Is an MBBS abroad valid in India?

Also check - MBBS abroad for Indian students

NMC Guidelines for MBBS Abroad to be Valid in India

Indian students must follow a set of the NMC guidelines to ensure their foreign MBBS degree is recognised in India, and the guidelines include

1. NEET Qualification

As per the NMC, Indian students with a valid NEET score are eligible to do MBBS abroad. An MBBS degree from abroad is invalid in India if you obtain it without the NEET qualification.

Also, read -

• Is NEET Mandatory to Study MBBS Abroad?

• NEET Cut Off Trends for the Last 7 Years to Study MBBS Abroad

• Which countries accept the NEET Score for MBBS?

2. MBBS Degree from a Recognised University

Indian students must pursue their MBBS abroad at approved universities to obtain validity for their foreign MBBS degrees in India. Your MBBS abroad degree may not be valid in India if you fail to pursue an MBBS at recognised universities.

Read more - List of Blacklisted Universities by NMC for MBBS Abroad

3. Duration of Course

The National Medical Commission mandated that the MBBS course should last 54 months, which is 4.5 years in duration. Your foreign MBBS degree will not be recognised in India if your course lasts less than 54 months.

Also, read - What is the 54 Months Rule for MBBS Abroad?

4. Mandatory Internship

Completing a necessary internship of one year at the same university where you pursued 54 months of MBBS education is mandatory for Indian students, as per the NMC, to consider their MBBS degree valid in India. An MBBS degree abroad is invalid in India if you complete the internship at a different university or fail to complete it.

Also Read - Is it mandatory to do an internship in the same foreign university?

5. Medium of Instruction

As per the NMC, you must complete your entire MBBS degree in English, including lectures, exams, and clinical training. You may face difficulties in gaining the valid recognition for your MBBS degree in India and also in applying for licensure in India if you have completed the MBBS course in another language.

6. Mandatory Clinical Training in Particular Subjects

To get a valid recognition for the MBBS degree in India, the NMC requires every Indian student to take mandatory clinical training in particular core subjects, including

• General Medicine

• Anaesthesia

• Emergency Medicine

• ENT

• Obstetrics & Gynaecology

• Surgery

• Paediatrics

• Psychiatry

• Orthopaedics

• Ophthalmology

While studying MBBS abroad, Indian students must have practical exposure to patients as per the NMC to gain proper recognition in India for their medical degree.

7. Gain a Licence in the Same Country to Practise

NMC instructed foreign medical graduates to gain a licence in the same country where they completed their MBBS course. To gain a licence, you just need to register with the local medical authority. Sometimes, your foreign MBBS degree is considered invalid in India if you fail to obtain the licence to practise medicine in the same country where you studied MBBS.

8. Complete Mandatory Physical Compensation

As per the NMC, Indian students who studied their MBBS course online for any reason must go to the same university and take the physical in-person training. After completing their training, Indian students must obtain the detailed compensation certificate from the university specifying the completion of physical training, clinical training, and the subjects covered. Successful completion of the physical compensation training allows you to obtain proper recognition for your MBBS degree in India.

What to do after an MBBS abroad for Indian students?

If you desire to practise in India after an MBBS abroad, you must appear for the FMGE exam to get the legal licence to practice in India. NMC mandates foreign medical graduates pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to practise in India. If you successfully clear the FMGE exam, then you must complete a one-year mandatory internship in India in an NMC-approved hospital. You will get the legal licence to practise medicine in India after you clear the FMGE exam and complete the one-year mandatory internship in India.

Also, read - How Indian Students Should Prepare for FMGE While Abroad?

Countries with Recognised MBBS Universities

Many countries encompass recognised medical universities, offering MBBS courses for Indian students. Below are the countries that are preferred by Indian students for pursuing MBBS abroad.

• Russia

• Georgia

• Kazakhstan

• China

• Bangladesh

• Kyrgyzstan

• USA

• UK

• Australia

• Germany

• Poland

• Nepal

• Italy

• Uzbekistan

• The Philippines

As not every university in these countries is approved, it is recommended for Indian students to conduct research about the recognised universities in these countries and choose the right university that offers a 54-month MBBS course, a one-year mandatory internship, English-medium education and training, and clinical training in particular subjects. Choosing a foreign country for MBBS abroad that offers a legal licence to practise medicine in that country after completing MBBS abroad is also mandatory for Indian students to recognise their MBBS degree in India.

Conclusion

An MBBS abroad degree is valid in India if it is obtained by following the NMC guidelines. If you fail to pursue an MBBS degree as per the NMC guidelines, your MBBS degree is invalid in India. After completing an MBBS abroad, Indian students are allowed to appear for the FMGE exam and take an internship if they studied their MBBS course in approved universities that follow NMC guidelines.

Following the NMC guidelines to pursue MBBS abroad is necessary for Indian students to gain eligibility to practise in India. Choosing the right country and recognised university for pursuing the MBBS abroad course helps Indian students gain a licence to practise medicine in India.