More than 10,000 international students study MBBS in the Philippines. Because of the high pass rate in the MCI Screening Test/FMGE, the percentage of Indian students in Philippine medical universities has steadily increased in recent years. Almost all medical schools in the Philippines follow the American Standard Medical Education, making it simple for students to prepare for the USMLE and the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE).
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago nation in the western Pacific. The nation is made up of 7,641 islands that are divided into three geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.The official languages are Filipino and English. The nation has a total area of 3 lakhs square kilometres. Manila is the Philippines’ capital city. It is ranked 12th in the world in terms of population, making it one of the most popular study destinations.
Contents Table of Contents
1. A Quick Overview
2. Why MBBS in the Philippines?
3. Philippines MBBS Course
4. Philippines’ Top MCI-Listed Medical Schools
5. Eligibility and Admission Process for MBBS in the Philippines
6. Processing Visas
7. Philippines’ History
8. Geographical information
9. Living Costs
10. Climate change
11. Food and culture
12.How to Get There
QUICK REVIEW
| Total Indian Students: | 3000+ |
| Tuition Fees Range | ₹3Lakh/year to ₹6Lakh/year |
| Student Facilities | Hostel, Indian Food |
| MCI Approved Medical Colleges | 40 |
| FMGE Passing Rate | High |
| Cost of Living: | 15000 to 20000 INR(month) |
| Capital: | Manila |
| Language: | English |
| Area: | 300000 sq km |
| Population: | 10-20 crores |
| Currency: | Philippines Peso(PHP) |
| Time zone: | UTC +8 (PST) |
| Time Difference: | Philippines is 2 hours and 32 minutes ahead from India. |
| Geography: | Southeast Asia |
| Borders With: | Taiwan,Vietnam,Palau,Malaysia and Indonesia |
Why MBBS in the Philippines?
For a variety of reasons, the Philippines is the best destination for Indian students interested in studying medicine. Some of the most important are mentioned below.
*English is the Philippines’ official language. It allows students studying MBBS in the Philippines to communicate with patients more easily during their internship. Since most of the MCQs on the National Exit Test are focused on clinical diagnosis, clinical rotation experience is the most important factor in determining success on the Medical License Exam.
*English is the medium of instruction/teaching in all Philippines Medical Schools. In contrast to China or Russia, there is no need to learn a second language to complete the medical program.
* Admission does not require the TOEFL or IELTS test.
Philippines (*) The seasons are the same as in India’s tropical climate, so the disease spectrum is very close. When diagnosing patients, it’s critical that we get patients with diseases that are prevalent in the Indian environment during clinical clerkship.
*Internationally Recognised Medical Degree: The World Health Organization and the Medical Council of India recognise medical colleges (or universities) in the Philippines.
*To research Medicine (MD) in the Philippines, there are no donation or capitation fees. By studying medicine in Philippines Medical Colleges, you can save nearly 70% of the tuition fees charged in private medical colleges in India.
*More than 10,000 international students study MBBS in the Philippines. Nearly a third of the students were Native Americans. Few colleges have a large number of South Indian students, and even fewer have a blend of South and North Indian students.
* The Philippines is well-known for its high-quality education in a variety of fields. It has 2,180 higher education institutions, 607 of which are public and 1,573 of which are private.
* The Philippines’ medical education is focused on the US educational system, which provides various opportunities to work in developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Philippines MBBS Course
*The Philippines country provides the MBBS course with a duration of 5 and ½ years.
*The first one and a half year, Indian medical students have to learn about pre-medicine course(that is called the Bachelor of Science program). Students learn basics under Psychology, Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
*The Pre medicine course, is followed by M.D (Doctor of Medicine) course. The first three years of M.D course concentrates on Pre-Clinical, Para clinical, General Medicine, Surgery, Clinical, Specialised subjects such as Pediatrics, Obstetrics &Gynaceology, ENT, etc. The last one year of the medical course is dedicated for practical training in affiliated hospitals.This is called as clinical rotation.
MBBS In Philippines Syllabus
*The B.S course has Basics of Psychology, Human Physiology with 1 and ½ years
*The first year of medicine covers Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Histology, Neuroanatomy.
*The second year of medicine covers pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, parasitology, obstetrics, preventive medicine and community health, clinical pathology.
*The third year of the medicine course covers pediatrics, radiology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, legal medicine / medical jurisprudence, gynecology, clinicopathologic conference/special topics in pathology.
*The fourth year of medicine is a clinical internship, to practice with affiliated medical centers to the corresponding university.
Medical Course Recognition:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Medical Council of India (MCI)
- World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
- Foundation of Advancement of International Medical Education & Research (FAIMER)
Philippines’ Top MCI-Listed Medical Schools
Following is the list of top MCI Approved Medical Colleges in Philippines according to World Ranking Web of Universities.
- University of Perpetual Help System Dalta – National Rank 71
- University of Santo Tomas – National Rank 6
- Central Philippines University – National Rank 33
- De La Salle Health Sciences Institute – National Rank 77
- Davao Medical School Foundation – National Rank 134
- Emilio Aguinaldo College – National Rank 91
- Bicol Christian College of Medicine – National Rank 276
- UV Gullas College of Medicine – National Rank 277
Eligibility and Admission Process for MBBS in the Philippines
*The students should have more than 50 percent of marks in 10+2 standard with physics, chemistry, and biology or equivalent higher education. If student belong to OBC/SC/ST reservation category, then 40 percent marks is sufficient.
*NEET Qualifying Score Cut off in the last three years. For NEET 2020, the qualifying cut off is 147 for Unreserved category and 113 for OBC/SC/ST reservation categories.
Admission Procedure for MBBS In Philippines
Step 1 : Fill the College Admission Application form.
Step 2 : Submit soft copies of Your Passport, HSC Mark Sheet to apply for Letter of Permission for Admission
Step 3 : Receive the admission invitation letter from the medical university
Step 4 : After admission confirmation, apply for the Philippines Visa along with all necessary documents.
Step 5 : Appear for Personal Visa Interview at Philippines Embassy along with the invitation letter and other supporting documents for Visa Approval.
Step 6 : Travel to Philippines and join the medical college
Processing Visas
*Students who have reached the age of 18 are eligible for a student visa from the Philippines government.
*A Special Study Permit can be obtained by a student who is 17 years old (SSP). The SSP must be validated every six months.
To obtain a Philippine student visa, applicants must have an original passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of stay in the Philippines, an original and one photocopy of their mark statement, a leaving certificate from their previous educational institution, a birth certificate, an affidavit of support signed by their parents or legal guardians, and a transcript of records.Before issuing a Philippines Student Visa, the Philippines government authenticates all of these documents.
Accommodation and Food in Philippines.
The majority of medical colleges in the Philippines have hostels for Indian students. Although staying in a hostel is not required, we strongly advise students to do so because it provides safety and security. Some medical colleges have hostels on campus, while others have them nearby. The hostel will be monitored by CCTV cameras, ensuring that female students have a safe place to stay. When choosing a medical college, see if there is a separate hostel for boys and girls.
Similarly, most of the Philippines’ top medical schools serve Indian cuisine, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, depending on the students’ preferences. Indian food is served to Indian students at the University of Perpetual Help and the Davao Medical School Foundation. For students studying MBBS in the Philippines, there are Indian restaurants/canteens available, primarily in the capital region of Manila, where they can sample different Indian flavours once in a while.
Philippines’ History
The Philippines is rich in natural resources and home to a diverse population of ethnicities and cultures. The majority of the people in prehistoric times were Negritos. Datus, rajas, sultans, and lakans ruled over various competing maritime areas. The Philippines is a Spanish colonial country in the 16th century. On June 12, 1898, they declared their independence.
Geographical information
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago bounded to the south by the Celebes Sea, to the east by the Philippine Sea, and to the west and north by the South China Sea. The country is shaped like a triangle and is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, close to the equator. The country’s coastline stretches for 36,289 kilometres, and agricultural land accounts for more than 32% of the total land area. Mount Apo is the highest point, and Galathea Depth is the lowest. Thelongest river in the country is the Agusan.
Living Costs
In comparison to other foreign countries, the Philippines has a very low cost of living. Although the cost of living in the Philippines is 40% higher than in India, the cost of most necessities is comparable. Prices in restaurants and markets are 1.75 percent higher than they are in India. Many Indian students pursuing an MBBS degree. Transportation costs in the Philippines are said to be very low when compared to India. Charges for electronic items are three times higher than in India. The cost of clothing and shoes is comparable to that of India.
Climate change
The Philippines has a tropical and maritime climate marked by high temperatures, oppressive humidity, and abundant rainfall. In the country, there are two seasons: a wet season and a dry season, which are determined by rainfall. June to November is the rainy season, while December to May is the dry season. In the Philippines, January is the coldest month and May is the hottest. In comparison to other places, Baguio City receives the most rainfall, and the annual mean temperature is very low. As a result, Baguio is the Philippines’ summer capital.
Because the climate is so similar to that of India, Indian students can learn about diseases that are similar to those in India. Top MCI Approved Medical Colleges in the Philippines administer MCQ-style semester exams similar to the MCI screening test administered by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). This is one of the main reasons for the Philippines Medical Foreign Graduates’ high passing rate when compared to Russia or China.
Food and culture
The cuisine of the Philippines is a mix of Asian and European influences. In the Philippines, rice is the most common food. It’s usually served steamed with vegetables, meats, and fish. Chicken, pork, beef, and fish are among the meats available. In this country, seafood is very popular. The mountain of Batangas has produced a strong-flavored coffee variety. Pandesal (small bread roll) made with rice flour is a traditional Filipino breakfast. The Philippines is one of the most democratic countries in the world. In this country, Christianity is the most widely practised religion. The Philippines’ festivals are known as “fiestas.” Hinugyaw, Ati-Atihan, Sinulog, Panagbenga, MassKara, Pintados-Kasadyaan, and Hermosa are among the most well-known fiestas.
How to Get There
Air routes link the Philippines to every other country on the planet. There are 13 international airports in this country, all of which are connected to other countries. The Philippines’ busiest airports are Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, Skyjet, SilkAir, Malaysian Airlines, and PAL Express are among the national carriers. Flights to the Philippines are available from India through Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangkok.