Choosing medicine as a stream for studying is one of the most popular choices among students in India. Being a doctor is not only a way of earning a good living, but you can also do your part for the betterment of society using your medical education. However, medical education in India is very expensive when it comes to a private institution which a lot of parents cannot afford for their children. With medical fees skyrocketing over the last few years and hidden costs such as donation has made it increasingly difficult for parents to allow their kids to pursue their passion. Although government colleges have relatively affordable fees getting admissions into these medical colleges is highly competitive, and the seats allotted for medical colleges are very less as compared to the students appearing for the medical entrance examinations. The following statistics will help you understand this problem better.
But the aspiring medical students needn’t worry as they have an alternate and a relatively more efficient option which is to study medicine abroad. The aspiring medical students can study MBBS abroad at a low cost as the fees for the MBBS degree abroad are relatively less and the cost of living in a lot of countries is cheaper than that of India. The aspiring medical students can look at various colleges if they wish to do MBBS in foreign at a low cost, with the help of various MBBS abroad consultants. However, it is important to look for colleges that are affiliated or approved by the Medical Council of India, if the student wishes to practice medicine in India after the completion of his or her degree. Following are some of the advantages of studying medicine abroad
Even though since 2018 appearing for NEET medical entrance exam is mandatory for a student wishing to study abroad, there are few universities that don’t require a student to appear for the NEET exam. Even with the universities that require NEET score, the dependency on the score is not nearly as competitive as compared to India. As explained above, there are limited seats for MBBS in India when compared to the number of students applying for the course, whereas the number of seats abroad is considerably more due to the presence of a number of universities across the globe offering medical education to Indian students. The students who may not have been able to secure a seat in India have an even higher chance of getting admission to the course abroad. Some universities give weightage to the students’ 12th standard marks as well.
Although government colleges who offer medical education in India are affordable but securing admissions is highly competitive. Private medical colleges in India charge various capitation fees in the form of donation or other hidden costs, which makes it very difficult for the parents to afford education for their children. These students have an economical option to study MBBS in a foreign country at subsidized costs as the medical institutes there do not charge any capitation fee. The medical fee per year abroad is affordable as you can study MBBS in many countries where the tuition fee per year is about INR 2 lakh to INR 3 lakh. This is a better option than choosing a private medical college in India.
With a lot of universities abroad offering affordable transportation, dining, living, and other amenities, the cost of living while studying MBBS abroad is relatively more cost-effective. Cost of living while studying medicine in countries like Ukraine, Russia, etc. is around $150 to $250 per month while the cost of living while studying medicine in various Asian countries like China can be as low as INR 8,000 to INR 15000 per month, depending on the students’ lifestyle.
Many universities abroad are equipped with world-class infrastructure that facilitates quality medical education. The classrooms are air-conditioned and have accessibility to computers to facilitate e-learning. Their libraries are filled with international journals apart from research material and other books by world famous authors. The laboratories are equipped with state-of the-art technology and up to date with various advancements in the field of medicine. The hospitals affiliated with the universities where the students conduct their mandatory internship are equipped with modern medical amenities. The campus in a lot of international universities is equipped with various extra-curricular activities like gym, swimming pool, health club, etc., that reduces the stress and burden of studies on the students.
Studying overseas is a valuable experience, but when it comes to studying medicine abroad, it gives the student an exposure to a lot of things that they may not have been privy to otherwise. They are not only equipped with worldwide knowledge of medicine, but they come in contact with a lot of international patients, which gives them an in-depth knowledge of various medical conditions across the globe. The students will also meet their fellow students from all across the world which will give them insight into different cultures and develop international relations or can help them conduct global research in the field of medicine along with their colleagues. The state-of-the-art modern medical machinery will give the students knowledge about the latest innovations in medical treatments which, if they choose to, can bring back to their home country and improve the field of medicine in India.
