Study MBBS In Philippines 2023-24: Fee Structure, Eligibility, BS MD Course Duration and Best Colleges
MBBS In Philippines is a very popular destination amongst the medical aspiring Indian students. Every year more than 3000 Indian students study medicine in Philippines. This is why, a lot of foreigners and International students think of MBBS in Philippines. In the recent times, the number of Indian students going for medicine degree in Philippines has increased. MBBS in Philippines fees is also very affordable which makes the country a popular choice amongst students and parents thinking of doing MBBS abroad. However, please note that to get admission in MBBS courses in Philippines, NEET qualification is mandatory for the Indian Students.
Almost all the medical colleges in Philippines follow an American Standard Medical Education, which also makes it easier for the Indian students to prepare for United States Medical Licensing Exam and even the Indian Medical Council. Philippines is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific. The country has over 7,641 islands. Filipino and English are the official languages of Philippines. Manila is the capital city of the Philippines. It has a 12th place in the largest population of the world, which makes it as one of the most preferred destination to study medicine.
MBBS in Philippines is one of the best options for Indian students to study medicine course in English, at affordable tuition fees and high quality Medical Education. Philippines has over 90% literacy rate, which makes the country a well educated country. All the Philippines medical colleges follows high education standard. Citizens of Philippines are known as Filipinos, who are also very fluent in English. Philippines is also the largest English speaking country in the Southeast Asian region. Even for the higher education like to study MBBS in Philippines, English is used as a medium of instruction. In Philippines the MBBS course in other countries is equivalent to the MD degrees in Philippines. Therefore, the Philippines MD degree is equivalent to MBBS in India.
MBBS in Philippines: Quick Highlights 2023
| Currency | Philippine Peso |
| Capital City | Manila |
| Official Language | Pilipino and English |
| Degree Recognition | WHO, UNESCO, ECFMG and More |
| 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 |
| Population | 10.60 Crores |
| Eligibility | 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology with English Language For General category and 40% for Others |
| NEET Qualification | Eligibility in NEET for Indian Students |
| Course Name | BS + MD Course: BS ( Pre- Medicine) MD ( Doctor of Medicine) |
| Tuition Fees Range | 3500 USD / Year 2,50,000 INR / Year to 9000 USD / Year 7,50,000 INR / Year |
| Hostel Charges Per Year | 200 USD to 300 USD per month |
| Cost of Living | 15000 to 20000 INR (monthly) |
MBBS in Philippines: Tuition Fees and Fee Structure 2023
MBBS in Philippines is one of the best and most preferred destinations for Indian students. Universities like AMA School of Medicine, University of Perpetual Help, Davao Medical School of Foundation and Our Lady of Fatima University, are best for Indian students.
MBBS in Philippines fees structure is quite variable as some reputed government fully English medium universities would have a decreasing tuition fees every year. Therefore, it is best to check the complete fee structure before taking admissions. MBBS in Philippines tuition fees comes to be between ₹19-28 Lakh and here we are talking about the best medical colleges in Philippines.
| Name of Medical University in Philippines | Total Tuition Fees for 6 years approx in INR | Total Tuition Fees for 6 years approx in Dollar |
| Our Lady of Fatima University | 27,75,000 | 37950 US D |
| Angeles University Foundation | 25,15,000 | 34400 USD |
| Davao Medical School Foundation | 23,85,000 | 32650 USD |
| University of Perpetual Help | 23,25,000 | 31800 USD |
| AMA School of Medicine | 18,75,500 | 25650 USD |
MBBS study in Philippines is best option for International students looking for medicine study in abroad at budget friendly tuition fees. Apart from the tuition fees, the clinical exposure is also very high because of the population of Philippines. There are also many benefits of studying MBBS in Philippines and English medium course is the first point.
In recent years, Philippines has become as the best country for the Indian and International students to get good quality education. International medical aspirants wants low cost tuition fee with high quality education in medicine. And the Philippines is known for the good quality education with similar cost of living like India.
Why Study MBBS in Philippines?
Undoubtedly, Philippines is one of the best destination for the MBBS abroad for Indian students, who want to study MBBS course from foreign universities. Let’s discuss why so many Indian students choose Philippines to study MBBS.
English being the official language of Philippines gives the students option to study the entire MBBS course in English. Therefore, there is no learning of the foreign language.
Even during the internship days, the students can easily interact with the local patients during clinical internship.
Clinical rotation experience is also the number one factor and benefit which helps the student grasp the clinical knowledge in various MBBS subjects.
Medium of instruction is in Fully English medium in all the Philippines Medical universities and Colleges. Even the trainers, teaching faculties and lab staff are well versed with the language.
TOEFL or IELTS exam is not required to get the admissions for MBBS in Philippines. MBBS in Philippines eligibility is easy to meet this is why there is direct admission in the Pre medical or BS course.
When it comes to the climatic conditions, Philippines shares a tropical Climate and seasons almost like India. The tropical climate is easier to adjust and students do not have to struggle with the cold weather like Russia.
As the climatic conditions are similar, the diseases in Philippines are similar as that of India. This makes the students get experience with the diseases happening in India. This also further helps the students in clearing the Screening test in India.
The degree provided by the Philippines MBBS universities are worldwide recognized and accepted. The degrees are recognized by World Health Organization, Medical Council of India and more. One can check the recognitions of a university in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
To get the admissions in the MBBS courses in Philippines, there is no donation or entrance test. After meeting the basic eligibility criteria you can get admissions. But do keep in mind that, at first the admission will happen in the BS course first. BS course is the Pre medical course in Philippines.
After completion of BS course, you will have to give the NMAT exam to seek admission in MD course in Philippines.
Philippines MBBS fee for Indian students is budget friendly and education loan is also available.
Philippines is also known for its quality education and it has high quality education at par with the world standard at affordable fee structure.
Even the cost of living is very similar to the Indian standard which is why students find it quite comfortable to live in Philippines.
Food and Philippines’s local cuisine is also quite similar which is why Indian students do not face a lot of difficulties, when it comes to food and other kind of expenses.
The total budget of doing MBBS from Philippines is also very cost effective which is why a lot of students would take admission to study MBBS in Philippines.
The Philippines MBBS universities’ campus have modern infrastructure with modern teaching technology and superior quality education which is combined with world class standard.
For international students, hostel facilities are also given due to which student stay comfortably while studying.
The campus and infrastructure is quite good with high quality Labs.
The teaching staff and faculties are also well trained and knowledgeable in their subjects.
Top Philippines medical college fees is in budget or most of the aspiring students wishing to go abroad for MBBS study.
MBBS In Philippines: MBBS Course Recognition
The top medical colleges in Philippines are recognized by the following:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Medical Council of India (MCI) (Currently, NMC has replaced MCI and they have not released have foreign university recognition list)
- World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
- Foundation of Advancement of International Medical Education & Research (FAIMER)
MBBS in Philippines: Eligibility 2022
To get admissions in MBBS courses in Philippines, the student must have 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology in 12th standard.
If the student belongs to others category, then 40% marks is required. NEET qualifying score in the last 3 years is also required.
NEET qualification is mandatory to get admission in the MBBS programs in Philippines.
MBBS Course Duration in Philippines
MBBS course in Philippines is known as BS-MD course and the entire course duration is 5.5 to 6 years.
What’s BS-MD Course in Philippines
Unlike the other countries, Philippines has MBBS course duration of just 4 years with one year of internship included. But here one thing you must that Philippines follows a BS-MD program. This means that there would be a preliminary B.S course (Premedical course) which the student has to complete before getting admission in the MD program which is equivalent to MBBS course.
BS Course: The BS Course is around one and half years, at times it can also be for 2 years which depends on the university. In that course, the student learns the basics of subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology and Biochemistry. After completion of this BS course the student is eligible to get admitted in the MD course after appearing for the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) Exam.
MD Course: The duration for MD course is 4 years and MD program in Philippines is equivalent to MBBS course in India and other countries. The first three years of MD course in Philippines are focused on Preclinical, Paraclinical, General medicine, Special subjects like Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and ENT. The last one year of the MBBS MD course in Philippines is for the practical training and clinical rotations. This is the clinical rotation that we talked about earlier that gives good amount of hands on clinical practice to the students. This clinical rotation for the clinical internship happens in the affiliated hospitals the universities.
Now you must remember that after completion of your Bachelor of Science program which is known as BS course, you would be required to appear for National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) Exam.
This is an important examination where you need to qualify the exam in order to get a seat in the MBBS course in Philippines. Please note that, there are several medical universities in Philippines that gives you admission without even clearing the exam but it is also better to go for a medical college or University that gives you admission once you pass the NMAT test.
NMAT Exam: MBBS in Philippines
It is also mentioned in the Embassy for Philippines website that the admissions in doctor of medicine MD courses are required to pass the National Medical Admission Test, NMAT exam. It’s compulsory to get passing percentile to get admission in MD medical courses in Philippines.
Also note that international students, who hold bachelor’s degree can get direct admissions in the BS programs in Philippines. So, if you have completed a BS course in your country, you can take a direct admission in MBBS program in Philippines. This is also known as lateral entry for MBBS in Philippines.
After the 3 years BS program in your home country you are allowed to take a direct admission in Philippines. In this case, their MD course duration of 4 years, will be reduced to three years. There would be 3 years of basic and clinical medical and theoretical subjects and one year of Clerkship and clinical rotations at the affiliated Philippines hospitals.
The NMAT Exam happens after the BS program and gets you 1-4 attempts to clear this test.
So, while calculating the budget and all the expenses of your MBBS program in Philippines, you must always calculate the budget of BS and MD course separately. Because there are some agents who will fool you by sharing the 4 years of MD programs cost and will not share the BS program expenses. This is why, you must always make your budget for the entire 5.5 years. And do remember that in some colleges the duration of BS course can even be 2 years. Therefore, while analyzing the cost of studying MBBS in Philippines, this also has to be kept in mind.
Education Loan for MBBS in Philippines
Let’s talk about the education loan for MBBS in Philippines. Many students look for the education loan for studying abroad. As the fee for the abroad University is quite affordable and in budget that many parents would think of taking education loan and then repay it. Therefore, there is education loan available for MBBS admission in Philippines.
To avail the education loan, every University will have their fee structure with them, which they will mention on the university’s letterhead along with the bank account of the university. This is a prerequisite document that the university will give to the student to get the admission loan in their respective countries.
Your bank will do the paper work and check your documents to see if you are eligible for the loan or not. After the bank gets satisfied with your documents and details they will pass the loan. Education loans can be passed easier when admission is taken in the government medical college in Philippines.
However let’s take a look at the documents required to get education loan for MBBS in Philippines
Admission Letter
University Ranking
Parents Income Proof
Parents Last 3 Year It Slips
Property Papers
2 Guarantors
Total Expenditure
The property papers would be the Collateral against which the bank will give you the loan. Always remember that the interest rate for the bank varies can be anywhere from 10% to 13.5% per year. It is always better to take loan for education from the government banks.
MBBS in Philippines: Hostels and Accommodation
Many top Philippines medical universities and colleges provide hostel facilities for the international and Indian students but not all the universities have hostel facilities. So even though it is not always compulsory to stay in the hostels students are recommended to stay in hostel to get safe and secure environment.
The hostels are quite safe and all the security facilities are installed like CCTV cameras and they are always under surveillance. It provides secure environment and accommodation for female students as well.
When it comes to the hostel facilities, it’s also advisable that you must check the facility of separate hostels for boys and girls. The hostel rooms are equipped with the basic amenities like desk, bed, blankets, cupboards, tables, chairs and more. The rooms are cleaned on a regular basis and students can study comfortably.
The hostel rooms are available in 2-3 sharing basis, where two or three students can share a single room. The prices can vary depending on that. This can also be checked while taking the admission. In-campus university hostels give you mandatory hostel and mess facility. This can cost around 10,000-15000 INR per month and it also depends on the universities. So, if you are living in the hostel the food is mandatory so there is no self cooking. Please check it before taking admission.
In case the university doesn’t have hostel facility then they can rent out an apartment or flat. This is what every year a lot of students do who chose to study medicine in Philippines. Cost of MBBS in Philippines can be calculated depending on these factors as well.
MBBS in Philippines Food
As mentioned above the In-campus hostels have mandatory mess facility. However, there are many Indian canteens and restaurants available for the students who are renting apartments.
Top MCI Approved Medical Colleges in Philippines
Now let’s take a look at some of the medical colleges in Philippines for Indian students. Following is the list of top MCI Approved Medical Colleges in Philippines according to World Ranking Web of Universities.
To be honest our lady of Fatima is the best university to study medicine in Philippines. However, others are also good and are listed below:
1. Our Lady of Fatima University
It’s a private university established in the year 1973. It was founded by Jose Olivares and his son-in-law, Dr. Vicente M. Santos Sr. The university ahs 6 campus which are located at different places in various cities in Philippines.
2. AMA School of Medicine
The private medical college was founded in the year 2008 and has 3 campuses currently. AMA School Of Medicine was founded by Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V in 2008. It is located in Makati, Philippines.
3. University of Perpetual Help
It’s a private university with 5 campuses at different places. Antonio Laperal Tamayo, and his wife, Daisy Moran Tamayo, founded the University Of Perpetual Help System DALTA on February 5, 1975. The term “DALTA” in the name of the university is the acronym for Daisy Antonio Laperal Tamayo, the conjugal founders.
4. Davao Medical School Foundation
Davao Medical School Foundation is situated in Davao City, Philippines and it was established in the year of 1976. DMSF is one of the oldest medical colleges in the island of Mindanao. Davao is a highly urbanized city and one of the fastest developing cities in Asia. The college offers medicine, dentistry, nursing, biology, midwifery courses and also super specialized courses like MCH, MHPED, MPD and more.
5. Bicol Christian College of Medicine
Bicol Christian College of Medicine was established in 1975. The college was founded by Dr. Damaceno J. Ago. The college is located at Legazpi City. This college is a member of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Foundation, and it is also an accredited member of the Foundation of the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research. The college is also registered internationally with the World Health Organization.
Cost of Living: MBBS in Philippines
Cost of living is very affordable and low in Philippines as compared to other popular destinations. The almost same cost of living also makes this country a popular destination. The restaurants charges and food expenses are around 1.5 to 1.75% higher than India.
Shoes, clothes and similar items are 1.25 % more than Indian markets. Even groceries and eatables are similar in price.
Philippines Climate
The climate of the Philippines is tropical and maritime, which is known as a climate of high temperature, repressive humidity, and plentiful of rainfall through the year. There are two seasons in the country, one is a wet season and another one is the dry season based on the rainfall. The rainy season is from June to November, the dry season extends from December to May.
Average temperatures in Philippines normally range between 21 °C and 32 °C with the average annual temperature coming in at approximately 26.6 °C.
In Philippines, January is the coolest month of the year and May is the warmest month. With the climate being very similar to that of Indian tropical climate helps Indian students to get practice of the different diseases which are very similar to that of Indian sub continent.
Food and Culture
The Philippines Cuisine is known to have a blend of Asian and European flavors. Rice is the staple food in Philippines. It is mostly steamed with vegetable, meat, and fish with various dishes. Seafood is also very popular in Philippines and people love to relish it.
Philippines is a democratic country which has Christianity as the major religion in this country. The festivals of Philippines are known as “fiestas”. The most famous fiestas are Ati-Atihan, Hinugyaw, Sinulog, MassKara, Pintados-Kasadyaan, Panagbenga, and Hermosa etc.
MBBS in Philippines Syllabus
BS Course:
As we mentioned that the BS course has Basics of Psychology, Human Physiology, Anatomy, Histology with 1 and ½ years of duration.
MD Course:
The 1st year of medicine covers Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Histology, Neuroanatomy.
The 2nd year of medicine Covers Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Parasitology, Obstetrics, Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Clinical Pathology
The 3rd year of the medicine course covers Pediatrics, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Legal Medicine / Medical Jurisprudence, Gynecology, Clinicopathologic Conference/Special Topics In Pathology.
The 4th year of medicine is a clinical internship, to practice with affiliated medical centers to the corresponding and respective university.
MBBS in Philippines: Top Universities Fee Structure for Year 2023
1. AMA School of Medicine, Philippines
This is amongst the best medical colleges in Philippines for Indian students. The Philippines MBBS college fees for AMA University is as follows.
| AMA School Of Medicine | Tuition Fees in Indian Rupees | Tuition Fees in USD |
| 1st Year BS Course | INR 3,81,000 | 5300 USD |
| 2nd Year BS Course | INR 2,58,000 | 3600 USD |
| 1st Year MD Course | INR 3,18,000 | 4500 USD |
| 2nd Year MD Course | INR 3,18,000 | 4500 USD |
| 3rd Year MD Course | INR 1,91,000 | 2700 USD |
| 4th Year MD Course | INR 1,29,000 | 1800 USD |
| Total: INR 15,95,000 and 22,400 USD | ||
3. The University of Perpetual Help, Philippines
The university is also well known and is one of the popular universities in Philippines. This is also an MCI approved medical colleges in Philippines.
| University of Perpetual Help | Tuition Fees in Indian Rupees | Tuition Fees in Dollars |
| BS Course 1 and 2nd Year | INR 6,25,000 | 9,650 USD |
| 1st Year MD Course | INR 5,85,000 | 9,000 USD |
| 2nd Year MD Course | INR 3,25,000 | 5,000 USD |
| 3rd Year MD Course | INR 2,00,000 | 3,000 USD |
| 4th Year MD Course | INR 1,95,000 | 3,000 USD |
| Total | INR 19,30,000 | 29,650 USD |
3. Our Lady of Fatima University, Philippines
This is one of the best universities in Philippines. This is really good for the Indian students with high class education and standard.
| Our Lady Of Fatima | Tuition Fees in INR | Tuition Fees in USD |
| BS Course 1st Year | INR 6,50,000 | 10,000 USD |
| BS Course 2nd Year | INR 2,30,000 | 3,500 USD |
| 1st Year MD Course | INR 4,20,000 | 6,400 USD |
| 2nd Year MD Course | INR 4,20,000 | 6,400 USD |
| 3rd Year MD Course | INR 4,20,000 | 6,400 USD |
| 4th Year MD Course | INR 4,20,000 | 6,400 USD |
| Total | INR 25,60,000 | 39,0000 USD |
4. Davao Medical College, Philippines
Davao Medical College Philippines fees structure is as follows:
| Davao Medical College | Tuition Fees in Indian Rupees | Tuition Fees in USD |
| BS Course 1st and 2nd Year | 11,500 INR | 8,50,000 USD |
| 1st Year MD Course | 5100 INR | 3,50,000 USD |
| 2nd Year MD Course | 5100 INR | 3,50,000 USD |
| 3rd Year MD Course | 5100 INR | 3,50,000 USD |
| 4th Year MD Course | 5100 INR | 3,50,000 USD |
| Total | 31900 INR | 22,50,000 USD |
Syllabus of MBBS Program in Philippines Universities
| Syllabus for Pre-Medical BS Course | |||
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | Fourth Term |
| Calculus & Analytical | Plant Physiology | Ecology | Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings |
| Geometry | Fundamentals of Genetics | Education for sustainable | Econ. / Taxation & Agrarian Reform |
| Biochemistry | Animal Physiology | Development | Human Genetic |
| Plant Morpho-anatomy | Entomology | Research Methodology | Radiation Biology |
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | Freshwater Biology | Systematic Biology | Histology & Micro-technique |
| General Psychology | General Microbiology | Cell and Molecular Biology | Research in Bio. Sc. (Thesis Writing)Immunology |
| Parasitology | Philosophy of Man | Comparative Religion | – |
| Plant Morpho-anatomy | Developmental Biology | Politics and Governance | – |
| MBBS (MD) Syllabus (1st to 4th Year) | |||
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | Fourth Term |
| Anatomy | Pharmacology | Pediatrics-2 | Surgery |
| Histology | General Pathology | Surgery-2 | Medicine |
| Biochemistry | Clinical Pathology | Medicine-2 | Psychiatry |
| Psychiatry | Parasitology | Internal Medicine | Ophthalmology |
| Physiology | Medicine-1 | Legal Medicine | Neurology |
| Neuroscience | Epidemiology | Dermatology | Pediatrics |
| History of Medicine | Microbiology | Radiology | Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Preventive and Communicative | Pharmacology | Neuroscience-3 | – |
| Medicine | Pediatrics-1 | Cardiology | – |
| Bioethics | Surgery | Advanced Pathology | – |
| – | Neuroscience 2 | Ophthalmology | – |
| – | Psychiatry | Obstetrics and Gynecology | – |
MBBS in Philippines: Frequently Asked Questions
Is NEET Qualification mandatory to study MBBS in Philippines?
Yes. NEET qualification is mandatory to practice in India as a licensed medical practitioner.
How many years is the MBBS course duration in Philippines?
MBBS course duration in Philippines is 6 years. There is a pre-medical BS course which is around 1.5 to 2 years and 4 years of MD course including one year of clinical clerkship.
Is it safe for the girl student to study MBBS In Philippines?
It is very safe for girls as the country has low crime rate. It has separate hostels for girls and the hostels are under CCTV surveillance.
What is the tuition fee for MBBS In Philippines?
The tuition fees is not fixed but varies between 2 Lakhs per year to 6 Lakhs every year. First year tuition fee is high but decreases.
How to get direct MD admission in Philippines?
If the student has any Bachelor Of Science degree, then you can directly get admission in MD course in Philippines.
Can the students do part-time work in Philippines, while studying MBBS?
No, the International students are not allowed to work in Philippines as they will be on student visa during the study.
How many Indian students are studying for an MBBS in the Philippines?
Currently, there are 20,000 Indian students are studying MBBS in the Philippines?
After Studying for an MBBS in the Philippines, what is the scope?
Students can sit for FMGE, PLAB, USMLE and other licensing exams and can also do PG in other countries like Germany, Australia, New Zealand and more.
What are the admission criteria for studying MBBS in the Philippines?
You can get MBBS seat in Philippines, 50% average marks in Physics, Chemistry and biology with Mandatory NEET qualification.
Can I practice as a doctor in United States, after MBBS in Philippines?
Yes, but for that you have to appear for the USMLE exam. It has 3 steps USMLE 1, 2 and step 3.
How is studying MBBS be in the Philippines like?
Philippines is clearly one of the best destinations for Indian students to study MBBS. There is no language barrier or problem as English is the official language. Philippines has an Indian like Tropical climatic condition which makes students feel comfortable.
Is NEET required for MBBS in Philippines?
NEET qualification is mandatory for students who wish to do MBBS from abroad countries.