Overview
Lyceum-Northwestern University (L-NU) is a private university in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, about 200 km north of Manila. It began in 1969 as a one-room nursing school at the Dagupan City Polyclinic Hospital, founded by Dr Francisco Q. Duque and Florencia T. Duque. In 1974 it led a group of local colleges in starting the Northern Philippines Institute of Medicine; from 1976 the medical school continued as the Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine. L-NU became a university in 2001.
The college describes its Doctor of Medicine as a five-year graduate programme. As everywhere in the Philippines, MD entry needs a bachelor's degree with set credits in chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics, plus the NMAT. An Indian Class 12 student therefore takes a pre-medical BS first, so the whole route is about six and a half to seven years.
The NMC does not count the BS, so the MD alone must meet every FMGL 2021 condition. A five-year MD is more likely to reach the 54 months of study the NMC requires, but ask whether the fifth year is study or internship, and how the separate 12-month internship is arranged. The licence-to-practise condition is unresolved for Indian graduates as of October 2026.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1969 as a nursing school; medical college under the Duque name from 1976; university status in 2001 |
| Type | Private university |
| City | Dagupan City, Pangasinan (northern Luzon) |
| Medical college | Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine |
| Degree awarded | Doctor of Medicine (MD), after a separate bachelor's degree (BS) |
| Duration from Class 12 | About 6.5–7 years: a pre-medical BS, then the college's five-year MD programme |
| Medium | English |
| NEET-UG | Must be qualified before admission (NMC rule for Indian students) |
| Entry test for MD | NMAT taken within the last two years (40% and above in the selection criteria), plus CHED's CEAM |
| WDOMS listing | Listed as F0001301 (Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine) |
| Tuition / year (indicative) | About USD 4,600 (not published by the university) |
| Hostel / year (indicative) | About USD 1,200 (private housing in Dagupan) |
Address: Tapuac District, Dagupan City 2400, Pangasinan, Philippines
Highlights
- Medical college with roots in 1974, listed in WDOMS (F0001301) with an ECFMG note for graduates from 1979
- Five-year MD programme, longer than the traditional four years
- FMGE 2025: 81 of 336 graduates passed (24.1%), above the Philippine average (SchoolFinderPH, citing NBEMS)
- Clinical affiliation with Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan
- Smaller, quieter provincial city with lower living costs than Metro Manila
- ISO 9001:2015 certified; the college reports Level III accreditation
Courses offered
- Doctor of Medicine (MD), Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine
- Nursing and allied medical programmes, including optometry
- Liberal arts and education
- Business, hospitality and social science
- Engineering, maritime education and information technology
- Postgraduate programmes
For Indian students the main programme is the Doctor of Medicine (MD), after a bachelor's degree, taught in English over 7 years.
Facilities
Region 1 Medical Center affiliation
The College of Medicine lists Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan as its affiliated hospital, and links with the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium.
L-NU General Hospital
The university's history records the building of its own general hospital in 1989. Ask how it is used in clinical teaching today.
New College of Medicine building
The university has announced a new building for the College of Medicine. Ask to see the anatomy, skills and simulation laboratories.
Quality systems
The College of Medicine reports ISO 9001:2015 certification and Level III accreditation, and has undergone PAASCU consultancy.
Housing
Students rent rooms or apartments near the Tapuac campus. Ask the university whether it runs or approves any dormitory.
Why choose Lyceum-Northwestern University (Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation)?
- A long-established medical college, listed in WDOMS since its early years.
- The five-year MD is longer than the usual four-year programme, which may help with the NMC's 54-month rule; confirm this in writing.
- Its graduates passed the FMGE in 2025 at 24.1%, higher than most Philippine schools.
- Dagupan is cheaper and calmer than Metro Manila.
- Clear published admission rules, including the weight given to grades, NMAT and interview.
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).
- For the MD: a bachelor's degree in science or arts with at least 10 units of chemistry, 15 of biology, 5 of physics and 9 of mathematics.
- An NMAT result taken no more than two years before applying.
- Selection is based on pre-medical grades (60%), NMAT (20%) and an interview (20%).
- Foreign applicants need the CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine (CEAM), a student visa and an ACR I-Card.
Admission process
- Qualify NEET-UG and read the latest NMC notices and the Embassy of India, Manila advisory.
- Ask L-NU in writing what the five years of its MD contain, how the 12-month internship is arranged, and its fees for every year.
- Complete a pre-medical BS that includes the required chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics units.
- Sit the NMAT within two years of applying.
- Pay the ₱1,000 application fee, submit your transcript and NMAT result, and book the admission interview.
- Report to the university's Foreign Student Unit for help with the CEAM, student visa and ACR I-Card.
- Enrol with your diploma, birth certificate, police clearance, photographs and medical test results.
Fee structure
| Tuition (USD) | Hostel (USD) | Approx. in rupees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-medical BS, per yearIndicative. L-NU does not publish a fee for foreign students; BS tuition is often lower than MD tuition. | US$4,600 | US$1,200 | ≈ ₹5.3 lakh |
| MD years 1–5, per yearIndicative. Not published by the university; ask for a written schedule for all five years. | US$4,600 | US$1,200 | ≈ ₹5.3 lakh |
| Estimated total (7 years) | US$40,600 | ≈ ₹37.4 lakh | |
L-NU publishes only its ₱1,000 application fee for the medical programme. The tuition and hostel figures above are our indicative estimates. An agent site (Moksh16, September 2026) quotes a total of about ₹18–22 lakh for the whole route, roughly USD 20,000–25,000, which would be lower than our estimate. Ask the university for a written schedule covering the BS, all five MD years, the internship and any foreign student charges, and pay only to the university'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 Lyceum-Northwestern University (Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation) and a budget in rupees.
Recognition and accreditation
- World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Listed as F0001301 (Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine), instruction from 1975. The listing carries an ECFMG note for graduates from 1979 onwards. WDOMS says a listing is not accreditation.
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilippinesL-NU was raised to university status by CHED in 2001. The College of Medicine reports Level III accreditation and ISO 9001:2015 certification but does not name the accrediting body on its page.
- Medical Council of ThailandThe college states it is accredited by the Thailand Medical Council. Ask for the current certificate and its dates.
- National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe college's page says it is accredited to the 'Indian Medical Council'. The NMC does not approve or accredit foreign universities, so treat this claim with caution. The NMC does not count the BS, and the MD alone must meet every FMGL 2021 condition. We found no NMC notice naming this university.
- 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
- Region 1 Medical Center, Dagupan City (affiliated hospital listed by the College of Medicine)
- L-NU General Hospital, Dagupan City (built by the university from 1989, per its history)
Hostel and campus life
Dagupan is a mid-sized provincial city on the Lingayen Gulf, known for its bangus (milkfish). Life is quieter and cheaper than in Metro Manila. Students rent rooms or small apartments near the Tapuac campus. The Indian student group is smaller than in Davao or Manila, so expect to cook for yourself or eat local food. Ilocano and Pangasinan are spoken locally alongside Filipino and English, so a few local phrases help in clinics. The area can flood during typhoons.
Cost of living in Dagupan City, Pangasinan
| Per month | In USD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room or small apartmentA one-bedroom flat outside the centre is about ₱10,000 (Numbeo, October 2026; few contributors) | US$70–170per month | ≈ ₹6,440 – ₹15,640 |
| Food (self-cooking and local eateries)An inexpensive restaurant meal is about ₱180 (Numbeo) | US$90–160per month | ≈ ₹8,280 – ₹14,720 |
| Electricity, water and internet (shared)Basic utilities for a flat are about ₱6,500 a month before sharing; internet about ₱1,600 (Numbeo) | US$25–60per month | ≈ ₹2,300 – ₹5,520 |
| Local transport (jeepney, tricycle)A one-way local ride is about ₱13 (Numbeo) | US$10–25per month | ≈ ₹920 – ₹2,300 |
| Mobile phone and dataAbout ₱1,000 a month for a plan with 10 GB or more (Numbeo) | US$10–20per month | ≈ ₹920 – ₹1,840 |
| Rough monthly total | US$205–435 | ≈ ₹18,860 – ₹40,020 |
About Dagupan City, Pangasinan
Dagupan City is in Pangasinan province in northern Luzon, on the Lingayen Gulf, roughly four to five hours by road from Manila. It is a regional centre for trade, schools and hospitals. The nearest international airports are in Manila and Clark, so Indian students usually fly into Manila and travel on by bus. The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from about June to November.
Ranking
Lyceum-Northwestern University is not in the major global rankings. It does not appear in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, which included 35 Philippine universities.
Scholarships
The College of Medicine mentions an entrance scholarship linked to a PRC board rating, which is meant for Philippine graduates. We found no scholarship for international students. Ask the university in writing about any discount.
Documents required
- Passport (copy of the pages showing name, photo and date and place of birth)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard
- BS transcript of records and certificate of graduation, authenticated (exempt if the BS was taken in the Philippines)
- Certified copy of the college diploma
- NMAT result (original), taken within two years
- Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine (CEAM) from CHED
- Four Personal History Statements with photos
- Affidavit of support
- Student visa and ACR I-Card
- Police or NBI clearance
- Medical certificate with chest X-ray, blood count, urine and stool tests and hepatitis B screening
- Four passport-size photographs
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 |
| AMA School of Medicine | Makati, Metro Manila | US$4,000 |
FAQs
Is the L-NU MD valid in India?
Not automatically. The NMC does not count the BS, so the MD alone must meet every FMGL 2021 condition: at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution and eligibility for a Philippine licence. The five-year MD may help with the duration rule, but the licence condition is unresolved. Get the university's answers in writing.
Is the five-year MD all classroom and clinical study?
The college calls it a five-year graduate programme but does not set out the years on its page. Ask whether the fifth year is clerkship or internship, because the NMC counts the 54 months of study and the 12-month internship separately.
The college says it is accredited by the Indian Medical Council. Is that true?
The NMC (which replaced the Medical Council of India) does not approve or accredit foreign universities. It judges each graduate against the FMGL Regulations. Do not rely on such a claim.
How do L-NU graduates do in the FMGE?
In 2025, 81 of 336 candidates from the Duque college passed (24.1%), according to SchoolFinderPH's summary of NBEMS data. That was above the Philippine average of about 19%.
How long does the whole route take?
Plan for about six and a half to seven years from Class 12: a pre-medical BS, then the five-year MD. After returning, add the FMGE (or NExT) and a 12-month internship in India.
How do I reach Dagupan from India?
Fly to Manila (non-stop from Delhi since October 2025) and take a bus north to Dagupan, which takes about four to five hours.
Sources
- L-NU: College of Medicine (opens in a new tab)
- L-NU: Admission of students into the medical programme (opens in a new tab)
- L-NU: University history (opens in a new tab)
- WDOMS: Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine (F0001301) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Lyceum-Northwestern University (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)
- SchoolFinderPH, Sep 2026: FMGE pass rates for Philippine medical schools (citing NBEMS) (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 Dagupan, Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.lyceum.edu.ph (opens in a new tab)
Fees and rules change