The initiation of every success story is generally defined by a major decision made by the individual student. Due to the limited number of medical seats in India and the overwhelming competition for these seats in India, many Indian students find that pursuing an MBBS degree abroad has become necessary. Millions of students take the NEET exam; with over 1.5 million students each year taking the NEET exam and only around 80,000 seats available in Indian medical schools, many talented, deserving, and qualified students find their academic credentials to be of little to no value as they are prevented from entering a medical school in India.
The success stories of Indian MBBS students who study abroad often begin with this resiliency moment (i.e., the rejection from a domestic medical school does not indicate that exercising their medical aspirations is no longer an option; rather, other options may be explored). Students who are willing to take this step demonstrate a level of maturity and foresight by recognizing that the location at which one receives education has less significance than the quality of training and the individual drive to succeed.
From Doubt to Confidence
Indian MBBS students have gone through tremendous changes in their lives while completing their MBBS studies outside of India. The challenges of leaving home and adapting to a new culture and language, along with living independently, have helped them grow as a person and develop strength that goes far beyond just doing the work necessary to become a physician. For example, Indian MBBS students who are studying in foreign countries such as Ukraine, Russia, or China often find themselves confronted with language barriers. Many universities in these countries require students to take language courses before they can engage in either English-medium or local-language instruction. The students who can overcome the challenges of living in another country are not only going to be good physicians, but they will also be multilingual professionals who can practice in varying international environments.
Academic Excellence and Research Achievements
Examples of successful Indian MBBS Abroad students frequently include impressive scholastic accomplishments achieved while pursuing their medical degrees. Some Indian students who study in European universities (i.e., Georgia, Ukraine, and Russia) possess access to many levels of research facilities, as well as the potential to conduct high-tech research across a variety of medical disciplines. In fact, many Indian students have published their research results in international journals during their MBBS programs and therefore can demonstrate their academic success on an international stage.
Students enrolled in the Philippines and Caribbean nations typically participate in English-medium training that utilizes the same methodology as American medical schools. As such, they tend to outperform on USMLE examinations, which are the primary means for admission to United States residency programs. These results indicate that, under appropriate circumstances and when attending an accredited medical education program, students studying outside the United States can receive an education that is equal in quality or even better than what they would have otherwise received at home.
Finally, examples of many successful Indian MBBS Abroad students also include scholarship recipients and those students receiving awards and/or acknowledgments from their host universities for superior academic performance. Such accomplishments substantiate an individual’s decision to study outside of India and provide motivation for other individuals who wish to pursue similar degrees.
The FMGE Challenge
Historically, FMGE has had low pass rates, making it a significant hurdle for international graduates wanting to become registered physicians in India. Many students cite their international medical education for helping them establish a solid knowledge base and state that the breadth of clinical experiences and clinical preparation for FMGE that they experienced while abroad prepared them to overcome the challenges posed by this exam. Their success stories indicate that preparation for the FMGE should begin during the last year of medical school, not after completion of medical school.
Many coaching institutes exist in India to help prepare students for FMGE, and several student success stories about the experiences of Indian MBBS students studying abroad indicate that many of these students benefited from being enrolled in structured coaching programs. As students develop strategies on how best to approach the FMGE by focusing on weaker areas, utilizing an abundance of mock exams, and regularly keeping a study schedule, they are able to be successful and move on within their medical careers.
Career Success in India's Healthcare Sector
The success of studying MBBS abroad can be validated through an individual’s ability to establish a fulfilling and lucrative career upon returning to India.
Many students who study MBBS abroad report successes, including working as physicians in government hospitals, running successful medical practices, and working for corporate healthcare providers throughout India.
Dr. Priya Sharma (name changed for privacy) graduated from a medical school in Russia with a degree in medicine. Upon returning to India, she was able to pass the FMGE exam on her first attempt. She began working as a Medical Officer in a government hospital and went on to complete her MD in pediatrics after taking the NEET-PG examination. Dr. Sharma is currently the Head of the Pediatric Department at a district hospital.
servicing thousands of young children who come from underserved communities. Her experience demonstrates how studying medicine abroad can lead to meaningful contributions to the local communities in which these students practice.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar (name changed), a graduate of MBBS in Ukraine, is yet another example of how studying medicine abroad can lead to great success.
Conclusion
After facing many hurdles, including learning foreign languages, adapting culturally, and taking professional qualifying exams to be effective doctors, these graduates are now able to contribute positively to the healthcare profession and to the patients they serve. Indian students studying medicine abroad exemplify the fact that it is less important where one attends school than it is to commit to learning, commit to patients, and engage in ongoing professional development. With the growth and globalization of the health care industry in India, medical graduates from foreign countries will contribute significantly to the health care workforce by providing their unique perspectives and expertise.
Education Orbit Counseling and Link
Those who have been inspired by the success stories of Indian students who obtained their MBBS degrees from foreign schools may want to consider the idea of studying medicine overseas and the capability of working with educational consultancy firms with experience in this area to increase their likelihood of having a similar story of success. Many of these educational consultancies, such as EOCL India (Education Opportunities & Career Links), support students by matching them with an appropriate medical school/college and supplying them with all the tools necessary to succeed on their journey through medical education and into practice.
