Practical year
Your guide from A to Z
[A] [B] [E] [F] [H] [I] [ K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [Z]
After successfully passing the second section of the medical examination (M2), the third stage of your medical studies, the practical year, begins. This PJ glossary will help you with your questions about the PJ from A to Z. You can find the procedure for booking your PJ places under Registration.
A
Abbreviations
- ALKH - Academic teaching hospital
- AMED - General Medicine
- BÄD - Medical Officer Service
- LA - Learning Agreement
- LPA - State Examination Office
- LoR - Letter of Reference
Registration
Registration for the PJ via the PJ portal is mandatory for all MFD students who will start the PJ from the next cohort start. It regularly takes place 6 months before the start of the PJ.
Registration in the PJ portal is independent of whether the PJ is completed in the ALKH of the MFD or nationwide or abroad.
Certificate of equivalence
A PJ completed abroad must receive a certificate of equivalence in order to register for the M3 examination. This includes the so-called certificate of equivalence from the foreign university. (See LPA)
Abroad
As part of the PJ mobility, a PJ abroad is also possible in compliance with the nationally valid tertial times. Applications are made independently by you and are entered in the PJ portal by you once you have been accepted.
Please note: Splitting 8 weeks abroad is only possible in combination with 8 additional weeks here at the home university or 2 clinics in the same country. See also (foreign) splitting
The PJ Management will be happy to provide you with additional documents for applications abroad (see also LoR, LA)
We generally recommend a PJ tertial at the home university.
General Medicine (AMED)
The tertial "other clinical-practical specialty" can also be completed in the specialty of general medicine as a PJ elective in one of the academic teaching practices at TU Dresden.
In addition to booking in the PJ-Portal, organize the confirmation of the AMED practice and send it to the PJ Management.
Allowance for expenses
During the PJ, the ALKH grants so-called voluntary training allowances (expense allowances), but there is no obligation to do so. These are made up of cash benefits and additional benefits in kind. The maximum upper limit is the maximum BAföG rate.
Benefits in kind can be, for example Meals, travel allowance, work clothes, housing. Payments are not possible!
Medical licensing regulations (ÄApprO)
The version dated 27.06.2002 currently applies and is the legal basis for the PJ. The revision of the new ÄApprO is still ongoing and has not yet been finalized.
During the training according to paragraph 1, which focuses on patient training, students should deepen and expand the medical knowledge, skills and abilities acquired during their previous studies. They should learn to apply them to individual cases of illness. To this end, they should carry out the medical procedures assigned to them in accordance with their level of training under the guidance, supervision and responsibility of the training doctor.
The valid PJ regulations of the MFD are derived from the ÄApprO.
Working hours
During the PJ, students should generally be present in the clinic all day on all working days of the week. The working time during the PJ is 40 hours per week if completed full-time.
It includes practical teaching (ward rounds, literature study and case discussions under the supervision of experienced doctors as well as seminars and lectures on selected topics in the relevant specialist area, colloquia, X-ray discussions, medical therapy discussions and interdisciplinary training events) averaging 2.5 hours per day.
This time may not be compensated with one of the activities listed here alone. see absences
Contact persons
see website
B
Start
The PJ always starts on fixed, binding dates: 3rd Monday in May or 3rd Monday in November (see tertials)
Special features
We offer PJ students at the MFD various other services. These include PJ welcome events, PJ warm-ups and other interdisciplinary events
Teaching
PJ instruction on rights, obligations and insurance is provided on site at the ALKH. (See liability)
Medical Officer (BÄD)
For the PJ you need a valid Medical Officer's examination and full proof of your immune status. Internal PJ students use the BÄD of the MFD. External PJ students bring the valid examination from their home university medical service.
Bookings
There is a separate cohort schedule for the PJ portal for each cohort. The students concerned can register in the PJ portal from the start time of registration. As soon as you have received a confirmation e-mail, you will take part in the procedure. You will then be validated by your home university, after which you can add your preferred places to the "watch list" and put together your plan.
You can see how many places are available in the overview of the respective clinic. As the PJ portal is an online booking system, these figures can change constantly during the booking period, so you should reload and update the watch list at any time (until you are allowed to make a firm booking).
The individual start time is determined by automatic lottery and the student is notified by e-mail. The three tertials can be booked bindingly from the individual start time. The booking window closes five weeks before the start of the tertial, until then you can change any booking.
See hardship cases
Supervisors
A PJ representative is available to PJ students in each clinic. He/she is responsible for the content and organization of the PJ training. The number of PJ students on the wards should not exceed 1 per 15 hospital beds. In the outpatient clinics, one student can be assigned to one doctor.
E
Extended certificate of good conduct
For work in the areas of ANE, GYN, KCH, KIK, KJP, MKG and RAD, an entry-free extended certificate of good conduct (not older than 3 months) must be submitted before the start of the PJ - please address questions regarding the application form for the respective citizens' office to the personnel department of the respective ALKH.
Evaluation
It is very important to us that the training clinic/practice is evaluated by the PJ students at the end of each PJ tertial.
For this purpose, each PJ student receives a QR code TAN (transaction number) from the PJ representative for the tertial as access to the faculty's evaluation platform. The evaluation is of course anonymous. The evaluation is carried out once a year by the PJ management, the PJ commission and the PJ representatives of the clinics to monitor the quality of the PJ training and compliance with the contracts with the ALKH.
TiPP: the more often you evaluate, the more we can improve our PJ ranking for the following PJ students, thank you!
External PJ students
We are very happy to welcome external PJ students from other German universities to do their PJ with us. The desired PJ place booking is made via the PJ portal. A change of university to the MFD is not necessary.
The documents listed on the PJ portal must be submitted to the PJ management by email before the start of the PJ.
Foreign medical students cannot complete a so-called "practical year or individual tertials thereof" with us if they are not enrolled at a German university. It is therefore not possible to book via the PJ portal.
However, you are welcome to send your application for a so-called internship directly to the respective teaching hospital - directly to the respective clinic.
F
Absences
| Working hours in % | T1 | T2 | T3 | Total weeks | Max. days absent | Max. Days absent per tertial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 48 | 30 | 20 |
| 75 | 21+2 | 21+2 | 21+2 | 64 | 40 | 27 |
| 50 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 96 | 60 |
40 |
Absences are not possible in split tertials. See splitting; see interruptions
Feedback
We invite PJ students to make active use of regular self-assessments of their skills and the invitation from supervising doctors in the PJ for external assessments in order to demand constructive and structured feedback discussions in the PJ.
Feedback during the final year is highly valued for professional development.
Please use our PJ online assessment tool - competence assessment for PJ students - in every tertial.
H
Liability
Liability in the PJ is very important, and you will be instructed on this by the respective academic teaching hospital (ALKH). PJ students are still students during the PJ, but are subject to the respective regulations of the ALKH.
Cases of hardship
So-called hardship cases have the opportunity to book PJ places in the PJ Portal before all other PJ places. Please submit a hardship application in the PJ Portal in good time
The MFD defines 4 reasons for hardship:
- own handicap
- own minor children requiring care
- Doctorate - new: only doctoral subject
- Other reasons
Home university
During the entire PJ up to and including the M3 examination, you remain a TU Dresden student, i.e. an internal PJ student - and must re-register in due time (semester fee).
For an external PJ - nationwide or abroad - no change of university is required.
We generally recommend a PJ tertial at your home university.
I
Info days
The Faculty of Medicine Dresden usually organizes two PJ information days per year:
- Large PJ information day with ALKH fair: end of March/beginning of April
- Small PJ Info Day: October
Internal PJ students
See home university
Domestic
Students have the choice of completing the PJ tertials either
- in the university hospitals/teaching hospitals of the university at which they are enrolled (home university) or
- in other university hospitals/teaching hospitals at other universities (in Germany and abroad), provided there are enough places available.
A distinction is made when booking in the PJ portal:
- Home university
- Domestic (on the PJ portal) participating university
- Domestic (on the PJ portal) -non-participating university (you must submit so-called acceptance declarations for this)
- abroad
K
Capping
As part of a compulsory PJ subject (internal medicine, surgery) or an elective PJ subject (see elective subject), up to 8 weeks can be completed in a so-called "PJ capping elective subject". Students must obtain the consent of the representative of this subject in advance, as well as the consent of the PJ representative of this PJ main subject (clinical-practical subject) in advance, as this representative issues the overall tertial certificate at the end.
However, the PJ elective usually excludes the rotation of this specialty within surgery or internal medicine.
Both approvals must be submitted to the PJ management and lead to full booking implementation in the PJ portal.
Commission
The PJ Commission oversees the organization of the Medical Practical Year at the MFD in accordance with the valid PJ regulations. It is also responsible, among other things, for the adoption, review and further development of the PJ logbooks as well as the preparation of the evaluation of the PJ and the implementation of its results in consultation with the teaching staff of the institutions that train the PJ students.
Chairman: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Thomas Zahnert, ENT
Contacts
See contact persons
L
State Examination Office (LPA)
The Saxon State Examination Office for Academic Health Professions is the central examination authority for the degree programs in Medicine and others in the Free State of Saxony. Please note the information on the 3rd study phase.
Learning Agreements and Letter of Recommendation
If you would like to apply for the practical year or a clinical traineeship abroad, you can obtain the relevant certificates from PJ Management.
To do this, please send the following by e-mail, stating the clinical traineeship or PJ with planned cohort:
- the completed form linked below
- Proof of language skills (English or national language)
- Copy of the preliminary medical examination (M1 certificate), if applicable
Learning Agreement documents for signature by the Dean of Studies Medicine must be submitted via the PJ Management.
For an internship in another EU country of at least 2 months, you can apply for the ERASMUS+ mobility grant for internships. Your contact is the Leonardo Office Part Saxony.
Teaching hospitals MFD
You can currently find the PJ at the UKD and PJ at our other ALKH on the homepage of the PJ portal, including all contact persons with contact details and subject offers.
Teaching hospitals nationwide
You can currently find all ALKH nationwide on the homepage of the PJ portal, including all contact persons with contact details and subjects offered. These are the universities participating in the PJ-Portal procedure with their ALKH; booking in the PJ-Portal does not require a separate application. When booking places at ALKHs of universities not participating in the PJ portal procedure, you must follow their individual application processes independently in addition to the PJ portal entry. See Germany
Teaching hospitals worldwide
You clarify PJ tertials abroad independently in advance with the LPA and the PJ specialist responsible and check independently to which foreign university the hospital abroad belongs. The "NRW" list of teaching hospitals worldwide is not updated regularly! See abroad
Teaching practices (AMED only)
Here you will find a list of general medicine teaching practices.
See electives
Other teaching practices
Here you will find a list of other teaching practices.
See electives; See compulsory subjects
Logbooks
The PJ logbook of the MFD describes the training objectives in the respective PJ subject and is relevant for the third section of the medical examination (M3). It must therefore be kept in every ALKH for every tertial, whether regional, national or abroad.
You can find the corresponding logbook on our website.
M
May cohort
Here you can find the cohort schedules for the May cohort 2023 and 2024
Maternity protection
If you have any questions about maternity protection, please contact the respective PJ facility representative of your booked ALKH and be sure to contact the PJ management of the MFD for further advice. See Pregnancy
N
November cohort
Here you will find the cohort schedules for the November 2023 cohort
O
Regulations
The PJ regulations of the MFD are the valid regulations for the practical year, derived from the valid ÄApprO.
P
Portal
Enrollment in the PJ tertials takes place on the PJ portal .
General information on the allocation procedure:
- Places for the practical year at Dresden University Hospital and our academic teaching hospitals are allocated exclusively online via the PJ portal.
- Please note the different places available in the May and November cohorts and the individual booking instructions at the respective clinics and departments.
- The booking internal/ external participating/ external not participating/ abroad must correspond to the facts. A comparison is made with the LPA.
See registrations; See bookings
Compulsory subjects
16 weeks surgery
16 weeks internal medicine
In addition, up to a maximum of 8 weeks per training period can be completed as an excursion in suitable academic medical teaching practices or other suitable outpatient healthcare facilities with which the TU Dresden has a contractual agreement.
The consent of the subject representative must be obtained by the student in advance.
See rotations
Q
Quarters
The changeover from PJ tertials to PJ quarters for the standard degree course in medicine has not yet been legally approved. See ÄApprO
R
Rotation
Rotation should be aimed for in both the specialty of internal medicine and the specialty of surgery:
- Within the tertial in internal medicine, the clinic should be changed at least once.
- During the surgery tertial, a general surgical part and a special surgical part must always be completed.
Rotations are to be arranged with the respective academic teaching hospital (ALKH) after booking - also in external ALKH and abroad.
Withdrawal from the PJ
If you withdraw from the PJ before the end of your booking, simply deregister in the PJ portal and re-register for the next possible cohort. Please clarify any questions regarding the associated leave of absence with the Admissions Office. Withdrawal after the start of the PJ is only possible in exceptional cases and requires a plausible justification with proof to the PJ management. See interruption
S
Pregnancy
During the PJ you are subject to the respective hygiene and other regulations of the respective ALKH booked. See maternity protection; See interruption
Splitting
In principle, mobility abroad is also possible as part of the PJ mobility, subject to compliance with the nationally applicable tertial periods. So-called splitting abroad of 8 weeks is only possible in combination with 8 further weeks here at the home university or 2 clinics in the same foreign country. You must apply independently. Once you have been accepted, you must enter the splitting abroad in the PJ portal under details 1st splitting half / 2nd splitting half as well as country and hospital. See abroad
Other (PJ) documents
Please contact the PJ management if you require further PJ documents, for example here:
- Application for registration,
- elective application forms
- External declarations of acceptance
- Semi-tickets
- ...
See Learning Agreements, Letter of reference and Letter of recommendation
Radiation protection number
Please have your lifelong valid radiation protection ID ready at the start of the PJ for the required subjects.
T
Tertials
The PJ is divided into three sections/ tertials of
- 16 weeks of surgery
- 16 weeks of internal medicine
- 16 weeks in one of the other clinical-practical specialties
The nationally standardized tertial dates must be adhered to. See timetables
Part-time
Before the start of the PJ, a decision must be made as to whether - if not full-time - the PJ should be completed 50% or 75% part-time. This choice must be indicated in the PJ portal. See absences
U
Interruption / vacation
An interruption of the PJ beyond the possible absences is only permitted in justified exceptional cases. These include, for example, pregnancy or periods of illness lasting longer than 30 days. Appropriate proof (medical certificate with diagnosis in the case of illness, copy of the mother's passport or birth certificate of the child in the case of pregnancy or child rearing) must be enclosed. Under no circumstances may the (creditable) partial period be less than 8 weeks and must not date back more than two years. Whether a corresponding exceptional case exists should always be clarified with the State Examination Office. The interruption must be applied for promptly at the State Examination Office (informal application) and the PJ management must also be informed; the LPA interruption permit must also be submitted. See absences
Vacation in the PJ
See absences
Medical examination
UKD
The University Hospital Dresden is the largest academic teaching hospital of the MFD, further information on the PJ there can be found in the PJ Portal.
V
Prerequisite
After successfully passing the second section of the medical examination (M2), the third stage of your medical studies, the practical year, begins.
See registration
Remuneration
Insurance
Accident insurance
PJ students are directly integrated into the operational procedures of the training center (academic teaching hospital). With regard to the type, location and working hours of the activities to be carried out, they are subject to the instruction and management rights of the host organization. They therefore meet the requirements for insurance cover as employees within the meaning of § 2 Para. 1 No. 1 No. 8 c SGB VII and must be registered with the responsible accident insurance institution of the host company. Accident insurance cover exists there.
Liability insurance
During their training in the clinic, in a teaching hospital or in a teaching practice, the (PJ) students are under the guidance, supervision and responsibility of the respective training doctor in accordance with Section 3 (4) sentence 3 ÄApprO. The institution guarantees the constant guidance and supervision of the students. However, there are borderline cases in which students themselves are liable for some of their actions and are liable for damages. Students are therefore advised to take out liability insurance that covers the risks of studying medicine and, if necessary, gross negligence.
PJ insurance abroad
Students are not covered by accident and liability insurance through the TUD Dresden University of Technology during their PJ tertial abroad. We recommend that students find out about the legal regulations and insurance cover at the respective medical institution. It is advisable to take out appropriate professional liability and accident insurance with sufficient cover (for abroad) privately.
Full-time
see working hours
W
Electives
The list of PJ electives approved at the MFD can be found in the PJ elective list
Re-entry
In the event of PJ interruptions - beyond the usual absences - the PJ management will organize a reintegration with you as soon as possible at the next possible start of the tertial on the basis of the LPA interruption approval.
Repetition
In exceptional cases, it may be necessary to repeat the PJ; separate arrangements will be made between the LPA Saxony and the PJ management.
Z
Certificates
A copy of the M2 certificate must be submitted by e-mail to the PJ management by the start of the PJ at the latest.
Confirmations
PJ students of the MFD do not receive a separate PJ confirmation letter after booking in the PJ portal, but you can download a booking confirmation from the PJ portal.
PJ students with external tertials at universities not participating in the PJ portal procedure require a declaration of acceptance in addition to the booking in the PJ portal; this must be checked by the PJ management of the MFD and submitted for confirmation and signature.