After completing schooling from PCB stream an Indian student starts looking for a good option to make their career in the medical field by pursuing MBBS in India or MBBS Out Of India. Due to limited seats in India, there is very high competition for qualifying and scoring in the NEET exams. Even if someone qualifies in the NEET examination, only the top 5 percentile students have a chance to get admitted to their desired Indian University/college. Further when Private Indian Colleges are concerned either the Donation/Fee structure is too heavy or in some cases, if that is not so then the Infrastructure of the college is not good. So instead of choosing between the two devils, it’s better to look out for MBBS Out Of India options which are cheaper than Private colleges, offer excellent education and are on the approved list of the MCI. Those students who pass out from such colleges are treated at par with Indian college pass-outs when they together appear for the NEXT exam to get their Medical Practitioners license.
Now as per Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines a student has to qualify NEET exams to get MBBS admission in a foreign country. NEET(National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), which was formerly known as All India Pre-Medical Test is an entrance examination for Indian students who wish to pursue graduation, post-graduation in government and private universities from abroad to get admission in MBBS (Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of surgery) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
In NEET 2021 exams around 21 Lac students are expected to register and going by earlier statistics, Also around 12 Lac students will be qualifying. And if we put Indian Govt and Private colleges together there are only 75000 seats. Therefore chances of all NEET qualified students being admitted to MBBS are next to impossible.
Although every one of the aspirants tries to be in the top 5 percentile, educational opportunities should not be denied to those who fail to be in the first 5 percent and therefore thousands have opted for MBBS Out Of India in the last decade and the number is growing every year.
NEET Exam Aspirants Data-
| Registered | Appeared | Qualified |
NEET 2020 | |||
Total | 15,97,435 | 13,66,945 | 7,71,500 |
NEET 2019 | |||
Total | 15,19,375 | 14,10,755 | 7,97,042 |
Medical Seats in India
| Type of Colleges | MBBS | BDS | ||
| Total Colleges | Total Seats | Total Colleges | Total Seats | |
| Government Colleges | 272 | 41,388 | 50 | 3,513 |
| Private Colleges including Deemed Universities | 260 | 35,540 | 263 | 23,260 |
| Total Seats through NEET | 532 | 76,928 | 313 | 26773 |
Source- NTA Statistics
According to the Medical Council of India (MCI), there are 532 recognized colleges in India that offer MBBS courses, with a total of 79,928 seats. In comparison, there are hundreds of additional institutes located across the globe that are recognized by the MCI for MBBS courses.
Couple all this with the considerable cost of MBBS in India at private institutes (the same degree is often cheaper internationally!) and the allure of travelling abroad, and you won’t be surprised to see that MBBS out of India is becoming a popular option today. Now Indian medical aspirants who wish to pursue medicine in India starts searching for other options.
Advantages of Pursuing an MBBS from Abroad
1. Less Dependence on NEET Rank
Although from 2018 onwards the highly competitive NEET entrance exam has become compulsory for applying to MBBS courses internationally, the competition will still be considerably less compared to Indian institutes. There are nearly 3 times as many students applying for the MBBS course in India as the number of available seats, and the competition is cutthroat as admission takes place on the basis of rank secured. In comparison, students pursuing MBBS abroad have minimal requirements in terms of NEET ranking.
2. Lower Costs Compared to Private Indian Institutes
Government medical colleges in India are undoubtedly affordable, however, private medical colleges are expensive, with minimum costs around ₹ 45-50 lakhs to pursue an MBBS degree. In comparison, an MBBS degree in a foreign destination like Bangladesh, Russia or Kazakhstan would cost around ₹ 30 lakh, based on the specific country. Also, there are many hidden costs involved in studying at a private medical college in India, which can be eliminated by studying abroad where the costs are largely upfront.
3. Quality of Education
Institutes that are recognized by the MCI and also meet the local standard of education regulations generally offer top-quality education to MBBS students. As compared to domestic institutes, medical colleges abroad face extensive censure to maintain quality standards. However, it’s best to verify the ranking and/or reviews of any institution you are considering applying to.
4. International Exposure
Studying MBBS Out Of India is a learning experience in itself, regardless of the course, as you learn about a new culture and how to adapt to a new environment. Specifically for an MBBS course, studying abroad gives exposure to a variety of medical conditions, along with advanced technology, state-of-the-art apparatus, and amenities.
Challenges in Pursuing an MBBS from Abroad
College Recognition
It is essential to thoroughly research any medical college you are considering applying to so that you can verify its recognition in its own country and in India. Visit the Medical Council of India website to confirm if the college you’re interested in is recognized by the MCI. Also, check that your prospective medical school is recognized by WHO (World Health Organization). A degree from an unrecognized institute will most likely not be of any use in your career.
License to Practice
If you complete your MBBS degree outside of India, you will be required to pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) screening test in order to register with the MCI or any state medical council and practice medicine in India. The test is conducted twice a year by the National Board of Examinations for Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). FMGE is based on the MBBS curriculum.
Manav Education Consultants helps you to find the perfect college/university to fulfil your MBBS dream hassle-free. Our experts will guide you throughout the procedure. Contact us for more information.