• Introduction
This article will discuss a very important topic, which might be essential for many doctors who want to complete the medical specialty and work in the Federal Republic of Germany.
• General notes
– The costs mentioned in this article are approximate.
– The written costs are in euros
– You get the money you invest, certainly within the first year after beginning working in Germany
• Costs:
We will divide them into categories:
– Costs of learning German in a language institute
These costs range from one country to another and from one language school to another. The required language levels are 8 levels divided into A1, A2, B1, B2 and each of these levels is divided into two parts: A1.1, A2.2, B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.2. For each level, the courses cost between 100 and 200 euros.
Therefore, the total cost is around 1200 euros (we will take the average price of 150 euros*8 levels).
You should add to this the costs of books and related utensils. Let’s say: 150 euros.
Studying the language in Germany is more expensive. Not only do the courses cost more, but you also need to live between 800 and 1200 euros per month. So we advise doctors to study the language in their home countries. With 800 euros (the cost of living in Germany for one month), you can take around 40 private lessons with native German speakers.
On the other hand, more and more doctors do study the language by themselves using YouTube channels, books, and online groups and apps. Thereby, they save the cost of studying the language, but this process is not easy and takes more effort and time.
Some choose a mix between studying alone and in a language institute. Pick what you feel is suitable in your situation. For example, if you do not have a language institute near your living place, and you are not in a rush, try self-learning.
You can read these articles to get a better idea:
– Costs for the language tests
The cost of the exams for each level also ranges from 150 to 200 euros. If you fail, you must pay the same fee again. But, you only need the B2 certificate. So please do not waste your money getting certificates you will not use. An exception might be someone who wants to do a clinical attachment (🇩🇪 die Hospitation), some hospitals ask for a proof of their language level. In this case, having an official B1 certificate might help. Nonetheless, an alternative might be sending a certificate from the language school that you reached this level.
– Cost of preparing, certifying, and translating papers into German
The cost of issuing and authenticating papers from the place of their issuance and from the German Embassy in addition to certified copies ranges from 600 to 800 euros.
Please note that translators charge different amounts of money. So, call many of them and ask for their prices first. Some might ask you to send copies of your documents first to be able to assess the costs.
– Costs for applying for the medical license
Around 500–1000 euros
– Mail costs
The cost of sending documents to the approbation authority via delivery companies such as DHL ranges from 50 to 100 euros, depending on the weight and speed of the submission of paperwork.
– Costs for the visa
Around 50–100 euros. You also need travel health insurance. Just buy a cheap one for around 30 to 40 euros.
– Closed bank account
This is a sum of money that you need to transfer in advance to a bank account to cover for your life expenses in Germany. It is 1028 euros per month (status from 2023). More details here:
– Flight tickets
It depends on the airline, weight, and other factors. We suggest traveling with low-cost airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Do not bring a lot of things with you. You can buy clothes cheaply at sales or the flea market.
– Learning German in Germany
You are advised to get a C1 level certificate and take a course for the medical language exam (Fachsprachenprüfung). One language level costs 300 to 1,000 euros.
Some doctors complete the “B1” language level in their home countries and apply for a visa to complete the remaining language level in Germany. In this scenario, the embassy requests that they book courses to demonstrate their intent and seriousness. Some institutes request that the full amount of fees be transferred. Others require only a part of it. If the visa is not accepted, almost all institutes will give you your money back (but please ask about this point before registration).
– Accommodation
As a doctor, you should look for housing while you are in your country, keeping in mind its difficulty. However, there are many examples of doctors who have successfully found housing while in their country, and many of them traveled to Germany before starting their search.
The cost of hotel accommodations varies from hotel to hotel and from city to city, but it is generally quite expensive. The doctor may remain at a friend’s house or hotel while looking for housing.
Many doctors choose to train in a hospital that offers housing to avoid the effort of finding housing and the associated costs.
In Germany, the monthly cost of housing varies from city to city and from house to house. The characteristics of the city and the housing will determine this variable. For instance, two doctors pay 300 euros monthly for a shared apartment and 500 euros for a private apartment.
– Costs of living
It depends on you, but mostly around 600–1000 euros.
– Cost of a medical language exam
The cost of the medical language exam varies from state to state, with an average of 350–500 euros.
After success in the medical language exam, the doctor can start looking for a job opportunity and working towards a medical specialization.
– Costs of the medical knowledge exam
Around 500–1000 euros.
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