There are a number of challenges and regulations associated with transferring universities while taking an MBBS course overseas.
Students must fully comprehend how to transfer from one MBBS abroad university to another for Indian students 2026 due to recent updates and the implementation of new regulations by governing bodies worldwide.
Rules for MBBS Abroad University Transfer
Are you considering changing medical schools in the middle of your studies? The regulations have become much more stringent for Indian students. University transfers are now mainly forbidden under the NMC’s Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations 2021.
You must follow these “Single Institution” guidelines to ensure that your degree remains valid for the NExT/FMGE exam in India:
- Whole Course Continuity: You must complete the required 12-month internship and the full 54-month academic program at the same foreign medical school.
- No Migration: Students who started their studies after November 18, 2021, cannot transfer between universities or countries.
- Exception: Limited “Academic Mobility” was permitted only in specific crisis areas, like Ukraine. Even in those situations, the home university usually had to grant degrees.
Before you enroll, always check your university credentials. Changing schools mid-year could jeopardize your ability to practice in India.
Eligibility Criteria for a Transfer
You must understand the rules set by the educational authorities in your home country and the destination country to transfer to an MBBS program abroad. To move between international medical universities, you need to meet certain legal and academic requirements. Here are the main qualifications you must have:
- Academic Role: You typically need a “clean” transcript with no unpaid balances. Most universities require a minimum GPA or an average score of 70% (a B grade) or higher in your completed subjects.
- Credit Equivalency: To transfer within Europe, you need transferable ECTS credits, usually 60 each year. The new university will review your previous curriculum to ensure it aligns with theirs.
- NMC Compliance (For Indians): According to the 2026 guidelines, an Indian transfer is valid only if you complete the full 54-month course and the 12-month internship at the same institution. Transfers are usually allowed only in rare cases approved by the government, like during war.
- Language and Exam Proof: A valid NEET scorecard and proof of English proficiency from the TOEFL or IELTS are required.
Essential Documentation Checklist
Your documents link you to your new campus during the transfer from international medical schools. The absence of one document may result in the loss of credits or ineligibility for a visa.
The following documents are required for a seamless transfer:
- Academic Records: Complete and genuine records of all courses pursued, grades obtained, and credits awarded. These documents must be duly signed by your current dean.
- A comprehensive curriculum is a list of classes arranged by subject. To make sure your prior credits meet the requirements of your new university, you must align your subjects.
- A properly signed document from your current university confirming that they have no objections to your withdrawal and transfer is known as a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
- Equivalency Certificate: To guarantee that your prior credits are accepted in the new nation, the Ministry of Education or your new university will issue this document.
- NEET Scorecard & Eligibility: For final home-country licensure, Indian citizens must have a current NEET scorecard and, if relevant to earlier regulations, an Eligibility Certificate.
- Legal Identity: A new Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), a birth certificate, and a passport valid for at least 18 months.
The recent updates, such as those by the National Medical Commission in India, have imposed deadlines and requirements for students applying for transfers, especially in countries like Ukraine and the Philippines.
The transfer of students in foreign universities is handled by the local medical councils and the medical council of the country of origin, such as the National Medical Commission in India.
The students must make sure that the new college is recognized by the National Medical Commission and that their transfer request will be accepted.
After the changes in the policies, such as the National Medical Commission, the students have to reassess their choices based on the new guidelines.
The transfer request may demand original documents, which may not be readily available based on the regulations of the country.
Possible Difficulties and Dangers
Before transferring, you should be aware of the following major challenges:
- Licensing Invalidity: For Indian students, the NMC 2026 regulations are very strict, and your license will become invalid if you transfer in the middle of your course. Most of the regulations demand that the entire 54-month course, including internship, be completed in the same university.
- Credit Loss: Not all courses are “mapped” equally. The new university may not accept certain credits, which may require you to reappear for a semester or a year.
- Financial Burden: In addition to the new tuition fee, you will also incur “hidden” costs, such as visa re-application charges, new security deposits, and increased living costs in a new location.
- Language Barriers: If you are transferring to a new country, you will have to learn a new local language for clinical postings, which may drastically affect your patient training.
Education Orbit Counselling and Link
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