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Education Bachelor's degree programmes Medicine
Header image Medicine
Bachelor - full-time

Medicine

Would you like to help patients and treat diseases?

Perhaps as a doctor or a medical researcher? In this Bachelor's degree programme you prepare yourself to do just that.

In this bachelor's degree programme, you prepare yourself for a career in medicine. Because the development of a medical professional takes a lot of time and attention and since we aim to prepare our students optimally, a limited number of study places are available. Therefore, the medical degree programme in Groningen has 400 places available each year. You can be admitted to this programme by participating in a selection procedure. The programme is provided in one language(!); Dutch.

The three-year medical bachelor's degree programme in Groningen is patient-centred: you will be introduced to patients right from the start of the first year. You will learn about all medical disciplines based on those patients’ cases. You will carry out study assignments independently or in small groups. During a two-week care internship, you will experience the daily routines in a department in a hospital or a nursing home.

As a medical student, you will build a solid theoretical basis and develop academic and practical skills. After the Bachelor's phase, students from all four learning communities enter the Master's programme together, and if all goes well you leave university after six years as a physician (basisarts).

Please note: In order to be eligible for the Master's programme as a non-Dutch student you need to meet the language requirement: C1 Dutch.

Facts & Figures
Degree
BSc in Medicine
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
56551
Language of instruction
Dutch
Start
September
Faculty
Medical Sciences
Studie in Cijfers
Apply now
Why study this programme in Groningen?

Characteristics of the Groningen curriculum are: a problem-based programme which is both patient and student centred. Students should show a pro-active attitude during their studies.

Characteristics of the Groningen curriculum are:

  • A problem-based programme;
  • A patient and student centred programme.

In this curriculum, students are expected to show a pro-active attitude during their studies.

The bachelor's degree programme consists of 3 kinds of units of study: 1) Causes of Diseases : https://www.rug.nl/umcg/education/geneeskunde/bachelor/causes-of-diseases 2) Competence development: https://www.rug.nl/umcg/education/geneeskunde/bachelor/competence-development 3) Knowledge development

Causes of Diseases focuses on the development of medical knowledge. Competence development focuses on the development of competencies important for being a good doctor. This competence development takes place within one of the Learning Communities (Intramural Care, Sustainable Care, Global Health or Innovative Healthcare). In Knowledge Development, your knowledge progression is tested in national progress tests. You can compare your own progress with your peers' level of medical knowledge and with the national average. In this way, you learn to recognize your own gaps in medical knowledge. You will take this test 4 times a year.

Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
1.3 Progress test year 1 (4 ECTS)
1.1 Causes of diseases (18 ECTS)
1.1 Competenc Development (10 ECTS)

LC specific
1.2 Causes of diseases (17 ECTS)
1.2 Competenc Development (11 ECTS)

LC specific
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Progress test Bachelor year 2 (4ECTS)
2.1 Causes of diseases (18ECTS)
2.1 Competence Development (10ECTS)

LC specific
2.2 Causes of diseases (18ECTS)
2.2 Competence Development (10ECTS)

LC specific
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Progress test Bachelor year 3 (4ECTS)
3.1 Causes of diseases (18ECTS)
3.1 Competence Development (10ECTS)

LC specific
3.2 Causes of diseases (8ECTS)
3.2 Competence Development (20ECTS)

LC specific

Curriculum

Characteristics of the Groningen curriculum are: a problem-based program in which the patient and the student are central. A lot of personal activity is expected from our students.

All students who have obtained the Bachelor's degree have a guaranteed place in the Master's program in Medicine.

Programme options
Learning Communities (profile)

Competence Development takes place in a Learning Community.

A Learning Community is a small academic group, in which you collaborate with peers on assignments, follow communication training and involve yourself in your own learning process and professional development. There are four Learning Communities of approximately 110 students, of which three are Dutch-speaking and one is an English-speaking Learning Community.

More information about this option

Junior Scientific Masterclass (honours program)

.

The Junior Scientific Masterclass (JSM) Programme offers a unique opportunity for students enrolled in the bachelor's degree in medicine and dentistry to enhance their scientific training beyond the regular curriculum.Through the JSM Programme, students can:

  • Explore the integration of scientific research and clinical care.
  • Engage in hands-on research projects under the supervision of established clinician-scientists.
  • Deepen their scientific knowledge and develop their research skills.
  • Tailor training to their individual interests and career goals.

With small class sizes, students receive personalized attention from distinguished (clinician) scientists and educators. The JSM Programme fosters a supportive learning environment and hosts various social, networking, and mentorship events throughout the year.

This program prepares aspiring students for the MD/PhD Programme and forms an integral part of the Bachelor Honors Programme.

More information about this option

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • For an average of 5 weeks

Internationale ervaring wordt vooral in de masterfase opgedaan. 65% van de studenten brengt een deel van de studietijd door in het buitenland.

Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek

    biologie
  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid

    natuurkunde

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Informatie over vooropleidingseisen, buitenlandse diploma's en overige diploma's via email: https://www.rug.nl/education/contact/information-services/contact-form-admissions-office

Hbo-p / Colloquium Doctum (21+) kandidaten kunnen contact opnemen met de medische faculteit via: admission.med umcg.nl

other admission requirements

Voor selectiecriteria voor de decentrale selectie raadpleeg https://www.rug.nl/umcg/education/geneeskunde/selectie/

For information about the selection please check the folllowing site: Selection Medicine

Choice of degree programme check

The University of Groningen organises Open Days three times a year. Prospective students can register for a presentation about Medicine (in Dutch only!) or visit the information market. The information presented is the same every Open Day, so it is not useful to visit the presentation about Medicine more than once. About the selection procedure no more/other information is given than is available online.

Registration procedure

Please note: Studielink only knows geneeskunde ( = dutch for Medicine). Please select Geneeskunde in Studielink as the degree you want to apply for. We will ask you in a later stadium which learning community you want to participate in.

Numerus Fixus

This programme has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 400 attendees a year.

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 January 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025

Choice of degree programme check

The University of Groningen organizes Open Days three times a year. Prospective students can register for a presentation about Medicine (in Dutch or English) or visit the information market. The information presented is the same every Open Day, so it is not useful to visit the presentation about Medicine more than once. About the selection procedure no more/other information is given than is available online.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

For international students to be eligible to the program you must have attained the necessary qualifications for admittance into a Bachelor's in Medicine program in your own country; your secondary education must be comparable to Dutch VWO diploma and include qualifications in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics + English. For more information send an e-mail to the Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/education/contact/information-services/contact-form-admissions-office

Numerus Fixus

This programme has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 400 attendees a year.

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 January 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 32000full-time

Practical information for:

Dutch studentsInternational students
After your studies

Job prospects

After receiving your Master's degree you can continue your work in the hospital to become a medical specialist, like a paediatrician or a surgeon. You can also work outside the hospital and train to become a general practitioner or psychiatrist, for example. In addition, you can carry out scientific research and study topics like congenital anomalies and aids. Other career possibilities are working as a teacher or as a policy advisor in a hospital or for the government.

Research

The University of Groningen is a research university in the top segment of European academic research. Innovative research is being conducted in a great many academic fields. Research and education are closely knit in this inspiring and quality-focused work environment.
Researchers at the UMCG are involved in fundamental and patient-oriented (clinical) research. It's research is dynamic and innovative with an ongoing development of emerging programs and initiatives especially in its central field of expertise, Healthy Ageing. All these elements are reflected in the educational programme where students, as future academics, from the start of their study medicine are involved in their lecturers' research.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
Dutch brochureEnglish brochure
Enrol in webclassesMore information
Enrol in webclassesMore information
Bachelor's Open Daydiverse locatiesMore information
More events

Contact

  • Contact us Medicine (Staff UMCG)
    Email: studymedicine rug.nl
    Telephone: +31-(0)625649268
  • Admission Office (Contact form) (Admissions Office)
    Telephone: +31 (0)50-3638004
  • ambassadors (Information for prospective students)
    Email: studentambassadors.medicine rug.nl

Study associations

Panacea

The Medical Faculty Association (M.F.A.) Panacea is the study association for medical students of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
On the one hand, Panacea's aim is to represent the interests of its students by for example maintaining close contact with the faculty and the professors, but on the other hand, Panacea also aims to offer added value to the study life by organizing various activities. These activities range from a Medical Career Day to a symposium in which students can learn everything about a specific medical topic.
https://www.panacea.nl

IFMSA

International Federation of Medical Students' Associations - The Netherlands, better known as IFMSA-NL is a national network of medical students working to a common goal of improving Global Health.
Global Health has become an important international issue in recent years. Thus challenging international healthcare to rise to the occasion. To meet this challenge head on IFMSA-NL organizes a wide variety of projects, congresses and internships to train future medical professionals in the problems of Global Health. IFMSA-NL is represented at all eight Dutch medical faculties and exists of 800 active member and is able to reach at least all 7200 medical Bachelor student in the Netherlands. IFMSA-NL offers students a platform to use, share and improve their knowledge and skills through projects and trainings
https://www.ifmsa.nl/groningen
Read more
(Binding) study advice
  • A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)

You will be offered study advice after the first year of study. You can expect a positive result if you have earned more than 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative result, you will not be allowed to continue with your degree programme.

You will receive preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you stand. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system. N.B. Some degree programmes use a tutoring system; please check with your study advisor.

Related master's programmes
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