Human Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing Science, Biomedical Science
The Medical University of Graz, in German Medizinische Universität Graz, has a long history in medical education. Medical teaching has existed in Graz since 1782 as part of a medical and surgical curriculum. The medical faculty was founded in 1863 as part of the Karl-Franzens University of Graz. On 1 January 2004 it became an independent public university under the Austrian University Act.
The university is in Graz, in the province of Styria, and it works closely with the University Hospital Graz, established in 1912. When it was built, this hospital was one of the largest in Europe. The link between the university and the hospital remains a central feature of teaching, because students train in clinical settings from an early stage.
In the winter semester 2022 to 2023 the university counted 5,110 students. The staff numbered 2,735 people in 2022. The budget was 296.1 million euros, including 69.3 million euros of third-party funds. Rector Andrea Kurz took office in 2024, succeeding Hellmut Samonigg.
The university has a number of firsts and traditions. It held Austria’s first white coat ceremony on 8 October 2012, a ritual that marks the start of clinical training. Hellmut Samonigg initiated the Don’t Smoke anti-tobacco campaign during his term. Students run publications of their own: the magazine medizynisch was ranked the third best medical student magazine in German-speaking countries in 2008, and the news magazine MEDitio is also published.
For a prospective student, the specialised profile is the main point. The university teaches medicine, dentistry, nursing science and biomedical science, and admission to human medicine is selective, with an entrance test. Teaching is mainly in German, so applicants from abroad should check the language requirements on the official pages. Tuition for EU citizens is low. Check the current tariff.
Graz is Austria’s second largest city and a student town with a large share of young people. The clinical campus lies close to the main university quarters, which makes daily travel easy. Prospective students should read the official pages for the admission test, the dates for registration and the options for exchange abroad.
Domains taught:
Bioinformatics, Life Sciences, Microbiology and Genetics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
University Hospital Graz, established in 1912.
Research:
Biomedical research and clinical medicine, with 69.3 million euros of third-party funds in 2022.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2735
Current students***:
5110
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Independent since 2004, university hospital since 1912, medical education in Graz since 1782, 296.1 million euros budget.
Cons
Medicine only, selective admission, teaching mainly in German.
Best For
Medical students who want a specialised medical university with a large university hospital in Austria.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
Think of Medical University of Innsbruck when bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences is the priority: it is slightly smaller, at about 3,800 students against roughly 5,110 here, and is also a public institution.
Among national alternatives, Medical University of Vienna stands out for its focus on bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
If this university is on your list for bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences, Anhui Medical University in China deserves a comparison, because it is far larger, with about 18,700 students against roughly 5,110 here, and is also a public institution.
Looking internationally, Hannover Medical School in Germany is where bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences get a comparable treatment; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers bioengineering as well.
Looking internationally, University of Maryland, Baltimore in the United States is where bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences get a comparable treatment; it is slightly larger, at about 7,137 students against roughly 5,110 here, and is also a public institution.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran is the nearest foreign match on bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences; it is larger, enrolling about 11,543 students against roughly 5,110 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in the United States and this university are close, as both teach bioinformatics, microbiology and genetics and life sciences; it also offers certificate programmes and covers statistics and data analytics as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the Medical University of Graz?
In Graz, in the province of Styria, Austria.
When did it become independent?
On 1 January 2004.
When was the medical faculty founded?
In 1863, as part of the University of Graz.
Since when has medicine been taught in Graz?
Since 1782.
When was the University Hospital established?
In 1912.
How many students does it have?
5,110 in the winter semester 2022 to 2023.
How many staff does it have?
2,735 in 2022.
Who is the rector?
Andrea Kurz, since 2024.
When was Austria's first white coat ceremony held?
On 8 October 2012, in Graz.
What does it cost?
Tuition for EU citizens is low. Check the current tariff.
Biology, Biomedical Sensors, Innovation, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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