The Philippines is known for its serene beaches, tropical climate, amicable people, and affordable cost of living. It has been one of the most preferred destinations for studies by Indian students, especially for mbbs aspirants. The country offers a quality education at affordable costs for students to benefit from. Every year, Philippines has students from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, India, and Iran. Students prefer to stay in the country even after graduating because of the country's numerous job opportunities and hospitable cultural practices. This blog discusses the various aspects of taking up an mbbs degree in the Philippines.
Why Study MBBS in the Philippines?
The Philippines being an archipelago in the South Asian regions, offer extremely favorable conditions for students taking up studies in the country, especially in the field of medicine. Some of the reasons why the Philippines is the best choice for students are discussed below:
- The first main reason students choose the Philippines is that living and studying there is affordable compared to other countries.
- The next reason is Language. English is the country's national language, and it is not necessary for the student to learn a new language to study, travel and socialize.
- Covered by beautiful beaches and coral reefs, the country offers pleasant weather for students to relax and study.
- Filipinos (People in the Philippines) are known for being friendly, warm, and helpful. Students can easily socialize with the locals and gain new experiences.
- The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and therefore students get exposed to ample job opportunities in the country.
Requirements for Indian Students to get admission to Universities in the Philippines
Every year more than ten thousand students take up MBBS degrees in the Philippines. Most of the universities in the Philippines follow the American Standard Medical Education, which enables students to get easily prepared for USMLE. However, a student has to have certain admission requirements like the following while applying to Philippine universities for an mbbs degree.
- A valid Passport
- 10th,12th, and UG ( if applying for PG) mark sheets and transcripts
- 2 LOR's
- Recent Photographs
- English Proficiency test scores ( if required)
- CEAM (Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine)
- Certificates of medical health
- A clearance from the police for no criminal records
Admission Process to Apply to MBBS Colleges in the Philippines
Before applying to any medical college in the Philippines, a student must carefully fill in the admission form with the appropriate information. The following are the admission procedures for Mbbs in the Philippines:
- Read the application form thoroughly and fill in the details appropriately.
- Arrange the required documents properly. Ensure that all the details in the documents are appropriate and true
- Once you have filled in these details, the college will send an invitation the student should accept.
- Once the admission is confirmed, the student has to start applying for a Philippine visa with all the necessary documents
- The next step is to attend the visa interview at a Philippines embassy along with the invitation letter and the documents
- Once the Visa is ready, the next thing is to travel to the Philippines and join the selected university for studies.
Scholarships for Indians to graduate/post-graduate programs
Despite providing affordable education, medical universities in the Philippines also offer scholarships for the benefit of students. Apart from these scholarships, the students can also avail loans from banks. Some of the scholarships offered to students are as follows:
- Education Future International Scholarship - USA & Non-USA 2023
- Gold Eagle Scholarship Program For STEM 2023
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) 2023
- Leakey Foundation Research Grants 2023
- Abel Visiting Scholar Program 2023
- SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme 2023
- ICMR-DHR International Fellowship Programme For Indian Biomedical Scientists 2023
- ServiceScape Scholarship 2023
- Dissertation Fieldwork Grants 2023
- DAAD Bilateral Exchange Of Academics 2023
Top Universities in The Philippines for MBBS
The Philippines is among the most popular destinations for students pursuing their mbbs degree. The Commission directly supervises the Philippines' medical universities on Higher Education of the Philippines. The Association of foreign medical graduates and the World Health Organization also recognizes it. Students prefer medical colleges in the Philippines for their standard education with highly experienced staff at affordable prices. Some of the top medical colleges in the Philippines and their rankings are as follows:
Name of the Institution
|
City
|
Annual Tuition Fee
|
National Ranking
|
World Ranking
|
Brokenshire College School of Medicine
|
Davao City
|
3,400 USD
|
159
|
14082
|
UV Gullas College of Medicine
|
Cebu
|
4000 USD
|
3
|
7244
|
Liceo College of Medicine
|
Cagayan de Oro
|
Rs.1375000
|
127
|
10914
|
Davao Medical School Foundation
|
Davao
|
9375 USD
|
165
|
191999
|
Our Lady of Fatima University
|
Valenzuela
|
Rs. 5 Lacs
|
33
|
7755
|
Cebu Institute of Medicine
|
Cebu
|
Rs. 5 Lacs
|
184
|
11995
|
University of Santo Tomas
|
Manila
|
3000 USD
|
3
|
1990
|
Central Philippine University
|
Iloilo
|
2000 USD
|
24
|
6784
|
Angeles University Foundation
|
Angeles
|
5500 USD
|
70
|
9376
|
Manila Central University
|
Caloocan
|
9500 USD
|
46
|
8452
|
Emilio Aguinaldo College
|
Manila
|
5000 USD
|
39
|
8078
|
University of Perpetual Help
|
Las Pinas
|
9500 USD
|
51
|
8594
|
Southwestern University Phinma
|
Cebu
|
7000 USD
|
62
|
9141
|
PG Residency Programs in The Philippines
The medical universities in the Philippines follow the medical education system of the US. The medical Post-graduate program in the Philippines is called the Residency training program. This program has various departments under it and is governed by their own autonomous boards, viz. Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine College of Radiology, Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecology Society. The following are some of the departments and their course duration included in this program:
- Cardiology – 2 years
- Pediatrics – 3 years
- Internal Medicine - 3 years
- Dermatology - 3 years
- Ophthalmology - 3 years
- Anesthesia - 3 years
- Neurology - 3 years
- Psychiatry - 3 years
- Pathology - 3 years
- Radiology – 4 years
- Emergency Medicine – 4 years
- General Surgery – 4 years
- Obstetrics & Gynecology – 4 years
- Urology – 5 years
- Pediatric Surgery – 5 years
- Colorectal Surgery – 5 years
- ENT – 5 years
Job Opportunities in the Philippines for Indian Students after MBBS
The field of medicine is growing rapidly these days, and the Philippines has always been a top preference by most students to pursue the same. Once the student has acquired a medical degree, he/she gets a chance to work in various field sectors. The following are some of the opportunities for students with an mbbs degree:
Doctor - This is one of the most common professions after completing an mbbs degree in the Philippines. Students can work in clinics and hospitals, work as a specialist, practice general medicine, or even set up clinics. There is a demand for doctors in the Philippines, and the students can become successful professionals there.
Researcher -Students can also opt to work as researchers in various healthcare sectors in the Philippines. The students can help with the country's development of new drugs and treatments by researching.
Medical Transcriptionist - This includes converting medical documents and transcripts into text format. Students who are good at typing and have a fair understanding of various health sectors can become Medical Transcriptionists.
Medical Writer - Students with a flair for writing can become medical writers in the Philippines. This field involves writing research papers, scientific papers, and other texts for healthcare sectors in medical research institutions, healthcare sectors, and pharmaceutical companies.
Medical Consultant -This job includes working closely with the patients to provide them with the best medical diagnosis, treatment, and advice. Students can work as independent consultants or even set up clinics for hospitals.