Many Indian students are exploring opportunities abroad to fulfill their MBBS dreams. India has become one of the major source countries for medical students abroad. Based on several reports, it is estimated that every year 20,000 to 25,000 Indian students go abroad to study medicine.
In this article, we will delve into the reasons why studying MBBS abroad can be a rewarding choice, explore top countries for pursuing MBBS abroad, provide an overview of average fees, duration, and eligibility criteria, discuss scholarships available, and shed light on the expected remuneration for MBBS graduates.
Table of Contents
Why Study MBBS Abroad
There are several reasons benefiting your choice of study abroad in the field of medicine. Here’s a list of such advantages that studying medicine abroad brings to you:
- Quality Education: For the Medicine subject, QS World University Ranking 2023 data shows that the top 25 colleges and universities are in the US, UK, Sweden, Canada, Australia, and Singapore. Therefore, over the years, these renowned universities abroad have provided high-quality education with state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced technologies, and experienced faculty members.
- Global Recognition: Statistics show that there have been 103 Nobel Laureates in medicine from the US, followed by 31 from the UK, 17 from Germany, 11 from France, and 9 from Sweden. Nobel Laureates from foreign countries have helped their countries gain global recognition.
- Job Opportunities: Physicians, Pediatricians, Psychiatrists, Obstetricians, Gynecologists, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and other professionals in the field can find lucrative opportunities abroad. For example, these medical profiles in the US can have a salary from USD 74,000 to USD 229,000 per year. Having an international degree helps with your candidature.
- Cultural Exposure: When studying MBBS abroad, cultural exposure is one significant benefit students experience. It provides you with the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, interact with people from diverse backgrounds, and gain a broader perspective on healthcare practices and patient care.
Study MBBS Abroad: Eligibility
Although specific rules and eligibility criteria may vary among countries, here are the general eligibility guidelines for Indian students seeking to pursue MBBS abroad in some of the top countries.
Age Requirement
To pursue MBBS abroad, you must ensure that you have reached the age of 17 at the time of admission. There is no maximum age limit for applying to study MBBS abroad.
Academic Requirement
Indian students must meet the following academic requirement before leaving for their host country:
- Must have completed 10+2 from a recognised board.
- Must have a minimum of 50% score in 10+2 level.
- Several countries abroad require National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) - Under Graduate qualification.
- Must provide the eligibility certificate issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) (formerly the Medical Council of India (MCI)).
- In the case of US and Canada medical schools, you must have already completed a bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Medical Requirement
At the time of admission, you must present a medical certificate mentioning that you are not suffering from any contagious diseases.
Exams Required to Study MBBS Abroad
Below mentioned are some of the exams mandatory for you to qualify:
- National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test or NEET
- Country-specific entrance exams like:
- MCAT- Medical College Admission Test
- GAMSAT- Graduate Medical School Admissions Test
- UKCAT- University Clinical Aptitude Test
- English proficiency tests like International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or Pearson Test of English (PTE) or any other language proficiency in case the medium of instruction is other than English.
Documents Required to Study MBBS Abroad
Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you must be prepared with several documents. Here’s a list of documents that you must submit as an international student during admissions to foreign colleges:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Marksheets and certificates of 10th and 12th standards
- NEET score card
- Statement of purpose (SOP)
- Letter of recommendation (LOR)
- Language proficiency certificate
- Financial statement as proof of funding your studies abroad
- Passport size photograph
- Valid passport
- Medical certificate
MBBS Abroad vs MBBS in India
MBBS Abroad and MBBS in India differ in many ways despite having many similarities. Let’s look at and understand how MBBS Abroad varies from MBBS in India.
Factor | MBBS Abroad | MBBS in India |
Level of Education | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Course Duration | 4 to 7 years | 5.5 years |
Eligibility Criteria |
|
|
Annual Course Fees | USD 10,918 to USD 62,850 | Private: USD 17,330 Government: USD 20 |
Average Salary Range | USD 37,135 to USD 203,253 per year* | USD 8,620 per year* |
*Source: Payscale
Top Countries to Study MBBS Abroad
When it comes to studying abroad for Indian students, several countries top the list of popular destinations for medicine students. While choosing a country completely depends on your preferences, here is a list of top countries with their universities mentioned in the QS Ranking.
USA
The United States offers excellent medical education and has a highly competitive admission process and higher tuition fees. Unlike India, MBBS in the USA is a postgraduate program, not an undergraduate one. Students earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree upon completion of the course. To pursue an MD degree in the US, you must have completed a three to four years bachelor's in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Here’s a list of the US colleges/universities, along with QS World Ranking by Subject 2023: Medicine, offering MD programs.
University/College Name | Rank | Annual Tuition Fee* | Course Duration |
Harvard University | 1 | USD 69,300 | 5 years |
Stanford University | 3 | USD 21,249 | 4 to 5 years |
Johns Hopkins University | 4 | USD 66,173 | 4 years |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 9 | USD 49,904 | 4 years |
University of California, San Francisco | 10 | USD 11,700 | 4 years |
*As per university sites
UK
The UK is renowned for its prestigious medical schools and a strong emphasis on research and clinical training. You must qualify for the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) and UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), along with meeting other eligibility criteria to pursue MBBS in the country. Here are the UK universities or colleges for medical studies and their QS World Ranking by Subject 2023: Medicine.
University/College Name | Rank | Annual Tuition Fee* | Course Duration |
University College London (UCL) | 6 | USD 59,605 | 6 years |
Imperial College London | 8 | USD 63,917 | 6 years |
King’s College London | 13 | USD 57,600 | 5 years |
Queen Mary University of London | 55 | USD 56,118 | 5 years |
University of Southampton | 62 | USD 33,443 | 5 years |
*As per university sites
Canada
Canada does not offer any undergraduate MBBS program; instead, it offers an equivalent postgraduate MD (Doctor of Medicine) program. It is a four years course for which you can apply if you have already completed a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in Canada. Below mentioned are a few of the top colleges in Canada, along with their QS World Rankings by Subject 2023: Medicine.
University/College Name | Rank | Annual Tuition Fee* | Course Duration |
University of Toronto | 15 | USD 69,227 | 4 years |
McGill University | 22 | USD 4,564 | 4 years |
University of British Columbia (UBC) | 28 | USD 14,790 | 4 years |
University of Alberta | 92 | USD 7,311 | 4 years |
*As per university sites
Australia
Australia offers MBBS in the form of MD degrees. Further, these degrees include a Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine (BMedSc/MD) and a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD). The duration of these programs varies and ranges from four to seven years. Here’s a list of Australian universities with their respective QS World Rankings by Subject 2023: Medicine that provides you with the best medical program.
University/College Name | Rank | Annual Tuition Fee* | Course Duration |
The University of Melbourne | 24 | USD 63,930 | 4 years |
The University of Sydney | 25 | USD 37,230 to USD 60,498 | 4 to 7 years |
Monash University | 40 | USD 57,839 | 5 years |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | 52 | USD 711 | 6 years |
*As per university sites
Scholarships to Study MBBS Abroad
To pursue MBBS abroad, various scholarships are available to help alleviate the financial burden for international students. These scholarships can provide valuable support and make pursuing an MBBS degree in a foreign country more accessible. Scholarships may vary depending on the country and university. Therefore, here are some scholarship options available for you in various countries.
Scholarship | Country | Amount |
AFPHM John Snow Scholarship | Australia | USD 500 |
University of Auckland John Hamel MacGregor Award in Medical Science | Australia | Up to USD 6,647 |
Faculty of Medicine Master's Scholarships - Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine | UK | USD 7,890 |
King’s College London Global Health & Social Medicine | UK | USD 7300 |
American College of Surgeons International Guest Scholarships | USA | USD 10,000 |
Dean's Scholarship for HMS Master's Students | US | 15% of the tuition fee |
University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Awards | Canada | USD 22,627 |
Job Prospects
There are several options after completing an MBBS abroad. Most students prefer to complete their MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MCh (Master of Surgery) courses or even go on to do MBAs in healthcare management, bioinformatics, hospital administration, hospital management, and computational biology.
Career options include positions like physicians, clinical researchers, professors, hospital administrators, medical writers, teachers, forensic psychiatrists, health analytics and informatics, medical examiners, diagnostic imaging/radiologists, and more.
Expected Remuneration/Salary
The average salary or remuneration you can expect after completing your MBBS abroad will vary depending on the country and work profile. Here’s a list of a few of the MBBS job profiles and their average annual salary.
Job Profile | Average Annual Base Salary* |
USA | |
Physician | USD 222,901 |
General Surgeon | USD 301,320 |
Obstetrician/Gynecologist | USD 241,586 |
UK | |
General Surgeon | USD 84,912 |
Physician/Doctor, Oncologist | USD 78,069 |
Obstetrician/Gynecologist | USD 48,222 |
Australia | |
General Surgeon | USD 116,880 |
Physician/Doctor, Oncologist | USD 164,072 |
Obstetrician/Gynecologist | USD 82,054 |
Canada | |
General Surgeon | USD 148,880 |
Physician/Doctor, Oncologist | USD 189,174 |
Obstetrician/Gynecologist | USD 147,470 |
*A per Payscale
FAQs
Q. Which is the best country to study MBBS abroad?
A. To study MBBS abroad, several factors come into consideration while selecting a medical college or university. Based on the QS World Ranking by Subject 2023: Medicine data, the universities of the following countries rank top:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Sweden
- Canada
- Australia
- Denmark
- South Korea
- Hong Kong SAR
- Belgium
- Singapore
- China
Q. Which country is MBBS free?
A. Germany offers a free MBBS program, as most universities are government and charge no tuition fee. However, students must pay other expenses such as living, travelling, books, and miscellaneous costs. Also, universities in other countries offer various scholarships to help you financially.
Q. What is the minimum NEET score for MBBS abroad?
A. The minimum NEET score for MBBS abroad varies from university to university and country to country. A 150 NEET score is the minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing MBBS abroad.
Q. What is the average cost of MBBS abroad?
A. The cost of MBBS abroad ranges from USD 711 to USD 69,300 annually. MBBS fees vary depending on the universities of various countries.
Q. Can I join MBBS without NEET?
A. To pursue MBBS, it is mandatory for students to attempt and qualify for NEET. It is the eligibility criteria for all recognised universities and colleges worldwide.
Q. Which country's MBBS is not valid in India?
A. Based on the NMC report, MBBS from Pakistan is not valid in India. All the NMC-approved MBBS programs in foreign countries are valid in India.
Exams to Study Abroad
IELTS ExamGRE ExamGMAT ExamSAT ExamTOEFL ExamDuolingo ExamTop Study Abroad Destinations
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