Besides having close collaborations with national hospitals and faculties, most universities cooperate with partner universities in other countries. This connection enables students to take part in an exchange program of the
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or ERASMUS.
Even though the medical section has a high rate of students participating in the ERASMUS exchange program (either for spending a semester or the practical year abroad), the list of partner universities of Gießen does not include any in a country which official language is English (JLU-FB11 2015h). In most programs the courses open to international students are limited due to linguistic difficulties or organizational constraints. As it is often the case in these exchange programs, there are specific courses offered in English for international students. Although Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands can be considered as exception, since most universities in these countries do offer regular programs in higher education in English, just a few partnerships are established with these. Mainly partner universities located in
Spain, Turkey and France can be found on the list. Among others, exchange programs with two faculties in each Finland, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Austria exist. For exchanges with non- European countries, students have to consult the DAAD. There is, however, no list of collaborative universities that do offer medicine programs in higher education. However, the exchange office provides additional information on what has to be considered when planning a stay aboard, among others a reference to language courses and the suggestion to learn the target language. Still, it is directly pointed out that the German study structure has to be kept in mind. According to medical students in Gießen it is often not easy to take part in exchange programs, at least during lower semesters. It might be difficult to integrate a semester abroad if specific courses have to be taken and no substitution is possible. Thus, students do mostly have to accept to prolong their study in order to gain experiences aboard. However, not all students can afford the stay aboard or to prolong their study. Though, they need English in their life as future practitioner as well. This does also apply for the ones who do not want to go abroad for any other reason. Moreover, the medical faculty in Gießen does also have an office of the “German Medical Students' Association”, a student council who offers assistance in organizing exchange programs during medical study programs.27 For all students taking advantage of spending time abroad, the medical faculty of Gießen offers written descriptions about the German Famulatur in English.28 Additionally, an outline of what has to be considered and how to plan a
27 The German Famulantenaustausch is part of the bvmd, who represents the interests of
medical students on a national and international level. They support medical students in projects, and do support international exchanges by organizing placements in the
International Federation of Medical Students' Associations.
28 Explanation concerning the purpose and expectations of the German Famulatur, in case
Famulatur can be found both in English and Spanish, a text on how to plan a PJ is also available in English (Snipes 1998).
In comparison to the University of Gießen, the University of Marburg does not provide further information for students interested in doing internships aboard. Neither does Marburg offer documents in other languages (Busch 2014).Instead, there is only a reference to the regional examination office of Hesse for further information (Reg.-Pr. Gi 2015a). Only the descriptions on the practical year, following the successfully completed
Second Medical Licensing Examination, contain little information on gaining
practical experiences in another country, though it is possible to spend the PJ aboard. However, documents and information are only provided in German, the certificate that has to be submitted can be found in English and French. Students are directly informed that no list of acknowledged hospitals is available. They have to find possible partners on their own and have to clarify further steps with the examination office beforehand (PUM-FB 2015). Naturally, students of medicine in Marburg can participate in the ERASMUS exchange program as well. Mainly partner universities located in Italy and Spain can be found on the list, a few in France and Austria. Besides, there are bilateral agreements with two universities in Rumania and one each in Belgium, Finland, Poland, and Portugal. Once again it can be noticed that there is no cooperation with countries that do carry out most of their higher education in English (PUM-IO 2014). In case of international cooperations, partner institutions especially for medical students are indicated even though most universities listed are open to students of all programs. Here, students find possible placements in Australia, China, Japan and Russia that do primarily offer medicine programs in English (Malkova 2015).
The following analysis of medicine programs at other German and European universities is concerned with English-taught programs and courses
offered to medical students to improve their English skills. The next chapter lists the findings of this comparison.