Medical Faculty Heidelberg Dentistry – State Examination

The Dentistry degree programme at Heidelberg (HeiCuDent) is a consistently practice- and patient-focussed course of study. Students receive an education that prepares them scientifically and practically to be able to pursue a career in dentistry.

Even in the preclinical courses, the focus is on an interdisciplinary linking of the individual dental or medical disciplines.

The natural sciences courses and lectures in the preclinical portion of the degree programme are characterized by interdisciplinary courses and examinations.  In semesters 4 to 10, students will learn specific practical dental skills. Students will become familiar with the techniques required for anamnesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and the preparation of a dental care plan. They will learn a variety of methods of dental treatment and oral surgery techniques. These studies will always also include the acquisition of social and communicative competencies.

To be able to successfully complete the Dentistry degree programme, it is essential that students possess an interest in the natural sciences, that they enjoy teamwork and communication, that they are capable of dealing with other people in an empathetic and responsible manner, that they possess excellent fine motor skills and have a refined sense of aesthetics.

The minimum duration of the programme is ten semesters, consisting of pre-clinical and clinical sections of five semesters each. Each section of the programme concludes with a state examination.

Pre-clinical (Semesters 1-5)

• Semester 1-4: natural science fundamentals (anatomy, physics, chemistry, histology, biochemistry, and physiology) and fundamentals of dentistry (introduction to the career of dentistry). 
• From the middle of the fourth semester to the middle of the fifth semester, students will work with simulated patients during courses (dental propaedeutics and phantom dental courses I+II. These are interdisciplinary courses that centre on prosthetics, restoration, and orthodontics and include a strong focus on preventative dentistry.
• During the clinical portion of the degree programme, students are required to take two state examinations: 
• The Intermediate Science Examination (no earlier than following the second semester) and the Intermediate Dentistry Examination (no earlier than following the fifth semester). Acceptance to the clinical portion of the degree programme requires the successful completion of the Intermediate Dentistry Examination.

Clinical (Semesters 6-10)

• Semester 6: Phantom course III in Restorative Dentistry. This is also an interdisciplinary course, which uses simulated patients and is centred on conservation and prosthetics. In addition, fundamentals of general medicine will be taught in the areas of pharmacology, internal medicine, pathology, and scientific basics (Biometrics as a block course).
• In semesters 7-10, where the strict division of subjects no longer applies, students will participate in integrated (interdisciplinary) treatment-focussed courses. During the integrated courses IK I and IK II, students will have the opportunity to work directly with patients in practice-oriented diagnosis and therapy. 
• Students will also learn additional fundamental of general medicine in General Surgery, Dermatology, and Otolaryngology courses.

The clinical portion of the degree programme leads, following a minimum of five semesters, to the Dental Examination. The examination takes place over a number of months and contains both oral and practical sections. Following successful completion of the Dental Examination, candidates may apply to the appropriate state authority to obtain a license to practise dentistry.

Via the button “Select subject and apply +” you can add this subject to the study program finder's watch list. There you will find information on application, admission and enrolment tailored to your individual application profile, and can also access the application platform. Please observe the respective dates and deadlines.