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Does India's National Medical Commission keep a list of approved foreign universities?

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

No. The National Medical Commission (India) states on its information desk page for students going abroad that it does not endorse any list of foreign medical institutions or universities for MBBS or an equivalent course. The page is addressed to the public at large, and it advises that fee and course details be obtained directly from the university. This summary covers that page and the Commission's rules and advisory for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who want to practise in India after a foreign primary medical qualification; the section of this site on practising back home is at this register's section page.

What the information desk page says about lists

The page says that the erstwhile Medical Council of India had provided a list of foreign medical institutions or universities for MBBS or an equivalent course, based on information received from the Indian Embassy or High Commission concerned. The page then states that it is to clarify that the National Medical Commission does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/Universities for MBBS or equivalent course. That sentence refers to "any list". It names no country.

The page advises the public that, before taking admission in MBBS or an equivalent course in a university outside India, the following should be obtained directly from the university or institution concerned:

  • confirmation of the fee structure;
  • details of the course, which the page says should be commensurate with MBBS courses in India in content, duration and internship; and
  • other related information, given as "etc." on the page.

The screening test requirement

The page sets out a screening test requirement for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who hold a primary medical qualification from a medical institution outside India. The requirement applies to those who want provisional or permanent registration with the Commission or any State Medical Council on or after 15 March 2002. Such a person shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority.

The page also states that the 2018 notification to the Screening Test Regulations requires the same group to qualify the prescribed screening test, in addition to the other eligibility criteria in the regulations.

The page says that no person shall be allowed to appear in the screening test unless the conditions in the following table are met.

Item Condition as stated on the page Scope or date the page gives
(1) The person is a citizen of India or holds Overseas Citizenship of India, and has a primary medical qualification recognised for enrolment as a medical practitioner in the country where the awarding institution is situated. No date given.
(2) The person has an Eligibility Certificate from the Commission (or the erstwhile Medical Council of India) under the Eligibility Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002. Not required for Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India who acquired the qualification from a foreign medical institution, or obtained admission there, before 15 March 2002.
(3) The person intends to obtain a primary medical qualification from a medical institution outside India, and must qualify the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Admission to MBBS course. Applies to those intending to do so on or after May 2018. The NEET result is treated as the Eligibility Certificate, provided the person fulfils the eligibility criteria in the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997.
(4) The person holds an undergraduate medical qualification from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, and also a postgraduate medical qualification from one of those countries, and has been recognised for enrolment as a medical practitioner in that country. Under this item the person is not required to qualify the screening test.

For item (3), the page also says that the NEET result is valid for three years from the date of declaration of the result. The result entitles the candidate to pursue an MBBS or equivalent course, including any pre-medical or language course, followed by that course.

How the screening test is run

The page says that the screening test shall be conducted as per the schedule of examination announced by the prescribed authority. The procedure shall follow the scheme announced by the Commission for this purpose.

The prescribed authority shall tell the result to the candidates, the Commission and the State Medical Councils. Unsuccessful candidates shall also be appropriately informed. Candidates who qualify may apply to the Commission or to any State Medical Council for provisional or permanent registration.

Conditions for permanent registration under the 2021 regulations

The National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021, published in the Gazette of India on 18 November 2021, set the conditions for permanent registration. Under regulation 5(1) and (2), these regulations do not apply to foreign medical graduates who acquired a foreign medical degree or primary qualification before the regulations came into force, or to candidates who were pursuing their education in foreign institutions before then. Those persons are governed by the earlier regulations. Questions 2 and 4 of the Commission's FAQ on these regulations give the date as 18 November 2021.

Regulation 4 says that no foreign medical graduate shall be granted permanent registration unless he has:

  • (a)(i) undergone a course leading to a foreign medical degree with a minimum duration of 54 months;
  • (a)(ii) undergone an internship for a minimum duration of 12 months in the same foreign medical institution;
  • (a)(iii) received a foreign medical degree with the medium of instruction in English; and
  • (a)(iv) studied the mandatory subjects specified in Schedule I;
  • (b) registered with the respective professional regulatory body, or otherwise competent to grant a licence to practise medicine in the jurisdiction of the country in which the medical degree is awarded, and at par with the licence given to citizens of that country;
  • (c) undergone supervised internship in India for a minimum term of 12 months, after applying for it to the Commission; and
  • (d) cleared the National Exit Test or such other mandated test or tests conducted by the Commission.

Regulation 5(3) adds that no grant of permanent registration to practise medicine shall be issued if it infringes public policy or national security.

The 2025 advisory

The Commission's advisory U-14021/UGMEB-2025, dated 19 May 2025 and issued by the National Medical Commission (Undergraduate Medical Education Board), has a section 3 titled "Rules to be followed for the students who intend to pursue medical education in foreign countries". This section restates the 2021 regulations. It lists six key requirements:

  • a. a minimum of 54 months of education in a single institution;
  • b. a 12-month internship to be completed at the same foreign university;
  • c. clinical training must not be done in parts or across different countries;
  • d. the medium of instruction must be English;
  • e. the mandatory subjects specified in Schedule I must be studied; and
  • f. registration with the respective professional regulatory body, or otherwise competence to grant a licence to practise medicine in the country where the degree is awarded, at par with that country's citizens.

The advisory says that it is firmly advised that Schedule I of the 2021 regulations shall be complied with, to apply for a licence or permanent registration to practise in India. It also says that foreign medical graduates who fail to comply with these regulations may lead to disqualification for registration to practise medicine in India.

This summary does not say whether any university or course meets these conditions. The conditions are stated in the documents above. Decisions on individual cases are for the authorities named in those documents, not for this register.

Questions people ask

Does the National Medical Commission endorse a list of foreign medical institutions?

The information desk page states that the National Medical Commission does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/Universities for MBBS or equivalent course. It advises the public to obtain the fee structure and course details directly from the university or institution concerned before taking admission.

Who does the screening test requirement apply to?

According to the information desk page, the requirement applies to Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who have a primary medical qualification from a medical institution outside India and who want provisional or permanent registration with the Commission or a State Medical Council on or after 15 March 2002. The page then lists eligibility items (1) to (4), which include a NEET requirement for those intending to obtain the qualification on or after May 2018.

How long is a NEET result valid under the information desk page?

Item (3) of the eligibility criteria on the information desk page says that the NEET result shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of result. The same item says the result entitles a candidate to pursue an MBBS or equivalent medical course, including any pre-medical or language course, followed by that course.

What does regulation 4 require for permanent registration?

Regulation 4 of the National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021 says that no foreign medical graduate shall be granted permanent registration unless the person meets the conditions in paragraphs (a) to (d). These include a course of at least 54 months, a 12-month internship in the same foreign medical institution, English as the medium of instruction, registration or licensing in the country where the degree was awarded, supervised internship in India for at least 12 months after applying to the Commission, and clearing the National Exit Test or other mandated tests.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal, medical or professional-licensing advice, it is not published by the bodies named, and it promises no admission, examination or registration outcome. The official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.

MBBS Register Desk