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When planning to go abroad for higher medical education, popular destinations like Russia, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Poland are some among the top choices for Indian students. However, only those students who follow the latest NMC guidelines and the rules and regulations laid by the Indian government are allowed to study MBBS abroad and practice in India after completing their MBBS studies. This article will help you understand all the Indian government guidelines for MBBS abroad.
Read more: MBBS without NEET
Following are the latest NMC (National Medical Council) guidelines for doing MBBS abroad for Indian students:
MBBS aspirants must adhere to the 54 months rule, which states that the minimum academic period required is 54 months (4.5 years) for medical education in foreign countries.
It is mandatory for the MBBS graduates to complete a 12-months internship within the same medical college/university.
The total course completion window is 10 years, which means students must complete the entire MBBS course (including internship) within a period of 10 years from the date of admission.
The NMC has made it compulsory for Indian MBBS graduates to study some specific core disciplines which include Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry, etc.
MBBS students must complete full-time clinical rotations in the same country where they have done their medical education. It is also a must that all the clinical training they receive meets the requirements of the Indian MBBS course.
Courses must be conducted exclusively in the English language as no other language is accepted.
To be eligible for practicing in India, MBBS graduates must clear the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination).
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Indian embassies guide and support the Indian students studying MBBS in different countries to ensure that they are getting high-quality medical education that is valid and aligns with the requirements for practicing medicine in India. They recommend MBBS aspirants to verify the accreditation and syllabus of foreign medical colleges before enrolling. They must also check whether the university is following the latest NMC and Indian embassy guidelines or not.
Here are some of the guidelines that Indian Embassies have issued in different countries for Indian students studying MBBS abroad.
The duration of undergraduate program in clinical medicine is five years plus one year internship.
The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China states that though courses are offered in English, it is mandatory to learn Chinese language (HSK-4 level) for clinical sessions, failing which they won’t be awarded the degree.
Qualifying the NEET is mandatory for studying MBBS in China.
Indian government guidelines for MBBS in China; Check Here
After the MBBS course gets completed, it is mandatory that all the degrees are apostilled with the Ministry of Education in Georgia.
Georgia offers higher education in medical, technical and humanitarian sciences.
Indian students must pass the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) after doing MBBS abroad to be eligible to practice in India.
Indian government guidelines for MBBS in Georgia; Check Here
It is mandatory to qualify the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to pursue a medical course in Kazakhstan.
Medical colleges in Kazakhstan have a separate department that teaches foreign students in English medium.
Indian government guidelines for MBBS in Kazakhstan; Check Here
It is mandatory to appear for NEET-UG to be eligible to appear for the screening test, namely FMGE
Clearing NEET is mandatory for MBBS aspirants.
Indian government guidelines for MBBS in Poland; Check Here
The duration of undergraduate program in clinical medicine is five years plus one year internship.
Qualifying the NEET is mandatory for studying MBBS in Russia.
Indian government guidelines for MBBS in Russia; Check Here
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The table below shows those popular MBBS study abroad destinations that comply with NMC guidelines and Indian embassy rules and regulations.
Country | Duration & Format | Degree Awarded | Medium | NMC Compliant |
---|---|---|---|---|
Russia | 6 years incl. internship | MD | English | Yes |
Georgia | 6 years | MD | English | Yes |
Poland | 6 years | MD | English | Yes |
Kazakhstan | 5 yrs + 1 yr internship | MBBS | English | Yes |
China | 5 years+ 1 year internship | MD | English | Yes |
Note: MBBS in the Philippines follows the BS-MD route (2 years of BD, 4.5 years of MD and 1 year of internship, which is not recognized by the NMC due to non-integrated format.
NEET is mandatory for Indian students who want to study MBBS abroad. As per the latest NMC guidelines, it is mandatory for Indian students to qualify for NEET before applying for MBBS from any foreign university.
It is mandatory to clear the FMGE examination to practice medicine in India. Yes, an MBBS degree from abroad is valid in India after they pass the FMGE examination.
As per the NMC, the MBBS course duration abroad must be at least 54 months (4.5 years and 12 months internship) in the same country.
To be eligible for applying for MBBS abroad, students must be able to score the qualifying marks for their category. While each country has different score requirements for admission, a score between 130-150 is considered to be good for the general category, while OBC/SC/ST category must aim between 105-130.
As per the NMC, the time limit for appearing in FMG examination will be 10 years from the completion of their training/ course in foreign medical institution.
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