MBBS in Philippines

MBBS in the Philippines was very popular among Indian students who did not wish to learn an additional language, such as that required in MCI-recognized medical colleges or universities in European countries like Georgia, Serbia , Russia,or China . This is because the Philippines is an English-speaking country. More than 95% of the people speak the English language. MBBS in the Philippines was also popular because of its climatic conditions, which are not as cold as in European countries. Post-NMC, the MBBS/MD program in the Philippines became valid as it did not meet the criteria of FMGE Regulation 2021.

Medical Education System in Philippines

There are three Steps for completing the Medicine program in Philippines

• BS Program for 2-3 Years
• Clearing Competitive NMAT Exam after BS Course
• MD Course of 5-1/2 Years

Comparison of MD in Philippines vs. MBBS in India

If we compare both the education system, Primary difference is entry to the Medicine Course and duration of the Program

Benefits of studying MBBS in Philippines

There are many benefits to doing your MD in the Philippines few of them are listed below

1. There is no need to learn any new language, like other MBBS abroad destinations like Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, etc. The native language of the Philippines is English. Most of the students find it very convenient for their local commination.
2. Entire Course of Medicine in English, like India
3. The patient inflow into the hospitals is moderate. You learn sufficient from the in-house and outpatient, though it is not as high as in India and China but better than many of the European Countries.
4. Indian food is available in medical colleges and is popular among Indian students.

Disadvantages of Studying MBBS Course in Philippines

There are a few advantages, but a lot of challenges as well, to studying MD or MBBS in the Philippines. Usually, these facts are never shared with the students by the agents. Consider them before finalising the Philippines as your destination for the study of medicine in the Philippines.

i) Admission to BS Program not the Medicine Program

The first and biggest problem with studying medicine in the Philippines for Indian students is that they are first put in a pre-medical program (BS). Just taking admission to a BS program does not entitle you to become a doctor. It is just an entry into the medical program leading to a BS! Pass the NMAT Exam to get a medical seat (MD / MBBS) in the Philippines. A BS degree in the Philippines is not considered a bachelor’s degree in India. Students return due to non-passing the NMAT exam or not getting through the MD Philippines seat. Imagine the problem they would face back at home when they lost precious 2 years of life and considered just 12th years of returning to India!

ii) Long Duration for MD / MBBS in Philippines Program.

The second important point hidden by the agents or overseas education consultants promoting MBBS in the Philippines is the duration of the program. You must understand that the total duration of the program is 7.5 years, which is the longest among all the options!

• The initial 2 years are for the bachelor’s degree program leading to the NMAT exam.
• 5.5-year medical program after passing the NMAT exam.

iii) Visa Problem.

Indian students face problems with the issuance of visas to study medicine in the Philippines. The Indian students get a tourist visa. On arriving in the Philippines, the students depend on the agent and the college to transfer the tourist visa (9A type) to the study visa (9F type). When the student clears the NMAT exam, there is a change of course from BS to MD, and again, a new visa is issued.

iv) Poor Ranking of Philippines Universities

The biggest problem is the poor infrastructure and ranking of Philippine medical universities; they are usually in the 9000–12,000 world rankings. There are good universities as well, but all Indian students are admitted into private medical colleges in the Philippines by the agents.

v) Medical Licence in Philippines for Indian Students

As per CHED and Philippine rule, a medical practice licence is only to be issued to nationals of those countries that allow a Filipino to practice in their country. NMC doesn’t allow any foreigner to practice in India, including the Philippines. Hence, any Indian can’t get a license to practice in the Philippines. Getting registered in Philippines with CHED is mandatory as per FMGE regulation, which is not fulfilled in the Philippines

Roadmap for Medical PG in USA After MD in Philippines

Philippines follows the US Medical Education System; however, it has many deviations from the actual medical academic Program being followed in USA Med Schools. You can refer to the below table for the comparison of the MD Program in Philippines vs. MD in USA

More than 14 thousand Filipino-origin doctors are working in the USA, but though the Philippine MD program follows the US Medical Education System, you still have to pass the USMLE exam like any other IMG to do a residency program in the USA.

If you are planning your residency in the USA, then ideally you have to follow the below timelines along with your medical school course.

1. Stating of USMLE Step 1 Preparation from 1st Year of MD, i.e. After Clearing NMAT Exam
2. Write the USMLE Step 1 Exam after 2nd Year of MD
3. Preparation of USMLE Step 2CK, from 3rd Year of MD
4. Write the USMLE Step 1 Exam after 4th Year of MD
5. Application for Electives/Clerkship During Your Clinical Rotations

Pre-med courses in Philippines

For pre-medical courses in the Philippines, students need to enrol first in a BS course such as B.S. (Psychology) or B.S. (Biology). The duration of this course can be 2–3 years, depending upon the university you enrolled in. Further, the students have to pass an exam, namely the NMAT, to get promoted to study medicine in the Philippines.

NMAT Exam

After completing the BS course in the Philippines, students need to appear in the NMAT exam, which is similar to the NEET exam in India. This is a competitive exam, and a minimum score of 40 percent is required to qualify for the exam and become eligible for the MD course. The NMAT exam is conducted in two parts: NMAT 1 and NMAT 2.

NMAT Part 1 contains the mental ability test

NMAT Part 2 analyses the academic ability of the participants

MBBS Duration in Philippines

Philippines MBBS duration was 4 years till 2021. After the amendment to the NMC FMGE Regulation, many of the medical colleges in the Philippines changed their MD course curriculum to 5 and a half years to match the Indian regulator requirement. This duration is inclusive of a clinical internship in the Philippines. Those who clear the NMAT exam need to apply for a new visa for this program. The usual time from completing the BS Program to starting the MD course is 5–6 months. Which makes MBBS in the Philippines last 7–1/2 years. inclusive of BS course

Best Medicine Universities in Philippines

Medical Universities in Philippines

As per WDOMS, find the list of 54 Philippine Medical universities offering MD courses to students.

Best Medical Schools in Philippines for Indian Students 

Below is the list of the best medical colleges in the Philippines as per popularity among Indian students. All these medical colleges are private.

You can opt for any of the top 10 medical colleges in the Philippines for your medical studies.

NMC Accreditation for Philippines Medical Colleges

The main concern for all students looking for MBBS in the Philippines is whether MBBS in the Philippines is recognised in India. NMC has issued an advisory to the students seeking a medicine course in the Philippines post-FMGE Regulation 2021, as per the advisory medicine program of the Philippines, which is not valid in India. An advisory has been issued by the Indian Embassy in Philippines for MBBS students in Philippines. This is for two reasons

• Philippines MBBS course duration doesn’t meet FMGE Regulation 2021. CHED, Philippines Medical Regulation, at par with NMC in India, issued circular in this regard, which is still to be accepted by NMC for change in program
• License for Indian Students in Philippines

Technically, there is no NMC-approved Medical college in Philippines

Cost of Study in Philippines

Those who wish to study in the Philippines need to consider the below expenses while calculating the total cost of studying a medicine course in the Philippines. 

• Tuition fee
• Hostel or Accommodation
• Food
• Travel Cost
• Miscellaneous Expenses.

MBBS in the Philippines costs approx. 45–50 lacs, inclusive of medical college fees, hostel charges, food, travel to India every year, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Philippines MBBS fee structure 2024

Philippines MBBS fees in Indian rupees are mentioned in the below table. Kindly note that this is only the tuition fee for the MD Program.

Hostel and Food Cost

Most of the private colleges charge for hostels and food collectively. It is compulsory for all the students to stay in the hostel and join the mess. Usually, hostel charges are in the range of 6000–7000 pesos, whereas food charges are 5000–6000 pesos per month. The yearly cost for both is approx. 1.5 lacs PESO, which is more than 2 lacs INR.

Travel Cost

Manila, Philippines, has no direct flights from any Indian city; this is connected via Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, or Singapore from Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore. The time and cost of the flight depend on your chosen airline. A flight may cost 15-20 K for one way and take around 10–12 hours.

Eligibility Criteria for BS Program in Philippines

To apply to BS program in Philippines, students need to meet the below eligibility criteria

• 50% marks in PCB in Class XII or equivalent grade
• NEET-qualified in any of the Years from 2022 to 2024
• Age must be more than 17 Years

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS in Philippines

MBBS in the Philippines eligibility requires below criteria to be fulfilled

• You must have a Bachelor’s degree either in India or a BS degree in Philippines 
• You must Qualify for the NMAT Exam

Philippines Medicine Course Admissions Process.

Generally, the Indian students who expect more than 50% in their 10+2 level block their seats at their chosen medical university right from the beginning. These students do not wait for last-minute Indian results. Most of the medical seats are filled up in June every year for the September batch. Students just need to pay the application fees along with the 10+2 mark sheets immediately after the results are announced. It will ensure your admission to Philippine medical schools for MD course, also known as doctor of medicine course in the Philippines

Historically, agents placed Indian students in very poorly ranked universities in the Philippines. You can surely be admitted to study medicine in the Philippines after knowing the above disadvantages.

Philippines MBBS Intake:  There is only one intake for MBBS admission in the Philippines in September, for which the application deadline is generally the 15th of July for the September batch.

MBBS Syllabus in Philippines

As there is no updated syllabus available for MD course in Philippines after 2021, the below-mentioned old Syllabus can be referred as doctor of medicine curriculum in Philippines.

Medical License in India after MBBS in Phillipines

During MBBS study, a student realises the importance of being a specialist. They also understand the competitiveness of securing an MD / MS Seat in a Govt. College. Let’s look at the success ratio to get a PG Seat in Govt Medical Colleges in India, which is 11% broadly; we can say that only 1 out of 10 will get a PG Seat, whereas the chances of getting Clinical speciality is 1 out of 20 applicants. The PG journey will be challenging, or students should have enough money to get a paid seat in Pvt Medical College in Crores!

Will early preparation and the right mentorship pave your dream of becoming a specialist? NMC has already announced the introduction of the NEXT Exam in India in 2024. This Exam will replace all Medical PG exams in India. The Exam will be conducted in two parts: NEXT-1 and NEXT-2. 

The Objective of the NEXT-1 is to assess the Student’s Knowledge of Pre, Para, and Clinical Subjects on the National Level. Only after qualifying for NEXT-1 will any medical student be eligible for an internship. After completing the internship, Students must go through NEXT-2, assessing their Clinical skills, Patient Management, and Keeping Medical history. Those who will Clear NEXT-2 will be awarded a license to practice, and Rankers of NEXT-1 will get PG seats of their choice of speciality.