NMC Rules for MBBS Abroad

The NMC rules for MBBS abroad in plain English: what the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 require, and a checklist Indian students and parents can use for every university.

Agents love to say a university is "NMC approved". That phrase is misleading. The National Medical Commission no longer publishes a list of approved foreign universities. Instead, it has set rules that your course has to meet. If it does, and you clear the licensing exam, you are registered in India. If it does not, even the best marks will not help. So the rules are worth ten minutes of your time, before you choose a university and not after.

The correct wording is not "NMC approved" but: the university is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, the course fulfils the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021, and the graduate is eligible for FMGE or NExT.

NMC rules for MBBS abroad: the FMGL Regulations 2021

The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations came into force on 18 November 2021. They apply to every Indian student who started a medical degree abroad after that date. These are the requirements:

Duration: the medical course lasts at least 54 months
Internship: a clinical internship of at least 12 months is completed at the same foreign medical institution
Language: the complete course is taught in English
One institution: theory, practical training and internship take place at the same university throughout; training in India or a third country does not count
Subjects: the curriculum covers the subjects of the Indian MBBS, including community medicine, general medicine, psychiatry, paediatrics, general surgery, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedics, ENT, ophthalmology, dermatology, emergency services and laboratory services
Registration: the degree makes you eligible for a licence to practise in the country where you studied
Time limit: you complete the whole course within ten years of joining

What you need in India before and after

Before you leave: NEET-UG qualification, valid for three years for admission abroad
After graduation: FMGE, to be replaced by the National Exit Test (NExT)
After the exam: a 12-month Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship in India
Then: permanent registration with your State Medical Council

Checklist: how to check a university against the NMC rules

Question	Where you find the answer
Is the university listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools?	Search for the university by name in the World Directory
Does the course run for at least 54 months?	Official curriculum of the English programme
Is a 12-month internship part of the degree?	Curriculum of the final year and written confirmation from the university
Is every subject taught and examined in English?	Curriculum and the language stated on your diploma and transcript
Does the degree qualify for a licence in the country of study?	Rules of the medical chamber or health ministry of that country

We go through this checklist with you for every university on your shortlist and request the written confirmations from the faculty. You keep them in your file for the day you register in India.

Common mistakes Indian students make

Starting abroad without a valid NEET qualification
Choosing a bilingual programme in which later years switch to the local language
Transferring between universities during the course without checking the one-institution rule first
Planning the internship in India instead of at the foreign university
Not collecting written proof of language, duration and internship before leaving the country

FAQ: NMC rules for MBBS abroad

Is there an NMC approved list of foreign medical universities?

No. The NMC sets requirements for the course instead of approving individual universities. What counts is that your course fulfils the FMGL Regulations 2021.

How many years of MBBS abroad does the NMC require?

At least 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship at the same university.

Do I have to do an internship again in India?

Yes. After FMGE or NExT you complete a 12-month Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship in India.

Can I transfer to another university during MBBS abroad?

The rules require the whole course at one institution. If you are thinking about a transfer, talk to us before you act, so that your registration in India is not at risk.