Latest NMC Guidelines for MBBS Abroad 2025: Rules, Course Duration, Eligibility & Requirements

Are you studying MBBS abroad? Then understanding the Latest NMC Guidelines for MBBS Abroad 2025 is required for every Indian medical student. The National Medical Commission has released the latest updated NMC regulations to study abroad 2025. The NMC rules and regulations for MBBS abroad determine whether your MBBS degree is eligible in India or not. This guide covers NMC’s latest news for foreign students and the steps to follow to be able to practice medicine in India.

According to the Latest NMC Guidelines for MBBS Abroad, published in early May 2025, the National Medical Commission released a new Gazette regarding the new rules and regulations for studying MBBS Abroad. This gazette has mentioned some changes and restrictions about the medical degree (MBBS) from any university.

What Are the New NMC Regulations for MBBS Abroad 2025?

NMC replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) and issued a gazette notification highlighting the new rules for Indian medical students pursuing MBBS abroad. These new NMC regulations are mandatory for all admissions done after 18th November 2021.

New NMC Regulations for MBBS Abroad: Quick Highlights 2025

The latest NMC guidelines for MBBS abroad students 2025 state updated rules to ensure quality education and save students from fake universities. Only the students who meet the NMC criteria can register as doctors in India after MBBS abroad. Moreover, the new NMC guidelines help you choose the ideal country and university for MBBS abroad.

What Does It Focus On?

The Gazette of India which was released on 18th November 2021, focuses on some important points:

• Course duration for MBBS Abroad
• Required eligibility to practice in India after MBBS from Abroad
• Multiple campus studies not allowed
• Mandatory subjects
• To whom it is applicable

Course Duration for MBBS Abroad

The Gazette mainly focuses on and mentions the course duration of the MBBS/MD course from any university. It says that the MBBS degree will not be valid unless it has a course duration of 54 months. It must be noted that this 54-month duration does not include an internship. The Gazette explains the internship, minimum duration, and maximum duration of MBBS Abroad.

• It is compulsory to get an MBBS degree from the institute with a minimum of 54 months of course duration.
• After completion of 54 months, another 12 months of internship is compulsory from the same institute.
• The course should not take more than 10 years after the date of admission to complete.

Check out this screenshot of the Gazette Document

You can view the complete document here: Gazette of India by NMC

The Whole Course Should be Completed in English Medium Only

This means that a medical degree from another medium like Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, or any other medium of teaching, would not be valid in India.

Some of the foreign universities offer MBBS in their local language medium. So students should take into consideration that while going for MBBS Abroad, they must take admission to English medium only.

Required Eligibility to Practice in India After MBBS from Abroad

The NMC further mentioned in the Gazette that even after completing the valid duration of the MBBS course from a foreign university/institute the students would be eligible to practice in India only when:

• Students must be eligible to practice their medicine in the respective country from where they complete the MBBS/MD course.
• After completion of the course from foreign universities, students should undergo 12 months of internship in India as well.
• Students must clear the National Exit Test (NEXT) or similar screening test of NMC.

Multiple Campuses Study Not Allowed

Sometimes the students choose to do the first year of their medical degree from one institute and then shift to another institute for their further duration. There are some other cases like MBBS in the Philippines where students choose to do the BS course from India and go to the Philippines only for the MD course. The National Medical Commission has abandoned that process now. According to this Gazette, the whole degree should be completed from one institute only. The course completed from different institutes would not be valid.

Mandatory Subjects

The Gazette of India for MBBS Abroad clearly states that the students should have covered the following subjects in their theory and/or internship. The clinical subjects mentioned below should be in their syllabus and the degree would be valid in India only if the mentioned subjects are covered in their curriculum.

The clinical subjects include but are not limited to:

• Community Medicine
• General Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Pediatrics
• General Surgery
• Anesthesia
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Orthopaedics
• Otorhinolaryngology,
• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Emergency or Casualty services

To Whom it is Applicable?

Apart from the above-mentioned points, there is one main point that should be taken into consideration. This point states whether this new rule is applicable to you or not. Whether your current degree is valid in India or not. If your admission is already done and you are pursuing an MD course already, would you be able to practice in India? Well, there is no need to be afraid for those students who are already (before 18th November 2021) taking education in some foreign universities.

• This rule is applicable for the students admitted to MBBS Abroad after the date of release of this Gazette i.e. 18th November 2021.
• This does not apply to students who have already taken admission or started studying the medicine course.
• This does not apply to those who have already completed the degree before the release of this rule.
• It does not apply to those who have been specially exempted by the Central Government of India.

So the new Gazette mentioned many new rules about studying MBBS Abroad. Yet students need not worry about it. The new students need to take this rule in mind and choose their university and country for an MBBS degree wisely. Clearly, the Gazette only specifies the rules about practicing medicine in India. So the students still have other options like practicing in foreign countries. One can pass the screening test of the respective country ex. USMLE for the USA and start practicing their medicine there.

Frequently Asked Questions 

 Ques 1. Can I transfer between universities or countries during MBBS abroad?
The new NMC regulations do not allow transfers. The entire course must be completed in one university.

Ques 2. Is MBBS in the local language valid in India?
MBBS must be entirely in English medium as per NMC rules.

Ques 3. What if my MBBS course is less than 54 months?
Your degree will not be recognized in India if the course is less than 54 months (excluding internship).

Ques 4. Do I need to do an internship in India after returning?
After MBBS abroad, a 12-month internship in India is compulsory.

Ques 5. Is NEXT mandatory after MBBS abroad?
Yes, you must clear the National Exit Test (NEXT) or any screening test by NMC to practice in India.