In the model degree programme, general medicine is represented with lectures from the 1st semester onwards.

In the first year of study, the main focus is on communication and general aspects of consultations (diagnostics, examinations, etc.)

In the 2nd and 3rd years, almost every week of study also includes a general medicine lecture, which is usually linked to the weekly topic. Thematically, we currently focus primarily on the 20 most common reasons for consultation.

We are also represented with lectures in other subject areas such as prevention, medical psychology and sociology as well as the metamedicine lectures.

A distinctive feature of the model degree programme at the EMS is the variety and number of clinical placements. Four times during the first three years of study, students undertake one-week placements in the university’s general practice teaching practices. In addition, there is a two-week block lab course in the fifth year of study, as well as, where applicable, a general practice tertial as part of the clinical year. Teaching doctors receive special training for this, and students are provided with logbooks detailing their tasks and the opportunity for evaluation.

It is well known that communication is THE essential factor for a successful doctor-patient relationship. We try to do justice to this in the model degree programme by offering various teaching formats on communication very early on in the course and in each academic year.

A "longitudinal communication curriculum" is being designed, in which we as a department are also very intensively involved, e.g. in the "Clinical Training Centre" in the 4th year of study.

In this teaching format, students work together with a general practitioner and a "specialist lecturer" on the respective weekly topic. A patient case is presented with a brief outline of the reason for the consultation. The students work out differential diagnoses, anamnestic questions and the necessary examinations independently under the moderation of the general practitioner. At the end, the case is resolved by the specialist lecturer and any important findings and procedures are briefly presented.

In the fourth or fifth year of the degree programme, students are required to undertake a block lab course in general practice at one of our teaching GP practices.

To this end, we have built up a network of specially trained teaching practices over the last few years. The training programmes are designed and delivered by our department. Before becoming a teaching doctor for the block lab course – and thus part of an academic teaching practice – in Oldenburg, one must have already successfully supervised students during our one-week observation placements.

Furthermore, there are special collaboration opportunities, for example with the district of Wittmund as part of the ‘Landpartie Harlingerland’ programme, where students can be offered a very special learning experience. You can find information on this project here.

Students are therefore supervised by experienced and dedicated doctors. Following the first rounds of the block lab course, we are delighted to have received very positive feedback from our students.

If you have any further questions about the structure of the block lab course in general practice, please do not hesitate to contact our department! The contact person for the block lab course is