Brandenburg Medical School receives the right to award doctorates – a milestone for the region!

Brandenburg Medical School receives the right to award doctorates – a milestone for the region!

On October 16, 2025, a significant step was taken for the Brandenburg Theodor Fontane Medical School (MHB). The Minister of Science Dr. In Brandenburg an der Havel, Manja Schüle handed over the decision awarding the right to doctorate and habilitation degrees. This makes the MHB the first non-state university in the state of Brandenburg to receive this important academic right. This applies to the disciplines of human medicine and dentistry and opens up new perspectives for research and teaching at the university, which has enjoyed state recognition since its founding in 2014.

Dr. When presenting the decision, Schüle emphasized the essential role of the MHB for health care in Brandenburg. The state's support can be seen not only in the form of the newly won right to award doctorates, but also in the promise of state funding totaling 27.6 million euros for the period from 2025 to 2029. This measure shows the state's commitment to sustainably promoting the MHB and strengthening the training of medical and psychological specialists in the region.

Successful accreditation and state recognition

The granting of the right to award doctorates is the result of successful institutional accreditation by the Science Council, which positively evaluated the MHB in its last report. The university largely meets the requirements of a university in human medicine. What is particularly noteworthy is that teaching and research meet the standards of scientific medicine. Last year, the MHB was granted accreditation for five years, with the university able to demonstrate that it has a viable research concept.

In recent years, the MHB has not only expanded its range of courses, but also kept the number of enrolled students constant. Around 1,000 students are currently enrolled at the locations in Brandenburg an der Havel, Neuruppin, Bernau near Berlin and Rüdersdorf. The first graduates of human medicine successfully left the MHB in 2021. With the introduction of a new dental degree program from the summer semester of 2024, the offering will be further diversified.

Importance of the MHB for the region

With the support of around 30 hospitals and teaching practices in Brandenburg, the MHB positions itself as a central training center for future medical professionals. The MHB sponsoring hospitals, which are state-recognized as university hospitals, offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience and thus promote the bridge between theory and practice. According to MHB spokesman Eric Alexander Hoffmann, the awarding of the right to award doctorates is seen as recognition of the university's scientific achievements.

In summary, it can be said that the granting of doctoral and habilitation rights to the MHB represents a milestone in the development of the university. It not only strengthens its position as an educational institution, but also contributes to improving health care in Brandenburg. The Science Council has praised the MHB for making great progress and recommends further investment in staffing and expanding the library. This sets the MHB on a promising path to excellence in teaching and research. Further information on developments at the MHB is available here MHB fountain and the current research results of the Science Council to read.