Physician Assistance

A Physician Assistant (PA) is an academically trained healthcare professional who completes a bachelor’s degree program. PAs work under medical supervision and perform delegable clinical tasks such as initial assessments, assisting with diagnosis and treatment, coordinating patient care processes, as well as documentation and quality assurance. Through their continuous presence on the team, PAs bring stability to patient care—unlike resident physicians, who rotate through different wards. This makes them an indispensable part of modern healthcare.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and will be qualified to work as a physician assistant.

Thanks to the comprehensive and wide-ranging nature of the program, as a physician assistant you can work in a wide variety of medical fields. Typical areas of practice include general and specialty medical practices, somatic and psychiatric hospitals, medical care centers, and rehabilitation clinics.

You have the opportunity to further your education as part of your professional career. However, your bachelor’s degree also opens the door to an academic career path, leading from a master’s degree to a doctorate.

You must have a qualifying high school diploma in accordance with Section 58 of the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act (LHG) and the RWU’s admission regulations.

The program at RWU requires a 6-week pre-internship. Suitable internship locations include somatic and psychiatric hospitals (nursing or clinical departments), emergency medical services, long-term care facilities (outpatient services, nursing homes, and hospices), and general or specialty medical practices. You must submit proof of completion of your internship to the Admissions Office by the end of the first semester at the latest. Individuals with prior medical training or experience (e.g., vocational training, a voluntary social year [FSJ] in the health or nursing sector) may have this recognized as a pre-clinical internship.

No prior qualifications are required for the Physician Assistant program at RWU—the program is designed to provide primary qualifications, meaning it is intended as an option for initial vocational training.

You apply for your clinical semester (4th semester) directly at a facility providing inpatient and outpatient somatic and psychiatric care. A training contract in advance is therefore not required. The same applies to your subsequent clinical phases, although their timing may be tailored to your individual needs.

The program begins annually in the winter semester, which starts in early October, with an application deadline of July 15.

The program lasts 7 semesters and is designed as a full-time program.

It is also possible to complete the program on a part-time basis. The PA team will help you develop your individual study plan. Please note, however, that studying part-time will extend the duration of your program.

The PA program is divided into two phases:

Foundation Phase (1st–4th semesters): You’ll acquire a foundation in medical science, practical skills such as ultrasound and ECG, as well as competencies in communication and emergency management. The 4th semester is your first clinical rotation.

Advanced Studies (5th–7th semesters): You’ll deepen your knowledge in specialized medical disciplines, learn evidence-based clinical decision-making, and explore digital process design. A clinical rotation integrated into the program complements the theoretical coursework. In the 7th semester, you’ll choose a specialization module and write your thesis.

You apply on your own for an internship at a suitable outpatient or inpatient medical facility. The PA team will be happy to assist you with this—if necessary, they can refer you to one of our regional partners or review the suitability of the practice partner you have in mind.

The exams in the PA program are diverse and designed to be practice-oriented. You’ll encounter traditional formats such as written exams and presentations, as well as practical exam formats that assess your clinical skills and competencies. You’ll practice all practical skills intensively in advance in the skills lab, so you’ll go into the exams well-prepared.

You don't have to pay tuition; you only have to pay an administrative fee each semester. You can find more information about financing here: https://www.rwu.de/international/internationale-vollzeitstudierende/finanzierung