In spite of the Indian government’s attempts to boost medical seats nationwide, a substantial shortage of spots is likely to push numerous medical hopefuls to seek their education overseas. The Budget 2025 aims to establish 10,000 more medical seats in the upcoming fiscal year, increasing the total from the cu rrent 100,000 seats. However, with more than 2.5 million students applying for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in 2024, the rivalry for medical seats is escalating.
Accordingly, numerous students are viewing international medical colleges as a practical option. Nations like Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have emerged as prefered locations for Indian medical students. Countries such as China, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Romania are also drawing Indian students.
As per specialists, the main motivation for choosing medical education abroad is cost-effectiveness. Government medical colleges in India have fees that are comparatively low, ranging from Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000 per year, whereas private medical colleges may demand over 1 crore for the full program.
“Cost is a significant factor motivating Indian students to seek medical education overseas,” stated Anil Nagar, founder & CEO of Adda247, a multilingual learning and skills platform. “Historically, nations such as the Philippines, China, and those in the Caribbean have been favored by Indian students, but currently, countries like the US, UK, and Germany are also drawing Indian students.”
Parijat Mishra, the head of career counseling for the medical division at Allen, a test preparation firm, pointed out that the scarcity of government seats in India considerably contributes to the rise in overseas medical education. “Students are exploring other health science programs, including homeopathy, Ayurvedic, physiotherapy, and dental studies, yet an MBBS degree from a government institution in India continues to be the most desirable,” Mishra stated.
Experts project that annually, between 30,000 and 40,000 Indian students enroll in medical colleges abroad. With the NEET UG 2025 registration process scheduled to start shortly, the number of students choosing to pursue medical education abroad is expected to increase even more.
