Each year, about 25,000 Indian students leave India to study medicine by enrolling in MBBS programs at colleges outside of India. Most of these students will attend universities in either Russia or China, but many other countries, such as Kazakhstan and the Philippines, also offer MBBS degrees (there are other countries as well). Although every year thousands of students receive letters of admission from their chosen university as well as approval of their Visa by the government, unfortunately, most students forget about one very important organization that will greatly affect their ability to be successful overseas. The Indian government has established Embassies and Consulates throughout the world for students studying outside of India.
These diplomatic bodies are more than just an office for providing the necessary administrative functions that a student needs when they go abroad to study; they also represent the Indian government and its commitment to protecting, helping, and guiding Indian citizens who study many miles from home. Understanding the entire services provided by the Embassies and Consulates may mean the difference between having a successful and uneventful educational career or having an educational experience that creates difficulties that could disrupt the completion of your medical degree.
The Embassy
The Indian Embassy is the government’s official representative in a foreign country. For medical students, the embassy is most important because, as you go through the challenging 6 years of pursuing your MBBS degree in a foreign country, your Indian Embassy is going to be your best friend! Each embassy has a consular section to assist Indian nationals studying abroad, and this is where students turn for help with things like housing, socializing, or finding a doctor when they first arrive in the city they are studying in.
When a medical student arrives in Moscow, Beijing, Almaty, Manila, or Tbilisi to start medical school, they’re not just arriving as a foreign student; they are also arriving as an Indian national under the protection of that embassy. There are many tangible products the embassy provides to Indian students, as well as many less tangible things that provide students peace of mind that clients often appreciate the most!
Registration
In your first 30 days in the region, it is crucial to register at the Indian Embassy, either through the embassy’s online registration process or by visiting the embassy, as this will allow the Embassy to build a complete database of all Indian Citizens who are currently studying abroad. This database will enable the Embassy to contact and support Indian Citizens in distress during an emergency.
- Embassy registration also allows the Embassy to:
- Provide timely notifications of threats to student safety, such as the threat of terrorism, natural disaster, or civil unrest.
- Locate students more quickly during times of evacuation and ensure their safe return.
- Facilitate communication between the student and their family back home during times of crisis.
- Be able to provide consular assistance to students more quickly and in a more coordinated manner.
- Keep track of students in the region to provide them with welfare benefits.
- To register at an Embassy, students are generally required to provide basic personal information such as
- Passport number, name of the university or college being attended, local address, contact number in India, and a contact number that can be reached in case of an emergency. Some Embassies also ask for a list of courses being studied and any expected graduation dates.
This 30-minute process allows students to connect with the Embassy, which can be critical for providing safety in case of an emergency or personal emergency.
Documentation Services
The medical education system in India relies heavily on paperwork, and the Indian Embassy for international MBBS students plays a vital role in providing documentation that ensures these students can easily move through the education system.
- Passport Services
The passport is the most significant travel document you will need while enrolled in an MBBS program for five years to six years.
- Issuing emergency travel documents to replace lost or stolen passports.
- Replacing damaged passports.
Processing times will vary from one embassy to another. Most embassies offer expedited services for legitimate emergencies. Students are encouraged to track the expiration dates on their passports and start the renewal process at least six months before expiration.
- Attestation and Verification
Universities, scholarship organizations, and licensing authorities often require attestation.
- Educational certificates
- Medical fitness & Birth Certificate
- No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
- Graduate diplomas.
The embassy will attest to these documents on behalf of the student and provide validity through the signature and seal of the embassy. These attestations are critical to the medical licensing process when you return to India or pursue an additional degree from another university.
- Police Clearance Certificates
Many universities and countries require police verification. Without the assistance of the embassy, obtaining these certificates would be significantly more challenging.
Emergency Response
The main advantage of Indian Embassies to students pursuing MBBS abroad is the experience during times of crisis. A medical student abroad may encounter many different types of emergencies, including medical emergencies due to significant injury or illness, difficulties with the law, natural disasters, political unrest, and financial emergencies.
Indian Embassies will have a 24-hour/7-day emergency helpline specifically for these situations.
In cases of medical emergencies, the Indian embassy can provide the following information and assistance:
- The Indian embassy can provide the following information to MBBS students:
- Provide lists of reputable local hospitals and English-speaking physicians
- Provide telephone communication to the student’s family in India to update them on their condition
- Coordinate emergency medical flights back to India if necessary
- Assist in the transfer of emergency money through the student’s family channels
- For legal emergencies, while the Indian Embassy cannot offer legal representation on behalf of its students or advance bail money for its students, it does assist in ensuring that the student receives a fair trial, in accordance with local laws, such as:
- Recommend appropriate local lawyers who are familiar with the legal proceedings of Indian nationals
- Visit the student if they are incarcerated
- Ensure that the conditions of incarceration comply with international laws
- Facilitate contact between the student, their family members, and their lawyer.
- For security-related emergencies, the Indian Embassy has shown its pivotal role in securing the safety of all MBBS students, most recently, in 2021, when, during the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe, the Indian Embassies were engaged in large-scale evacuations of thousands of Indian MBBS students to safety.
Academic and Professional Guidance
As well as emergency services, Indian Embassies assist prospective MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) students with a variety of educational programs and services, including:
- Information on what requirements are needed from the Medical Council of India (now the National Medical Commission) to be considered certified by that body.
- Assistance in preparing for and completing the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination).
- Support for obtaining internships in India during academic breaks.
- Career options and paths following completion of an MBBS degree.
Embassy officials maintain collaborative relationships with Indian medical regulatory agencies and are kept current on all licensing procedures, allowing them to provide you with the most accurate and timely information regarding what is needed for you to practice medicine in India once you complete your education.
In addition to supporting students academically, some embassies are also able to work in conjunction with universities to assist in addressing systemic issues facing Indian students, including
- Providing letters of support for research opportunities.
- Facilitating access to international conferences and exchange programs designed to enhance your medical education.
- Assisting in obtaining recommendations or letters of reference.
- Facilitating arrangements for volunteering with organizations that promote public health.
- Providing outreach to organizations in India seeking healthcare practitioners.
- Working with you to assist you in connecting with your peers in India.
EOCL India
In this article from EOCL India, you learned about the Role of Indian Embassies for MBBS Abroad Students. We strive to provide students with the best and all the information they need. These are some of the topics that may not be a focus initially, but they become very important for students. Therefore, we focus on every important piece of content and topic. Visit our office and start your MBBS journey.
