Germany costs less before your first job

Germany is usually cheaper before your first doctor job if you learn German at home. Britain adds a second UK trip for PLAB 2, plus hotel, food and local travel before you start work.

Germany still costs real money. You need German classes, translated papers, the medical language exam, visa papers and a move.

Why Britain costs more first

Britain asks most foreign doctors to pass PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 before joining the medical register. PLAB 2 is held in Manchester, so you must pay for travel and a place to sleep there.

That creates 2 expensive moments. First, you travel for the practical exam. Later, you travel again for your first hospital job.

You also pay for English testing, GMC registration papers, visa papers and document translations. The exam fees are only one part of the bill.

Germany has different costs

Germany asks for general German at B2 level. You then take the medical language exam for doctors (Fachsprachprüfung), at about C1 level.

In Lower Saxony, this language exam costs €595. In Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, it costs about €400, as of October 2026.

Doctors with degrees from outside the EU normally take the medical knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung). It costs €980 in Lower Saxony and about €1,050 in North Rhine-Westphalia, as of October 2026.

The licence fee also changes by state. Bavaria charges €250 to €500, while North Rhine-Westphalia charges €150 to €700, as of October 2026.

The biggest German bill

German lessons are the biggest cost for many doctors. A classroom course in Cairo, Amman, Delhi or Istanbul is far cheaper than months of study in Berlin or Munich.

This is why Germany becomes expensive for doctors who move too early. They pay rent, transport and food while still preparing for B2 and C1.

A recognition visa lets you stay for up to 24 months. It can extend by 12 months, to 3 years total. A blocked account needs €1,091 a month, or €13,092 for 12 months, as of October 2026.

Who should choose each country

Choose Germany when you can study German at home and accept a longer language phase. You avoid the Manchester exam trip and can apply for the doctor licence from abroad.

Choose Britain when your English is already ready and you can fund PLAB 2 travel. Britain is simpler in language, but the upfront bill is heavier.

What to do now

• Write down your home-country costs for German classes, translations and passport papers.
• Price the PLAB 2 trip to Manchester, including hotel nights and local transport.
• Compare the official exam fees before paying any language school deposit.
• Apply for your German doctor licence from abroad after collecting the required papers.

Stand: 2026-10-17. This is a guide, not legal advice. Every German state has its own rules, and rules change. Check with your state's [medical chamber (Landesärztekammer)](https://www.bundesaerztekammer.de/aerztekammern) before you act.