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India's National Medical Commission notice on universities in China: what it said and to whom

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

India's National Medical Commission (India) issued a notice on 8 February 2022 for prospective students considering medical study in China. In it, the Commission describes the situation at that date, says it does not recognize or approve medical courses done only by online mode, and advises students to refer to the FMGE Regulations and to exercise due diligence. This page sets out the notice paragraph by paragraph, and it names the rule and the date for each point. For the topic of practising back home, see this register's section page on practising back home.

What the notice is

The notice is file number NMC/US(NMC)/Misc/2022-96, dated 8 February 2022. Its title is "University admissions in China". The publisher is the National Medical Commission, India (Administration Section). It is a single page, and it is written in English.

Paragraph 1: the context in February 2022

Paragraph 1 says that the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, had noticed that a few universities in the People's Republic of China had started issuing notices for admission to MBBS programmes for the current and upcoming academic years. Paragraph 1 names no university.

Paragraph 2: the travel and visa position at that date

Paragraph 2 says that any prospective student needs to be aware of the following position. The Government of the People's Republic of China had imposed strict travel restrictions in the wake of COVID-19 and had suspended all visas since November 2020. A large number of international students, including Indian students, had not been able to return to China to continue their studies. The notice says that, up to that date, there had been no relaxation in the restrictions. It also says that the Chinese authorities had conveyed earlier that courses would be conducted online.

Paragraph 2 describes the position as the notice saw it on 8 February 2022. It is not a description of the position today.

Paragraph 3: online-only courses

Paragraph 3 reads: "As per the extant rules, National Medical Commission does not recognize or approve medical courses done only by online mode."

Paragraph 3 names no rule by number or title. The rule it refers to is the one the notice calls "the extant rules", and the notice does not say which rules those are.

Paragraphs 4 and 5: advice to students

Paragraph 4 advises students to refer to the FMGE Regulations before applying or planning to seek admission in any institutions in China or in foreign institutions. Paragraph 4 gives no title, date or number for the FMGE Regulations it refers to.

Paragraph 5 says that, in view of the above, students are advised to exercise due diligence in choosing where to pursue medical education.

Q18 of the FAQ on online classes

The National Medical Commission's FAQ on the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 answers the question "What are the provisions regarding online classes?" in Q18. Q18 says that Foreign Medical Graduates are allowed to undergo online classes of theory subjects only. These online classes are supplemented by offline practical and clinical training done in the Medical University and its affiliated Hospital during the course of MBBS. Q18 also says they are required to furnish a Certificate of successful completion for the same.

Q18 is an answer on the 2021 regulations, so it applies only within their scope. Under regulation 5 of those regulations, they do not apply to foreign medical graduates who had acquired a foreign medical degree or primary qualification before the regulations came into force, or to candidates who were already pursuing their education in foreign institutions before then. Those people are governed by the earlier applicable regulations (regulation 5(1)(a), 5(1)(b) and 5(2); Q2 and Q4 of the FAQ). The regulations came into force on 18 November 2021 (Q2 of the FAQ). The notice of 8 February 2022 is a separate document with its own date.

What the notice does not contain

Paragraph 1 names no university. Paragraph 3 names no rule by number or title. Paragraph 4 gives no title, date or number for the FMGE Regulations. Paragraph 2 gives no figure for the number of students affected.

The reader should confirm the current position with the National Medical Commission (India) before relying on the notice.

Questions people ask

Does the notice describe the situation in China today?

The notice describes the situation as it stood on 8 February 2022. Paragraph 2 gives the travel and visa position at that date, and the page does not present it as the present position.

Does the notice say that online-only medical courses are recognized in India?

No. Paragraph 3 says that, as per the extant rules, the National Medical Commission (India) does not recognize or approve medical courses done only by online mode.

What does the notice advise students to do before choosing where to study?

Paragraph 4 advises students to refer to the FMGE Regulations before applying or planning to seek admission in any institutions in China or in foreign institutions. Paragraph 5 advises students to exercise due diligence in choosing where to pursue medical education.

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.

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