The duration of the course used to be a big deciding factor for many students. However, in November 2021, the National Medical Commission of India came out with a new set of rules for Indian students who wish to study MBBS abroad. These rules are called Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021. As per the new rules, the minimum duration for MBBS abroad is 54 months (4.5 years) of studies followed by a 1-year internship in the same university abroad.

Therefore, the minimum duration for MBBS abroad now is 5.5 years.

A student from Delhi shares his experience of MBBS in Russia:

Here is a table showing the number of years it takes to complete the medical degree from different countries-

One of the biggest decision points before deciding where to study MBBS in abroad is cost or fees. The USA, Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand, and EU countries are more expensive than doing  MBBS in Uzbekistan, MBBS in Russia, MBBS in Kyrgyzstan, MBBS in China or MBBS in Kazakhstan. If you wish to study in English-speaking countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK, your budget should be in excess of ₹1.5 crores. Direct admission is not possible in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK, you need to clear entrance exams.

If you want to study at a low cost or at an affordable fee and want good quality education, then the best choice is MBBS in Russia or MBBS In Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is a new destination yet MBBS in Uzbekistan has seen a rise in prominence and has seen more and more students going there to study. Russia is one of the oldest destinations for Indian students for studying MBBS abroad. The reason is simple – it is affordable and offers a high quality of education making it one of the premier destinations for studying MBBS abroad. Also, almost all the universities in Russia are government universities.

Other options where the total cost is affordable include the MBBS in Kyrgyzstan. MBBS In Kazakhstan is another good alternative for Indian students. The quality of education is decent and a large number of Indian students choose to study MBBS in Kyrgyzstan because education is cheap.

What does an NMC-recognised university mean?

Every year, during our counselling sessions with students and their parents, we are often asked to suggest NMC-recognised universities. When MCI used to exist, they maintained a list of recognised medical universities for MBBS abroad for an Indian student. However, since the National Medical Commission came into existence, they do not maintain any such list.

Yes, therefore, there is no list of NMC-recognised universities for MBBS abroad for an Indian student. So, the question now is, how will someone know if a foreign medical university is NMC-recognised? Here is the answer.

In November 2021, NMC introduced Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021. As per NMC, the degree from any university which fulfils all the rules and regulations as mentioned in the FMGL Regulations 2021 will be recognised in India. A student who gets their degree from such a university will be eligible to appear for NExT in India.

Therefore, before going abroad to study medicine, you must check these rules and ensure that your university fulfils all these rules.

Therefore, it is arguably the most important factor to consider when deciding on a university/college. You should contact Global Medical Foundation if you have any doubt whether a college/university/country follows FMGL Regulations 2021.

Undoubtfully, the most important thing to consider is the quality of education which you will get in a particular college/university.

One of the biggest doubts that Indian aspirants have in their mind is whether the universities or colleges abroad actually provide good quality education. The answer is YES! There are many universities abroad which rank higher than the top-government colleges of India and you can get direct admission to these universities easily.

The colleges that Global Medical Foundation will suggest to you for admission will be recognised by World Health Organisation (WHO). They will also be following Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021.

Not only this, but they also have received affiliation from many international bodies such as FAIMER. Global Medical Foundation’s representatives have visited many universities teaching MBBS in Russia, MBBS in Kyrgyzstan, MBBS In Kazakhstan, MBBS In Bangladesh and MBBS In Uzbekistan. We suggest universities based on our experience and on the basis of the reviews of the current and passed-out students. One of the best universities for MBBS in abroad is Samarkand State Medical University.

Also, you can study in these colleges abroad at a much cheaper cost, about 75% less than what you pay at Indian private colleges. Many universities in countries such as Russia, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh offer high-quality education to students. The student gets global exposure and gets the opportunity to study further and practice in some of the most developed countries in the world such as the US and the UK.

In every country, there is 1-year clinical rotation or internship. Students work with patients in the hospitals affiliated with the university. You will get ample practical exposure while studying abroad. There is a big misconception that practicals are not given enough importance in foreign countries.

A big factor to consider before deciding which college/university to study MBBS from is the availability of neat, clean and comfortable accommodation along with the availability of Indian food – both vegetarian & non-vegetarian.

Let us take one factor at a time, students don’t generally face the problem of finding accommodation. This is because almost all the colleges/universities abroad have in-campus hostels. If a hostel facility is not available, such a university generally has tie-ups with private hostels and flats in the surrounding area. Some universities offer both options. In such a case, the student can choose where they want to stay, depending on the facilities they want. Students usually stay in 2, 3 or 4 sharing rooms in hostels.

A student can stay outside the hostel as well. However, most universities do not allow students to stay outside in the 1st year. When finding private accommodation (flats) there is rarely a case where the student is unable to find proper accommodation. The charges for accommodation on average are similar to that in India. The rent plus bills would cost about ₹10-15 thousand per month on average if the student shares the accommodation.

Global Medical Foundation representatives have visited countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the Philippines, Ukraine and Bangladesh and have found good hostel facilities and also the availability of Indian food via on-campus Indian mess.

Indian mess is available in the hostels or nearby the hostels. Indian mess facility is available in countries such as the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Most colleges have Indian mess facilities in these countries. The students can also cook their own food.

The weather becomes an important factor as some students find it difficult to settle down in the cold climate of other countries. Many cities in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have very colder weather with snowfall where temperatures fall as low as -20 to -50° C.

A bit of cold is not a problem for students as they generally enjoy the weather. Further, every building is internally heated so you won’t feel the cold at all when you are inside. The temperature within the rooms/buildings is maintained around 20-25 ° C.

The weather is similar to that of India in the Philippines and Bangladesh. They have a similar weather pattern. In some cities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the weather is similar to that of Delhi. They will see hot summers but colder winters.

The climatic conditions are important as a similar climate to India means a similar disease pattern to that of India.

Any student who has health issues should keep in mind the weather of the country he/she wants to study MBBS from. For more information or any doubt/query regarding MBBS abroad, contact Global Medical Foundation.

Regardless to say, it is a high-priority decision point for the students and their families. Given the recent war in Ukraine, parents want to send their students to safe countries only which have political and economic stability in the foreseeable future. It is safe for students to study MBBS in countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Georgia and Russia.

To make sure that the students who take admission through Global Medical Foundation are taken care of, we have a contact person at every university in foreign countries. The students can reach out to these offices/contact persons in case they face any problems. Also, Global Medical Foundation‘s representative visits the students during their stay abroad.

Apart from this, the students can take help from fellow Indian students. Most colleges have Foreign Student Associations to take care of the interests of these students. The campuses and hostels are safe for our students. There is no ragging in these countries. The students are safer studying MBBS abroad than they are in India when it comes to ragging. These countries are also very safe for female students.

While there is no need to learn the local language in the Philippines, you will have to learn the local language in countries like Russia, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The reason is simple, you will have to interact with the patients in the local language during your internship or clinical rotations. Also, it is more of a necessity for being able to live there for 6 years. For more information or any doubt/query regarding MBBS in abroad, contact Global Medical Foundation.