NMC Rules for MBBS Abroad Explained: The FMGL 2021 Checklist

"Is this university NMC approved?" is the question we hear most often from parents. The honest answer surprises many families: the National Medical Commission (NMC) does not approve or publish a list of approved foreign universities. Instead, it sets rules that your foreign medical course must meet. If the course meets them, you can take the licensing exam in India after you graduate. If it does not, you cannot. This guide explains those rules in simple words.

The rules come from FMGL 2021

The rules are in the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, published on 18 November 2021. They apply to students who joined a foreign medical course on or after that date.

The checklist: what your course must have

1. At least 54 months of study. The medical course itself must last at least four and a half years.
2. A 12-month internship at the same foreign institution. The internship must be done where you studied, not somewhere else.
3. Teaching in English. The whole course must be taught in English. You may still learn the local language to talk to patients, but lectures and exams must be in English.
4. The entire course outside India, at the same institution. No part of the course, training or internship can be done in India, and you cannot move between universities partway.
5. Subjects listed by NMC. The course must cover the subjects in NMC's list.
6. Licence eligibility in that country. After graduating, you must be eligible for a licence to practise medicine in that country, on the same terms as its own citizens.
7. Finish within 10 years. You must complete the course within ten years of joining.

What happens after you return to India

When you come back, you must:

• Clear the licensing exam for foreign medical graduates. Today this is the FMGE, conducted by NBEMS. NMC plans to replace it with the National Exit Test (NExT), but as of October 2026 NExT has not started for foreign medical graduates.
• Complete a 12-month supervised internship in India, arranged through your State Medical Council.
• Register with the State Medical Council or NMC to practise.

Before all this: qualify NEET

NEET-UG is compulsory before joining a foreign medical course if you want to practise in India, and the result is valid for three years for foreign admission. Read NEET 2027 and MBBS abroad for details.

How to check a university against these rules

Since there is no official "approved list", you need to check each course yourself. Ask the university (not only the agent) to confirm in writing:

• the total length of the course for your batch, including the internship;
• where and how the 12-month internship is organised;
• that every year is taught in English;
• that graduates are eligible for a medical licence in that country on the same terms as citizens.

Also read the latest public notices on nmc.org.in. NMC sometimes issues alerts about particular countries or institutions. For example, it issued an alert note on Uzbekistan dated 1 April 2026; read our MBBS in Uzbekistan guide for what it means.

Countries where students need to check extra carefully

• Philippines: the Doctor of Medicine is graduate-entry, after a bachelor's degree. Check how the full route meets the "same institution" and duration rules. See MBBS in the Philippines.
• Egypt: check licence eligibility for foreign graduates and the internship structure. See MBBS in Egypt.
• Countries with local-language clinical years: check that the course is taught in English throughout, even if patients speak another language.

Red flags to watch for

• "100% NMC approved university" — NMC does not approve universities.
• "Do part of your course in India" or "transfer to another university later" — not allowed under FMGL 2021.
• "Internship can be done anywhere" — it must be at the same institution.
• Fees paid in cash or to a personal bank account.

Keep your documents safe

From the first year, keep your admission letter, syllabus, marksheets, attendance records and internship certificates. You will need them for the licensing exam and registration in India.

How PSP Education can help

We help families check each course against these rules and ask the right questions before paying. Explore our MBBS abroad guide, compare medical universities, or book free counselling.