Considering the population of India, there are uncountable aspirants for MBBS within the country. Thus one may want to look for alternative options and explore new universities. The Republic of the Philippines or Philippines is renowned for its educational infrastructure all over the world. Students from all parts of the world fly to this southeast Asian country to avail the best education at a reasonable and affordable fee. There are so many reasons that you should consider the Philippines for pursuing a degree in MBBS.
Is MBBS in the Philippines the same as that in India?
The course in the Philippines is called Doctor of Medicine (MD) unlike MBBS in India. It is recognized by the Medical Council of India and is equivalent to MBBS in India. You will have to go through a pre-medical course first which is called BS. It is a 10-18 month course depending on the university to university. This is because the Philippines follows the American system of education which is 10 + 4, unlike the 10 + 2 system that is followed in India. After this course, you can enroll yourself for the four-year-long course of MD.
Why MBBS in the Philippines?
There are a lot of factors that you may want to consider before choosing the Philippines as your destination to study MBBS. Here are some of these factors –
Affordability
The main fee that is the course fee for the course is very reasonable. The total living cost of the student is very cheap too. Thus it is a very pocket–friendly course and country.
No donation or Capitation Fee
There is no such fee such as donation or capitation fee in any university of the Philippines. This is a major favorable point for the students.
Communication
The Philippines is one of the largest English-speaking countries in the world. Thus communication will not be an issue for Indian students.
Multiculturalism
People from all over the world come to the Philippines to pursue higher education. Thus you will be able to find people from diverse cultures and religions.
Numerous career options
After completing MBBS in the Philippines, one can get top class careers with very high incentives in countries like the USA, UK, Australia, etc.
Academic Staff
The academic staff of the Philippines is English speaking only. They are mostly employed from countries like the USA and India.
Climate
The climate of the Philippines is just like India. An Indian student can very easily adjust to the new environment.
Curriculum
The curriculum in the Philippines is very similar to India as the diseases of the two countries are mostly the same. Thus the students will be trained just like they are trained in India.
Instructions
Candidates who are seeking admission in MBBS in Philippines must have well known in English language because all the Instructions are given in English.
How to pursue MBBS in the Philippines?
Pursuing a degree of MBBS from a country like the Philippines would provide you with innumerable opportunities for your future. Some of the steps that you have to follow to pursue the course are –
- The undergraduate medical program in the Philippines consists of 2 different courses.
- The first course is called BS. This is a course of 10 months to 2 years depending on the university that you are choosing. This is a foundation or pre-medical course.
- After the completion of this course, you are eligible to apply for a Bachelor of Science ( BS ). After completing this course, the candidate must give an entrance called NMAT which is the National Medical Admission Test. This will enable you to apply for an MD which is Doctor of Medicine.
Admission Process
Following is the procedure to take admission in MBBS course in Philippines:-
- First of all, candidates need to fill the application form
- Candidates need to submit the soft copy of their passport and other important documents
- Then, needs to collect the admission letter from the University
- After, admission is confirmed, the immigration procedure may start
- After that, candidates need to visit the Philippines Embassy after receiving the invitation letter
- Then, at last, evaluate and verify each and every document before applying for visa
Course Structure
In the Philippines, MBBS is offered as a combination of Bachelor of Science ( BS ) and Doctor of Medicine ( MD ) . In totality, it is a 6-year long degree program that also includes an internship of one year. While the major part of the degree focuses on medical science and clinical training, the first 16 months pertain to the BS program. The students get practical training by the end of the fifth year. Students are allotted to various hospitals and medical centers and get training as medical practitioners. Professional doctors train them.
Eligibility Criteria for Pursuing MBBS in the Philippines
The requirements to become eligible for applying for the course is very simple. The candidate has to qualify for the NEET exam. S/he must score a minimum of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from a recognized board or school. He/she will not be allowed to practice medicine in India after the completion of the course from abroad without NEET. Thus if you want to study abroad but practice medicine in India, you must pass the NEET exam.
Admission Intakes 2021
The applications for admissions are accepted around the month of March for degrees like MD in the Philippines. The application procedure is completed in the months of June and July. These are the deadline months. The sessions begin in September or October. The candidates are suggested to keep checking the website of the university to make sure that they do not miss any crucial dates.
Medical Institutions in the Philippines
There are a number of institutions in the Philippines. The majority of these institutions are approved by MCI and WHO. This enables the degree holder to practice medicine in not only the Philippines but also India. You can choose from the universities according to your preference. Here is a list of some universities that are the most preferred by the students from all over the world –
- University of Santo Tomas
- Davao Medical School Foundation
- University of Perpetual Help DALTA
- AMA College of Medicine
- Cagayan State University
- Our Lady of Fatima University
- Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila
- Cagayan State University
- Ago Medical and Educational Center, Bicol Christian College of Medicine
Fees Structure
The Philippines is one of the most preferred education hubs in the world because of its high quality of education. Not only this, it is a very pocket-friendly country when it comes to higher education. You can easily pursue your dream career in the Philippines without thinking much about your pocket. The students who are applying for the course of MBBS in the Philippines will have to submit their fees in two parts. One fee is for BS while the other is for MD. The average fees for the MD course are nearly INR 11-22 lac and the fees for the BS course are around INR 3.5-7 lac.
Best Medical Colleges in the Philippines
AMA College of Medicine
This medical college is located in Makati city and is one of the best medical schools to pursue MBBS in the Philippines. WHO and MCI both recognize this university; hence the degree you’ll obtain from here will be valid in India and internationally as well.
Angeles University Foundation
Angles University was founded in 1962, but the “School of Medicine” started its journey in 1983. This is one of the most preferred medical colleges by Indian students for MBBS in the Philippines. For the last few years, students from this medical college are performing outstandingly in the MCI screening test.
Our Lady of Fatima University
One of the most popular medical universities in the Philippines, OLFU has an outstanding track record of 40 plus years in the history of medical education in the Philippines. Since its inception, more than thirty thousand doctors have graduated from this university.
Davao Medical School Foundation
Established in 1976, this medical college has an impressive rank of 6th among the Philippines’ top medical universities and colleges. The college is located in Mindanao.
University of Saint Tomas
The MD course offered by the University of Saint Thomas has been included in the QS-2019 subject rankings recently. Furthermore, it has also been recognized as the “Centre of Excellence” by the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines.
The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
Formed in 1975, this university is an excellent choice for MBBS in the Philippines. It’s a private university, recognized by WHO and MCI. This university, with three main campuses, more than twenty thousand students, and thousand plus faculties, is one of the largest universities in the Philippines.
Other colleges that you may wish to consider in the Philippines are as follows –
- Emilio Aguinaldo College of Medicine
- Bicol Christian College of Medicine
- Medical School Foundation
- Cagayan State University
- Cebu Doctor’s Medical University
Overview:
Eligibility Criteria: should passed 10+2 with minimum 50% of marks are applicable for MBBS admission in Philippines
NEET exam: must have valid NEET scorecard
Course Pattern and Duration: 5.5 with internship
Course Fee: Rs. 2.5 lakh/yr to 6 lakh/yr
Cost of living in Philippines: Rs. 12000/mo to 15000/mo
Facilities for Students: Hostel, Indian food, Wifi
Currency: Philippines Peso
Timezone: UTC+8
Medium of Teaching: English
Recognition: MCI, WHO, WFME, FAIMER
MCI approved medical colleges: 45
Top medical colleges: 3
Present studying Indian Students: 5000+
MBBS in Philippines – Syllabus
Here are the subjects that will be covered in both the degrees – BS and MD .
BS Course Syllabus:
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | Fourth Term |
| Biochemistry | Animal Physiology | Education for Sustainable | Human Genetics |
| General Psychology | General Microbiology | Systematic Biology | Taxation and Agragariam Reform |
| Parasitology | Entomology | Ecology | Histology and Micro-Technique |
| Plant Morpho-Anatomy | Developmental Biology | Research Methodology | Radiation Biology |
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | Freshwater Biology | Cell and Molecular Biology | Research in Biology Sciences |
| Calculus and Analytical | Plant Physiology | Development | – |
| Geometry | Fundamentals of Genetics | Comparative Religion | – |
MD Course Syllabus:
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | Fourth Term |
| Histology | General Pathology | Radiology | Legal Medicine |
| Physiology | Clinical Pathology | Surgery- II | Paediatrics |
| History of Medicine | Surgery | Dermatology | Medicine |
| Medicine | Epidemiology | Cardiology | Neurology |
| Preventive and Communicative | Paediatrics-I | Advanced Pathology | Surgery |
| Bioethics | Neuroscience II | Cardiology | Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Neuroscience | Pharmacology | Obstetrics and Gynecology | – |
| Anatomy | Microbiology | Ophthalmology | – |
Are Medical Schools in the Philippines Recognized?
Medical schools in the Philippines are recognized by the following institutes –
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Medical Council of India (MCI)
- Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
- World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
- Foundation of Advancement of International Medical Education & Research (FAIMER)
Visa Procedure in the Philippines
Generally, the student visas for the Philippines take such a long time that tourist visas are converted to student visas. The following documents have to be submitted to the local Philippines embassy –
- All of your mark sheets, transcripts, and transfer certificate
- Photocopy of DOB certificate
- Local police verification certificate
- Parent’s NOC
FAQs
Q.1 Is an MBBS degree from the Philippines valid in the USA?
Ans. Yes, MBBS from the Philippines is acknowledged in major countries like the USA, Canada, etc.
Q.2 Is an MBBS degree from the Philippines accepted in India?
Ans. Yes, MBBS degrees from the Philippines are accepted by MCI. However, to practice in India, one needs to clear the MCI screening test.
Q.3 Is IELTS / TOEFL required for pursuing MBBS in the Philippines?
Ans. Most of the medical universities in the Philippines do not demand students to qualify for the IELTS examination. It depends from university to university.
Q.4 Which language is used in the Philippines?
Ans. The mode of education in the Philippines is English. Thus, Indian students need not learn any additional language since MBBS in the Philippines is also taught in English.
Q.5 Is it worth pursuing MBBS in the Philippines?
Ans Medical degree from the Philippines is accepted worldwide. Thus you can get a job in any part of the world. It is genuinely worth it. The teachers, as well as the students, come from all over the world to give you a world-class experience and education.
Q.6 After studying MBBS in Philippines, can an Indian student work in India as a Doctor?
Ans Yes, he/she can but they need to clear an examination.
Q.7 What are the admission criteria to study MBBS in Philippines?
Ans Candidates must have passed 10+2 examination with minimum 50% of marks in PCB with NEET score card is mandatory.
