MBBS in India vs MBBS Abroad

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is one of the most coveted professional degrees in India. It gives you the prefix of “Doctor”, earns you good money, raises your social status in the society and most important of all is a very noble and fulfilling profession. Hence, a lot of students in India choose the medical stream in High School and aim for enrollment in a reputed medical college.

The accredited body for the medical course in India is the Medical Council of India, which is responsible for handling and formulating the entire structure of MBBS course.

Here’s all you need to know about the MBBS course in India and Abroad!

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS in India

A candidate needs to fulfill the following eligibility criteria to get admission into the MBBS course:

• Must have passed 10+2 examinations from a recognized board with at least 50% marks in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
• Should be 17 years old on or before  31^st December of the year in which admission is to take place. The upper age bar for appearing for a medical entrance exam is 25 years.

Entrance Tests for MBBS Course in India

There are three national-level examinations for entry into medical colleges:

• National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the national level entrance exam, for students who wish to pursue any graduate medical course (MBBS), dental course (BDS) or post graduate course (MS / MD) in government or private medical colleges in India. Therefore, cracking NEET is the chief priority of any student wanting to enter a medical or dental college.
• AIIMS MBBS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), is the most prestigious medical entrance exam as it provides entry to the reputed AIIMS institutes across India. Through this exam, 800 seats are offered for a total of 9 AIIMS institutes that are located at New Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Guntur, Bhopal, Rishikesh, Raipur, Jodhpur, Patna, and Nagpur.
• JIPMER MBBS (Jawahar Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research MBBS) is also a national level entrance exam for medical students. It is conducted by JIPMER, Puducherry, once a year. It gives the students the opportunity to compete for 150 seats at its Puducherry campus and 50 seats at Karaikal campus.

Entry to AIIMS and JIPMER is not subject to cracking the NEET since these two are Institutes of National Importance (INI). Hence, these institutes conduct their own entrance exams.

Duration of the MBBS Course in India

The total duration of the MBBS course in India is around 5^1/2 – 6 years. This time period includes the one year long compulsory rotating internship. Hence, the academic part of the MBBS course is four and a half years long, which is covered in a total of nine semesters. The course is covered in the following manner:

• Preclinical Studies – 2 years
• First stage of clinical studies – 1 year
• 2^nd and 3^rd stage of clinical studies – 2 years
• Clinical rotation – 1 year

Fee Structure for MBBS Course in India

The fee for the MBBS course differs as per the institution. For Government funded institutions, it is lower. For instance, AIIMS has an annual fee of INR 10,000. On the other hand, for private institutions, it can go up to INR 2,00,000 annually.

Medical Education is quite expensive. However, the government colleges charge relatively less as compared to private medical colleges. But then, to get into the government college, one has to clear the highly competitive entrance test.

AIIMS Central Government Quota Fees Structure

AIIMS State Government Quota Fees Structure

Fee Structure of a Few Private Colleges

Fee Structure of a few medical colleges is as follows:

Medical Scholarship

For students getting excellent marks or the ones who are from financially weaker section of the society, many scholarships are available. A few of the scholarships are:

• Nationwide Education and Scholarship Test
• Bharati Scheme for Education
• Vahani Scholarship
• Vijayalakshmi R.L. Jalappa Scholarship
• Nilam Patel Bahushrut Foundation Scholarship
• HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship
• Combined Counselling Board Scholarship
• Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship
• SHDF Scholarships
• Santoor Women’s Scholarship

Loan for Medical Studies

A lot many times, students get disheartened when they are not able to get admission into a government medical college as they are not able to afford a private medical college. However, if a student is passionate about pursuing MBBS, a study loan can be taken. There are many banks and lending institutions that provide the facility of education loan. This facility can be availed of by students who are unable to afford the fees of the private medical colleges.

The loans can be availed for both – pursuing MBBS in India or overseas.

Why are Indian students moving abroad for medical studies?

Every year, thousands of Indian students appear for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) to get entry into their desired medical college. However, there are only 63,000 MBBS seats open annually, of which only around 33,000 are affordable for the students. If the rank of an aspirant is beyond 30,000, the cost of pursuing MBBS can touch INR 1 crore. For this reason, many students decide to move abroad where they can get a world-class medical education at affordable fees.

Medical Courses Abroad

Medical studies overseas are not limited to a degree in medicine. Following are the popular courses there:

• Orthodontics
• Embryology
• Cardiology
• Neurologist
• Pathology
• Veterinary Science
• Ophthalmology
• Anatomy
• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Urology
• Obstetrics
• Nursing
• Alternative Medicine

MBBS Course Abroad

Thousands of Indian students move to foreign countries to pursue a degree in medicine. There are many advantages to pursuing a medical degree abroad:

• Quality Education: Universities abroad offer quality education to its students as they are well-versed with international standards of medical education. They have the necessary infrastructure and resources to provide the students with the opportunity of learning with the latest techniques. Also, these are accredited universities and trusted institutions of education with a prestigious history.
• Affordable: Contrary to the popular belief of being expensive, majority of the universities abroad are affordable in comparison to the private medical colleges in India. Especially in countries like Georgia, the Caribbean countries, the Philippines, and Kazakhstan, medical education is rather affordable. These universities give the students an opportunity for studying MBBS abroad at a low cost.
• International Relations: Most of the universities abroad have partner universities across the world. This way, the students can participate in international conferences and seminars in countries, other than where they are pursuing their medical education. This way the students get to experience the education system of other countries and they also stay updated with the latest medical developments.
• Student Exchange Programs: Most of the international universities are participants of student exchange programs such as ERASMUS (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is a European Union (EU) student exchange programme established in 1987. This provides the students with great opportunities of spending a year or two of their academic life in another reputed educational institute. The students get exposed to new academic life and cultural environment of the new country which further aids in their overall development as a medical professional.
• Student life beyond academics: The life of the students in international universities is not limited to merely studies. Even though the medical students are under constant pressure of performing well in their academics, they are given multiple opportunities to develop their overall personalities. There are student organizations, clubs, cultural events and programs that the students can take to as per their interests.
• Great practical exposure: Universities abroad have tie-ups with reputed medical organizations where students are given the opportunity of undergoing clinical training. The students undergo practical training in a professional environment which contributes to their becoming exceptional and experienced doctors. The actual working environment gives the students an understanding of practicing their profession and teaches them how to handle difficult situations.
• Reputed Accreditations: The overseas universities have accreditations of multiple international bodies such as WHO, ministries of the country where the university is located and directories of reputed bodies. Some of the foreign universities are also associated with the Medical Council of India.

Popular countries for pursuing medical degree abroad

The following are the countries that are popular for medical studies:

Ukraine

Ukraine is a popular destination for medical students, and aspirants from different countries move here for pursuing their medical studies. The universities in Ukraine offer quality medical education at low tuition fees.

The cost of MBBS in Ukraine is quite low as compared to other countries. The Ukraine Government highly subsidizes the education in Ukraine, and it monitors the fee, quality of education, and the structure of the course regularly.

The medical institutes in Ukraine are regulated by the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine. The popularity of medical universities in Ukraine can also be owed to the fact that they are recognized by the World Health Organization. Many of them have also been listed by the Directory of World Medical Schools.

To be eligible to apply for admission at medical colleges in Ukraine:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School.
• Their age should be between 16 to 25 years.

Caribbean Region

Over the past few years, the Caribbean region has come up as a prestigious hub for medical studies for international students. Students from countries like the United States, India, and European countries go to the West Indies to pursue MBBS. The popularity is more for the reason that a medical degree from the West Indies is recognized in the USA, and it is a beneficial option to continue medical studies or practice the profession there.

The success ratio of students from the medical universities of the West Indies, getting residency placements in the United States is considerably high. These students earn quite well in the USA.

In the Caribbean region, apart from high school certificate with subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, candidates with extra-curricular achievements, exceptional personal qualities and community involvement, are given preference for admission.

The applicant can apply online on the website of the university in which he/she is interested. Once the application has been filled, the university will assign an admission advisor who will guide the applicant through the entire procedure.

The selection of the candidate will be based on multiple things, such as:

• The candidate’s academic performance
• Higher degrees
• Candidates exposure to the field of medicine and health sciences
• Personal qualities

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is an upcoming destination in terms of higher studies for international students. This Central Asian country has a robust economy and is among the wealthier nations of the area. It has a highly diversified culture and education system. Every year, more than 50,000 international students get enrolled in Kazakhstan’s world-ranked universities.

To be able to apply for admission at universities in Kazakhstan:

• The applicant should have studied and scored at least 60% in the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in secondary school.
• He/She must be at least 17 years of age on December 31^st of the year in which he/she applies for admission.
• For Indian students, a good score in NEET is essential.

The Philippines

The Philippines is a sought-after destination by medical students across the globe due to world- class education provided at a low fee. Every year thousands of Indian students move to the Philippines for this reason.

The candidate desiring admission in good universties for mbbs in the Philippines:

• Must have completed secondary school with science subjects or be a holder of a baccalaureate degree.
• Must have cleared National Medical Admission Test (NMAT)
• Must be minimum of 18 years of age

The eligible candidates should fill in the application form of the university along with the following documents:

• Two copies of the birth certificate
• Two certificates of recommendation from the previous professors
• Records stating official completion of a degree course, along with a transcript of the scores
• A certified genuine copy of the NMAT score

Georgia

Georgia is a very popular destination amongst students desiring to pursue medical studies. The reason for the same is that there are many prestigious universities in Georgia and it is a suitable destination for any student wanting to study abroad, especially in Europe.

The cost of MBBS in Georgia is quite low as compared to other countries. The popularity of medical universities in Georgia can also be owed to the fact that they are recognized by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School;
• The applicant must be between 16 to 25 years of age.

For admission, an application letter has to be sent to the authorities along with the following documents:

• Identification documents
• School certificate
• Passport size photographs

United Kingdom

The duration of the MBBS course in the UK ranges between four to six years.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English.

Australia

The MBBS course in Australia is for four to six years, which is followed by one year of internship.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English with minimum 7 bands
• Qualify UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test)- which is an entrance test conducted for international students
• Must be at least 17 years of age

France

The MBBS study in France comprises of six years of study followed by three to five years of additional clinical residency training.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Secondary School obtaining a minimum of 60% marks
• Must be proficient in French at B2 level

Canada

The MBBS course in Canada ranges between three to five years, depending upon the medical school or the University. Candidates with graduate degrees can apply for a four-year program while the others are eligible for a five-year course only.

A candidate should fulfill the following eligibility criteria for getting admission:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English
• Cleared NEET and MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) exams

Germany

It is one of the most popular destinations for studies as it offers word class studies at comparatively lower costs. The duration of MBBS course in Germany is six years. There is a reservation of 5% for international students in medical schools.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Secondary School obtaining a minimum of 60% marks
• Knowledge of German language is preferred

Hong Kong

The quality of medical education in Hong Kong is considered at par with the medical studies in the countries of the UK and the USA. The duration of MBBS in Hong Kong is six years followed by one year of training.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English.

Singapore

The duration of MBBS course in Singapore is five years followed by one year of houseman ship training. There is an obligation of six years’ service for international students pursuing medical study in Singapore.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English
• Clear the entrance exam of the university where they have applied for admission

United States

The duration of medical course in the United States is four years. This is followed by a three to seven years of residency training. Students desirous of pursuing medical study have to mandatorily appear and clear the MCAT test.

A candidate should fulfill the following eligibility criteria for getting admission:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English
• Cleared NEET and MCAT exams

Russia

It is another popular destination because of its low fees and world class studies. Besides, there is no entrance exam and the admissions are solely on the basis of first-come-first-serve basis. The total duration of MBBS in Russia is six years, which includes three years of academic study and three years of clinical clerkships.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Secondary School obtaining a minimum of 60% marks
• Knowledge of Russian language is preferred
• Must be minimum of 17 years of age

Malaysia

The total duration of MBBS course in Malaysia is five to six years. The international students are required to clear the International Students Admission Tests (ISAT), in order to get admission into a medical school in Malaysia. There is additional eligibility criteria mentioned henceforth.

To be able to apply for admission at any university:

• The applicant should have studied the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English in Secondary School
• Must be proficient in English

Conclusion

Medical degree is a highly coveted one and thousands of Indian students prepare for the medical entrance exams every year. However, there is limited number of seats in government medical colleges, and the private medical colleges are way too expensive. This is the reason why many students give up on their dream of becoming a doctor. Now a days though, students opt for pursuing their MBBS overseas.

There are numerous colleges and universities abroad that offer medical degrees at affordable fees. Also, a lot of universities have tie-up with the Medical Council of India, which means that students can practice the profession or even get jobs in India, even if they have done the studies abroad. They would only be required to clear the exam of MCI upon completion of their studies to become eligible for working as a doctor in India.

For more information on MBBS in India, MBBS abroad, affordable MBBS abroad, information on medical courses abroad, suitable country for pursuing MBBS, contact us.