Is MBBS abroad valid in India? - Supreme Court Ruling & What You Must Know

Introduction

Every year around 23,00,00,000 students take the NEET Exam to gain admission into medical colleges in India. The seats available both in the government and private colleges combined, is about 1,18,000. Due to the tough competition as well as very high fees in private institutions, thousands of Indian students each year go abroad for their MBBS degrees. Some preferred countries like Australia, Russia, the Philippines, China, Kazakhstan and more have reasonable tuition fees, state-of-the-art facilities, and provide international exposure.

But with foreign MBBS degrees also comes stringent regulations, and the acceptance of a foreign MBBS degree in India is subject to National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations.

What are the NMC Guidelines for Study Abroad?

The Indian Supreme Court recently upheld NMC's regulations on MBBS degrees obtained overseas. In the judgment, it clarified that Indian students who study MBBS abroad would have to comply with criteria specified by NMC in order to practice in India. 

Some of the major points in this judgment are:

Minimum Course Duration – The MBBS program must be at least 4.5 years (54 months) of coursework + 1 year of internship in the same college/university. 

• Course Structure for MBBS Abroad - The MBBS course must be aligned to the course which is taught in India and include Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Anesthesia, Community Medicine, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Dermatology, Emergency, Casualty services and more sub-divisions as well. 

• MBBS Internship - Students must cover all theoretical, practical and clinical aspects during their internship as would be done in India.

   

• University Recognition – It should be approved by the NMC 

• FMGE/NExT Examination Requirement – Foreign Medical Graduates need to qualify in FMGE (until 2025) or NExT (from 2025 onwards) in order to practice in India. NExT will also serve as the entrance for PG medical courses. 

• Internship in India – Regardless if the internship is done abroad, foreign medical graduates will have to complete a one-year internship in an NMC-approved Indian hospital.

Is NEET Exam Mandatory for Study MBBS Abroad:

Appearing and clearing the NEET UG exam is a critical requirement for students who want to study MBBS abroad and practice in India later. This is mandated by the NMC as a qualification criteria for the FMGE (till 2025) or NExT examination as well. All students aspiring to do their MBBS abroad need to clear the NEET UG exam with the required minimum cut-off score.

MBBS Abroad for Indian Students: Important Considerations

1. Verify Your University's NMC Recognition

Before seeking admission in a foreign medical college, you must ensure the college or university is approved by the NMC. There is a list provided by the Medical Council of India in this regard. It’s also important to verify that the medical college/university is a part of the WDOMS (World Directory of Medical Schools). This will ensure that the MBBS degree will be recognised the world over. 

2. A Minimum Duration Of 5.5 Years

It is clearly stipulated in the Supreme Court that MBBS courses with a duration less than 4.5 years of study and 1-year internship are invalid in India. Countries that provide short MBBS courses might not be accepted.

3. NEET is Compulsory for MBBS Abroad

Some students have a false impression that they can go abroad for MBBS without clearing NEET. But the NMC requires students to clear NEET if they wish to study MBBS abroad and later appear for FMGE/NExT in India. This was a verdict that was upheld by the honorable Supreme Court of India as well. 

4. You Must Pass FMGE/NExT to Practice in India

All Foreign Medical Graduates have to qualify the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) prior to registering with the Medical Council of India. As of the year 2025, NExT will replace FMGE and will function as:

• Licensure examination for Indian and overseas medical graduates

• A postgraduate admission test for MD/MS courses in India.
  

5. MBBS Course To Be Taught In English

A few foreign universities abroad teach the MBBS course in their native language, and students have to go through language courses prior to studying medicine there. Indian students may face problems clearing the FMGE/NExT as Indian medical exams test the understanding of English medical terminologies. 

6. Pay Attention to Local Licensing Regulations

A few countries insist students complete local licensure exams prior to granting them their MBBS degree. In case the student fails the test, they might not be awarded their degree, hence ineligible for practice in India.

What to Do After MBBS Abroad

After finishing your MBBS abroad, you need to go through the following steps for practice in India:

Pass FMGE or NExT
For foreign MBBS graduates, you have to qualify in FMGE (up to the year 2025) or NExT (post-2025) in order to get a medical license.

Finish a one-year internship in India
Foreign Medical Graduates are required to complete a one-year internship in a NMC-approved Indian hospital.

Register with the Medical Council
Upon clearing FMGE/NExT and after completion of your internship, you have to get yourself registered with the NMC or SMC for a license for practicing as a doctor.

How can Educafic by Academically Help You?

With the NMC regulations and the ruling by the Supreme Court, those who wish to pursue MBBS abroad have to select their universities and courses very carefully. Any faulty selection of the wrong country or wrong college may result in invalid degrees and career setbacks.

At Educafic by Academically

• Direct students only to NMC-approved universities to study abroad
  

• Ensure that the course structure is complainant with Indian regulations and satisfy all the guidelines of the NMC
  

• Provide comprehensive assistance and guidance on all aspects of their study abroad journey from university selection, admission, documentation, visa assistance, LORs, SOPs, language training, pre and post departure services, and so much more. 
  

• Provide financial and scholarship assistance. 
  

• Provide training for foreign licensure exams like AMC, PLAB, USMLE once the students have completed their medical degrees and registered as a medical practitioner in the country of study.
  

• Planning to study MBBS abroad? Let us guide you toward the right decision. 

Also Read: How to Apply to Study Abroad- A Complete Step-by-Step Guide