UZH and HSG reorganize medical education

Seven years ago, the University of St.Gallen (HSG) and the University of Zurich (UZH) created a joint Master's program in medicine: the Joint Medical Master. The current cooperation agreement expires in July 2026 and will not be extended. The two universities have decided to realign the training concept and go their own ways.

In autumn 2023, the first students successfully completed their medical studies in the joint Master's program of the University of Zurich (UZH) and the University of St.Gallen (HSG) - the Joint Medical Master (JMM). The impetus for the JMM came from the political mandate formulated in the federal government's special program for human medicine to increase the number of degrees. Three further JMM cohorts will graduate by July 2026.

An evaluation of the joint Master's degree course revealed that the coordination effort for a joint course is very high and that the design options on both sides are limited. For this reason, the cooperation agreement will not be extended in July 2026. This will not have any negative consequences for students: The education of all current students in the St.Gallen track of the Bachelor's degree program at UZH and the Joint Medical Masters in St.Gallen will remain guaranteed at all times until the state examination. The details of the change in the form of cooperation will be set out in transitional provisions, which will be communicated at a later date. The current number of study places will be maintained.

The HSG will continue to independently develop its competence-oriented Master's program with a focus on interprofessionalism,
management and governance as well as primary care with innovative teaching formats for modern medical studies.

For its part, UZH will once again focus more strongly on the education of its students in Zurich - with the further expansion of the existing focus areas of research, digitalization, interprofessionalism and primary care. In addition, UZH will increase the number of study places on offer and modernize the curriculum.

Press release University of Zurich and University of St.Gallen