Overview
AMA School of Medicine (ASM) is a private medical school founded in 2008 by Dr Amable R. Aguiluz V as part of the AMA Education System, which is best known in the Philippines for IT courses. Its main campus is on Osmeña Highway (the South Superhighway) in Makati, Metro Manila's business city. It also has campuses in Baguio and Cavite.
ASM teaches through problem-based learning. Students work in small tutorial groups on patient cases, organised by organ system, and do cadaver dissection. The fourth year is spent on clinical rotations in affiliated public hospitals. Like every Philippine medical school, ASM admits only graduates, so Indian Class 12 students take a pre-medical BS first and sit the NMAT before the MD.
The NMC does not count the BS. The MD alone must therefore meet every FMGL 2021 condition, including at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution and eligibility for a Philippine licence. A four-year MD may fall short of 54 months, and the licence question is unresolved for Indian graduates. Ask ASM to confirm each point in writing.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2008, as part of the AMA Education System |
| Type | Private medical school |
| City | Makati City, Metro Manila (main campus); other campuses in Baguio and Cavite |
| Degree awarded | Doctor of Medicine (MD), after a separate bachelor's degree (BS) |
| Duration from Class 12 | About 6 years or more: a pre-medical BS first, then a 4-year MD and a 12-month internship |
| Medium | English |
| Teaching method | Problem-based learning in small groups of up to 10 students per tutor |
| NEET-UG | Must be qualified before admission (NMC rule for Indian students) |
| Entry test for MD | NMAT, plus the CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine |
| WDOMS listing | Not confirmed: we could not retrieve this school's WDOMS entry. Check search.wdoms.org |
| Tuition / year (indicative) | About USD 4,000 (fees are not published on sources we could open) |
| Hostel / year (indicative) | About USD 1,500 (private housing in Makati) |
Address: 5486 South Superhighway (Osmeña Highway) corner Gen. Tinio, Bangkal, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Highlights
- Problem-based learning with no more than 10 students per tutor
- Clinical rotations at Quirino Memorial Medical Center and Pasig City General Hospital
- Main campus in Makati, close to the airport and business district
- FMGE 2025: 210 of 1,179 graduates passed (17.8%) (SchoolFinderPH, citing NBEMS)
- A newer school than most in this list, founded in 2008
- Fees and WDOMS details must be confirmed directly with the school
Courses offered
- Doctor of Medicine (MD), problem-based curriculum, Makati main campus
- Doctor of Medicine at ASM Baguio (listed separately by the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges)
- Doctor of Medicine at ASM Cavite
- Pre-medical BS: the medical school itself lists only the MD, so ask which institution and BS it uses for foreign students
For Indian students the main programme is the Doctor of Medicine (MD), after a pre-medical BS, taught in English over 6 years.
Facilities
PBL tutorial rooms
Small-group rooms for problem-based tutorials, with up to 10 students per tutor.
Anatomy laboratory
Students do hands-on cadaver dissection alongside the organ-system modules.
Affiliated public hospitals
Clinical clerkship is done in partner hospitals in Metro Manila rather than in a hospital owned by the school.
E-learning
Through the AMA Education System, the school uses computer-based learning and an e-learning programme.
Housing
There is no confirmed on-campus hostel. Students rent rooms or condominium units in Makati and nearby Pasay.
Why choose AMA School of Medicine?
- Problem-based learning suits students who like case discussion and self-study.
- Small tutorial groups give more contact with tutors.
- Makati is central, with good transport and shops.
- Teaching is in English throughout.
- The 2025 FMGE pass rate (17.8%) was close to the Philippine average.
Eligibility criteria
- NEET-UG qualified before taking admission, as the NMC requires.
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English; at least 50% in PCB for general category (40% for SC/ST/OBC).
- At least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year.
- For the MD: a completed bachelor's degree and an NMAT result.
- The CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine, which all foreign MD students need.
Admission process
- Qualify NEET-UG and read the latest NMC notices and the Embassy of India, Manila advisory.
- Ask ASM in writing for the length of its MD in months, how the internship for foreign students is arranged, and a fee schedule for every year.
- Confirm where you will take the pre-medical BS and how it leads to the ASM MD.
- Apply for the BS and get an official acceptance letter.
- Have your documents apostilled, pay only to the institution's own account and keep the receipt.
- Apply for the student visa, travel, and get your ACR I-Card from the Bureau of Immigration.
- Sit the NMAT and apply to CHED for the eligibility certificate in the final BS year.
- Apply to the ASM MD with your BS transcript, diploma and NMAT result.
Fee structure
| Tuition (USD) | Hostel (USD) | Approx. in rupees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-medical BS, per yearIndicative. We found no official BS fee for foreign students. | US$4,000 | US$1,500 | ≈ ₹5.1 lakh |
| MD years 1–4, per yearIndicative. We found no official MD fee for foreign students; ask ASM for a written schedule. | US$4,000 | US$1,500 | ≈ ₹5.1 lakh |
| Estimated total (6 years) | US$33,000 | ≈ ₹30.4 lakh | |
We could not find official fees for international students: the school's website could not be opened from our research network, and the pages we could read do not list amounts. The figures above are our indicative estimates. Agent sites quote about ₹4.4 lakh a year (Careers360, April 2025) or a total of about ₹20–24 lakh for the whole route (Moksh16, September 2026), which is roughly USD 4,000–5,000 a year. Ask ASM for a written schedule covering the BS, every MD year, the internship and any foreign student fee, and pay only to the institution's own account. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want the official fee letter?Our counsellor will share the current fee schedule for AMA School of Medicine and a budget in rupees.
Recognition and accreditation
- World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Not confirmed. We could not retrieve AMA School of Medicine's WDOMS entry. Check search.wdoms.org yourself and note the school ID before applying.
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilippinesASM's Makati and Baguio campuses appear in the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges' directory of medical schools (March 2025). We did not see its CHED recognition document; ask ASM for a copy of its government recognition for the MD.
- National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve foreign universities. It does not count the Philippine BS, so the MD alone must meet every FMGL 2021 condition. We found no NMC notice naming this school.
- Licence to practise in the Philippines (PRC)Foreigners can sit the Physician Licensure Examination only where reciprocity applies. The Embassy of India, Manila said in June 2026 that Indian guidance on this is awaited.
NMC eligibility depends on you, not only the university
Teaching hospitals
- Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City (clinical clerkship partner)
- Pasig City General Hospital, Pasig (clinical clerkship partner)
Hostel and campus life
Makati is the financial centre of Metro Manila, with offices, malls and many restaurants. It is lively but more expensive than most Philippine cities. Students usually share rented rooms or condominium units near the Osmeña Highway campus or in nearby Pasay. Clerkship hospitals are in Quezon City and Pasig, so travel time across Metro Manila traffic can be long in the fourth year. Indian groceries and restaurants are available in Makati.
Cost of living in Makati, Metro Manila
| Per month | In USD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room or condominium unitA one-bedroom flat outside the centre in Manila is about ₱14,700 (about USD 250) on Numbeo; central Makati costs more | US$120–250per month | ≈ ₹11,040 – ₹23,000 |
| Food (self-cooking and local eateries)An inexpensive restaurant meal is about ₱350 (Numbeo) | US$110–200per month | ≈ ₹10,120 – ₹18,400 |
| Electricity, water and internet (shared)Basic utilities for a flat are about ₱8,000 a month before sharing (Numbeo) | US$30–70per month | ≈ ₹2,760 – ₹6,440 |
| Local transport (bus, train, ride-hailing)A monthly public transport pass is about ₱800 (Numbeo) | US$20–50per month | ≈ ₹1,840 – ₹4,600 |
| Mobile phone and data | US$10–20per month | ≈ ₹920 – ₹1,840 |
| Rough monthly total | US$290–590 | ≈ ₹26,680 – ₹54,280 |
About Makati, Metro Manila
Makati is one of the cities of Metro Manila and the country's main business district, home to banks, embassies and large shopping centres. It is close to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which has had a non-stop flight to Delhi since October 2025. English is widely used. Traffic is heavy at peak hours, and the rainy season from about June to November brings typhoons and flooding.
Ranking
AMA School of Medicine is not in the major global rankings. It does not appear in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, which included 35 Philippine universities.
Scholarships
We found no published scholarship for international students at ASM. Ask the school in writing about any discount, and do not rely on an agent's promise.
Documents required
- Passport valid for the full course where possible
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard
- Birth certificate
- Passport-size photographs with a white background
- Acceptance letter with the school's seal and a full fee schedule
- Proof of first-semester payment to the institution's own account
- Parents' affidavit of support, apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs
- Parents' bank statements and income proof
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical report with chest X-ray
- For the MD: BS transcript and diploma, NMAT result and CHED eligibility certificate
Ready to apply?Our counsellor will check your documents and NEET score and guide you through the admission letter and visa.
Other medical universities in Philippines
| University | City | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| University of Perpetual Help System DALTA | Las Piñas, Metro Manila | US$5,000 |
| Our Lady of Fatima University | Valenzuela City, Metro Manila | US$7,000 |
| Davao Medical School Foundation | Davao City | US$4,000 |
| Lyceum-Northwestern University (Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation) | Dagupan City, Pangasinan | US$4,600 |
FAQs
Is the ASM MD valid in India?
Not automatically. The NMC does not count the BS, so the MD alone must meet every FMGL 2021 condition, including at least 54 months of study and eligibility for a licence in the Philippines. A traditional four-year MD may be shorter than 54 months, and the licence condition is unresolved. Get ASM's answers in writing.
What is problem-based learning?
Instead of long lectures, students meet in small groups to work through patient cases and then study the science behind them. At ASM the groups have no more than 10 students per tutor.
Is ASM listed in WDOMS?
We could not confirm its WDOMS entry. Search search.wdoms.org for 'AMA School of Medicine' and note the school ID before paying any fee.
How do ASM graduates do in the FMGE?
In 2025, 210 of 1,179 candidates passed (17.8%), according to SchoolFinderPH's summary of NBEMS data. Most of them began before the 2021 rules.
What are the fees?
We could not find an official fee for foreign students. Agent sites quote roughly ₹4.4 lakh a year. Ask the school for a written fee schedule and pay only to its own account.
Sources
- Wikipedia: AMA School of Medicine (founding, curriculum, hospitals) (opens in a new tab)
- APMC directory of medical schools, March 2025 (via CEM) (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Manila: Advisory on Medical Education in the Philippines, 17 Jun 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- NMC public notice, 22 Nov 2023, on FMGs from the Philippines (copy hosted by Medical Dialogues) (opens in a new tab)
- Professional Regulation Commission: advisory on foreign nationals taking licensure exams (opens in a new tab)
- SchoolFinderPH, Sep 2026: FMGE pass rates for Philippine medical schools (citing NBEMS) (opens in a new tab)
- Careers360 (agent/aggregator), Apr 2025: medical universities in the Philippines (opens in a new tab)
- Moksh16 (agent site), Sep 2026: indicative fees for Philippine medical colleges (opens in a new tab)
- The POST: Philippine universities in QS Asia University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Numbeo: cost of living in Manila (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.amaschoolofmedicine.ph (opens in a new tab)
Fees and rules change