Philippines beckons Indian medical aspirants with affordable, quality education

He added that the Philippines’ educational structure emphasizes on extensive clinical practice alongside theoretical knowledge, with practical examination rooms where students work on simulated robotic models that closely resemble the human body. This hands-on experience allows students to get trained in modern hospitals, equipping them with both practical skills and confidence, the medical student added.

Bharat Agrawal, another student from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, who is in his third year of MD (Doctor of Medicine) studies (equivalent to MBBS in India) at the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (a private university in Philippines), shared that the trend is increasing in his institute as well. “When I joined, there were around a good number of Indian students. But now, in each batch, hundreds of students are joining from India and I can see Indian students all around in my university in every new and old batch,” he said. Agrawal feels that it was a wise decision to choose the Philippines for pursuing his degree because of its affordability and worldwide recognition.

Dinesh Kumar from Coimbatore recently completed his MD from the Philippines and has cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), a mandatory licensing exam in India, allowing him to continue his internship and pursue his medical career back home.

Similarly, Dinesh Subburaj, who was ranked second in India on the FMGE exam in 2024, along with Priyanka, Swathi, and Bharat Reddy, have either completed or are currently pursuing their MD degrees in the Philippines.

This isn’t just a small group of students as each year, between 4,000 and 5,000 Indian students follow a similar path to Aditya’s, choosing the Philippines for its well-established medical education system.

According to sources at the Indian Embassy in Manila, they are in the process of registering Indian students studying in the Philippines. Previously, around 1,500 to 2,000 students would arrive in each intake, which begins every six months. However, this year, the number has more than doubled. Filipino universities offer high-quality education in English, which makes the transition easier for students who prefer an English-speaking environment, added the source in the embassy.

There are over a dozen medical universities where Indian students are studying.

“The Philippines has earned its place as a favoured destination by offering a globally recognised curriculum at a fraction of the cost of countries like the United States, Canada, or Australia. Tuition fees range from Rs 17 lakh to 20 lakh for the entire programme, significantly lower than other countries, with an additional Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh annually for living expenses.

Alongside affordability, Filipino medical degrees are widely recognised by international bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), ECFMG, and the Medical Council of India (MCI).

“For Indian students, this means their degrees are valid in India after passing the FMGE,” said Aditya, adding that in private colleges in India, the fee structure is much higher, often around Rs 1 crore, including a donation of Rs 30-40 lakh. “In the Philippines, I completed my degree in less than Rs 30 lakh,” he added.

Kadwin Pillai, Director of Transworld Educare and Chairman of Kings International Medical Academy, which facilitates students’ recruitment, said that his father Dr David Pillai collaborates with two medical universities in the Philippines, including DMSF, and explained the evolving trend. “In the early 2000s, students were more inclined to studying in Russia, Ukraine, and other European countries. Later, China and the Philippines also became popular for medical studies, and now a large number of students from India are going to the Philippines. Our institute facilitates this transition,” he said.

Pillai said that currently, around 5,000 students have enrolled in various medical universities in the Philippines in the latest batch, an increase of about 40% compared to last year. He noted that the number of Indian student numbers have surged due to Russia-Ukraine war, Philippines’ affordable study, and worldwide recognition to Philippine’s degree.