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Studying medicine courses abroad after 12th is becoming a popular choice among Indian students. This is because the number of seats is limited in Indian government medical colleges and the medical entrance exam is highly competitive. Even though there are many private Indian medical colleges, the high fees charged by them are beyond the reach of a majority of students. Another reason to choose medical courses abroad after 12th is that many students are not able to achieve the required NEET score to secure admission in a medical course in government or private colleges in India. All these factors have led many Indian students to go for MBBS abroad without NEET. Furthermore aspiring medical students are required to fulfill the eligibility criteria to study MBBS abroad or any other medical course. Each country has its own set of eligibility criteria. However, to be able to practice medicine in India, the medical university needs to fulfill the NMC guidelines to study MBBS abroad. This article explains the top medical courses Indian students can study abroad after 12th, the countries that offer these courses, top universities, eligibility criteria, requirements, and the advantages of studying medicine abroad.
MBBS is the most popular course for students planning to study medicine abroad. Several universities are offering MBBS in abroad for Indian students at low cost. Apart from MBBS, there are many medical courses after 12th without NEET in abroad. Below is a list of the best medical courses after 12th abroad.
Here is a list of specialized medical courses after 12th in abroad that can be pursued by Indian students abroad.
Top medical courses abroad after 12th
Cardiology | Neurologist |
Veterinary science | Orthopaedics |
Dermatology | Dentistry |
Nursing | Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
General medicine | Psychology |
Radiology | Alternative medicine |
There are certain eligibility requirements that students must meet to do medical courses after 12th abroad. These eligibility rules and requirements may vary from country to country. Here we list out some common eligibility rules and requirements. for doing medical abroad after 12th.
Age requirement
Academic requirement
The student must have completed his 12th grade from a recognized school board.
A minimum aggregate percentage of 50% or above in physics, chemistry, and biology and must have studied the English language up to class 12.
An aggregate percentage of at least 50% or above in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and must have studied English as a compulsory subject during his 10+2 years.
They must qualify for the NEET exam for doing medical courses in foreign countries.
According to an order passed by the Medical Council of India in March 2019, Indian students who wish to study MBBS abroad have to appear for the NEET exam provided they meet the age criteria for taking the exam. Their NEET score is valid for three years if they wish to do medical abroad after 12th. Students should also take English language proficiency exams such as the IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL based on the university’s requirements to study medical courses abroad.
If a candidate meets the eligibility requirements, they can start the application process to study MBBS abroad. Candidates are required to select their preferred MBBS University and fill out the online international student application form to start the admission process.
They will be required to upload a set of documents as part of the application process. The documents include:
School mark sheets
School Leaving & School Migration Certificate
NEET Score Card
Financial Statements
Resume (CV)
English language Proficiency Certificate (if any)
Recent passport-size photos
Medical Certificate
Once the student applies with the required documents, he should wait for a confirmation of admission from the university. Once he hears from them, he can apply for a student visa and leave for his studies.
Studying medicine in foreign countries is cost-effective for Indian students. However, many study-abroad nations like the UK, USA, Canada, and others offer significantly higher tuition fees for international students. Therefore, many students apply for study abroad scholarships to fund their studies abroad.
These scholarships are funded by the government or several external sources to cover the tuition fees of eligible students. However, candidates must demonstrate their financial conditions with proper documentation to prove their eligibility. Students can also look for various university-funded scholarships by visiting their official websites.
Check on some of the popular study-abroad scholarships for international students to study medicine abroad after 12th:
Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships (USA).
Chevening Scholarships (UK).
Rhodes Scholarship (Global).
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships (Global).
Below is the list of countries offering top medical courses abroad. These countries are home to top medical colleges in the world.
If you wish to study MBBS US or want to pursue other medical courses then you should have the required pre-medical academic qualifications. These include the condition that you must have studied subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, or pure science up to your 12th standard.
You must take the MCAT if you wish to seek admission to the best medical schools in US. Candidates can take the MCAT exam in any of the authorised test centres which are located in 19 countries across the world.
Medical courses in the US are for a duration of four years which is followed by residency training that can be between 3 to 7 years. However medical courses in the US are offered at the postgraduate level. Medical courses in the US are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
Top MBBS Universities in USA
4. University of California, San Francisco
If you wish to do MBBS in UK then it is mandatory to have an IELTS score of 7 bands with a minimum score of 6.5 in each section. Students will have to write the UK Clinical Aptitude Test or UKCAT or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) for admission to medical or dental schools in the country. The UKCAT exam comprises sections such as verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, decision analysis, and another segment called situational judgment. Medical courses in the UK are between 4 to 6 years while specialised courses can be of 7 years duration or more.
Top MBBS Universities in UK
4. University College London (UCL)
Universities offering medical courses in Australia follow the guidelines issued by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for conducting medical courses and designing the curriculum and academic guidelines.
To study MBBS in Australia, international students must have a minimum score of 7 bands in the IELTS test and must pass the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Admission Test (UMAT) conducted by the AQF. International students can also apply with their MCAT scores or with their Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test GAMSAT scores.
Top MBBS Universities in Australia
1. The University of Melbourne
4. The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
5. The University of Queensland
If you wish to study medicine in Canada remember that each territory and province in Canada have different rules for admission. However, international students wishing to study medicine in Canada must pass the MCAT exam. Canadian provinces require that international students must have completed 12th grade and an additional one year of a diploma course.
Medical courses in Canada last between 3 to 5 years with an additional residency programme that lasts between 2 to 7 years.
Top MBBS Universities in Canada
3. University of British Columbia
The low cost of medical courses in Germany is one reason why international students prefer to study MBBS in Germany. Eligibility requirements require you to complete a high-school diploma that is equal to the Abitur (a set of examinations taken in Germany during the final year of secondary school).
Students must take medical exams such as the Test for Medical Studies (TMS) or Test fur Medizinische Studiengange, which is an aptitude test. The test assesses the candidate’s understanding of scientific and medical issues.
Even though the TMS is a voluntary exam, students with good TMS scores are given priority in top medical colleges in Germany. Since most of the medical courses in Germany are taught in German, it is better to know the German language.
Top MBBS Universities in Germany
2. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
3. Technical University of Munich
4. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Another popular destination to study medical courses is China. The eligibility conditions for Indian students to study in China is that students will have to pass the NEET exam in India and their score will be valid for three years. Indian students who qualify in NEET will be eligible to pursue MBBS in China including a pre-medical or language course.
Top MBBS Universities in China
3. Tsinghua University
4. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
5. Zhejiang University
It is possible to study in Singapore for a medical course. However, students must take the IELTS or TOEFL test to qualify. They should also write the Biomedical Admission Test or the BMAT.
Eligibility requirements are completing 12 years of education with subjects such as physics, chemistry, and biology as part of your course.
Top MBBS Universities in Singapore
1. National University of Singapore (NUS)
2. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore)
Students wishing to pursue a medical course in Malaysia must have a good academic record which includes a score between 75 to 80% in subjects such as physics, chemistry, maths, and biology. Apart from this, students must pass the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT). Medical degree courses are usually for seven years in Malaysia.
Top MBBS Universities in Malaysia
1. Universiti Malaya (UM)
2. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
3. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
4. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Check other countries for medical courses in abroad
Feature | MBBS in India | MBBS Abroad |
Admission Difficulty | Highly competitive | Varies depending on the country and university; some may have lower entry requirements. |
MBBS Duration | 5.5 years | 5-6 years |
Cost of Education | INR 10 Lakh - INR 50 Lakh per annum (Private) INR 20,000 - INR 7.5 Lakh per annum (Public) | INR 15 Lakh - INR 70 Lakh per annum (Varies depending on the country and university) |
Curriculum and Language | English, Hindi | Varies depending on the country; may require language proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS. |
Top Universities for MBBS | AIIMS, King George's Medical University, University College of Medical Sciences, Christian Medical College Vellore, Madras Medical College, Armed Forces Medical College | Harvard University, Imperial College London, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Karolinska Institutet |
Clinical Rotations and Exposure | May have limited access | Often offer exposure to advanced technology and a wider range of medical cases. |
Living Expenses | Generally lower | Can be significantly higher for developed countries |
Cultural Experience | Immersed in familiar surroundings and cultural norms. | Provides exposure to new cultures and |
There are many reasons why Indian students prefer MBBS admission abroad. Here are the top reasons to do medical courses in foreign countries:
While studying medicine abroad after 12 can be exciting for many candidates. However, the decision is related to numerous potential drawbacks. Some of the disadvantages of studying MBBS in abroad are as follows:
Adapting to new cultural and educational environments might be daunting for many students.
Studying and practising medicine in a foreign language can be challenging for international students.
The cost of living and MBBS abroad fees of many foreign universities are significantly higher than in India.
International students may have fewer scholarship and financial aid options available to them as compared to domestic students.
Compared to practicing in India, one may have fewer career options after graduation.
Visa restrictions and complexities.
Isolation from family and friends may affect their mental and physical health.
Check MBBS fees for top countries abroad
The limited number of medical seats coupled with the high cost of studying in private health institutions makes many Indian students want to study medical courses abroad.
Students wishing to study medical courses abroad must have an overall score of at least 50% or higher in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and have studied English as a compulsory subject for 10+2 years. Students must also be NEET eligible to apply abroad. The eligibility requirements may vary with each country.
Yes, there are scholarships and financial aid provided by universities, government and different organisations.
The first step to study medical courses abroad after 12th is to identify the country where the student wants to study and ensure he meets the eligibility requirements. He should have an overall score of at least 50% or higher in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and have studied English as a compulsory subject for 10+2 years. Students must also be NEET eligible to apply abroad. The eligibility requirements may vary with each country.
The best medical courses in the world depend on an individual's career goals. The medical courses in demand abroad are MBBS (general medicine), BDS (dentistry), Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Radiology.
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