Applications for medical studies via ’rural doctor quota’ possible for the first time

MHH admits 18 students via advance quota - Applications open in March via Lower Saxony’s special-purpose association for the granting of approbation (NiZzA)

08.03.2023

For the upcoming winter semester 2023/24, those interested in medical school places in Lower Saxony can apply for the first time via a "rural doctor quota," including for the HannibaL model course at Hannover Medical School (MHH). Statewide, 60 study places have been reserved. All three medical faculties in Lower Saxony are accepting students via the preliminary quota, and the MHH is making 18 study places available. With the implementation of the "Law for the Improvement of Area-wide Care in Lower Saxony", the state government intends to attract more motivated young physicians to work in rural regions in the future. Applicants for the "rural doctor quota" commit themselves to working as a family doctor in an underserved region for ten years after completing their studies.

Central application and selection procedure via (NiZzA)

The application and selection process will run centrally via the Lower Saxony Special Purpose Association for Licensing (NiZzA) until the end of March. This does not result in any additional study places. Via the so-called advance quota, 2.2 percent of all study places are also reserved for medical officers in the German Armed Forces and five percent are allocated to non-EU foreigners who can apply directly to the faculties. Another preliminary quota has been added in the form of the "rural doctor quota." After applicants have submitted an application in electronic and paper form to the Lower Saxony Special Purpose Licensing Board by March 31, a structured selection process follows.

Three criteria are considered in the first stage of the selection process: Overall grade of university entrance qualification with a weighting of 30 percent, result of the Test for Medical Studies (TMS) with a weighting of 30 percent, and periods of relevant vocational training, professional activity or practical work with a weighting of 40 percent. Subsequently, applicants ranked 1 to 120 are invited to a selection interview, which is conducted by the Medical Association of Lower Saxony.

MHH has long offered students block internships in the countryside with its "Landpartie"

For more than ten years, the MHH has been offering its students the opportunity to complete their block internship in general medicine in a rural medical practice during their fifth year of study with the "Landpartie" project. The Landparties are cooperative projects between physicians in a region, municipal administrations or the county and the Institute of General Medicine and Palliative Medicine at the MHH. This project also aims to give future doctors an understanding of the profession of country doctor. Currently, the Landpartie takes place in Zeven/Bremervörde, in the Heidekreis as well as in Hameln, Pyrmont, Schaumburg. A total of 15 places are available per round. The Institute of General Medicine and Palliative Medicine at the MHH is responsible for supervising the teaching practices and is the first point of contact for interested students.