MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad

MCI defines the Medical Council of India. It is a statutory authority to manage and build higher levels of medical qualifications and medical education in India. It was established in 1933. It was dissolved on 25th September 2020 by the National Medical Commission. The MCI Screening Test is as popular as the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination. It is a mandatory licensure test for Indian students and overseas students of India who completed their MBBS programs from abroad and are wise to practice medicine in India.
How to Prepare for MCI
The MCT screening exam is a crucial test and students should prepare thoroughly by pursuing the related medical papers and attending with the question papers of previous years.
List of MCI-approved medical colleges abroad
Some MCI-approved medical colleges abroad, primarily in Ukraine, Armenia, and Russia, where Indian students can pursue their MBBS degrees.
Country Name | College Name |
Russia | |
America | Lincoln American University |
Victoria University of Barbados | |
Armenia | |
Medical University after Saint Tereza | |
Ukraine | |
Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University | |
Kyiv Medical University of UAFM | |
Canada | University of Toronto |
Sweden | Karolinska Institute |
Read More : How to Get Admission in Foreign Medical Colleges?
MCI Screening Test
Below is a brief information about the MCI screening test explained here.
Particular | Details |
Purpose | It is a licensure test for international medical graduates who have passed the MBBS program outside to practice medicine in India. |
Conducting Body
| MCI is conducted by the National Board of Examinations. |
Frequency | This test is held twice a year. |
Question Format | 300 MCQs are distinguished into two sections, each with 150 marks. |
Medium | Only the English language is allowed here. |
Replaced by NEXT | FMGE is being aligned with NEET-PG and replaced by National Exit Test from 2023 |
Negative Marking | No |
MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad
Applicants are needed to match specific qualifying criteria before taking admission for MBBS abroad. Only eligible qualified applicants are eligible for the MBBS program. The following eligibility criteria for the MBBS program are identified here.
Criteria | Details |
Age Limit | At least 17-year-old students. |
Educational Qualification | Students should pass 10+2 with Physics, Biology, Chemistry |
Minimum Marks in 10+2 | A minimum of 50% marks are required in the 10+2 system for the General category, 40% for SC, ST, and OBC, and 45% for PWD. |
Nationality | No Particular nationality restrictions |
Attendance | 75% in every semester |
Departments | Forensic Medicine, Physiology, Medicine, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, Psychiatry, Paediatrics and Pathology. |
MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad - NEET
MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad in case of exam is NEET. Students applying for an MBBS program abroad must appear for the NEET. NEET exam administered by the NTA. Students appear for this exam to pursue an undergraduate test in a medical program. All medical universities abroad approve the ranks of the NEET. Here are some details about the NEET.
Particulars | Details |
Mode of Exam | Offline or paper-based mode |
Total Questions | 200 questions and among these 180 are to be attempted. |
Duration | 6 years |
Maximum Marks | 720 marks (180 questions * 4 marks) |
Marking Scheme | For each correct answer, students get +4 and for each incorrect answer, students get -1. |
Subjects Covered | 50 questions from Physics 50 questions from Chemistry 90 questions from Biology |
MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad - NEET Eligibility
NEET engaged with particular eligibility criteria and students must fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
Educational Qualification: Applicants need to pass 10+2 level with Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
Age Criteria: The age of the student must be at least 17 years on or before 31st December of the admission year. There is no upper age limit.
Marking Criteria: 50% scores are needed for general caste students and 40% scores are needed for reserved categories like OBC, SC, and ST students.
NEET Exam Pattern
NEET contains 180 multiple-choice questions in a single paper. This test paper is distinguished into three sections which are Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Parts | No. of questions | Scores |
Physics | 45 | 180 |
Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
Biology (Botany and Zoology) | 90 (45 + 45) | 360 |
Total | 180 | 720 |
Read More: NEET UG 2025 Guidelines: Everything You Need to Know
NEET exam duration
NEET is a paper-pencil-based exam. The time duration of this college is three hours or 180 minutes. There will be a total of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), all of which will be mandatory to attempt. The syllabus of the exam includes Physics, Chemistry, and Biology papers.
MCI Eligibility Certificate for MBBS Abroad
To study an MBBS abroad and later practice in India, Indian students require an MCI eligibility certificate before or after finishing their MBBS, which verifies the recognition of the foreign medical university and enables them to appear for the Foreign medical graduate exam or FMGE. Some documents are required for an MCI eligibility certificate. These are the original matriculation certificate, mark sheet of class 11, mark sheet of class 12, original caste certificate, and proof of admission to a foreign medical university. 3 self-attested copies of each document are also required in this case.
MBBS abroad for Indian Students fees
The approximate fees for MBBS abroad in different nations are mentioned in this part.
Countries | Fees |
Russia | INR 15 lakhs to 50 lakhs |
Kyrgyzstan | INR 18 lakhs to 31 lakhs |
America | INR 30 lakhs to 60 lakhs |
China | INR 2.5 lakhs to 8.2 lakhs |
Bangladesh | INR 25 lakhs to 35 lakhs |
NMC guidelines for MBBS abroad
MNC published an official announcement with rules and regulations namely Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiates (FMGL) Regulations 2021.
● The NMC mandates that the MBBS course abroad must have a duration of no less than 54 months, and according to the internship rules, with a mandatory internship session of minimum 12 months within the same medical university or college.
● Foreign medical graduates are required to study particular subjects like gyaecology, obstetrics, anaesthesia, paediatrics, psychiatry, community medicine and general medicine and surgery. As well as, they should also pursue dermatology, otorhinolaryngology, laboratory services, orthopaedics and other concerned sub-specialities.
● According to NMC new guidelines for MBBS internship, students must confirm that all clinical training, practical training and theoretical training they get aligns with the needs of the Indian MBBS program.
● The Foreign Medical Graduate Exam or FMGE might be replaced by the National Exit Test or NExT in August, 2025.
Internship Rules
The new internship rules of the MCI mandates a two-year internship for foreign MBBS graduates. It confirms that overseas students match Indian Medical standards and requirements. The medical college must be identified by the NMC. In addition, the internship can be a minimum of one year, covering extensive training in different medical specialties. Interns must submit logs and reports to the NMC upon completion for validation and certification of their training.
Disadvantages of studying MBBS in Abroad
First of all, MBBS courses abroad can be relatively more expensive as compared to India. It encompassed tuition fees. The travel expenses and living costs are too high. Applicants may be needed to take out loans or depend on scholarships to cover the costs, potentially fostering financial strain after graduation. Adapting to new cultures, lifestyles, and customs can lead to mental health issues, social isolation, and homesickness. Moreover, learning medical terminology and a new language can be crucial, impacting academic performance and clinical training.
Conclusion
If an applicant is an Indian citizen considering pursuing MBBS abroad and planning to practice in India. Students are needed to make sure the medical university student selected is MCI or NMC-approved and the student conducts the foreign medical graduate exam or screening test. MCI was replaced by the NMC in 2020. Students are needed to make sure the university students selected are on the list of NMC of approved medical universities abroad to be eligible for the FMGE and practice in India. A few countries with MCI-approved medical universities include Russia, China, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal. MCI is such a screening test which is conducted by NBE.