MBBS in Abroad – What all to keep in mind?
Today, we are going to see the top 10 things to keep in mind for deciding the best college for you to study MBBS abroad.
In fact,
This step-by-step guide will ensure that you don’t miss out on anything and make the best decision for your future.
Let’s start right away.
1) MBBS Abroad Eligibility
For taking admission to study MBBS in abroad, you need to meet some eligibility criteria. Every country has its own eligibility criteria and moreover, every college within a country might have its own eligibility criteria as in the case for MBBS in China.
The minimum eligibility requirement reads as follow for studying MBBS in abroad-
- The student must be 17 years plus as on 31st December of the year in which the admission is being taken.
- The student must have completed class 12th.
- The student must have an aggregate of at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and must have English as a compulsory subject if the student is from the General category.
- The student must have an aggregate of at least 40% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and must have English as a compulsory subject if the student is from SC/ST/OBC.
- You need to clear NEET from 2018 onwards for admission in any country in abroad.
| Country | Class 12 Aggregate Percentage in Physics, Chemistry and Biology | NEET Qualification | Other Special Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS in Philippines | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | Qualify NMAT |
| MBBS in Russia | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | Higher Percentage Required for admission in some universities, Contact Global Medical Foundation for enquiry. |
| MBBS in Ukraine | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | Higher Percentage Required for admission in some universities, Contact Global Medical Fouandation for enquiry. |
| MBBS in China | Every university has its own criteria. Contact Global Medical Fouandation for enquiry. | Qualify NEET | No |
| MBBS in Bangladesh | 8 GPA for Government Colleges. 60% marks in Biology in class 12. | Qualify NEET | Student must have completed class 12 either this year or in the previous year. Click MBBS in Bangladesh Eligibility for Indian Students for complete details. |
| MBBS in Georgia | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | Skype Personal Interview or IELTS score. |
| MBBS in Armenia | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | No |
| MBBS in Kazakhstan | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | Higher Percentage Required for admission in some universities, Contact Global Medical Foundation for enquiry. |
| MBBS in Kyrgyzstan | General Category-50% SC/ST/OBC- 40% |
Qualify NEET | No |
Now that you are sure that you are eligible to study MBBS in abroad, let’s move on to the second point in our guide.
2) MBBS Abroad Duration
The duration of the course is a big deciding factor for many students. A lot of the students wish to go for a 5-year course if they have already wasted many years on NEET or something else. However, the duration is of 5.8 years in some of the best countries for MBBS abroad such as Russia and Ukraine, and 6 years for the Philippines.
Here is a table showing the number of years it takes to complete the medical degree from different countries-
| Country | Duration of Course(Years) |
|---|---|
| MBBS in Philippines | 5 to 6 |
| MBBS in Russia | 6 |
| MBBS in Ukraine | 6 |
| MBBS in Bangladesh | 5 |
| MBBS in China | 5 + 1 Year Internship |
| MBBS in Kyrgyzstan | 5 |
3) MBBS Abroad Fees
One of the biggest decision point before deciding where to study MBBS in abroad is cost or fees. The USA, Australia, Canada, UK, New Zeland, EU countries are more expensive than doing MBBS in countries such as the Philippines, Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China. If you wish to study in the English speaking countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zeland or the UK, your budget should be in excess of ₹1 crore. Direct admission is not possible in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zeland or the UK, you need to clear entrance exams.
If you want to study at low cost or at an affordable fee and want good quality education, then the best choice is MBBS in Ukraine. Ukraine has seen a rise in prominence and has seen more and more students going there to study. In 2018, more than 3,200 students joined Ukraine from India. The reason is simple- it is affordable and offers a high quality of education making it one of the premier destination for studying MBBS abroad. Also, almost all the universities in Ukraine are government universities.
Other options where the total cost is affordable include the Philippines, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh. MBBS in Kyrgyzstan is another good alternative for Indian students. The quality of education is good and a large number of Indian students choose to study MBBS in Kyrgyzstan because education is cheap there and the duration is only 5 years.
| Country | Minimum Package (Including College Fees+Accommodation+Food) |
|---|---|
| MBBS in Philippines | ₹25 Lakh |
| MBBS in Russia | ₹23 Lakh (6-year English Medium) |
| MBBS in Ukraine | ₹25 Lakh |
| MBBS in China | ₹20 Lakh (Bilingual College) |
| MBBS in Bangladesh | ₹25 Lakh |
| MBBS in Kyrgyzstan | ₹17 Lakh |
4) Select a MCI & WHO Recognised University
Every year, more than 100 students take admission in universities which is not approved by MCI. If you go to a university which is not recognised by MCI then you cannot practice in India.
Therefore, it is one of the most important factors to consider while deciding the university/college. The reason is that you can appear for FMGE or the MCI screening test only if the MBBS degree you get is from a college recognised by the MCI.
You should contact Bright Path Team if you have any doubt whether the college is recognised by MCI or not.
5) Quality of Education
Undoubtedly, the most important thing to consider is the quality of education which you will get in a particular college/university.
This point has already been slightly touched upon in the point under MBBS abroad cost. One of the major doubts that Indian aspirants have in their mind is whether the colleges actually provide good quality of education. The answer is YES! There are many universities abroad which rank higher than the top-government colleges of India and you can get direct admission in these universities easily.
The colleges that Bright Path Team will suggest you for admission will be recognised by the MCI and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Not only this, they also have received affiliation for the many local and international bodies such as FAIMER. Bright Path Educational Services‘s representatives have visited many universities in Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Georgia, China and the Philippines. We suggest you universities based on our experience and on the basis of the reviews of the current and passed out students.
The quality of education is better than private colleges in India and you can study in these colleges at a much cheaper cost, about 75% less than what you pay to Indian private colleges. Countries such as the Philippines and Ukraine offers high-quality education to the students. The student gets global exposure and gets the opportunity to practice in some of the most developed countries in the world such as the US and the UK.
In most countries, the last 1 year is the clinical rotation or internship. Students work with live patients in the hospitals affiliated with the university. You will get ample practical exposure while studying from abroad. There is a big misconception that practicals are not given enough importance in foreign countries.
6) Hostel & Indian Food Facility
A big factor to consider before deciding which college/university to study MBBS from is the availability of neat, clean and comfortable accommodation along with the availability of Indian food – both vegetarian & non-vegetarian.
Let us take one factor at a time, students don’t generally face the problem of finding accommodation as most colleges/universities have in-campus hostels. Where the hostel facility is not available, the universities generally have tie-ups with the surrounding area’s private hostels and flats. The students can choose where they want to stay depending on the facilities they want. Students usually stay in 2,3 or 4 sharing rooms so as to cut the costs.
There is rarely any problem where the student is unable to find a proper accommodation. The charges of accommodation on an average is similar to that in India. It costs about ₹8-12 thousand per month on an average.
Bright Path representatives have visited countries such Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine and have found good facilities of Indian hostel and food.
Indian food is available in Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and Bangladesh. The mess serves Indian food in most colleges in these countries. The students can make their own food and can order it from any Indian restaurants present locally.
7) Climate
The weather becomes an important factor as some students find it difficult to settle down in the climate of other countries. Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine have a colder weather with snowfall and temperature falling as low as -20° C. This is not a problem for most students as they enjoy the weather and the hostels and college campus are internally heated, you won’t know the difference. The temperature within the rooms/buildings is maintained around 20-25 degree Celsius.
The weather is similar to that of India in the Philippines and Bangladesh. They have a similar weather pattern.
Climate also becomes important as a similar climate to India means a similar disease pattern to that of India.
Any student who has health issues should keep in mind the weather of the country he/she wants to study MBBS from. For more information or any doubt/query regarding MBBS in abroad, contact Bright Path Expert Team.
8) Safety
Regardless to say, it is a high-priority decision point for the students and their family. It is safe for students to study MBBS in countries like the Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine. Bright Path has their office or contact person at the university in the foreign countries. The students can reach out to these offices/contact person in case they face any problem. Also, Bright Path‘s representative visits the students every year.
The students can take help from fellow Indian students in most cases. Most colleges have Foreign Student Associations in place to take care of the interests of these students. The campuses and hostels are safe for students. There is no discrimination in these countries. The students are safer studying MBBS in abroad than what they are in India.
| Country | Official Language | Medium of Instruction | Need to learn Local Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS in Philippines | English | English | No, as English is local language |
| MBBS in Russia | Russian | English & Russian | Yes |
| MBBS in Ukraine | Ukrainian | English | Yes |
| MBBS in China | Mandarin | English | Yes |
| MBBS in Bangladesh | Bengali | English | Need to learn Bengali |
| MBBS in Kyrgyzstan | Russian | English | Yes |
While there is no need to learn the local language in the Philippines, you will have to learn the local language in countries like Russia and Ukraine. The reason is simple, you will have to interact with the patients in the local language only during your internship or clinical rotations. Also, it is more of a necessity for being able to live there for 6 years. Some students find it difficult to learn the foreign language and prefer to study in the Philippines or other Asian countries. For more information or any doubt/query regarding MBBS in abroad, contact Bright Path Expert Team.
10) Opportunities After MBBS Abroad
MBBS in Abroad is a great career choice as it gives many options to students graduating from these Universities. After MBBS from abroad, a student will have the following options:
Option 1: The most taken option is to come back to in India and appear for FMGE or the MCI Screening Test as it is commonly known as. Prepare for this exam, clear this exam and get the registration number from the MCI for medical practice in India.
Option 2: After completing your degree in abroad, you can explore the opportunities in that country itself and go for PG also, and settle in that country. You can also look for work in other countries.
Option 3: While studying, you can apply for USMLE Step 1 in case you want to settle down or practice in the US. USMLE has 3 steps and those who clear all the 3 steps and get Permanent Registration from the medical council of the USA can practice there. PLAB, which is the licensing exam of the UK is another popular choice of students. Students can also go for PG in Australia, Canada, New Zeland.
FMGE Passing Percentage 2012-14
The number of students passing the licensing exam/screening test after coming back to India is also a very important factor while choosing the country/college where you wish to study MBBS in abroad. On the right, you can see the percentage of students who cleared the MCI Screening Test/Foreign Graduate Medical Examination (FMGE) from different countries between 2012-14. The best performing countries are mentioned and only those countries are mentioned where at least 400 students appeared for FMGE.
Bangladesh (30.83%) had the highest percentage of students passing FMGE (minimum 400 students) followed by the Philippines (24.6%). China had 19.1% students passing FMGE while Ukraine had 18.9% students. Both Russia and Kyrgyzstan had 18.4% students who passed the FMGE between 2012-14.
MBBS Abroad with fees less than ₹ 8 lakh
The demand for MBBS in abroad is rising each year and more and more students are willing to study MBBS outside of India. With this rise in demand, many students wanted to know if it is possible to study medical abroad at a fee less than ₹8 lakh.
The answer is NO! Unfortunately, it is not possible now. You won’t find a college where the tuition fee is less than ₹8 lakh. However, you will find colleges with very low fees.
Yes, it is possible to study MBBS in abroad at such a low amount. The college fees will be slightly above ₹10 lakh and the total budget including hostel, Indian food, etc. will be less than ₹18 lakh. (MBBS in Kyrgyzstan).
Call us on 6291049500 (Call / WhatsApp) to know more.
