Okay, you have decided you are going to pursue your dreams of becoming a doctor no matter what. You know that it is really difficult to chase after 1 one of the 80000 medical seats available in India competing against 1500000 students who had appeared for NEET exam 2020.
You have decided to pursue your MBBS degree abroad. Now the question is how does one find the right University to study MBBS?
You are not just investing your money, you are also trusting your entire future with the medical university/college you are going to choose. So it cannot be taken lightly. You have to put in time and effort to research & enquire about the university before paying any fees.
Where to study MBBS abroad?
Universities from several countries like the UK, US, Philippines, Russia, China, Ukraine, etc offer MBBS degrees to Indian students. Which one to choose is always a tough call.
The UK and US have tough entrance examinations which the students would have to crack to get a medical seat. This is a very difficult option. But getting a seat in the UK or USA seals the deal for the future of the student as a success. Since getting a MBBS seat in the UK & US is difficult, people take the route of doing their undergraduation in the Philippines or the Caribbean Islands getting a post graduation in the USA. This is easier because Universities in the Philippines and the Caribbean Islands follow American syllabus of medical education and give additional coaching for cracking USMLE to get a post graduate seat in the USA.
How to identify the right Medical college/university to study MBBS abroad?
When choosing between the medical universities in the other countries, we have to consider some of the major factors such as:
some countries make it mandatory to learn their language such as Russia, Ukraine and Germany. Indian students find it difficult to learn a new language. They are already spending all their focus and energy in their medical studies. Also Indian students find it difficult to communicate in the country. Only very few countries such as the Philippines and the Caribbean islands have English as their major speaking language.
Affordability is one of the main factors when you choose to study MBBS abroad. But we shouldn’t compromise on the quality of the university, the quality of the infrastructure provided and the quality of the MBBS degree.
Indian students find it really hard to live in cold climatic conditions like in the UK, Russia and Ukraine. The climate conditions in those countries can get really cold and depressing. And some Indian students who are used to the tropical climate we have here tend to get very sick frequently in those cold countries.
One of the important things to look for is whether the university provides any additional support to foreign students. We don’t want to send their children to distant countries without proper support. Especially Indian students are used to you getting all the support they want all their lives from their parents and their schools. Support such as in campus hostel facilities, Indian food availability, and continuous student monitoring/counselling are really important for students who are going to study MBBS abroad.
How are the universities planning to give clinical training to their MBBS students? Do they have their own in-campus hospitals? Do they have tie-ups with big scale hospitals to give their students a proper clinical training experience with real-world situations? This is one of the most important things to look for in the universities. Because clinical training is what makes one a real doctor who can bring their presence of mind in situations of pressure and tension.
Considering all these concerns, the Philippines comes out as a clear winner among the countries such as Russia, China, Ukraine, etc.
Here is why Philippines is the ideal option for Indian students to study MBBS abroad:
The best thing about studying MBBS in the Philippines is that you don’t have to learn a new language. The Philippines is the 3rd largest English speaking country in the world.
All the classes will be in English and 99% of the population of the Philippines speak English. Indian students applying for MBBS in the Philippines need not learn any new language. They also do not have to write any English language qualifying exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
Indian students can communicate with and understand their teachers very easily and very clearly. Also it’d be easy for them to communicate and move around on the campus and in the country. They won’t feel alienated like in other countries.
It starts from 16 lakhs INR for the entire course duration of 5 to 5.5 years. Depending on the university the cost goes up to 24 lakhs.
The cost of living, accommodation and food cost very less in the Philippines, unlike countries like the UK, Russia, China, etc where the living cost is really high. The food and accommodation expenses in the Philippines would be almost equal to the expenses you would spend in a private college in India.
Here is a table of the expenses in the Universities in Philippines to study MBBS:
Name of the University in Philippines | Total Tuition Fees (INR) | Total Living Cost (INR) | Total Expenses for 5 years |
UV Gullas College of Medicine | 22,28,000 | 10,00,000 | 30,00,000 |
Davao Medical School Foundation | 17,83,000 | 9,24,000 | 28,74,000 |
University of Northern Philippines | 11,45,000 | 12,16,000 | 24,02,500 |
Lyceum Northwestern University | 15,95,000 | 12,16,000 | 24,02,500 |
All the universities listed in the above table are institutions with a legacy of 40 to 100 years in the field of medical education and research.
The Philippines has tropical weather conditions that are similar to India. Students feel like it is almost like living in India. This helps them become accustomed to a foreign country easily. They don’t get sick like the cold countries. Indian students studying MBBS in the Philippines find it easier to focus on their studies better because of the mild and pleasant climate conditions there.
Also, since the tropical climate of the Philippines is the same as in India, the disease patterns learned in the Philippines and their treatment is the same as in their home country. This helps our Indian MBBS students to complete the course and start practicing in the home country almost immediately, without any trouble in adapting to the patients in India and their patterns of illnesses.
Indian students studying MBBS in the Philippines get complete support from their universities. They have dedicated guidance counselors for a [articular number of students with whom they can communicate at any time for their needs. Universities in the Philippines also provide veg and non-veg Indian food for Indian students. In most other countries, the accommodation will be separate. Philippines medical universities provide in-campus accommodation with spacious, air-conditioned rooms and 24/7 security, to ensure a safe and comfortable living environment for the students. This helps the students save time in travelling, housekeeping, etc and focus completely on their studies alone.
Universities in the Philippines include advanced digital tools in the learning methodologies. They are equipped with new-age digital infrastructure like Anatomage table, Simulation labs, etc, that will give the students an exposure to truly world-class educational experience.
These days, careers in hospitals worldwide and post-graduation offers for MBBS graduates prefer students with extensive practical clinical training. Most universities in the Philippines follow a very practical-based medical education system. To make available a complete real-world experience in clinical training, universities in the Philippines enter in tie-ups with some of the most reputed hospitals in the Philippines. This kind of extensive clinical training helps our students get job offers easily from hospitals in the US, UK, Australia and India.
What are you waiting for? All these advantages make MBBS seats in Philippines most lucrative and in-demand. The seats are limited. It is always first-come, first-serve. Make the smart choice about your future. Good luck!
Browse through this website to find out all about the medical universities in the Philippines based on your budget. You can also call us at +91 91767 89889 for support & enquiries about studying MBBS in the Philippines. We would be happy to help.
