
I mentioned above the popularity of dentistry programs in Germany. Although it depends on the popularity of the schools, admissions are quite difficult as there are very few foreign student quotas. However, one advantage we may have is that many universities apply a system called country threshold to ensure equality between countries. In short, they accept a maximum of one or, as the case may be, two students from a country. Check out the list of Top 10 Best Universities to Study Medicine and Dentistry in Germany.
Is Admission to Dentistry Programs in Germany Difficult?
I can say that it is difficult due to the situation I mentioned above. Theoretically, it means that around 30 students from Turkey can enter dentistry programs, but NC score is important. According to my predictions for admission, you should have at least 1.1 or 1.2 points. The equivalent of this in our university exam is roughly 523 points. I have given more detailed information about this in my previous articles. If you don’t have such a high score, the TestAs exam is an option for you. As you can see, not everything depends on the university exam score.
For some universities, the TestAs exam is the most important criterion for admission (see Cologne, Ulm), while for others it affects the admission criteria by 50%. Therefore, the TestAs exam is very important for programs such as Medicine and Dentistry in Germany. It is possible to achieve your dream with a strict preparation. I have written a lot about this subject before, you can find it in the old articles on the site. See How important is the TestAs?
Applications to German universities vary from school to school, so I suggest you first check the school’s website and the articles I have already written about the schools. Some schools take applications themselves, others accept applications through Uni-assit. For some, you only apply to uni-assist for VPD. Don’t think it is too complicated, if you research, you will see that it is simple. If you don’t want to deal with all this, of course you have the alternative of hiring a counselor. I recommend you to read my article “Is it necessary to work with a consultant for Germany?” regarding the question “Is it necessary to work with a consultant for Germany?”.
What should I do to study dentistry in Germany?
The most basic requirement for applying to a degree program in Germany is the HZB. I gave more details about this in my article “What is HZB?” Depending on which country you got your university entrance qualification in, the requirements will vary. You need to check the appropriate requirements on the Anabin website.
Some countries use the term “contiguous part” for the HZB. In Germany, universities group programs into subject groups. For most universities, programs such as Biology, Biotechnology, Medicine and Dentistry are in the same group and may be sufficient for you to apply. However, it is best to check with the international offices of the schools.
If you have this opportunity, your NC score will be important. If you think that your score is insufficient, you can take the TestAS exam and try your luck at schools that accept this exam score as the biggest evaluation criterion. (See University of Cologne, RWTH Aachen etc.)
Did I help you? If you have any questions, you will probably find the answer on these pages, but you can still contact me at recep[at]recepdayi.com.tr and on my social media accounts. I try to improve my articles according to your feedback, so please send me your comments. Thank you in advance.
