Can you guess the course for which students usually participate? It’s for MBBS. Many students aim to study MBBS in some of the best institutes in the country, but it leads to extremely high levels of competition. This is why some students prefer to go abroad for their MBBS studies.
But this leads to an important question for others who also want to pursue this course: is MBBS Abroad Worth It?
Why is this question important? It’s because getting into the best medical colleges in India is expensive, and there is a very high level of competition due to NEET. This has led to many students searching for colleges in other countries to follow their dreams. But because of worries about the high expenses of hostels, colleges, and living expenses, many students hesitate and eventually arrive at this question. So, let’s look into this matter and see if studying MBBS Abroad is worth it or not.
Why are people asking if MBBS Abroad Is Worth It?
The primary reason behind this question, is MBBS Aborad Worth it, is the difficulty level of getting into a top-level medical college in our country? For a majority of the Indian population, the basic requirements of these medical colleges can put a very heavy burden on students.
The most important requirement to enter a top-level medical college is to get a high score in NEET, and only after that do you have a chance to enter the college you want. But to put it in perspective, NEET 2024 had 23 Lakh candidates that appeared for the exam, out of which a total of 13 Lakh candidates had qualified. That cuts down the number of candidates by almost half. And how many seats are they competing for? Just over 1 lakh seats. That means that even after qualifying, there’s a very high chance that you might not get your desired seat in the first try. These data are for NEET 2024, and it will increase for NEET UG 2025, 2026, and so on.
Keeping these thoughts in mind, let’s first look at some of the reasons why students think MBBS Abroad is Worth It.
Reasons Why MBBS Abroad is Worth It
There are many reasons why students think MBBS abroad is worth it, and some of them are good reasons. So let’s have a look and see what are the benefits of MBBS abroad:
1. Best Universities in the World
By choosing to study MBBS abroad, many students gain the chance to study at some of the best universities in the world. These students get some of the best facilities, education and training for their courses.
2. Practicals with Professionals
When studying MBBS Abroad, the practicals are taken at hospitals from an early stage. This helps the students get hands-on experience early in their studies.
3. Use of English language
Even if the locally spoken language is different, the colleges themselves are usually English-speaking, making it easy for students who don’t know anything about the local language to get accustomed to life in a new country.
4. Better Return On Investment
Another benefit of MBBS abroad is that it has a better return on investment in the long run. How does this happen? Even though the total expenses for studying MBBS abroad are comparatively the same or lower than those for studying in India, students can become practising doctors in the host country.
Meaning that after they become qualified to practice, they can immediately start working if they choose to do so.
5. Enough Medical Seats
Colleges abroad usually provide a higher number of seats than government colleges in India. This gives the students a better chance at getting admission abroad than in a college with similar standards in India
6. Scholarships and Financial Aid
Another reason that proves studying MBBS Abroad is worth it is there are many colleges that offer scholarships and financial aid to foreign students. Some colleges even offer lower tuition fees or lower hostel fees to foreign students.
7. Global Perspective
Studying MBBS abroad additionally helps students learn more about people from other countries and cultures. Getting a global perspective in this way helps students to learn from diversity and become better people as a result.
Reasons Why MBBS Abroad is Not Worth It
We’ve explored all the major reasons for studying abroad, and these are the common points that will be brought up when talking about it. However, many also say that MBBS abroad is not worth it.
Because these concerns are genuine, we cannot ignore them. So, let’s look at some of the reasons against studying MBBS abroad.
1. Language Barrier When Talking With locals
The first concern that is easy to identify is the language barrier. In most cases, even if everyone on the college campus speaks in English, travelling and communicating with the locals will be difficult due to the language barrier.
While locals might know some English, the majority prefer speaking in their own language rather than in English. This can become a disadvantage as students who don’t know the local language will lose out on making connections and on future job prospects in the country.
Not just the locals, but in some cases, colleges will also have bilingual classes, which can lead to students missing out on having incomplete knowledge from a lecture. This also gets carried over to the study material, as sometimes a few books could be in the local language, making it difficult to study without an English translation of it.
2. Varying Standards of Education
As a student, I will likely be looking at many different colleges across the world, and the syllabus of MBBS will be different across all colleges as each country has its own standards for the course. This could lead to difficulties in choosing the right college to start your MBBS course.
3. Competition for High Skill Level
While the number of seats is greater for colleges abroad, there is still competition. Unlike the competition in NEET, where theoretical knowledge is critical, here, competition is based on skill level. Yes, a good academic record is important in every college, but for studying abroad, students also need to show a high level of skills and abilities to get in.
4. Choosing Your University
Another reason is because of this single but life-changing decision. Deciding which college to study in is not a simple matter as making this decision means choosing which country you’re willing to stay in for the duration of your course. Which country your chosen university is in will decide the next few years of your life and probably your life even after that.
5. Cultural Adjustment
Going to a different country for studies means adjusting to their culture. This can be in many different parts of your life in that country. They can include cultural etiquette, rules, laws, and, most importantly, the food. Most people, when travelling abroad, have the most trouble with food, especially those who don’t enjoy eating outside food.
6. Visa and Immigration Requirements
When picking your college, it is important to consider the visa and immigration requirements. We’re talking about this because the different countries have varying requirements for visas and immigration. There are many documents that are needed for a visa and immigration.
7. Foreign Medical Graduates Examination
After graduation, students can practice in the host country immediately, as mentioned before. However, if they want to come back to India and practice here, they will need to take a test called the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam, or FMGE for short. This test is also known as the Medical Council of India Screening Test and gives you the license to practice in your home country. e
Is MBBS Abroad Worth It?
Deciding if MBBS Abroad is worth it or not all depends on your preference. Yes, there will be travel expenses, tuition fees and cost of living to think about when planning to study abroad. Not to mention the high standards for getting selected.
However, when the selection difficulty is compared to the competition in NEET, studying abroad seems much more reasonable. Additionally, NEET has become a compulsory exam for studying in colleges abroad, so you can base your decision on your NEET score. One point to note is that studying abroad gives you the opportunity to practice in the host country, leading to greater opportunities for your career.
One last thing to keep in mind is the duration of the course. Generally, the MBBS course in India lasts for 5.5 years. However, when taking the same course abroad, it lasts for 6 years, including internships.
Making a decision such as this is not easy, as it decides the course for the rest of your life. This article has all the major information that is necessary for someone wondering about this question.
So, is MBBS abroad worth it? Considering all the benefits, the answer is yes. Of course, many get homesick or are unable to adjust, but many more are able to take advantage of the opportunity.