Top 4 Countries to Study MBBS Abroad 2024 - Check here!

While medicine is one of the most sought-after noble and rewarding professions, many aspirants are often confused regarding which country is best for medical studies. You may, sometimes, also feel stuck as to whether they should study MBBS in India or abroad.

To help you decide and make the right choice, I have mentioned some of the most well-equipped countries to study medicine in the 21st century, along with important aspects like top universities for medical programs, specialization, scope, and job opportunities after MBBS abroad, etc.

All the countries listed in the article are known for their medical courses; it is up to your discretion to decide the best country to study medicine in per your needs and suitability.

Course Brief  of MBBS Courses Abroad

The curriculum for a medical course varies from university to university. It mainly depends on the specialization and field you have opted for.

To begin with, you should have a rough idea of the medical courses and their syllabus. These courses, spanning four to five years, are established to provide students with the knowledge of human anatomy and other intricate details of human functionality. This is followed by a year or two of a fellowship or a foundation program.

Additionally, some of the mentioned countries also offer part-time postgraduate courses in the field of medicine and allow international students to get part-time employment per their visa status. This allows them to work 20 hours each week while pursuing their medical degrees.

The degrees may have different names in different countries. The Doctor of Medicine degree, for instance, is awarded for completing the foundational curriculum course, the clinical fellowship, and the required exams.

Some of the most popular medical courses fields worldwide countries are as follows:

1. Physiology

2. Biomedical Sciences

3. Biological Sciences or Life Sciences

4. Neuroscience

5. Veterinary Medicine

6. Dentistry Medicine

7. Human Anatomy

8. Pathology

9. Radiology

10. Anesthetics

11. General Practice

Why Choose Abroad for MBBS Education 

Choosing to study medicine abroad is often a no-brainer for Indian medical aspirants. 

Pursuing an MBBS degree is sometimes more affordable in foreign countries, while another factor can be the relative ease of admission/entry into several foreign colleges in comparison to Indian medical colleges, which have huge competition for a limited number of seats. 

Here are some reasons worth considering for choosing to study medicine abroad: 

• The gap between the demand and supply of Indian medical institutions is a major reason why medical aspirants choose to study abroad. According to a recent report, 7-8 lakh students qualifying for the NEET annually (the entrance examination for medicine in India) compete for just a little over 90,000 medical seats in the country. 
• Another factor is the cost of studying MBBS in India. More than 50% of the total medical seats are in Government institutions, which may otherwise be affordable but are hard to get admission into unless you get a massive NEET score. The same holds true for even Government quota seats in private medical colleges. 
• The fees for MBBS courses abroad in several countries, including the coaching cost for clearing the screening test upon returning to India, are normally around $41,00-$42,000. However, tuition fees for MBBS programs in private Indian medical colleges are usually around $53,000-$65,000 or higher. 
• Some other advantages that make students venture abroad for MBBS degrees include exposure to advanced technology and state-of-the-art infrastructure for learning, including better laboratories and world-class faculty.  
• Lucrative salaries after studying MBBS abroad are another plus point. For instance, the average annual salary for doctors in the USA is $216,399 per Glassdoor, July 2024 stats. This is because medical degrees from top universities and colleges are globally accepted. 
• Diverse and enriching cultural exposure is another advantage of studying MBBS abroad, where students can broaden their knowledge of different cultures, communities, and people. This gives them exposure and skill sets that are highly coveted by employers today. 

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Top Universities to Study MBBS Abroad  in 4 Popular Countries 

1. United Kingdom

The UK’s excellent infrastructure, prominent medical schools, high-tech hospitals, and research facilities ensure some of the best medical programs worldwide.

Here are some of the leading UK medical colleges with their admission requirements and tuition fee:

Name of University	Courses Offered	Duration	Tuition Fee*	Entry Requirements
University of Oxford	Medicine (graduate entry)	4 years	Pre-clinical annual fees are GBP 43,670 (INR 46.65 Lakh), while clinical (years 4-6) annual fees are GBP 57,690 (INR 61.74 Lakh)	Good academic record and  Specific subject requirements  that vary with the chosen course.
	DPhil ( Biomedical      Science/Cardiovascular    Science/Clinical Medicine)	3-4 years	GBP 28,560 (INR 28.74 Lakh) GBP 31,480 (INR 33.69 Lakh) per year	1. A first-class undergraduate degree with honors in a relevant discipline such as biology, biochemistry, or medicine. 2. Previous master’s degree not required. 3. IELTS overall score of 7 with 6.5 in each component.
	MSc (Clinical Embryology/Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience/ Genomic Medicine/Global Health Science and Epidemiology)	1 year	30,790 - GBP 38,660 per year (INR 32.95 Lakh - INR 41.37 Lakh)	1. High level English requirements (IELTS overall score of 7.5 with a score of 7 in each component) 2. A first-class or undergraduate degree with honors in any science discipline. 3. No GRE or GMAT required.
University of Cambridge	1. Standard course and 2. Graduate course	4 years	GBP 67,194 (INR 71.91 Lakh) per year	i) A candidate needs to complete the graduate course in medicine along with the UCAS application. ii) Admission requirements include a good Honors degree (2.1 or above) in any discipline and passed at A-Level (or equivalent).
University college London	Biomedical Sciences	3 years	GBP 37,500 (INR 40.13 Lakh) per year	AAA grade or equivalent in your academics and biology and chemistry as your main studied subjects.
Imperial College London	1. Biological sciences 2. Medicine 3. Microbiology 4. Biomedical engineering 5. Biomedical sciences	3 to 6 years depending on the program chosen (UG, PG or PhD)	GBP 41,650 - GBP 53,700 per year (INR 44.57 Lakh - INR 57.47 lakh)	1. Generally A or AAA grade in specific subjects like biology, chemistry and mathematics is required. 2. English language requirements as set by the college.

Source: university websites

2. United States of America

The USA is often regarded as the world’s best country for medical studies owing to the top-notch hospitals, world-class medical schools,  expert faculty, amazing opportunities, and progressive research.

The courses offered by the leading medical colleges of America provide a brilliant mix of theoretical and practical learning. According to the QS World University Rankings, here is a list of some of the best universities in the USA for medical studies:

Name of University	Courses Offered	Duration	Tuition Fee*	Entry Requirements
Harvard University	1. PhD in Biological and Biomedical sciences   2. PhD in Biological sciences in Public Health 3. PhD Program in Immunology 4. PhD in Virology	5 years	$55,856 (INR 46.77 Lakh) for first two years and $14,470 (INR 12.11 Lakh) for third and fourth year.	GRE General: Not Accepted GRE Subject: Not Accepted iBT TOEFL minimum score: 100 IELTS minimum score: 7
John Hopkins University	BS/MS in Neurosciences	5 years	$64,730 (INR 54.20 Lakh) per year	1. Minimum 3.5 GPA 2. Completion of six credits of undergraduate research 3. Completion of the neuroscience sequence as well as the mathematics and science courses required for the BS, prior to matriculating into the program the first semester.
UAMS College of Medicine	3-Year MD Program	3 years	$645 (INR 54,002) per credit hour	Prior to matriculation, applicants should have completed requisite semesters in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, Statistics, and Social Sciences. A baccalaureate degree/equivalent is necessary along with MCAT scores.
UCSF School of Medicine	MD Program	4 years	$57,369 (INR 48.03 lakh) per year	Students should pursue a four-year undergraduate course and get a baccalaureate degree before applying. Course requirements include semesters in Physics, Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry. MCAT scores are also required.

Source: university websites

3. India

India hosts some of the premier institutes that are known worldwide for their medical studies. The popularity of these courses within India is so much that lakhs of students prepare hard for years to get enrolled into these institutes despite the cut throat competition. Mentioned below are some of the prestigious institutes that offer UG, PG, and doctoral programs:

Name of University /Institute	Courses Offered	Duration	Tuition Fee*	Entry Requirements
AIIMS	BSc (Hons) (Medical Technology in Radiography/ Nursing)	3 years	Tuition fee ranges from INR 1,628 - INR 4,125 for courses on average.	One needs to clear the BSc Nursing Entrance exam conducted by the AIIMS.
	MSc Nursing/Biotechnology/Reproductive biology and clinical Embryology	2 years		1. Qualify in the entrance exam conducted by the AIIMS. 2. BSc Nursing degree.
	PhD Geriatric Medicine/Forensic Medicine /Toxicology	5 to 6 years		1. MSc with at least 60% in the relevant discipline. 2. NET and GRE score.
	MD in Emergency Medicine	3 years		1. MBBS from University recognized by the National Medical Commission/Medical Council of India as notified by Govt. of India. 2. Candidates must have obtained at least 55% marks in aggregate for all categories (50% marks for SC/ST). 3. Candidates must have completed the required period of 12 months compulsory rotating Internship/Practical training.
IISc, Bangalore	PhD in Neuroscience	5 years	Nominal fee of INR 800 at the time of application.	1. Master’s degree in any branch of Science/ 4 year Bachelor of Science degree. 2. Valid GATE score / NET JRF is mandatory. 3. GPAT score (for BPharma).
Christian Medical College, Vellore	MBBS	4.5 years	INR 56,330 for first year.	Passed 10+2 with Physics, English, Chemistry, and Biology and with 60% marks at least.
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal	MBBS	4.5 years	INR 70,88,530 for total course.	10+2 with English, Biology/Biotechnology, Physics, and Chemistry, with at least 50% taken together in them.

4. Australia

Australia can be your destination to pursue medical sciences as it offers cutting edge curricula, state of the art health facilities, and good employability opportunities straight after the completion of the course.

Name of University	Courses Offered	Duration	Tuition Fee*	Entry Requirements
University of Melbourne	Bachelor of Biomedicine	3 years	162,662 (INR 88,67,554) - AUD 185,127 (1,00,92,239): total course fees	95.00 ATAR score along with English language requirements as set by the university.
	Master of Biomedicine	2 years	AUD 109,200(INR 59,53,062)	undergraduate degree with a major in a relevant subject with a weighted average mark of at least 65%, or equivalent.
University of Sydney	Bachelor of Biomedical sciences	3 years	AUD 56,000 as annual fee (INR 30,52,852)	1. Assumed knowledge of subjects like Chemistry and Advanced Mathematics. 2. ATAR score of more than 77.55.
Monash University	BSc in Biomedical sciences	3 years	AUD 49,800 (INR 27,14,857)	1. Overall score of 6.5 for IELTS (Academic) with minimum band scores: Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.0 and Speaking 6.0 for IELTS (Academic) with minimum band scores: Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.0 and Speaking 6.0 2. Assumed knowledge of English, Math and Science
University of Queensland	BSc in Biomedical Sciences	4 years	AUD 53,760 per year (INR 29,30,738)	1. Your score must satisfy Australian Year 12 ATAR score. 2. IELTS overall 6.5 with a score of 6 in all the sections.

Source: university websites

*all INR conversions are as of July 31, 2024

Specializations Medicine Programs Abroad

Specialization after MBBS is slowly becoming the need of the hour because of the rising competition. Moreover, the demand for consulting a professional for even a common ailment is constantly increasing.

To take up a specialized medical course in the US, you must take the ECFMG and USMLE, while in the UK, you must appear for the PLAB.

The specialization can come in the form of an MD, MS, or Diploma degree. Some of the most popular specialization courses in the US include Biochemistry, Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, and Sports Medicine.

On the other hand, some of the most popular medical specializations in the UK include Anesthetics, Pathology, Psychiatry, and Surgery.

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Medicine Programs Abroad: Levels of Education

The countries listed in the article offer medical courses from the undergraduate level to various specializations. As far as the latter is concerned, one can opt for an MS, MD, or even a diploma course lasting a year.

Job Prospects After MBBS Abroad

Now that we know the best countries to study medicine, it is time to look at the job prospects. Medicine is one of the most challenging degrees to pursue because of its vast scope and diverse work prospects.

Some of the most prominent fields for job roles in medicine are as follows:

1. Physician and Surgeons

2. Pharmacists

3. Optometrists

4. Veterinarians

5. Physical Therapists

6. Radiation Therapists

7. Dentists

8. Podiatrists

9. Radiologists

10. Obstetricians

11. Gastroenterologists

12. Dermatologists

13. Endocrinologists

14. Anesthesiologists

15. Hematologists 

Expected Remuneration or Salary After MBBS Abroad

Getting your BSc, MS, MBBS, or PhD degree from reputed universities can bring in great returns on your investments. This is because of the financial viability of the medical field. In addition, an MS or MD can add to your future growth prospects immensely.

The expected remuneration in terms of some of the possible popular jobs include following::

Job Role	Average Annual Salary
Family Physician	$208,219
Physician (Medicine)	$228,501
Obstetrician	$247,091
Physician (ER)	$282,101
Neurologist	$256,311
Radiologist	$355,388
Doctor, General Medicine	$180,735

Source: Pay scale, July 2024

Conclusion 

As can be seen, there are several countries where you can consider studying MBBS abroad. Check all the admission requirements and fees carefully for each chosen university and country before going ahead with your applications. 

Disclaimer: All fees and salaries are indicative and subject to change at any time.