How To Choose a Medical University to Study MBBS Abroad?

Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on May 23, 2024 12:48 PM IST

Are you looking to study medicine abroad? However, the ‘n’ number of medical colleges abroad has made it difficult for you to choose the best option. Then look no further. In this article, we have covered some major factors that students must consider before choosing their medical colleges abroad 2024.

This Story also Contains

Medical Colleges Abroad 2024: Accreditation and Recognition
Year of Establishment of Medical Universities Abroad
Language of Instruction in Medical Colleges Abroad
MBBS Abroad 2024: Programme Structure
Medical Colleges Abroad: Curriculum and Faculty
Clinical Exposure at Medical Colleges Abroad 2024
Research Opportunities available at MBBS colleges abroad
ECFMG Sponsor Note

How To Choose a Medical University to Study MBBS Abroad?

For many Indian students aspiring to pursue a career in medicine, studying abroad presents a promising opportunity to receive a high-quality education, and gain international exposure, with low MBBS fees abroad as compared to Indian medical colleges. However, the process of selecting the right medical college to study MBBS abroad can be a tedious task for Indian students.

As per the World Directory of Medical Schools, there are over 3,900 medical colleges in 195 countries in the world. Therefore, choosing the right medical college to study MBBS overseas is an important part of your dream.

For Indian students, ensuring that the medical degree is recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC) is important for those planning to return and practice in India. Accreditation from a recognised body, instruction language, programme structure, clinical exposure, research facilities, and ECFMG sponsor note are among the major factors students should consider before selecting the best medical colleges abroad.

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For aspiring Indian doctors, studying medicine outside the country can be exciting in several ways. To select any medical college abroad it is very important to research authentic information about that medical college. Read the complete article to learn more about the major factors before selecting your medical university abroad.

Medical Colleges Abroad 2024: Accreditation and Recognition

Accreditation from a globally recognised organisation is the foundation for selecting a good MBBS college abroad. Ensure the medical university is accredited by a recognised body in the country or internationally to check the quality of the curriculum, faculties, infrastructure, clinical exposures, and other things. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) are among the major accreditation bodies all over the world.

The majority of the countries have their medical councils and or independent accreditation bodies like ACCM, CAAMHP, NAQEE, LCME, etc. Therefore, students must enroll in a medical school accredited by an authorised agency which in turn is approved by the World Federation of Medical Schools (WFME). A lack of proper accreditation may impact your ability to practice medicine and further medical practice.

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Year of Establishment of Medical Universities Abroad

Year of Establishment is a very important criterion for choosing a right medical university. In most countries, medical colleges take at least 5-6 years and 1 pass-out batch before they get final approval. Many medical colleges have been delisted due to insufficient infrastructure in recent years. Therefore, students are advised to choose medical universities with a minimum of 25 years of existing experience. Also, look for the ownership of medical colleges whether it is government-owned or private before applying for one.

Language of Instruction in Medical Colleges Abroad

The language of instruction is another important factor to consider when choosing a medical university abroad. Many countries have dual language programmes or multiple programmes running in English and local languages parallelly. Therefore, it is important to check in which language the college offers the course.

As per the NMC guidelines, Indian students who wish to continue their medical careers in India after studying medicine abroad must complete their studies at an institution where the medium of instruction is English. Students can gather information regarding the medium of instruction of the university on the official website of the WDOMS.

For instance, students are also advised to collect the right history, diagnosis and provide accurate counseling, and treatment by learning the spoken language of the patient population

MBBS Abroad 2024: Programme Structure

NMC recognises MBBS programmes that are a minimum of 54 months in duration and have an additional 12 months of internship in the programme. Students must utilise WDOMS and identify the official college website to check the information. In many instances, agents create a dummy website of the institutions and provide incorrect or inadequate information.

Many programmes like the Caribbean or the Philippines have separate BS+MD programmes not recognised by the NMC. Therefore, students must mandatorily check the official college website about the exact programme structure before applying to study MBBS abroad.

Medical Colleges Abroad: Curriculum and Faculty

NMC recommends that core subjects be taught in the curriculum, as well as hands-on training in clinical subjects such as Community Medicine, General Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Anaesthesia, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Emergency or Casualty services, lab services, and sub-specialties. Students need to visit the official website listed on WDOMS and identify the college curriculum compared with the Indian medical school curriculum.

Furthermore, many international medical universities have an inadequate pool of English-speaking faculties which becomes a major hurdle in learning key clinical subjects. Therefore, it is important to identify faculties teaching in medical school while choosing a medical college abroad.

Also Read: Cheapest MBBS colleges

Clinical Exposure at Medical Colleges Abroad 2024

Students should check the list of affiliated hospitals of the medical college and infrastructure along with patient flow available to them from the college website. As per the NMC guidelines, 1 year of internship in a clinical setting for further practical learning. Therefore, students should check for clinical simulation labs, hospitals, and reputations before signing up for medical college.

Best country for MBBS abroad for Indian students

MBBS in Russia	MBBS in Canada
MBBS in Germany	MBBS in Georgia
MBBS in Bangladesh	MBBS in Philippines
MBBS in UK	MBBS in USA
MBBS in China	MBBS in Italy
MBBS in Australia	MBBS in Nepal
MBBS in Kyrgyzstan	MBBS in Uzbekistan

Research Opportunities available at MBBS colleges abroad

Finding the availability of adequate research opportunities for students in medical school is an important factor for a medical aspirant. Look for the CV and publication lists of the universities to find out the research the faculties provided there to understand how academically strong the programme is.

Also Read: PG in abroad after MBBS

ECFMG Sponsor Note

Checking the ECFMG Sponsor note tab on WDOMS is a significant criterion for checking any International medical school. Without ECFMG approval, students of that medical school cannot write international postgraduate license exams like USMLE, MCCEE, PLAB, AMC, EMREE, etc. Most of them are not covered under this. Therefore, students interested in a global profession should look into this, or they will have to wait 3-4 years after graduation to take these exams.

Apart from the above-mentioned points, students should also check the cost of attendance, safety considerations, and student support services to choose the best medical college abroad.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which abroad country is best for MBBS?

It is quite challenging to identify the best country for MBBS, as the best option depends on the personal goals and priorities of the students. Based on affordability, quality education, and future work USA, UK, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine are among the top choices for students to study MBBS abroad.

2. Which country is the cheapest to study MBBS?

A few popular cheapest countries to study MBBS for Indian students are China, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Bangladesh. The cost of attendance and living expenses in these countries are relatively low and cheaper than most Indian universities.

3. Which country has the easiest MBBS?

India has the easiest MBBS. The course duration of MBBS in India is around 5.5 years. Which is among the shortest courses for medicine studies.