If you remember one thing about MBBS abroad, make it this: India does not “approve” foreign universities. It sets conditions that your specific program must meet. Those conditions are in the National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021, usually called FMGL 2021. Here they are in plain language.
Who the FMGL rules apply to
FMGL 2021 was notified on 18 November 2021. It applies to Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who joined a foreign medical course after that date and want to practise in India. Students who joined before it were covered by the older Screening Test Regulations, 2002. If you are taking admission in 2026 or later, FMGL 2021 applies to you.
The conditions, one by one
1. Minimum course length: 54 months
The medical course itself must last at least 54 months (four and a half years). This is the main reason many countries now run six-year programs: five years of study plus a year of internship.
Example: a four-year program that was enough for local licensing in its own country would not meet India’s rule.
2. Internship of at least 12 months, at the same institution
The program must include an internship of at least 12 months in the same foreign institution where you studied. You cannot study at University A and do the internship at University B, or come back to India for it.
3. English as the medium of instruction
The entire course must be taught in English. This includes clinical years. You will still need the local language to talk to patients, and learning it is strongly recommended (see do you need the local language?), but lectures, exams and teaching must be in English.
4. Required subjects and clinical training
The regulations list the subjects that must be studied, equivalent to the Indian MBBS curriculum, from anatomy, physiology and biochemistry through pathology, pharmacology and microbiology to medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, community medicine, psychiatry and the other clinical subjects. Hands-on clinical training is mandatory.
5. All training in one country, outside India
No part of the medical training or internship can be done in India or in any country other than the one that awards the degree. This affects “twinning” programs and schools that send students to another country for clinical rotations.
6. A licence to practise in the country of study
Your degree must make you eligible to register and practise medicine in that country, on the same footing as its own citizens. If the degree is “for foreigners only” and does not lead to local registration, it fails this test.
7. Completion within 10 years
You must finish the course within 10 years of joining. This matters for students who repeat years or take breaks.
After you return to India
- Licensing exam. You must pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) conducted by NBEMS. The regulations refer to the National Exit Test (NExT), which will replace FMGE once it is implemented. Its rollout has been deferred, so FMGE continues for now. See NExT vs FMGE.
- Supervised internship in India. After passing, you complete a 12-month supervised internship in India under the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) regulations.
- Registration. You then apply for permanent registration to practise.
Many students underestimate step 1. Building a steady routine with an FMGE-focused platform such as DocTutorials, or a concept-video library such as Lecturio, from the early years makes a real difference.
Recent clarifications to know about
- Online classes during COVID-19 (March 2026). On 6 March 2026 the NMC clarified that online study must be compensated with physical, on-site training, and that compensation without extending the study period is not accepted. Students admitted after 18 November 2021 fall under FMGL and must complete a 12-month internship in India. Student groups have challenged parts of this, so watch for updates.
- Philippines. The Philippines’ higher education regulator has said that its MD programs, which run 54 months excluding the pre-medical bachelor’s degree, meet the NMC conditions, provided the internship and other requirements are met. See our Philippines guide.
- 2021-22 batch. Students admitted around the November 2021 cut-off date have asked NMC for a one-time relaxation. A related case is before the Delhi High Court.
How to use these rules when choosing a university
Ask the university, in writing, for:
- the official program structure showing total duration and the internship year;
- confirmation that every year, including clinical years, is taught in English;
- the subject list with hours;
- confirmation that graduates can register as doctors in that country;
- where clinical training and internship take place (which hospitals, which country).
Keep copies. If a university or agent will not give these in writing, treat it as a serious warning sign. Our step-by-step university verification checklist shows exactly what to look for.
Frequently asked questions
Does NMC publish a list of approved foreign medical universities?
No. NMC sets conditions under FMGL 2021. Whether a degree is accepted depends on whether your program meets those conditions. Be wary of anyone selling an “NMC approved list”.
Can I do my internship in India instead of abroad?
Not under FMGL 2021. The 12-month internship must be done at the same foreign institution. After you return and pass the licensing exam, you also complete a separate 12-month supervised internship in India.
Is a five-year MBBS abroad valid in India?
Only if the course is at least 54 months and is followed by a 12-month internship at the same institution, with all other conditions met. Many five-year programs fail this test, so check the structure carefully.
What happens if I take longer than 10 years?
FMGL 2021 requires the course to be completed within 10 years of joining. Beyond that, the degree may not qualify you to practise in India.
Do the rules apply to OCI cardholders?
Yes. FMGL 2021 applies to Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who want to practise in India.
Sources
- NMC FAQ on FMGL Regulations 2021: nmc.org.in (PDF)
- Report on FMGL 2021 notification: Careers360
- NMC clarification on online classes compensation (March 2026): Medical Dialogues
- Philippines MD and NMC norms: Medical Dialogues
- 2021-22 batch relaxation request: Medical Dialogues
Always verify: this is a plain-language summary, not the legal text. The gazette notification on nmc.org.in is the authority. Last checked: October 2026.
