The aptitude test for medicine (TMS) will be replaced by the TMSnat from spring 2027. Anyone who wants to apply for human medicine should know the changes now, because they affect the procedure, duration, repeatability and weighting of results. This guide summarises what the announcement of the central testing body confirms and where gaps remain.
Short answer: From spring 2027 the TMSnat replaces the previous test in the selection procedure. It combines tasks from the TMS and the HAM-Nat, takes about five hours, can be repeated as often as you like and costs 100 euros according to the announcement. The announcement does not give dates for each session. Last updated: November 2026.
The key points at a glance
- From spring 2027 the TMSnat is planned, held twice a year, in spring and autumn.
- The TMSnat replaces the HAM-Nat from 2027. It combines tasks from the TMS and the HAM-Nat.
- According to the announcement, the test takes about five hours and can be repeated as often as you wish.
- Participation costs 100 euros according to the announcement.
- From the winter semester 2028/29 the announcement names only the TMSnat and the HAM-Man for dentistry as counted tests.
What changes in the test?
The announcement of the central testing body describes a transition across several years. The earlier tests HAM-Nat and HAM-SJT are counted for the last time in the transition to the winter semester 2027/28. The HAM-Man stays in the procedure. For prospective students this means that the test landscape changes in stages, and the year in which you apply decides which tests count.
The new TMSnat combines tasks from the earlier medical aptitude test TMS with elements of the HAM-Nat. According to the announcement it can be repeated as often as you like. This is an important difference, because until now results were usually tied to a fixed application cycle. The announcement does not describe in detail how repeated attempts enter the selection.
When does the TMSnat take place?
The announcement names two sessions a year, in spring and autumn, starting in spring 2027. The document contains no concrete dates, and it also does not state a registration deadline. Those who want to prepare should therefore follow the website of the testing body and the notices of the universities, and note dates only once they are officially published.
| Feature | Information in the announcement | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Name | TMSnat (replaces HAM-Nat from 2027) | Announcement for the 2027 procedure, no date in the document |
| Sessions | twice a year, spring and autumn | planned from spring 2027 |
| Duration | about five hours | announcement |
| Repetition | can be repeated as often as you like | announcement |
| Fee | 100 euros | announcement |
| Dates and registration deadline | not stated | see the testing body |
Which criteria apply to selection?
The selection criteria from 2027 are described as planned in the announcement, but not yet final. The document explicitly labels them as provisional. Anyone who has a weighting in mind today should therefore not treat it as fixed. Binding are the rules of the universities and selection bodies that apply the procedure.
For preparation this means that the test content is the most reliable basis for the coming years, while the weighting is not. Those who prepare well have an advantage in any case, whatever the final criteria look like.
Step by step: preparing for the TMSnat
- Read the announcement: Download the current announcement of the testing body and check the date of the latest version.
- Watch the dates: Note the sessions once they are published and enter the registration deadlines immediately.
- Use practice material: Work with official sample tasks where available and plan time for the long test duration.
- Set a schedule: Decide by when you want to sit the test and how often you are prepared to repeat it before you submit your application.
- Check application deadlines: The test is only one part. The application itself runs under its own deadlines that you must keep in view.
Frequently asked questions
Does the TMSnat replace the old TMS immediately?
No. According to the announcement the TMSnat starts in spring 2027. For the winter semester 2027/28 the HAM-Nat is still counted for the last time. From the winter semester 2028/29 the announcement names only the TMSnat and the HAM-Man for dentistry as relevant tests.
Does the TMSnat cost the same as the old test?
The announcement gives 100 euros for the TMSnat. The document does not list fees for the other tests. The testing body publishes the current price on its website, which you should check before registering.
Can I repeat the test as often as I like?
According to the announcement, unlimited repetition is planned. How the results of several attempts enter the selection is not set out in detail. The rules of the university you apply to provide the answer.
Do I need to know the selection criteria now?
No, but it is worth following them. Since the announcement describes them as planned, they may still change before publication. Binding information appears in the procedural documents of each university.
Medical study and financing
The test is only one part of the route into medical study. Applicants should also plan for registration costs, travel to test centres and the time until the course starts. Ongoing costs of study are covered in separate guides, for example on financing medical study (in German) and on study routes without a top school leaving grade (in German).
It matters that test results do not work in isolation. They are linked to the school leaving grade, other suitability criteria and the quotas of the university. Anyone who plans the application as a whole recognises early where their profile is strong.
What the transition means for applicants in 2026 and 2027
According to the announcement, the last date for the HAM-Nat is 5 September 2026. That date has already passed. The result only counts for the selection procedure for the winter semester 2027/28. The same announcement lists the HAM-SJT with the same date and a planned final session in spring 2027. The document reads as a plan rather than a finished rule, and it says so itself.
Applicants who finish school in 2027 should orient their preparation towards the TMSnat, because from spring 2027 it is the central medical test. Anyone planning to start later must check the transition rules for their own cohort. In case of doubt, the testing body or the student advisory service of the university you wish to apply to can clarify the position.
How to plan an application with the new test
Sensible planning starts with a list of universities and study programmes you intend to apply to. Then check which tests count there. The announcement names the TMSnat as the central future test, but individual universities decide how much weight it carries. Planning therefore includes reading the selection rules of each office before you book the first test.
A second point concerns time. A test of about five hours demands concentration and recovery. If you plan several sessions, leave enough space between them and do not revise everything at the last minute. This matters even more if you are sitting final school examinations or completing training at the same time.
Finally, consider the total cost. According to the announcement the test costs 100 euros, plus travel to test centres and possibly study material. Anyone planning an application financially should account for these items early, so that a lack of budget does not block registration.
What remains open
The announcement leaves open mainly the dates of each session, the registration deadlines and the final selection criteria. Once the testing body publishes these details, they should be compared directly with your own timetable. Until then the announcement serves as a planning basis, not as a final rule.
Related guides
- Study places: free places and waiting list procedures explained (in German), the hub of this topic group.
- Medicine without a top Abitur grade: admission routes.
- Rural doctor quota: how to apply and which deadlines apply.
- University waiting time and NC applications
Sources: Auswahltestzentrale, “Ankündigung Auswahlverfahren 2027” (undated PDF, German original).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
