How To Select The Right Country For Studying MBBS Abroad?

Factors Involved in Selecting the Right Country For MBBS Abroad in 2025

Each year, over 25,000 Indian students go abroad for MBBS degrees. This is because the process of getting medical seats in India is becoming challenging each year, with limited slots and a tough NEET exam. The passing percentage of NEET in India each year is around 50%. Moreover, the decision to study for abroad MBBS is influenced by the very high tuition fee structure in Indian private medical colleges. The MBBS tuition fees in private medical universities in India can go over INR 1 crore for the complete course. Let us discuss some of the crucial factors to keep in mind before deciding on the country to pursue medical degrees in 2025.

• Academic factors

• Career factors

• Financial factors

• Personal and social factors

Check the headings below for in-depth information about the factors discussed above. It will help the prospects with the necessary considerations that can help them to make decisions based on their personal priorities.

Also Read:

• Is Studying MBBS Abroad in 2025 Worth It for Indian Students?

• Indian Embassies' Advisory for Studying MBBS Abroad 2025

• How to Build a Strong MBBS Abroad Application Profile?

Academic Factors

This is the significant factor that makes up the decision of considering a country for pursuing MBBS in abroad in 2025. The academic aspects of the medical degrees abroad are divided mainly into three considerations, including the following:

Quality of Medical Education

• It is crucial for Indian students to choose a country for MBBS degrees that offers a globally recognised curriculum meeting international and Indian standards.

• It must include practical and clinical training along with a theoretical and research focus.

• A few of the best universities offering the top MBBS courses worldwide include Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, and many more. These universities are mainly located in USA and UK.

Clinical Exposure Opportunities in MBBS Curriculum

• It is important that the MBBS degree in the selected country includes clinical learning as a part of the curriculum. It aims to develop critical thinking skills in the real healthcare industry.

• Direct patient interaction helps them to apply their theoretical medical knowledge in practice, evolving strong communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills.

• The licensing exam often includes a section that measures clinical skills and knowledge. It aids them in indirectly preparing for it.

Post Graduation Options After Completing MBBS Abroad

• Students often consider the career scope in the chosen country to study MBBS abroad in 2025. It is a significant factor when you are not sure whether to return to India or practice in that country after graduation.

• A good career option for MBBS in the selected country for medicine ensures that candidates have their options open globally.

• It is also crucial to be aware of the licensing requirements before deciding on the right country for pursuing MBBS abroad in 2025.

Also Read:

• How to Acquire Medical License in India After Studying MBBS Abroad

• What to do if you didn't qualify FMGE results 2025?

Factors Related to Career Planning

To select the country, it is important for Indian students to consider whether they will be planning on practising medicine in India or abroad. Let us consider these two scenarios and then evaluate the countries that seem to be the best aligned.

Practice Medicine in India After Completing MBBS Abroad

Indian students need to choose a country and a university that is approved by the NMC guidelines to study MBBS abroad. NMC is an important medical framework in India that ensures the medical degree abroad is aligned with the Indian MBBS curriculum. Also, following the guidelines by NMC for medical aspirants ensures that the candidate is eligible for FMGE.

FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) is a medical licensing exam in India. Let us discuss the updated NMC guidelines to study medicine abroad, as well as FMGE pass rates and requirements below. These are crucial for deciding because students are required to complete the MBBS degree according to these advisory to have a valid degree after graduation.

Latest NMC Guidelines to Study MBBS Abroad

• The MBBS course abroad must be at least 54 months (4.5 years) long.

• Along with a 4.5-year MBBS course, candidates must also complete 1 year of internship within the same foreign medical university.

• The overall MBBS duration for Indian students must be around 5.5 years.

• The medium of instruction for the MBBS course must be English.

• The MBBS course curriculum must include 19 compulsory subjects as stated by the NMC, including Gynaecology, Community Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Anaesthesia, and many more.

• Students must qualify for NEET to be eligible for MBBS abroad. NEET is crucial for the FMGE exam upon graduation as well. This is because it acts as an ‘eligibility certificate’

FMGE Requirements

• Students must ensure that they have completed their MBBS degrees according to the NMC.

• A NEET qualification certificate is required.

• After passing the FMGE, candidates must complete a mandatory 12-month internship with an Indian medical institution to have a registration certificate from the National Medical Commission (NMC) or State Medical Council.

FMGE Pass Rates

• Each session, the fail percentage of the FMGE exam is around 70% to 80%.

• As per the latest FMGE July 2025 results, the overall fail percentage is 78.78%.

• This indicates that the FMGE passing rates have been consistently low for Indian students. So, students are highly advised to keep in mind that they are required to pass FMGE in order to practice in India. It requires thorough preparation to crack.

Also Read:

• Top Reasons Why International MBBS Graduates Fail FMGE

• Best Career Options Abroad for FMGE Failed Students

• Failed FMGE: Explore PG Courses And Medical Research Abroad

Practice Medicine Abroad After Completing MBBS

Check the points below to understand what you need to keep in mind to select the right country for MBBS abroad in 2025:

Licensing Requirements

If one is planning to pursue a medical career abroad upon the completion of their degrees, they must ensure that they are eligible as per the requirements of the chosen country. Each country has its own criteria to allow medical practice. They must pass the licensing examination of that country and other requirements, if any. A few of the licensing exams for the top 5 countries to study MBBS abroad include the following:

• USA: Students must pass all three steps of the USMLE examination to obtain an unrestricted medical license to practice medicine

• UK: Medical graduates must pass the UKMLA examination for GMC registration and a license to practice in UK. Previously, the exam was known as PLAB.

• Canada: They must qualify for MCCQE to be eligible to practice medicine in Canada.

• Australia: Candidates must pass the AMC examination to register with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA). It legally allows them to practice in Australia.

• UAE: Students after completing MBBS in UAE are required to clear the MOH exam to practice as any healthcare professional, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

No Need to Follow NMC and FMGE Requirements

Also, students who are not planning to return to India for a career in healthcare are not required to follow the NMC guidelines and FMGE requirements. This is because those requirements are listed so that the MBBS graduates from India and abroad comply with the Indian medical academic standards. Also, students can opt for MBBS abroad without NEET in such cases.

Low NEET Score Each Year

Around 50% of Indian students fail NEET each year. There are several countries that do offer MBBS admission without NEET. However, NMC do not validate such degrees in India. Hence, students can opt for medical degrees without NEET as they do not plan to work in India.

Related Reads: NEET Score Validity for MBBS Abroad for Indian Students 2025

Financial Factors

Students need to select a country that aligns perfectly with their financial budget. So, checking the tuition fees, living expenses, scholarships and other financial aid available is quite crucial for students. Let us check these aspects in detail for prospective students to make informed decisions.

MBBS Tuition Fees Abroad

The MBBS course fees vary depending on the country as well as the university. However, some countries tend to impose significantly higher MBBS fees in comparison to other countries. Let us check some cheapest countries to study MBBS abroad in the table below. We will also be discussing some of the best yet expensive countries to pursue MBBS abroad in 2025.

Affordable Countries to Study MBBS Abroad

Expensive Countries to Study MBBS Abroad

Also Read:

• Is FMGE Tough for MBBS Graduates from Abroad?

• Top International Opportunities for NEET PG/FMGE Failed Students in 2025

Living Expenses for MBBS Students in Different Countries

The cost of living is a major concern for students who are planning to study MBBS courses abroad in 2025. They are required to budget for it along with the academic expenses. Some countries have low living expenses, whereas some have high living costs for international students. Check a few of the cheapest and expensive countries in terms of living expenses below:

Countries with low living costs for international students

• Russia

• Kyrgyzstan

• Kazakhstan

• China

• Bangladesh

• Georgia

Countries with high living costs for international students

• United States

• United Kingdom

• Canada

Miscellaneous Expenses

Candidates must also keep in mind some of the additional expenses that they might incur while studying MBBS abroad. Check below for clarity on the financial budget before deciding on a country for MBBS abroad.

• Application fee, entrance exam fees, visa fees, and airfare

• Accommodation costs, health insurance, and visa renewals

• Costs for books and other study materials

Scholarships for MBBS Abroad

Students can also consider the scholarships and financial aid offered in different countries to select one. A scholarship can help medical students with financial constraints provide an opportunity to study MBBS abroad. These can either be merit based or financial need based offered by universities, government, or other private organisations. Candidates must surf different online scholarship portals and the university's official website to be aware of the eligibility requirements and scope.

Also Read:

• Living Expenses Abroad for International Students

• Best Scholarships for MBBS Abroad for Indian Students 2025

Conclusion: Where to Study MBBS in Abroad?

We have already mentioned the crucial factors to keep in mind before selecting the country to study MBBS abroad in 2025. Prospects must consider these academic, career, and financial factors. Studying MBBS abroad is quite popular for Indian students. Hence, if you are looking for top quality medical education and money is not an issue, one can shortlist USA, UK, Canada, and Germany as potential countries to pursue MBBS in 2025. On the other hand, students can alternatively choose other countries such as Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and many more, where they seek a good education with affordability.

Hence, there is no best country to study medicine abroad. The right country is the one that aligns perfectly with your own priorities. Whatever country is chosen for MBBS abroad, one must make sure to check the NMC guidelines and other requirements directly with the university selected.

Best Countries To Study MBBS Abroad in 2025: