MBBS in the Philippines

The Philippines has been a popular choice for Indian medical aspirants for many years. Teaching is in English, English is widely understood in daily life, and the curriculum follows an American pattern. The Ministry of External Affairs estimated in October 2023 that more than 16,000 Indian students were in the Philippines, most of them in pre-medical or medical courses.

The route is different from MBBS in India or in most other countries. Philippine medical schools admit only graduates, so an Indian student who has just finished Class 12 first studies a pre-medical bachelor's degree (BS), then takes the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), and only then starts the Doctor of Medicine (MD). The MD itself has around two years of basic sciences, a clinical clerkship, and then a year of postgraduate internship.

This structure has caused serious problems with India's National Medical Commission (NMC). Since the FMGL Regulations came into force on 18 November 2021, the NMC has said the BS cannot be counted towards the medical course. Philippine authorities say the MD now meets the 54-month rule, but the condition that a graduate must be able to obtain a licence to practise in the Philippines is still unresolved for Indian students. This guide explains where things stand so that families can decide with the facts in front of them.

1. 01

   English in classrooms and on the wards

   Lectures, textbooks and exams are in English, and most patients and hospital staff in cities understand English. This is a real advantage over countries where students must learn a new language for clinical work.

2. 02

   American-style curriculum

   Philippine medical schools follow a US-influenced MD model with early clinical skills, case discussions and a long clerkship. Some students use this as a base for USMLE preparation.

3. 03

   Large Indian student community

   Schools in Davao, Cebu and Metro Manila have taught Indian students for many years, so Indian food, hostels and student groups are easy to find.

4. 04

   Moderate tuition

   MD tuition at private schools that take many Indian students is commonly quoted at about USD 4,000–7,000 a year, lower than most private MBBS seats in India.

5. 05

   Disease pattern similar to India

   Tropical infections such as dengue, tuberculosis and typhoid are common, so clinical cases are relevant to practice in India.

6. 06

   Direct flight from Delhi

   Air India started India's first non-stop service to Manila on 1 October 2025, taking a little under seven hours from Delhi.

• The NMC does not count the BS towards the medical course. A student who fails to get into an MD after the BS has spent one to two years and the BS fees with no medical qualification.
• Completing the BS does not guarantee a place in the MD. Places for foreign students in medicine are limited, and BS grades and the NMAT score both count.
• Under the FMGL Regulations, the whole medical course, training and internship must be at the same institution. Choose a school where you can do the BS and the MD in the same place, and confirm this in writing.
• Eligibility rules change. Check the latest NMC public notices and the Embassy of India, Manila advisory before paying any fee.

• Valid passport (at least 6 months beyond the intended stay; ideally valid for the full course)
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
• NEET-UG scorecard
• Birth certificate
• Passport-size photographs with a white background
• Acceptance letter from the university, with the school's dry seal and a full fee schedule
• Proof of first-semester tuition payment, made directly to the university
• Notarised affidavit of support and consent from parents, apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs
• Parents' bank statements and proof of income
• Police clearance certificate
• Medical examination report with chest X-ray
• For the MD stage: BS transcript and diploma, NMAT result and the CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine
• Return air ticket, if the Philippine Embassy asks for one

1. 1Qualify NEET-UG and check that your Class 12 marks meet the NMC requirement.
2. 2Read the latest NMC public notices and the Embassy of India, Manila advisory on medical education in the Philippines, and decide whether the licence risk is acceptable for your family.
3. 3Shortlist CHED-recognised medical schools and ask each one, in writing, for the length of its BS and MD, how its 12-month internship is arranged, and its full fee schedule for every year.
4. 4Apply for the pre-medical BS (or directly for the MD if you already hold an eligible bachelor's degree), and get an official acceptance letter.
5. 5Get your Indian documents notarised and apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs.
6. 6Apply for the 9(f) student visa at the Embassy of the Philippines, New Delhi, or follow the route your school advises; pay fees only to the university's own bank account.
7. 7Travel, register with the Bureau of Immigration for your ACR I-Card, and begin the BS.
8. 8During the final BS year, sit the NMAT and apply to CHED for the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine.
9. 9Apply for the MD, keep every receipt and transcript, and convert or extend your student visa as the school's international office directs.

Application timeline

1. 1

   Research schools, read NMC and Embassy advisories, plan the budget

   January–April

2. 2

   Sit NEET-UG

   May

3. 3

   NEET result; apply for the BS and receive the acceptance letter

   June

4. 4

   Apostille documents at MEA; medical tests; police clearance

   June–July

5. 5

   Student visa application and interview at the Philippine Embassy

   July

6. 6

   Travel to the Philippines and start the BS

   July–August

7. 7

   NMAT, CHED eligibility certificate and MD application

   Final year of the BS, about 12–18 months later

Universities Indian students often ask us about. Open a university for its fees, recognition, hospitals and hostel details. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

Private universities

Compare all universities in Philippines

• National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve or list foreign universities. It judges each graduate against the FMGL Regulations 2021. For the Philippines, it has said the BS cannot be counted, so the MD must meet every condition, including the licence to practise in the Philippines.
• Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilippinesCHED authorises medical schools and their MD programmes and issues the eligibility certificate foreign students need to enter medicine. In a letter of 8 May 2025, CHED told the Embassy of India that MDs from CHED-recognised schools meet the FMGL requirements.
• Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and Board of MedicinePRC runs the Physician Licensure Examination. A foreign national may sit it only if their country lets Filipinos practise on the same terms (reciprocity). This is the condition still unresolved for Indian graduates.
• World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Published by WFME and FAIMER. A school's listing shows it exists and is operating; the directory itself says a listing is not recognition or accreditation. Check that your school is listed.
• ECFMG / Intealth (USA)Eligibility for the USMLE depends on the school's WDOMS listing carrying the ECFMG note for the relevant graduation years. Check the current Intealth rules if the US is a goal.

Fees in the Philippines come in two stages. The pre-medical BS is usually the cheaper part. MD tuition at the private schools most Indian students choose is commonly quoted at about USD 4,000–7,000 a year, and some schools add a one-time foreign student fee; Our Lady of Fatima University, for example, lists USD 3,500 a semester for first-year international MD students plus a one-time foreign fee of USD 6,000. Many schools quote fees per semester and some in pesos, so ask for a written fee schedule that covers every year of both the BS and the MD, including laboratory, clerkship, internship and graduation charges. The table below shows indicative MD tuition from our records. Pay only to the university's own bank account against an official receipt, as the Embassy of India advises.

Other costs

Fees are indicative, set by each university and usually paid yearly in US dollars. Confirm the current fee schedule in writing before you pay. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

Living costs are moderate. Davao and provincial cities are cheaper than Metro Manila. Numbeo's crowd-sourced data in October 2026 put a single person's monthly costs in Davao, without rent, at about USD 540, but students who share rooms and eat at Indian messes usually spend less. Electricity is expensive, so air-conditioning adds noticeably to bills.

Figures are indicative and depend on the exchange rate, city and lifestyle. Peso prices were converted at roughly ₱58–63 to the US dollar.

On-campus dormitories are limited at most Philippine medical schools. Most Indian students live in private boarding houses, student apartments or condominium units near campus, often run for Indian students with an Indian mess attached.

• Ask whether the school runs its own dormitory or only lists nearby private housing, and who signs the lease.
• Rooms are commonly shared by two to four students; check whether air-conditioning and electricity are included in the rent.
• Indian messes serving North and South Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian food are common in Davao, Cebu and Metro Manila.
• Rice, vegetables and chicken are easy to buy; Indian spices and pulses are available in larger cities and Indian stores.
• Typhoons and floods can cut power and water for a day or two in the rainy season; choose housing on higher ground with a reliable backup.
• Get a written receipt for every deposit and monthly payment.

Students aged 18 or over joining a degree course at a school authorised to accept foreign students need a 9(f) student visa. The Embassy of the Philippines in New Delhi can issue it after the school, CHED, the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs have processed the application. Some students enter on a 9(a) temporary visitor visa issued for conversion and change it to 9(f) after arriving, which the Embassy describes as less convenient. The Embassy does not accept applications through agents; the student must appear in person.

The NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations came into force on 18 November 2021 and apply to every Indian student who joins a foreign medical course after that date. The Philippines is one of the countries most affected, because its medical education is split into a BS and an MD. The NMC has said the BS cannot be counted, so the MD alone must satisfy every condition.

• Course length: at least 54 months of medical study, followed by at least 12 months of internship at the same foreign institution.
• Medium: the whole course must be taught in English.
• Content: the course must cover the subjects listed in Schedule I of the Regulations, which match the Indian MBBS.
• Licence: the graduate must be registered, or eligible to be registered, with the body that licenses doctors in the country of study, on the same basis as that country's citizens. This is the key problem for the Philippines.
• Same institution: the course, training and internship must all be done at one institution, with no transfer part-way, and the course must be finished within 10 years of joining.
• After returning: pass the licensing exam the NMC prescribes (currently the FMGE; NExT is proposed) and complete a 12-month supervised internship in India before full registration.
• 25 March 2022: an NMC public notice said the BS and MD are separate degrees in the Philippines and the BS cannot be equated with or included in the MBBS course (as reported by Medical Dialogues).
• 22 November 2023: an NMC public notice said the BS course in the Philippines is not recognised from 18 November 2021. Students admitted to the MD on or before that date may finish and sit the FMGE, but must then do one extra year of internship in India because their course was 48 months, not 54.
• 7 December 2023 and 30 December 2025: the NMC gave a one-time exemption to students who were already in a foreign BS course before 18 November 2021 (extended to those who studied online in December 2025). They come under the older Screening Test Regulations 2002 and must do one additional year of internship in India. This does not help students joining now.
• 17 June 2026: the Embassy of India, Manila, reported that CHED (letter of 8 May 2025) says the MD is at least 54 months excluding the BS, in English, with a 12-month internship at the same institution. It also reported that foreign graduates can sit the Philippine licensure exam only where reciprocity exists, and that guidance from Indian authorities on reciprocity is awaited.

Check your eligibility with our NMC checklist

The Philippines sends one of the largest groups of candidates to the FMGE, and its graduates have passed at about the same rate as the all-country average in recent sessions, with wide differences between schools. NBEMS publishes country-wise and institute-wise results, but its website could not be reached from our research network, so the figures below come from secondary reports that quote NBEMS data. Most of these candidates started their course before the 2021 Regulations, so they do not show how students admitted now will fare under the BS-plus-MD rules.

There is no Indian government scholarship for MBBS or MD study in the Philippines, and Philippine government scholarships are meant for Filipino citizens. Some private schools offer fee discounts for strong grades, early payment or siblings, but these are usually small and change each year. Ask the school for its written scholarship policy rather than relying on an agent's promise, and treat any discount as a bonus, not part of the budget.

Education loan

Indian banks and NBFCs offer education loans for medical study abroad, and interest paid on an education loan can be claimed under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act. Because the NMC position on the Philippines is uncertain, some lenders ask more questions or need collateral, so start early. The loan must cover the BS and the MD, and disbursement is usually per semester directly to the university.

• Admission letter with the full fee schedule for every year
• Student's and co-borrower's KYC (PAN, Aadhaar, passport)
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and NEET-UG scorecard
• Co-borrower's income proof (salary slips, ITRs or business accounts) for two to three years
• Bank statements for the last six months
• Collateral documents, if the loan amount requires them
• Cost estimate covering living costs, travel and insurance

Most Indian students live and study in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao City without serious incident, but students should take normal big-city care. The US State Department rates the Philippines overall as 'exercise increased caution' (May 2025). It advises against travel to the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City and to reconsider travel to much of Mindanao, but Davao City is excluded from that warning.

• Petty theft, phone snatching and scams are the most common problems in cities; keep valuables out of sight on jeepneys and in crowds.
• Avoid the southern and western parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago unless official advice changes.
• The rainy season (roughly June to November) brings typhoons and flooding; follow PAGASA weather warnings and school closures.
• The Philippines is in an active earthquake and volcano zone; learn your building's evacuation route.
• Register with the Embassy of India, Manila, and save its emergency number.
• Never hand your passport to an agent or landlord, and keep copies of your visa and ACR I-Card.

The workload in the MD is heavy, with frequent quizzes, long hospital hours during clerkship and an NMAT hurdle before the MD. Outside study, Filipinos are known for their friendliness, English makes everyday life easy, and Indian festivals are celebrated by large student groups in Davao, Cebu and Manila. Beaches and islands are a short trip away for holidays.

1. 01

   Return to India

   If the FMGL conditions are met, pass the FMGE (or NExT when it begins), complete the 12-month supervised internship in India, register with a state medical council and then prepare for NEET-PG. Check the NMC's position on the Philippines first, because this route depends on it.

2. 02

   United States (USMLE)

   The US-style curriculum helps with USMLE preparation. Eligibility depends on the school's WDOMS listing with an ECFMG note, and the US match is very competitive for international graduates.

3. 03

   United Kingdom, Australia and others

   Graduates can take the UK's licensing assessment, Australia's AMC exams or similar tests in other countries, which usually have their own eligibility and internship rules.

4. 04

   Gulf countries

   Health authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar license foreign doctors through their own exams, but most also expect a licence or internship in the country of training and some years of experience.

5. 05

   Practising in the Philippines

   Not currently open to most Indian graduates, because the Physician Licensure Examination needs reciprocity. This would change only if Philippine law or a bilateral arrangement changes.

6. 06

   Non-clinical roles

   Public health, research, medical writing, pharmacovigilance and healthcare management are options, often after a master's degree such as an MPH.

• Licence risk: the FMGL condition about being able to practise in the Philippines has not been settled for Indian graduates. This alone can make the degree unusable in India.
• The BS does not count: you pay for one to two years of study that the NMC ignores, and there is no guarantee of an MD place afterwards.
• FMGE results: Philippine graduates passed at about 19% in 2025, with some schools well below that, so serious self-study is needed.
• Quality varies a lot between schools, in hospital access, patient numbers and how the internship for foreigners is run. Visit or speak to current students before deciding.
• Agents: students have complained of misleading letters, inflated fees and false promises about course length. Get the fee schedule and course structure from the university, pay only to its account and keep receipts.
• Climate: it is hot and humid all year, with typhoons and floods in the rainy season.
• Patients often speak Filipino or Cebuano, so you will need some basic local language during clerkship.

The Philippines is an island nation in Southeast Asia, made up of more than 7,000 islands between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Luzon in the north holds the capital, Manila, and the wider Metro Manila region; the Visayas in the centre include Cebu; and Mindanao in the south includes Davao City, where many Indian medical students live.

Filipino and English are the official languages, and English is used in schools, offices and hospitals. Daily life feels familiar to many Indian families: rice is the staple food, family ties are strong, and people are welcoming. Cities are busy and traffic in Metro Manila is heavy, while provincial cities are calmer and cheaper.

1. NMC, FAQs on the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 (opens in a new tab)
2. NMC public notice, 22 Nov 2023: clarifications on FMGs from Ukraine and the Philippines (copy hosted by Medical Dialogues) (opens in a new tab)
3. NMC corrigendum, 30 Dec 2025, to public notice of 7 Dec 2023 on foreign BS students (copy hosted by Medical Dialogues) (opens in a new tab)
4. Embassy of India, Manila: Advisory on Medical Education in the Philippines, 17 Jun 2026 (opens in a new tab)
5. Professional Regulation Commission: advisory on foreign nationals taking Philippine licensure exams (opens in a new tab)
6. APMC Advisory 2025-04 on postgraduate internship for foreign medical graduates (via Gullas College of Medicine), Nov 2025 (opens in a new tab)
7. Embassy of the Philippines, New Delhi: schedule of fees from 1 Nov 2022 (opens in a new tab)
8. Center for Educational Measurement: NMAT and admission to Philippine medical schools (opens in a new tab)
9. Ministry of External Affairs: India–Philippines bilateral brief, Oct 2023 (opens in a new tab)
10. Careers360, Nov 2025: FMGE pass percentage country-wise (citing NBEMS) (opens in a new tab)
11. SchoolFinderPH, Sep 2026: FMGE pass rates for Philippine medical schools (citing NBEMS) (opens in a new tab)
12. Deccan Herald, Jul 2026: FMGE June 2026 results declared (opens in a new tab)
13. US Department of State: Philippines travel advisory, May 2025 (opens in a new tab)
14. Numbeo: cost of living in Davao, Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
15. Proclamation No. 973 (2025): 2024 Census of Population (Lawphil) (opens in a new tab)