MBBS abroad for Indian students
An Indian student can study medicine abroad and practise in India only if the course meets the NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, and the student qualified NEET-UG before joining. After returning, the graduate must pass FMGE, the current screening test, and complete an internship in India. SG Global Education in Patna checks a university against these rules before you commit.
Last reviewed on by SG Global Education, Patna.
The rules a foreign medical degree must meet
Under the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, a person with a foreign medical qualification is eligible for registration in India only if all of these are true:
- The course of study was at least 54 months long.
- A 12-month internship was completed in the same foreign medical institution. No part of the course or training may be done in another institution or country.
- The medium of instruction was English.
- The qualification makes the holder eligible for a licence to practise medicine in that country, on the same terms as its own citizens.
- The whole course was completed within ten years of joining.
Separately, the student must have qualified NEET-UG before taking admission abroad. A NEET result is treated as valid for three years for this purpose.
There is no "NMC-approved" list of foreign universities. The National Medical Commission does not approve, recognise or rank foreign medical colleges. It lays down conditions in the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021. The responsibility for checking that a course meets them rests with the student.
What happens when you come back
- Screening test. You must pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. The National Exit Test (NExT) is meant to replace it but has not been brought into force. A draft NMC amendment published in August 2026 keeps FMGE as the requirement until NExT is rolled out.
- Internship in India. After clearing the screening test you complete a compulsory rotating medical internship in India, as required by the NMC's internship regulations.
- Registration. Only then can you be registered to practise.
NMC warnings you should know about
The NMC has issued repeated alerts about foreign institutions that do not meet these conditions. In 2025 it named colleges in Belize and Uzbekistan, and in April 2026 it again cautioned students about admissions in Uzbekistan, citing over-enrolment, teaching that was not in English and malpractice by agents. Students from non-compliant courses may be refused registration in India. Check the NMC website and the Indian embassy's advisories for the country before you decide.
Countries we are asked about most
- Nepal
- Close to Bihar, no visa, and admission through Nepal's own entrance examination.
- Russia
- Six-year course. The language of teaching is the point to verify.
- Georgia
- Six-year MD with English-medium programmes; check the internship structure.
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lower fees; check course length and internship very carefully.
How we help with MBBS abroad
- Go through a university's offer against each condition of the 2021 regulations.
- Check its listing in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
- Compare the full cost of the course, including living costs, travel and the years after you return.
- Explain honestly what the screening test and Indian internship involve.
- Tell you when a private seat in India or a repeat NEET attempt is the better option.
Questions people ask us
Is NEET required for MBBS abroad?
Yes. An Indian citizen must qualify NEET-UG before taking admission to a medical course abroad if they want to practise in India later. The NEET result is treated as valid for three years for this purpose.
Has NExT replaced FMGE?
Not yet. The National Exit Test has not been brought into force. Foreign medical graduates still take FMGE, and a draft NMC amendment published in August 2026 continues FMGE until NExT is rolled out.
Does the NMC approve foreign medical universities?
No. The NMC does not publish a list of approved foreign universities. It sets conditions on course length, internship, medium of instruction and licence eligibility in the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, and the student must make sure the course meets them.
Can I do part of my course or internship in another country?
No. Under the 2021 regulations the entire course, training and the 12-month internship must be done in the same foreign medical institution.
Which country is best for MBBS abroad for a Bihar student?
There is no single best country. It depends on whether a specific university meets the NMC conditions, on the total cost over six years and on how you will cope with the language and climate. We compare specific universities rather than countries.
Before you pay a seat-booking fee abroad, call
Tell us the university you have been offered and we will go through the NMC conditions with you, one by one.
- Name of the university and the city
- Course length and internship as written in the offer
- Medium of instruction stated in writing
- Your NEET-UG year and score
Official sources to check
Rules, dates and fees change every year. Confirm anything on this page against the authority that publishes it.