title: International medical students--a survey of perceived challenges and established support services at medical faculties.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical students with a non-German background face several challenges during their studies. Besides support given by foreign student offices further specific projects for international students have been developed and are offered by medical faculties. However, so far, neither a systematic survey of the faculties' perceived problems nor of the offered support exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  All study deaneries of medical faculties in Germany were contacted between April and October 2013 and asked for their participation in a telephone interview. Interview partners were asked about 1.) The percentage of non-German students at the medical faculty; 2.) The perceived difficulties and problems of foreign students; 3.) The offers for non-German students; and 4.) The specification of further possibilities of support. Given information was noted, frequencies counted and results interpreted via frequency analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 39% of the medical faculties could give detailed information about the percentage of non-German students. They reported an average share of 3.9% of students with an EU migration background and 4.9% with a non-EU background. Most frequently cited offers are student conducted tutorials, language courses and tandem-programs. The most frequently reported problem by far is the perceived lack of language skills of foreign students at the beginning of their studies. Suggested solutions are mainly the development of tutorials and the improvement of German medical terminology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Offers of support provided by medical faculties for foreign students vary greatly in type and extent. Support offered is seen to be insufficient in coping with the needs of the international students in many cases. Hence, a better coverage of international students as well as further research efforts to the specific needs and the effectiveness of applied interventions seem to be essential.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huhn
authors.affiliation: Eberhard-Karls-University Tubingen, Medical Clinic, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Junne
authors.affiliation: Eberhard-Karls-University Tubingen, Medical Clinic, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.affiliation: Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Dean's Office of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duelli
authors.affiliation: Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Dean's Office of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nikendei
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D004521:Educational Measurement; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000193:education*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005858:Germany; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019303:Multilingualism; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012073:Remedial Teaching; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: international medical students; medical curriculum; migration