GENERAL

MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Abroad

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Puja Das • 7 Mins read • 30 Mar 25
MCI Eligibility Criteria for MBBS AbroadMCI 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

Orenburg State Medical University

Perm State Medical University

Mari State University

America

Lincoln American University

Victoria University of Barbados

Armenia

Yerevan State Medical University

Medical University after Saint Tereza

Yerevan Haybusak University

Ukraine

Bogomolets National Medical University

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.