A new analysis from the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) has revealed that at least 9,100 German citizens are currently studying medicine abroad — representing roughly 10% of all German medical students. This growing trend reflects both the intense competition for limited spots at German universities and the appeal of more accessible — if sometimes more expensive — options abroad.
Popular destinations include Austria, where over 2,500 Germans are enrolled in medical programs, as well as Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, and Switzerland. In countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic, students may pay up to €16,000 per year in tuition alone — with total costs, including living expenses over six years, often climbing into six figures. By contrast, Austrian public universities do not charge tuition fees, making them a particularly attractive option.
While the mobility of German students demonstrates the EU’s educational integration, the long-term consequences raise concern. According to CHE, there’s a troubling lack of data on what happens after graduation: Do these doctors return to Germany to practice? Are their qualifications easily recognized? How smooth is their entry into the German healthcare system?
Experts are urging policymakers to pay closer attention to this “invisible cohort.” Gero Federkeil, head of international projects at CHE, noted that even the German state authorities responsible for licensing and recognition have little systematic information about these graduates.
Given Germany’s mounting doctor shortage — with more than 5,000 general practitioner posts currently unfilled and many more expected to retire in the next five years — the question of whether these foreign-trained doctors return and integrate smoothly is becoming increasingly urgent. A recent survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that a quarter of Germany’s GPs plan to quit within five years.
CHE’s researchers suggest that alongside expanding domestic medical school capacity, Germany should also build stronger support systems for returnees — such as streamlined recognition processes and clearer pathways into the national health system. zeit.de
