Do I Need NEET to Study MBBS Abroad?

Do I Need NEET to Study MBBS Abroad?

Prabhjyot KaurUpdated on 01 Sep 2025, 12:36 PM IST

Yes, NEET is mandatory to study MBBS abroad for Indian students in 2025. As per the NMC guidelines to study MBBS abroad, students seeking MBBS degrees abroad must qualify for NEET, especially the ones those who are planning to practice medicine in India after graduation. Also, clearing NEET-UG is crucial for MBBS courses abroad for Indian students as per the latest order given by the Supreme Court of India. Although NEET is compulsory for MBBS admission in international medical universities as per NMC, there are some countries that offer MBBS without NEET. Majorly, several private universities in some countries grant MBBS admission abroad to Indian students holistically or on the basis of their own entrance exams as well.

This Story also Contains

  1. Is NEET Compulsory for Studying MBBS Abroad?
  2. Do I need NEET for MBBS Abroad if I want to work abroad?
  3. Do I need NEET for MBBS Abroad if I want to work in India?
  4. Conclusion
Do I Need NEET to Study MBBS Abroad?
Do I Need NEET to Study MBBS Abroad?

It is a crucial decision to make on whether to pursue MBBS in abroad with NEET or without it. In cases where Indian students have no sure intent to practice medicine in India and are looking for a medical career in another country, such as US, UK, Canada, or Germany, one can go for MBBS without NEET in 2025. This is because they will be required to complete the licensing exam for the respective countries, and the NEET qualification is not a prerequisite for these exams. However, if students' intent is to choose the other way round, they must clear NEET for MBBS abroad in 2025. This is because NEET is mandatory to appear for the FMGE licensing exam in India. We have answered the most crucial questions regarding NEET requirements for MBBS abroad for Indian students through this article. Medical aspirants can give it a thorough read for a clearer understanding of why NEET is required for MBBS in abroad and what options are available in cases where students opt for medical courses without NEET.

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Is NEET Compulsory for Studying MBBS Abroad?

Generally, NEET is crucial for Indian students who are planning to study MBBS abroad in 2025. However, the requirements tend to vary depending on the career options after studying MBBS abroad. NEET is not required for medical graduates who want to practice abroad. However, NEET is mandatory for medical graduates who plan to return and practice medicine in India (Needed for FMGE). Let us now check the headings below for further in-depth details on the NEET qualifications for medicine in a foreign country.

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Related Reads: Is FMGE Tough for MBBS Graduates from Abroad?

Do I need NEET for MBBS Abroad if I want to work abroad?

No, NEET is not required for medical aspirants seeking to work abroad after completing their MBBS degrees from a foreign medical university or college. Typically, the main reason behind the mandatory requirement of NEET qualification for MBBS abroad is to provide an eligibility certificate to students who want to appear for FMGE exam, ensuring that they comply with the academic standards for medical education in India. If candidates choose to study MBBS abroad and, upon graduation, plan to practice medicine there, they do not require NEET clearance; however, they must pass their own licensing examination.

Some private universities in countries like Russia, Uzbekistan, and Germany may grant admission without NEET score in 2025. In such cases, one must meet the relevant admission and licensing requirements. Let us now understand the admission requirements for Indian students to study MBBS abroad in some of the popular countries, as well as their licensing requirements that don’t include NEET for eligibility.

Medical Entrance Exams to Study MBBS Abroad

Country

MBBS Entrance Exam

Full Form

USA

MCAT

Medical College Admission Test

UK

UKCAT

United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test

Canada

MCAT

Medical College Admission Test

Australia

UCAT ANZ

University Clinical Aptitude Test (Australia and New Zealand)

New Zealand

UCAT ANZ

University Clinical Aptitude Test (Australia and New Zealand)

UAE

DHA

Dubai Health Authority

South Korea

K-MEET

Korean Medical Education Eligibility Test

Medical Licensing Exams After Study MBBS Abroad

Country

Medical Licensing Exam

Full Form

USA

USMLE

United States Medical Licensing Examination

UK

UKMLA (Previously, PLAB)

United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment

Canada

MCCQE

Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination

Australia

AMC

Australian Medical Council

New Zealand

NZREX

New Zealand Registration Examination

UAE

MOH

Ministry of Health

South Korea

KMLE

Korean Medical Licensing Examination

Note: In any case, if Indian students have completed their MBBS degrees without NEET, they will not be eligible to practice in India at any point.

Do I need NEET for MBBS Abroad if I want to work in India?

Yes, NEET is required for medical aspirants seeking to work in India after completing their MBBS degrees from abroad. It is crucial for Indian students to qualify for the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) and register with NMC afterwards to be a doctor in India. Moreover, to be eligible for FMGE 2025 exam, graduates must have completed their medical degrees with a valid NEET qualification. A NEET clearance is considered to be an ‘eligibility certificate’ for FMGE in India. This makes sure that student have their MBBS degrees in compliance with the Indian medical academic standards.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has specific guidelines for Indian students seeking to pursue MBBS abroad in 2025 to validate their recognition and quality. One of the major NMC requirements to study MBBS abroad is the need to qualify for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Let us check the latest NMC guidelines to study MBBS abroad in 2025 in detail:

NMC Guidelines to Study MBBS Abroad

Here are the updated guidelines for Indian medical aspirants to pursue MBBS in a foreign country according to the NMC in 2025:

  • Duration of MBBS course: The MBBS degree abroad must not be less than 54 months, with a mandatory internship of 12 months within the same medical university or college.

  • Medium of instruction: The medical course must be taught in the English language.

  • MBBS course structure abroad: The MBBS curriculum must include specific subjects, including Gynaecology, Community Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Anaesthesia, General Medicine and Surgery, and Obstetrics. The curriculum must be aligned with Indian MBBS standards.

  • Mandatory internship: Students are required to complete a 1-year practical and clinical training at the same medical university. It provides them with hands-on learning of the clinical theoretical subjects.

  • NEET requirements: It is important for all Indian students to clear the NEET exam to be eligible for MBBS abroad in 2025. This validates the candidate’s eligibility with the Indian medical benchmark.

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Note: The Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) might be replaced by the National Exit Test (NExT) in 2025.

How to Practice in India After Completing MBBS Abroad

  • Complete MBBS degree with NEET.

  • Complete the course with a mandatory 12-month internship in the same foreign medical institution.

  • Appear for the FMGE exam

  • On clearing the exam, complete the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) in an NMC-recognised hospital in India.

  • Apply for NMC registration.

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Also Read:

Conclusion

NEET requirements vary depending on the career scope after completing MBBS abroad. Check the key takeaways in regards to NEET qualification requirements for different situations in the table below.

Cases

Is NEET Required for MBBS Abroad?

Intent to practice abroad

NO: Not a mandatory requirement

Intent to practice in India

YES: It is mandatory for Indian students to qualify.

Low NEET score

YES: Only a qualifying NEET score is required for admission

Related Reads:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I do MBBS without NEET in the UK?
A:

Yes, Indian students can pursue MBBS in UK without NEET, as the country requires candidates to clear UKCAT for admission into medical courses. Also, if candidates have qualified for UKMLA after completing the MBBS course in UK, they are exempted from FMGE in cases where they plan to practice medicine in India. However, they must also complete a postgraduate medical qualification (e.g., a residency or speciality training) in UK to be eligible.

Q: Can I do MBBS in Dubai without NEET?
A:

No, you cannot pursue MBBS in Dubai if you have not cleared NEET exam. To be eligible for MBBS courses in Dubai, the common requirements include candidates to be at least 17 years of age, have completed high school with a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, English proficiency, and be qualified for NEET.

Q: Can I study MBBS without NEET in abroad?
A:

Yes, you can study MBBS degrees abroad in 2025 without NEET qualification. However, the exact requirements vary depending on the career goals of the candidates. Generally, NEET is important for Indian students planning to practice medicine i India after completing MBBS from abroad. However, NEET is not crucial for Indian students seeking MBBS abroad and then a medical career in that country.

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Questions related to NEET

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NEET ?

If you want the best NEET-integrated school for boys, you can look at options like Veveaham School (Tamil Nadu) which is famous for NEET/JEE coaching with regular schooling. In Delhi, schools like Bal Bharati Public School and GD Goenka also provide integrated NEET preparation in classes 11–12. If you want a residential boys’ school with strong academics, top choices are The Doon School (Dehradun), Mayo College (Ajmer), and The Scindia School (Gwalior). These schools offer excellent academics and discipline, though NEET coaching may need to be arranged separately.



With a 45k OBC rank in NEET PG, you have a fair chance of getting MD Pathology in colleges like BMCRI Bangalore, IGIMS Patna, and GMC Nagpur. In AIQ counselling, MD Pathology may be tough in top colleges but possible in later rounds. DNB Pathology is definitely achievable, as last year’s cutoffs extended beyond 60k in some institutes. State quota seats further increase your chances. If you stay flexible between MD and DNB, securing a good pathology seat is quite realistic.



With your 288 marks getting into government colleges is really hard because they usually read higher cutoff if you want to grab the seat there you can look for private institution or through the management quota but the fees will be higher than the government colleges based on your choice you can choose your particular college

Hello

You can prepare for NEET in Hindi medium through top offline institutes like Allen, Aakash, and Resonance, which offer Hindi batches in cities like Kota and Delhi.
Physics Wallah Vidyapeeth also provides affordable Hindi-medium coaching in multiple cities.
In Kota, Motion Education is known for strong Hindi-medium NEET programs.
CLC Sikar and Matrix Academy in Rajasthan are also popular for Hindi-medium NEET prep.
These institutes offer quality teaching, mock tests, and materials in Hindi for better understanding.

Hello,

With 464 marks in NEET 2025 under the OBC category, you are above the qualifying cutoff and eligible for counselling.

But getting an MBBS seat in a government college (http://MBBS%20seat%20in%20a%20government%20college) is difficult, as OBC cutoff for government MBBS is usually around 550–590 marks in state quota and even higher (590+) in all India quota.

With your score, chances for MBBS in government college are very low.

However, you can still try through your state counselling and also explore options like BDS or AYUSH courses in government colleges where cutoffs are lower.

Hope it helps !