How do public universities shortlist or select students? Do they use the BMAT exam in Germany?
No, German public universities do not use the BMAT, and the exam has been discontinued worldwide. Instead, they rely on ECTS credit matching, Numerus Clausus ranking for high demand courses, the TestAS aptitude test, language certificates like TestDaF or IELTS, and entrance interviews or subject specific exams for certain fields.
No, German public universities do not use the BMAT, and you should know the exam has actually been discontinued worldwide, so no institution anywhere still relies on it. Your admission instead depends on hard, objective criteria like credit matching, grade based rankings, and sometimes a general aptitude test. If you are applying for medicine, Germany uses different subject specific exams entirely.
How Selection Actually Works
| Selection Factor | What It Checks |
|---|---|
| ECTS Credit Matching | Whether your transcript shows enough credits in the exact sub disciplines your target program needs |
| Numerus Clausus (NC) | Ranks applicants by final grades for high demand courses like medicine, psychology, or popular engineering fields |
| TestAS | A general aptitude test some universities use to level the field for international applicants |
| Language Certificates | DSH or TestDaF for German taught programs; TOEFL or IELTS for English taught programs |
What Medicine Programs Use Instead Of BMAT
- The TestAS Medicine Module, a digital aptitude test tailored specifically to life sciences and medicine applicants.
- MedHessen or other university specific medical entrance tests, such as the TMS used in certain federal states.
- School leaving grades like the Abitur or its foreign equivalent, since human medicine remains strictly grade dependent at most schools.
My Advice
Do not waste study time preparing for the BMAT if Germany is your target, since no public university anywhere accepts it. Instead, find out directly from your target medical faculty whether they use the TestAS Medicine Module or a school specific test like TMS, and prepare for that exact exam.
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