Pre-Med Courses for Studying Medicine in Europe I Berlin Medical Academy (2024)

COURSE STRUCTURE

COURSE:

The Berlin Medical Academy english pre-medical course runs for either 21 or 24 (including holidays) weeks. Classes are held 3 – 4 days a week, 4 – 5 hours per day. In addition, there are up to 1,000 hours of self-study, up to 10,000 homework questions, and up to 40 mock exams. Students also have the option to take a more condensed intensive course with a duration of 12 weeks.

To better prepare you for your medical university schedule, self-study times are designed to deepen the knowledge obtained during lectures as well as preparing you for upcoming medical exams.

SUBJECTS:

The full length pre-medical course consists of six subjects in addition to labs:

• Chemistry – organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, introduction to biochemistry
• Biology – evolution, cell biology, evolution, genetics
• Physics – mechanics, electricity, optics, light and waves and Biophysics
• Anatomy – the human body systems
• Mathematics – orders of magnitude, percentage calculation, logarithms, geometry, concentration calculation.
• Cognitive skills – Problem solving
• Laboratory days – chemistry and biology

Student commitment also includes:

• Mid-term exam and final exam
• Oral presentations
• Over 10,000 homework questions
• Up to 1,000 self-study hours
• Up to 40 mock exams
• Mandatory class attendance

The final grade is comprised of:

• Homework and test participation
• Oral presentations
• Oral and written final exams

Students pass the course if the final result is at least 70%. Students are expected to attend at least 90% in all lessons.

STUDY CONTENT

(This is just a sample of the much more extensive syllabus)

BIOLOGY:

• Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules:Polymers diversity, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic acids
• Cell surface structures:Binary fission and conjugation in bacteria, Motility, Internal organization and DNA (nucleoid, plasmids)
• Eukaryotic cell structure and function:Cytoskeleton, Plasma Membrane, Compartmentalization, Endomembrane system: endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi Apparatus and lysosomes, The Nucleus, Ribosomes, Mitochondria
• Cell communication:Cell junctions, Local and long distant signaling,The stages of cell signaling, Chemical messengers, Receptors
• Cell cycle:Mitosis and meiosis, Cellular organization of genetic material, Phases of cell cycle, The mitotic spindle, Cytokinesis, Cellular organization of genetic material, The stages of mitosis and meiosis, A comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis, Origins of genetic variation among offspring
• Cellular respiration and fermentation:Catabolic pathways and production of ATP, The stages of cellular respiration (glycolysis, oxidation, citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation), Types of fermentation, Anaerobic respiration
• Viruses:Viral diseases, Emerging viruses, Structure of viruses, General features of viral replication cycles, Viroids and prions
• Bacteria and Archaea:Cell surface structures. Motility. Internal organization. Reproduction and adaptation. Diverse nutritional and metabolic adaptation – oxygen and nitrogen metabolism, cooperation. The role in the biosphere (chemical recycling, ecological interactions). Beneficial and harmful impacts of Prokaryotes on humans.
• Protists:Structural and functional diversity in Protists, Role of Protists in ecological communities
• Fungi:Nutrition and Ecology. Practical uses of fungi, Body structure, Sexual and asexual reproduction, Fungi as pathogens
• Chromosomal and Molecular Basis of Inheritance:DNA as genetic material, Structural model of DNA, The chromosomal basis of sex, Inheritance of X- and Y-linked genes, Alternation of chromosome number and structure, Human disorders due to chromosomal alternation, Inheritance of organelle genes, Chromosomes’ structure
• Genetic mechanisms:Genetic code; The flow of genetic information; Replication: base paring to a template strain, synthesis of new DNA strands; Transcription: molecular components of transcription, posttranscriptional modifications (alternation of mRNA ends, RNA splicing); Translation: molecular components of the process; Building of polypeptide; Type of mutations, Regulation of Gene Expression (promoters, transcription factors)
• Tissues and body membranes:Structure and physiology of: connective, muscle, epithelial and nervous tissue; serous, mucous, synovial and cutaneous membranes.

ANATOMY:

• Senses:Hearing and equilibrium. Visual perception. Taste. Smell. Types of sensory receptors.
• Nervous system:Organization of nervous system. The central nervous system. The organization of human brain. Peripheral nervous system: motor and autonomic nervous system. Glia. Blood-brain barrier. Nervous system disorders.
• Neurons, synapses and signaling:Neurons structure and function. Resting and action potential. Conduction of action potentials. Postsynaptic potential. Neurotransmitters.
• Hormones and endocrine system:Intercellular communication. Endocrine tissues and organs. Chemical classes of hormones. Multiple effects of hormones. Simple hormone pathways. Feedback regulation.
• Immune system. Innate and adaptive immunity:Antigen. Antibody. The humoral immune response. The cell-mediated immune response. Inflammatory response. Immunological memory. Allergies. Immunization (vaccination).
• Cardiovascular system:Organization of human circulatory system. Heart and heart’s rhythmic beat. Blood vessels structure and function. Blood pressure. Blood composition and function.
• Respiratory system:Organization of human respiratory system. Negative pressure breathing. Hemoglobin.
• Digestive system and nutrition:Essential nutrients. Dietary deficiencies. Organization of human digestive system. Chemical digestion in the human digestive system. Dental adaptation.
• Human reproduction and development:Female and male reproductive anatomy. Hormonal control of reproductive system. Gametogenesis. Conception. Embryonic development. Birth.
• Osmoregulation and excretion:Excretory organs. Kidney structure. Nephron organization and function. Kidney function, water balance and blood pressure.

CHEMISTRY:

• Atoms: Atomic theory.Elements and atomic number, Isotopes and atomic weight
• The Periodic Table:The periodic table and some characteristics of different groups, Electronic structure of atoms and electron configurations, Electron configurations and the periodic table, Electron-dot symbols
• Ionic Compounds:The octet rule ions and ionic bonds, Periodic properties, ion formation formulas, naming ionic compounds, Some properties of ionic compounds, H + and OH – ions: an introduction to acids and bases
• Molecular Compounds:Covalent bonds and the periodic table, Multiple covalent bonds and coordinate covalent bonds, Characteristics of molecular compounds, Molecular formulas and Lewis structures, Polar covalent bonds and electronegativity, polar molecules, Naming binary molecular compounds, Classification and Balancing of Chemical Reactions, Classes of chemical reactions, Chemical equations and balancing chemical equations, Acids, bases, and neutralization reactions, Redox reactions
• Mole and Mass Relationships:The mole and Avogadro’s number, Gram–mole conversions
• Reaction Rates and Chemical Equilibria:Endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions, Factors that influence chemical reaction rates, Chemical equilibrium, Equilibrium constants
• Nuclear Chemistry:Radioactivity, Radioactive half-life
• Physical quantities:Metric system of units, Metric units of length, Metric units of mass, Metric units of volume, Significant figures
• Fundamental Chemical Laws:Law of conservation of mass, Law of definite proportions, Law of multiple proportions
• Chemical Calculations:Mole concept and chemical formulas, Calculations involving chemical equations, Calculations involving volume and concentration
• Solutions:Mixtures and solutions, Units of concentration, DilutionIons in solution: electrolytes
• Acids and Bases:Acids and bases in aqueous solution, some common acids and bases, The Brønsted–Lowry definition of acids and bases, Acid dissociation constants. Acid and base strength, Some common acid–base reactions, Acidity and basicity of salt solutions
• Buffers:Measuring acidity in aqueous solution: pH, Buffer solutions, Titration
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry:Alkanes: The nature of organic molecules, The structure of organic molecules: alkanes and their isomers, Drawing organic structures, The shapes of organic molecules, Naming alkanes, Properties of alkanes, Reactions of alkanes
• Cycloalkanes:Drawing and naming cycloalkanes
• Alkenes and Alkynes:Alkenes and alkynes, Naming alkenes and alkynes, The structure of alkenes: cis–trans isomerism, Properties of alkenes and alkynes, Types of organic reactions, Reactions of alkenes and alkynes
• Aromatic Compounds:Alkene polymers, Aromatic compounds and the structure of benzene, Naming aromatic compounds, Reactions of aromatic compounds
• Alcohols:Some common alcohols, Naming alcohols, Properties of alcohols, acidity of alcohols, Reactions of alcohols
• Phenols:Some common phenols, Acidity of phenols
• Some Compounds with Oxygen Sulfur, or a Halogen: Ethers, Thiols and disulfides, Halogen-containing compounds
• Amines:Properties of amines, Heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, Basicity of amines
• Aldehydes:The carbonyl group, Naming aldehydes, Properties of aldehydes, Some Common aldehydes, Oxidation of aldehydes, Reduction of aldehydes
• Ketones:Naming ketones, Properties of ketones, Some Common ketones, Reduction of ketones
• Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives:Properties and names, Some common carboxylic acids, Acidity of carboxylic acids, Reactions of carboxylic acids: ester and amide formation, Hydrolysis of esters and amides
• Amino Acids and Proteins:Amino acids structures, Acid–base properties of amino acids, Chemical properties of proteins
• Enzymes and Vitamins: Catalysis by enzymes, How enzymes work, Vitamins and minerals
• Carbohydrates:Classification of carbohydrates, The D and L families of sugars: drawing sugar molecules, Structure of glucose, Disaccharides, structure of maltose, Some important polysaccharides, Properties of carbohydrates
• Lipids:Structure and classification of lipids, Fatty acids and their esters, Properties of fats and oils
• Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis:DNA, chromosomes, and genes; Composition of nucleic acids; The structure of nucleic acid chains; Base pairing in DNA: the Watson–Crick model

PHYSICS:

• Dynamics:Force, mass, Newton’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd law; Free-body diagrams; Contact forces: normal force and friction force; Linear momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum; Elastic and inelastic collisions, center of mass, translational motion
• Electric currents:Electric current; Ohm’s law, electrical resistance and resistors; Electric power; EMF and terminal voltage; Resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff’s rules
• Electric field:Electric charge, static electricity, induced charge, electric field, field lines, electric potential, equipotential lines, voltage; Coulomb’s law; Electric field, conductors and dielectrics, charge distribution; Capacitance, storage of electric energy, capacitors in series and in parallel.