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NMC Advisory 2025: Your MBBS Degree May Not Be Valid in India if You Study at These Foreign Universities
In an Important and urgent turn of events, the National Medical Commission has today issued a new Advisory in July 2024 by the National Medical Commission, with the accompaniment of a notice, via its Advisory Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, from its Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) against students of India studying in certain foreign universities. The advisory follows the continuing stories surfacing that students have received admission into institutions that are not compliant with the parameters laid out in the FMGL Regulations, 2021, that was issue on 18 November, 2021. The FMGL Regulations, 2021, form the cornerstone of being able to access apply for Indian medical registration if you complete your undergraduate MBBS degree overseas!
Despite the Commission giving multiple warnings in the past and advertising about this issue in public notifications dated 8 August 2023 and 22 November 2024, the NMC is concerned that many students are still considering universities that do not meet the critical aspects of duration of the course, quality of clinical training, curriculum structure, internship requirements, and language of instruction. The FMGL Regulations explicitly define that the MBBS program must adhere to meeting the requirements, and there are consequences for failing to do so if a degree is not valid for registration in India. Graduates will be rendered ineligible to practice medicine in India.
The current advisory is especially important because of the inclusion of communications from the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs which highlighted some serious concerns related to a few institutions including, non-adherence to Indian standards of medical education, lack of university infrastructure, inadequate clinical exposure, harassment of Indian students, unreasonable fees, and refusal to pay back fees on withdrawal.
Foreign Medical Universities Blacklisted by NMC (as of July 2025)
The NMC has explicitly advised students not to seek admission in the following institutions:
- Central American Health and Sciences University, Belize
- Columbus Central University, Belize
- Washington University of Health and Sciences, Belize
- Chirchik Branch of Tashkent State Medical University, Uzbekistan
Students who have already started their degree programs or are considering taking admission into these programs should be informed that they cannot register with a degree in these institutions in India under the current regulations.
Advisory for Current and Future MBBS Students Working Abroad
In addition, the advisory states that students and parents are to consider the official advisory that was published on the NMC website on 19 May 2025, prior to taking admission abroad. This advisory has important information regarding which institutions are acceptable, minimum eligibility conditions, and all other relevant criteria, as outlined under the FMGL Regulations. The NMC also reminds students that these regulations will be applied at the time of registration or licensing in India, and not at admission or studying abroad. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to assess and ensure compliance throughout their studies.
For the students currently studying at a foreign medical institution, the advisory emphasizes the need to act without delay to review their university's curriculum, infrastructure and compliance status. In addition to this, students must remain updated with the NMC announcements and updates from the Indian embassies and where required take action to protect their future eligibility to practice medicine in India.
The new warning from the NMC emphasizes the application of caution and consideration by Indian medical aspirants seeking to study abroad. Although studying MBBS in a foreign country can introduce international exposure and quality education, it is important that one thinks about the long-term professional outcomes. A medical degree from an institution that does not comply with the medical council, could end up having legal and financial consequences and impede the aspiration to become a practicing doctor in India.
The NMC is not ambiguous in its message - adherence to FMGL Regulations is not optional. Students should be smart about their choices, ensure their qualifications are legitimate, and follow official processes, to ensure the continued validity and recognition of their medical degree in India.
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