MBBS abroad: a checklist for parents before you pay any fees

Sending a son or daughter abroad to study medicine is a large financial and emotional decision. Most of the problems we hear about from families could have been avoided with a few checks before the first payment. This checklist sets out what to look at, based on the rules published by India’s National Medical Commission (NMC).

Please read it as a starting point, not as legal advice. The NMC publishes regulations, notices and clarifications that can change, and the official text always takes priority over any summary, including ours.

1. Understand the NMC rules first

If your child plans to practise medicine in India after studying abroad, the foreign degree must meet the conditions in the NMC’s Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021. In summary, the NMC’s own explanatory material describes these key points:

• The course must last at least 54 months and cover theory, practical and clinical training comparable to the Indian MBBS curriculum.
• There must be an internship of at least 12 months in the same foreign institution where the degree is awarded.
• The course must be taught in English.
• The graduate must be eligible for registration with the medical regulator of that country, on the same terms as that country’s own citizens, so that they can practise there.
• The whole course, including the internship, must be completed within a set overall time limit from the date of joining.
• After returning, the graduate must pass the screening or exit examination the NMC prescribes and complete a supervised internship in India before full registration.

The NMC has also published FAQs on these regulations. Read them, and check the NMC website for the latest notices before you commit, because clarifications are issued from time to time.

2. Confirm NEET-UG eligibility

The NMC’s guidance for students going abroad states that Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who want to obtain a primary medical qualification abroad must qualify NEET. The NEET result is treated as the eligibility certificate, provided the student also meets the other eligibility conditions for the MBBS course. The NMC page also says how long the result remains valid, so check that the planned admission falls within that period.

3. Get the course structure in writing

Ask the university, not only the agent, for a written document showing the course duration in months, the year-by-year subjects, the clinical training and where the internship takes place. Compare this with the NMC requirements. If any part of the course is delivered in a different institution, a different country or online, ask how that fits the NMC rules and keep the answer in writing.

4. Check the medium of instruction carefully

Many universities teach in English, but clinical work involves talking to patients in the local language. Ask whether the entire programme, including clinical years, is taught in English, and how local-language support is provided. A university letter confirming English as the medium for the whole course is worth keeping.

5. Confirm the licence to practise in that country

Ask the university to explain, in writing, whether its international graduates can register with the country’s medical regulator on the same basis as local graduates. This is one of the NMC conditions and it is often overlooked. You can also look up the regulator’s own website for that country.

6. Look closely at fees and receipts

• Ask for the official fee structure on university letterhead or the university’s own website, showing tuition, hostel, food, insurance, visa and other charges separately.
• Find out which fees are paid to the university directly and which are paid to anyone else, and why.
• Insist on an official receipt for every payment, in the student’s name, showing what it covers.
• Pay through traceable banking channels. Avoid cash payments.
• Ask how fees may change in later years, and whether any increase is capped.

7. Read the refund terms

Ask for the refund policy in writing before paying. What happens if the visa is refused, if the student decides not to travel, or if the student leaves after the first year? How long do refunds take and are any charges deducted? A clear written policy protects everyone.

8. Ask about hostel, food and safety

• Is hostel accommodation on campus or nearby, and is it run by the university?
• How many students share a room, and what is included?
• What food options are available, including Indian or vegetarian food if that matters to your family?
• What support is available for medical emergencies, and who is the contact person for Indian students?
• How do students travel between the hostel and teaching hospitals?

The NMC states that it does not endorse any list of foreign medical institutions. Be cautious of anyone who claims a university is “NMC approved”. What matters is whether the course your child completes meets the FMGL Regulations.

Warning signs to take seriously

• Pressure to pay quickly to “hold a seat” before you have seen official documents.
• Fees that are much lower than other universities in the same country, without a clear explanation.
• Reluctance to put course duration, internship arrangements or refund terms in writing.
• Promises that FMGE, NExT or registration in India is “guaranteed” or “easy”.

9. Questions to ask any consultant, including us

• Can you show me the university’s official fee structure and course document?
• Which payments go to you, and what exactly do they cover?
• What happens to my money if the visa is refused?
• Who supports my child after arrival, and how do I contact them?
• Can you put your answers in writing?

A good counsellor will be happy to answer these questions and will encourage you to verify everything independently. No consultant can guarantee admission, a visa or a licence. These decisions are made by universities, governments and regulators.

Keep a file

Finally, keep a single folder, paper or digital, with the NEET scorecard, offer letter, course document, fee structure, every receipt, the refund policy and all written answers from the university. You will need many of these documents again when your child returns to India and applies for registration.