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How to Choose Best Medical University in the Philippines?

Arsh Verma • 8 Mins read • 2 Jan 25

How to Choose Best Medical University in the Philippines

You've made the decision to enroll in medical school, but you're not sure where to begin. But does it matter where you go for medical school? Additional aspects to take into consideration include location, cost, and the availability of MD programmes. You can learn How to Choose the Best Medical University in the Philippines? from this guide.

It's a good idea to start by learning about the best medical universities in the Philippines. Finding the ideal medical school, meanwhile, is challenging because they are all different. Understanding the driving values of the institution and how they relate to your goals is essential.

Consider the following points when looking at Medical Schools

1. Details of the Institution

Read about the founding and medical accomplishments of each medical school in the history of the institution. In order to comprehend how a university might affect their career path, applicants feel that gaining insight into the university's successes and how they affected history is helpful.

2. Mission Speeches

You can better understand a medical school's main goal by reading its mission statement. You'll be aware of a school's objectives and the learning goals for its students. The medical school's mission statement might help potential students decide if it's the right place for them.

3. Rates of Acceptance

Top medical schools have competitive admissions requirements, with several having acceptance rates around 4%. Do not be discouraged by how challenging this seems. Knowing the admissions requirements will increase your chances of getting into medical school.

Step-by-Step

Medical colleges generally require an application and a supplemental application. Depending on the program you have selected, you can use the AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS application.
You’ll need to research what every medical school requires to ensure you meet the basic application requirements.
Talking about MBBS in the Philippines, The Philippines offers an excellent choice for students seeking to study medicine. It provides various advantages for medical degree seekers. In many ways, the Philippines resembles India with a pleasant climate and friendly people, making it a favorite place for medical education globally.

Step-by-Step Process of How to Select Best University for Medical Education in the Philippines

1. Location

To have a better life and access to all the amenities, when choosing a college, make sure that it is situated in a city like Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

You can choose a city other than Manila, but you should be able to clearly explain your choice.

2. Your Finances

The total cost of attending a medical college in the Philippines ranges from 18 lacs to 30 lacs. As a result, budget your plans. Regarding the whole costs, including your fees, living expenses, visa, airfare, etc., I produced a whole movie.

3. Meals and lodging

The large number of Indian students who are already enrolled in and graduating from medical schools in the Philippines, the majority of these institutions offer adequate lodging and dining options.
Not all colleges, meanwhile, have on-campus housing. Consequently, you can also consider this.

4. Restrictive Intake

This is an important factor to consider. In the Philippines, a few medical schools handle admission. Which makes it difficult for students to secure their seat.

5. NMAT standards

After a BS course has been completed, the NMAT is administered.
The Philippines' 10+4 educational system involves 10 years of formal education followed by 4 years of a BS programme before entrance to an MD programme.
Indian students only need to complete a 2-year BS programme before entering an MD programme because they move to the Philippines following their 12th grade year.
Every colleges in the Philippines has its own requirements for the required NMAT percentile.
In the Philippines, not all universities offer NMAT exam flexibility. With flexibility, we mean that you can begin your MD course and complete it while obtaining the necessary NMAT score.

6. Healthcare Facilities and Infrastructure

To ensure that you have a better practical experience during your clerkship, always verify the number of hospitals associated with a specific medical college in the Philippines.
Don't forget to look at the medical college's infrastructure and learn about the amenities offered, such as the sports complex, library, anatomy labs, and number of laboratories.
All of them will affect both the quality of your education and your quality of life while you are a student at that college.
These factors will help narrow your choices. Then research the top-ranking medical schools further to find the best match for your goals and needs.

Have you ever wondered why Indian students only attend private medical colleges instead of the government-run ones in the Philippines?

The reason for this is that government colleges do not grant BS credit for work completed after 10+2, hence a 4-year BS programme is required.
Additionally, a very high percentile on the NMAT is required for admission to government medical colleges in the Philippines (greater than 80 percentile).
In contrast, private medical colleges only offer 1.5 or 2 year BS programmes and have strict NMAT eligibility requirements.
Moving further, now as you have knowledge about how to choose the medical university we will jump to the reasons behind it. So,

Here are some points which elaborates about why the Philippines is a better option to study MBBS

1. FMGE Passing Percentage

The Foreign Medical Graduate Exam is a test for doctors who earned their medical degree outside of India.

The Indian government uses this exam to make sure foreign doctors meet their education standards. Every doctor who studied medicine abroad must pass the FMGE exam to practice medicine in India.

The Philippines has produced the highest percentage of students who pass the FMGE. Their medical programs prepare students well for the FMGE questions. Most FMGE questions relate to the Philippine curriculum. This is now a main reason students choose the Philippines for their medical degree.

2. Curriculum which based on US

The Philippines was once governed by the United States. This is why nearly everyone in the Philippines understands English. This is the main reason the Philippines has become an educational center around the world. Students from places like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and some African nations prefer the Philippines for higher education only because of this.

The United States' influence not only gave them the English language. The U.S also provided them with the model of their educational system.

3. Similar Climatic Conditions

The weather in the Philippines helps if you study medicine there. The temperature and climate are better than places like Russia and Ukraine. The Philippines is located in an area with a climate like India.

The climate affects the types of diseases in a country. Certain bacteria and viruses only live in certain temperatures and climates.

4. Great Literacy Rate

The Philippines has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at around 94%. Such a high literacy rate means a very low crime rate, making the country very safe for foreign students wanting to study medicine abroad. As the Philippines was once a US colony, almost everyone knows basic English, like in India.

Here is the List of Top Medical Universities in the Philippines

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Admission in Philippines

You need to pass the 10+2 exam scoring at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects. For students from reserved categories, the pass mark is 40%.
You also need to get the minimum required marks in the NEET exam. The qualifying marks are announced by NTA in the cut-off list every year.
You must be between 17 to 25 years old at the time of admission.

MBBS in the Philippines - How to Apply?

Step 1: Begin by filling out the application form. Submit soft copies of your passport and important documents too.

Step 2: Next, collect your admission letter from the university once you've been accepted.

Step 3: After your admission is confirmed, the immigration process will start.

Step 4: You'll need to visit the Philippines Embassy in Delhi after receiving an invitation letter.

Step 5: Finally, check each document carefully before applying for a visa to make sure everything is correct and in order.

Documents Required to Study Medicine in Philippines

10th standard mark sheet
12th standard mark sheet
Passport size photographs (at 10)
Invitation letter
Passport
Student Visa
Covid-19 test report
HIV test report
Medical insurance
Birth certificate
Identity proof (Aadhar card, Pan card)

MBBS in Philippines - Admission Dates for 2025

Events	Dates
Application Start Date	January
Last Date of Application	October
Course Commences From	October

In conclusion The Philippines boasts one of the best education systems in Asia, making it a wonderful choice for students to study MBBS there. The cost of training is reasonable, and it is a great destination for Indian students to study MBBS. A 1-year clinical internship is usually required to complete the 5 to 6 year MBBS programme in the Philippines. More than 10,000 international students favor the Philippines for their MBBS studies. With a literacy rate as high as 96.3 % the Philippines is one of the best choices.