Ten things to consider when choosing a Foreign Medical degree Program
Eight Sri Lankan Universities have medical faculties: Colombo, Sri Jayawardanepura, Jaffna, Galle, Peradeniya, Kelaniya, Batticaloa and Rajarata. The output of all medical schools is around 1200 and they receive the degree MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) . The training period is around five years plus a residency period (Internship) of one year for full registration as a doctor in Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).
However, since the intake into government free medical faculties are very limited, a large number of students go abroad to get a Medical Degree from a foreign university. Sri Lankan students study medicine at countries such as Russia, India, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Latvia. Some also follow medicine in developed countries such as USA, England, Australia and New Zealand where the tuition fees are relatively high.
Choosing which medical school to apply requires information on cost, quality, facilities and acceptance in Sri Lanka as a doctor. The key parameters to look at are:
1. SLMC registration
A list of recognized foreign medical schools is maintained by Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). Check SLMC we b site to find whether the University and course you are applying is recognized by them.
2. Cost of the course
What is the current tuition and fees? Is this expected to increase yearly? If so, at what rate? You don’t want to apply to schools that are financially out of reach for you.
Cost varies with country of education. According to the information provided to us by parents and students, the total cost for entire course in Bangladesh would be around 1-2 million rupees, in China around 5-6 million rupees, in India around 8 – 10 million rupees and in USA/ UK around 40 million. There are rough estimates only.
3. Quality of the education
As there is no quality evaluation procedure for foreign universities, clarify information with the present students and with passed out doctors who followed the same course. You can go to the web site of the university and check their facilities, curriculum, assignment procedure, reputation of the lecturers, research publications, laboratories and library facilities and hospital facilities for clinical education.
Visit web sites of the various medical schools, and earmark a school that is suitable for you. List of medical schools (or universities with a medical school), sorted by region and country can be found here.
4. Location
Select the country of education based on the cost and the quality of the education. Also look for living standards of the location, cost of living and the personal safety of international students, as this has been a serious issue in some places (eg. some Russian cities). Check whether the clinical sites are in a different location, how to travel, cost for traveling etc.
5. Facilities
Apart for academic facilities, look for extracurricular facilities (i.e., housing and athletic/ recreational facilities, internet accessibility). Is designated study space available? Are students required to have a laptop?
6. Duration of the course.
How many years to complete? Does this involve additional year to learn a new language. Do you have to do internship in that country? Remember that now all foreign graduates have to do one year internship in Sri Lanka after passing ERPM (Act 16) examination conducted by SLMC.
7. Medium of Instruction
It would be better to go to a course conducted in English medium, which would be useful to pass EPRM (ACT 16) examination here.
8. Local agent
There are various local agents who source students for foreign universities. We are not in a position to recommend anyone. Select an agent carefully. Do not believe in the marketing talk of the agent who is sending the students, but clarify information with other students and parents who have selected the particular medical college. Before paying check the other information with the agent.
You may wish to consult relevant embassy or education support institute in the country (such as British council, Russian cultural center) and apply directly.
9. ERPM (Act 16) examination conducted by SLMC
Although the principles of medical practice remain the same, clinical teaching and the relative emphasis on various aspects of training differ from country to country, depending on the pattern of disease prevalence and the facilities and resources available for treating them. Hence after you obtain MBBS or an equivalent degree from a recognized foreign unveristy, you have to pass Examination for Registration to Practice Medicine (ERPM) in Sri Lanka (earlier it was called Act 16) conducted by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). You can download the details of this examination from SLMC web site.
10. Do you really want to do medicine?
Students study very hard in Sri Lankan to become a doctor, as it is a prestigious job. However if your Z score is not sufficient to enter government free education, then your parents have to spend lots of money and you have to study hard and spend about 5-6 years time in studying this subject. Some of you may want to consider another career by following various other higher education courses as given in following posts:
Select Universities and Courses in Sri Lankan Universities
Careers in Medical Sector
Higher Education Opportunities in the Field of Biological Sciences
Courses you can do after Advanced Level
Higher Education Choices for 18+ (after GCE AL) in Sri Lanka and aborad
Related Posts:
Local vs foreign education
Select courses
Online degrees in Sri Lanka
External degrees in Sri Lanka
Careers in Medical Sector
Related posts:
Sir,when I study BDS(Bachelor of Dental Surgery) in a foreing country is there an exam in sri lanka after complete the degre?.can I work sri lanka directly with out any exam?
Tanya- Contact SLMC. Their contact number is given above.
Sir, I would like to know if it is possible to practice medicine in Sri Lanka, after getting an MBBS degree in a foreign country and working there for a few years for experience. I just want to clarify even with foreign clinical exposure, are we still supposed to sit for the ERPM exam.
Thanks.
minimum requirement to act 16 is to have MBBS degree.
dear sir can you tell me the minimum requirement to sit for ACT 16 exam .. i mean a/l results and plus what is the meaning of MD (post graduate course ) what srilankan doctors do??? not doctor of medicine
@navun – We cannot disclose telephone numbers here.
Many students have already selected on particular course by talking to a persuasive agent and post here to check whether we recommend that foreign medical course. We cannot recommend any individual course here.
On Bangladesh agents and medicine – Initially about 50 Sri Lankan students students went sent to this Bangladesh medicine course with total of 126 in the total batch. Now two Sri Lankan agents sent about 150 students from Sri Lanka, and what we heard is that it is crowded and students cannot even see the dissections, and individual attention is lacking. But with these setting some may get the degrees and become doctors, it is up to you to decide the quality of the education you receive in from these private educational institutes.
@Ranga- SLMC has recently considered this option for having minimum A/L qualifications for future applicants registering for foreign medical degrees. This will not affect candidates who are already studying abroad. But I do not know whether they have implemented it. Please contact the Administrative Officer, Sri Lanka Medical Association at the following Tel. Nos.: 2693324, 2690270 or at the following address: 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Dear sir,
please can you give the telephone number someone, who became a doctor after learning in bangladesh….
thank you.. i am waiting for your early reply
dear sir,
i want to apply for a Romanian university for a MD degree and i was told that there is a new rule of the Sri Lanka Medical council that you ought to have got 2C passes plus a S pass in order to work in Sri Lanka as a doctor.is this true?
@dilrukshikeeragala – I have never heard of Sri Lankans going for Philippines medical education. But may be good, Check whether it is accepted by SLMC.
Dear Sir
I’m a student looking forward to study medicine in China or Philippines…and i would like to know about quality of Philippines medical education.Is it recognized in Sri Lanka?
Looking forward to an early reply
Thank you
Sir,theres a course as “Speech and Hearing Sciences / Speech and Language Therapy” conducted by the Medical Faculty of the University of Kelaniya. Im sure I’ll be selected to that course if I apply,as I already have maximum qualifications for the above course. but I dont know anything about the course. sir is that course is job oriented? how about the future if I follow that? what kind of job opportunities available for the above degree? Im looking forward to hear from you soon to come to a dicision as to apply to that course or not as the closing date for applying to university is very near.
Sir,theres a course as “Speech and Hearing Sciences / Speech and Language Therapy” conducted by the Medical Faculty of the University of Kelaniya. Im sure I’ll be selected to that course if I apply,as I already have maximum qualifications for the above course. but I dont know anything about the course. sir is that course is job oriented? how about the future if I follow that? what kind of job opportunities available for the above degree? Im looking forward to hear from you soon to come to a dicision as to apply to that course or not as the closing date for applying to university is very near.
@Nishani- Sorry we cannot promote individual agents for overseas study programs.
Dear Sir,
I am student looking forward to study MBBS in China. I would like to study in Tianjin University China, but I don’t know whom to contact to get the details about the university. It would be very kind of you sir, if you can give me the name and contact details of the Sri Lankan agent of Tianjin University.
I would also like to know if Tianjin University is a good choice to do MBBS?
Looking forward for your early reply….
Thank you.
@Imthiyaz – Validity in terms of whether you can become a doctor after foreign MBBS + passing ACT 16 examination is determined by SLMC. If the university you are applying is listed in SLMC it is recognized in Sri Lanka.
Dear sir,
Im a student who looking forward to study Medicine in abroad.I came to hear that the MBBS degree is valid worldwide ONLY if study for 5 years.Is it true sir? But many overseas universities offer Medicine course wich can be finished in less than 5 years.Because of the above reason,one of my friend withdrawed his registration from a university even he paid the admission,registration & tution fee. Im looking fprward your reply on this to come to a decision as I too already in hope to follow such a course wich can be finished within 5 years in Bangladesh.
Thanking you.
e-mail: mimthiyaz1@gmail.com
Thank you sir, I got your mail. i ll contact him.
@Chathuranga: Contact SLMC on A/L qualifications to study abroad
Sir, may i know the minimum qualifications for the A/L examination declared by the SLMC to follow a MBBS degree in a foreign country???Do they definitly expect 2C s & 1S when we are registering at SLMC after completing the degree???looking forward to an early reply, Thank you sir
Thank you sir…. I hope to be there in next year for next intake. which ll be commencing on next jan/2011. and earn a Degree with getting much effort. I think i ll be able to achieve it . All the things are ready.. finally expect some instruction from you sir…
If you can, plz make any comment , idea or any thing….
thank you sir.
mudithaupamal@gmail.com
muditha.jayasinghe@ymail.com
@@Muditha:: University of Science & Technology ,chittagong,Bangladesh is also another university You can study abroad and become a doctor. I know few students who have become doctors after following courses from this university.
Sir,
Do you think University of Science & Technology ,chittagong,Bangladesh is a good Medical college for become a good talented octor. According to your experience and your students comment.. Can you please make a answer, because it ll surely important point than my friends comments. I hope a answer again sir.
Than you sir
@Muditha: It is difficult to recommend any of those universities, in a common forum like this. In this type of forums, we give guidelines, and it is the users that should recommend courses. Ask your friends and take a decision.
Der Sir,
As i know Tianjin University is conducting medical Degree’s in English. If i complete a MBBS degree there, Couldn’t I be able to pass Act 16 exam sir..? Can I have to know, What s your recommended Foreign university (low cost-well recognized), to earn MBBS degree and easy to pass SL Act 16 examination….. Kindly expect ypur response sir…
If you can, please mention countries and universities….
Thank you sir..
@Muditha.need an assist: I know few people in Tianjin. After returning any of the degrees you have to do ACT 16. With Chinese degrees it is difficult to pass that. However some have passed and become doctors.
Dear Dr.Hiran sir,
1st of all i’d like to thanking you for your well Guidance for Srilankan students who wish to earn MBBS/MD Degree from foriegn countrues…. Your words are really helpful to all of us in this selection… Thank you again..
Sir, I m also an after AL Student(bio) passed well (but Zcore is not sufficient to enter state Medical college)..Now my parents and me plan on Obtaining a MBBS Degree from China… So can I have to know following things from you sir….
1. What is the best university in China for earn well recognized MBBS degree (Tianjin,Dalian,PUHS …etc.
2. Are Chinese MBBS Degrees are well recognized?
** According to your experience and Comments of your Students(Dr.s) , Please make a responce soon… If chinese medical degree’s are not in good, Please mention that any other degree awarded (low cost), Universities in Abroad….
KINDLY EXPECTING YOUR REPLY SIR..
AGAIN I M APPRECIATING ON YOUR GUIDANCE….
All the best,sir…
Thank you……
@Azrah: I do not know about Pakistan medical schools. Many students go to Bangladesh and some have become doctors now, so Pakistan may also be good option.
Please check Medical council before selecting.
sir, i did my a/l in 2010.i ve got B in phy,C passes in che &bio.ive an idea to do my medicine degree in pakistan,sir how about pakistan medical college?
@Dinushi: you enter medical school with your A/L results. After you got your MBBS from foreign university, you have to pass ACT 16 examination by Medical Council. see details above.
dear sir,I hope to follow a MBBS degree in a foreign country.I want to know about that regulation in sri lanka medical council.are they definitly hope 2 C passes and 1 S pass for sri lankan a/l exam when we are registering SLMC after complete foreign MBBS degree.please reply me sir.I have only 3 passes.thank you sir.
@Nizran mohamed: Many of your questions are answered above. Call SLMC and check your university is accepted here.
dear sir….i’m a bio student with pending results..and i like to study medicine in abroad..so what about the countries like goegia(Tibilsi),China,And Ukraine….What about the Degree M.D.M.D is valid here in Sri lanka Or only MBBS?Plz i want some full details about those..plz help me!!!!!!!
@mohammedfahir: Now that you are already studying Medicine in China, complete the course. However some doctors who passed out from some Chinese medical schools find it hard to pass ACT 16 exam. However now there are tuition classes in Colombo conducted by Sri Lankan consultant doctors who will guide you to pass this exam. But work hard.
dear sir,i am a medical student studying in china.my university is Tongji medical university,Wuhan.i suppose you know it.because of a scholarship student i have to do my course in Chinese medium.sir i want to know it will be very hard to pass the ACT 16 exam for me?what should i do to pass it?than what do you think about my university?the medical degree of it is standard or not ?please reply
I recently met some students (supposed to be Doctors) who got degrees form Tianjin University China. Accordint to them the in China they only get surface knowledge, and they do not get into detailed knowledge, in many subjects, as in Sri Lnakan Universities. Hence after graduating from china (and from other countries) students have to work hard to pass ACT 16. Now those passed out “doctors” have to go to Tuition classes in Colombo, conducted by Sri Lanka Registrars (consultants), where they charge Rs 500 per hour -you have to go every day.
If you have already chosen to study medicine in these universities, then try to pass this ACT 16 with going to tuition classes as you did for grade 5, O/L and A/L exams. But if you have not yet decided then then think before you spent your money on low quality medical education abroad.
@falool – If you can pay more you can get into a good medical school abroad. Manipal (Nepal) is good one, even china has good ones.
sir i did my ALs this year in english medium and hope to do medicine abroad..ive got to know from my teachers that medicine in bangladesh and russia and even in some universities in india is of poor quality as most of the students who studied there has failed to pass the ERPM exam here.what are the other universities you would suggest?
I do not know American College of Higher Education campus offering medical degrees in Sri Lanka. If you want to go to USA contact Fullbright scholarship commission, for UK contact British council. Press the links in this web site on study abroad to get more details. USA and UK medical degrees are very expensive.
sir,i hope to do a medical degree from American College of Higher Education campus. Is it better to do from that institution?what is the best degree,american degree or british degree?is that Liverpool univercity,UK best for my degree?[according to SLMC]
@Susila Karundasa, It is better to select English medium medical degree, as it would be easy to pass ACT 16, examination, else all terms to be studied again. Many go the Bangladesh and China as fees are relatively affordable. However best ones are in (except those exceptionally costly medical degrees in Western world, if you can afford them) India and Nepal, but the cost is high. However there are several Sri Lankan doctors, consultants, event Directors of Major Hospitals obtained their medical degrees from Russia.
My daughter studied at Lyceum Intenational school, and wants to follow forign medical degree, We checked course fees and SATIM Sri Lanka private medical college at Malabe cost for medical degree is 5.4 million rupees (final two years in Russia); In Russia Rs 4 m, Bangladesh 4 m, India 10 m, Australia 30 m, UK 10 m per year.
We have already spend lots of money for daughters education, as Term fees for Lyceum is around Rs 18,000.
What is the best cost-effective Medical degree program you can suggest?
Some of the common places that Sri Lankan students go for Medicine:
Science and Technology University, Bangladesh
Tianjin medical university, China
Peking University Health Science Center, China
Manipal University, Nepal
Also other universities in Russia,
@Kusum, When you come to sri lanka after a foreign medical degree. Then you have to register for ACT 16 or EPRM with Sri Lanka Medical Council. Then they will allocate you to a consultant and you can visit Sri Lankan government hospital and study on the diseases. It is a real privilege for foreign medical graduate.
How can we get practical training on the diseases of Sri Lanka, when we complete these degrees in a foreign university?
It seems very difficult to pass ACT 16 as foreign graduates are not familier with the local sri lankan diseases.
It is better to study medicine in one of the south asian countries, as syllabuses and dieseases are similar, Hence it is easy to pass ACT 16 exam.
Banglades medicine was once very good. But now more and more students are going there, and even lecture rooms are over crowded, so it is difficlut to recommend it.
It seems medicine in Nepal would be a good option.
Nice read. I finished A/L and want to go to russia for medicine. Now I have better knowledge in selecting a university/ country.
dear sir/madam
i’m studing biology in a/ls ilike to medicale degree i like to heigher education in india or other country .how can i get free scholorship
dear sir/madam
i’m studing biology in A/L s.ilike to medical degree.i like to heigher education in austrlia & England or other foreign country.how can i get a free scholor ship?
very informative sir… im sure this will help all who plan on applying for medicine abroad..:D