MBBS Abroad

Studying MBBS is a dream for most of the students in India. From childhood, parents, teachers and influential people in Indian society recommend studying either engineering or medicine. If there are two children in a household, the chances are one will be an engineer and the other will be a doctor. This is the dream of most of the Indian parents. Although engineering seats have increased drastically over the years, this is not the case with MBBS. 

• There are approximately 75,000 MBBS seats available all over in India whereas 14-16 lakh students appear in various All India and state level entrance tests every year.
• This means, every year, only 3-5% of the students aspiring to become a doctor will achieve their goals.
• Most of the private institutes have a capitation fee ranging from 80 to 1 crore with a yearly fee of 10 to 15 lakhs. For any middle-class family, even if the student secures a seat through entrance tests, MBBS still remains a forbidden fruit due to astronomical fee structure of the private institutes.

But all hope is not lost. Aspiring doctors can now study MBBS abroad to make their dreams come true, that too at a very reasonable fee structure. Students and parents tend to have their doubts or be apprehensive about MBBS admission in abroad. But world has become a global village now. Studying MBBS in abroad has become easier and more comfortable than ever before. 

Advantages of Studying MBBS in Abroad:

• MBBS at an affordable cost: Students who want to study MBBS in Abroad can get the best quality education at an affordable fee of 15-25 Lakhs INR.
• No Donation or Capitation Fee is required: This is not the case for colleges or universities abroad. Most of the MBBS colleges in China, Russia, Ukraine etc. have no donation or capitation fee. Even the tuition fee is very low in comparison to the Indian private colleges ranging from Rs. 2.5 Lakhs to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs every year. As informed earlier, private institutes in India have huge amounts of donation or capitation fee, apart from the yearly fee.
• Extremely low cost of living: This is the part where most of the students and parents worry and take a back step. Although most of the foreign countries to study MBBS in are from Europe, the living cost is relatively cheap. Take Armenia for example. Studying MBBS in Armenia for Indian students will be quite cheap as most of the students can survive with as low as $150 and $250 per month. Obviously, this also largely depends on student’s lifestyle.
• Best World Class Infrastructure:All the campuses across Armenia & Georgia have world class structure with modern equipment in hospitals. For instance, MBBS in Armenia & Georgia will be very fruitful as most of the universities in Ukraine are of high standard and globally recognized by WHO, UNESCO, European Council etc.Opportunity to get great International Exposure: As students will wanting to study abroad in a foreign country and get to meet fellow students who are also from different countries, backgrounds and ethnicity, students will get international exposure which will greatly help them in settling down. Countries provides a great opportunity for medical students to get exposed to large patient inflow.No entrance test is required to seek Admission: For MBBS in Abroad, students need to secure a minimum of 50% in their 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. They don’t even need to clear an entrance examination such as IELTS and TOEFLEnglish Taught Programs: Medical universities of Abroad use the English language as the medium of education. It’s not mandatory for students to learn the local language of the country to study MBBS in that country. However, it is beneficial for the students and assists them in their holistic development.
• Availability of Hostel:All the medical universities of Abroad provides comfortable and cozy hostel accommodation to all its international students. Indian students will be happy to know that the majority of medical universities Abroad, offer Indian food too.
• Less Dependence on NEET Rank: Although from 2018 onwards the highly competitive NEET entrance exam has become compulsory for applying to MBBS courses internationally, the competition will still be considerably less compared to Indian institutes. There are nearly 3 times as many students applying for the MBBS course in India as the number of available seats, and the competition is cutthroat as admission takes place on the basis of rank secured. In comparison, students pursuing MBBS abroad have minimal requirements in terms of NEET ranking.
• Lower Costs Compared to Private Indian Institutes: Government medical colleges in India are undoubtedly affordable, however, the private medical colleges are expensive, with costs around Rs. 45 lakh to pursue an MBBS degree. In comparison, an MBBS degree in a foreign destination like China, Russia or the Philippines would cost less than Rs. 30 lakh, based on the specific country. A medical degree in the US meanwhile would cost up to Rs. 70 lakh. Also, there are many hidden costs involved in studying at a private medical college in India, which can be eliminated by studying abroad where the costs are largely up front.
• High Quality of Education: Institutes that are recognised by the MCI and also meet the local standard of education regulations generally offer top quality education to MBBS students. As compared to domestic institutes, medical colleges abroad face extensive censure to maintain quality standards. However, it’s best to verify the ranking and/or reviews of any institution you are considering applying to.

Challenges in Pursuing an MBBS from Abroad

Apart from the benefits of completing an MBBS degree internationally, there are a few challenges too:

1. College Recognition

Medical colleges are mushrooming everywhere, inside India and internationally, and not all of them are recognised. It is essential to thoroughly research any medical college you are considering to apply to, so that you can verify its recognition in its own country and in India. Visit the Medical Council of India website to confirm if the college you’re interested in is recognised by the MCI. Also, check that your prospective medical school is recognised by WHO (World Health Organisation). A degree from an unrecognised institute will most likely not be of any use in your career.

2. License to Practice

If you complete your MBBS degree outside of India, you will be required to pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) screening test in order to register with the MCI or any state medical council and practice medicine in India. The test is conducted twice a year by the National Board of Examinations for Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). FMGE is based on the MBBS curriculum and you need to score 50 percent marks to qualify.

3. Practical Training

Learning practical clinical skills is an important part of studying MBBS. However, some international medical colleges have gained notoriety for offering very little practical training to medical students. When you research medical colleges, make sure to check the percentage of practical training as well as reviews from current and previous students so that you do not lose out on learning important practical skills.

4. Local Adjustment

The medium of instruction for MBBS generally remains English for the majority of nations, however, local languages also play an important role. You may also be required to study the local language, for example, Mandarin in China, or Russian in Russia. Staying away from family in a new country for 5+ years is also not easy and you will most likely take time to adjust

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad:

Indian students need to fit in the eligibility criteria set by the Medical Council of India and respective medical universities.

• The age of an Indian student willing to take admission to MBBS in Abroad should be at least of 17 years and maximum of 25 years old on or before the admission date or the 31st December of the admission year.
• Candidate must have completed Higher secondary level education with compulsory Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English subjects.
• Students must have cleared the HSC exam with minimum of 50% marks.
• From 2018 onwards, you should have cleared NEET.

Required Documents for MCI Eligibility:

Before taking admission to MBBS in any university of abroad, Indian students need to have these documents ready. Armenia & Georgia countries need these documents to be translated in their national languages

• 10th mark sheet
• 10+2 mark sheet
• 12 color photos
• Date of Birth Certificate
• Passport
• NEET score card
• Medical certificate
• Birth certificate
• HIV report negative
• Health insurance
• Valid passport with minimum of one year validity

Career Opportunities After MBBS Abroad:

MBBS in Abroad opens vast career opportunities for the students. Completing medical degree from Armenia & Georgia universities have a worldwide recognition.

Any student who completed medical degree from foreign universities can have a vast career opportunities. Students need to clear the screening tests of respective countries where they want to pursue their career.

Any student completing MBBS degree from abroad can :

• Practice medicine in India
• Practice medicine in several other countries
• Complete their post graduation
• Can practice in hospitals or have their own clinics and hospitals
• They can work as medical officers in government projects

They can work as professors in medical universities

Education loan and Scholarship:

Getting an education in foreign country is not so easy for some students who are not financially strong, for such students there are education loans and scholarships.

• Students whose financial condition is weak but they deserve to be a doctor and have a medical degree in foreign universities can have an education loan.
• Students are advised to check well before applying for any loan or scholarship program.
• There is no scholarship offered from most of the abroad universities for Indian students. So students should take care of this and not fall for any frauds.

Time Duration to Complete MBBS Course in Abroad:

The duration of course is also an important aspect. In India students can complete their course in 4.5 years and a year of internship. In most of the European Countries like Armenia and Georgia the course duration is 6 years and certified as MD Physician