Q. What are the options of settling abroad and studying PG there in the medical arena?
A. It depends upon your aim in life. Whether you want to settle abroad in a developed country or you want to spend some time and educate yourself and become an expert in medical field. Even if you want to settle abroad, it is better to choose a country which MCI recognizes. Currently MCI recognizes only 5 counties to study PG in medical – USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. The reason is that each of these country have their own entrance exams and tight controls over education and quality of medical education is of highest quality compared to the world. Even if you are unable to clear entrance exams, still there are possibilities of studying abroad, making a career in medical field and settling in one the best part of the world.
Q. If a student, after doing an MBBS from India, does an MD or MS from Russia or the Philippines, then do they have to qualify for some MCI screening test?
A. MCI recognize post graduate qualification in medical studies from 5 countries only i.e. – USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. And there is no screening test after PG qualification from abroad. If you study from somewhere else, you wont get registration as a specialist doctor.
Q. I come from a middle class family and I’m studying in a govt medical clg on my merit. My parents cannot afford an expensive pg seat and USMLE expenses are hard on our wallet. Is there a way by which I can study abroad and not spend so much?
A. You can study PG – medical in various specialities in UK. Fees is comparatively lower, in some cases much less than PG from India. The advantages are that
- MCI recognize UK PG degrees
- Also recognized by > 100 countries, whereas PG from India is recognized only in India
- Education quality if world class
- You get global experience
- It open doors for many other opportunity
Q. I’m an Indian MBBS student in China. I would like to do my medical PG abroad. What should I do?
A. MCI recognize PG – medical degrees of only 5 countries viz. – USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. So it is better if you pursue PG from one of these countries. Every country have their own entrance criteria. But you will gain world class education and knowledge that will make you build a successful career.
Q. Being an Indian MBBS student, what are the scopes for doing PG abroad other than the USA, Australia, and England?
A. Why do you not want to study PG from USA, Australia and England. MCI recognize PG in medical from 5 countries – USA, Canada, UK (England), Australia and New Zealand. So even if you study PG from any other country, it will not be recognized by MCI and you may have a problem in getting yourself registered as specialist. Plus studying PG from UK is not as costly as some may think. It is much lower than studying from India in some cases. And you get best in world education. You get hands on experience working with best in class faculty.
Q. How should an Indian MBBS student prepare for PLAB?
A. You can join a coaching institute in your vicinity. Or if you are still doing your graduation, then you can purchase some books and study them so that you are ready by the time PLAB exam is there. Additionally if you want to get admission in UK medical college for higher education, there are pathways wherein you dont have to crack PLAB.
Q. Is doing PLAB after MBBS in India useful?
A. PLAB is the basic requirement for IMG (International Medical Graduates) for practicing as a doctor in UK . Cracking PLAB will give you an opportunity to practice in one of the world’s best country. You can work as a junior doctor. If you intend to build a career in UK as medical practitioner, then after clearing PLAB, you should focus on MRCP. After clearing MRCP, you can build your career as a specialist.
Q. Which one is tougher, USMLE or PLAB or NEET-PG?
A. There is no comparison between USMLE, PLAB and NEET PG. It depends upon where you want to build your career. Plus there are many differences between these 3 exams although all are for PG medical studies.
USMLE – For doing PG from USA, Multi stage exam, Require travel to USA, Costly
PLAB – For practicing in UK, 2 stage exam, Require travel to UK, Slightly costly
NEET PG – For doing PG from India, Single stage exam, Does not require overseas travel, Less costly
If you want to build your career overseas, then UK is also an option as good as USA, because of quality education, high learned faculty and world level infrastructure and procedures. Although PLAB is required for UK, but there are alternate pathways for getting into UK medical system.
Q. After BDS what is better, leaving India or pursuing MDS?
A. The sad truth is that Dentistry in India is considered to be at the bottom of medical hierarchy. Whereas it is considered at the highest level in developed countries like US, Canada and UK. The foremost reason is that Indians as a culture are not too much worried about their oral hygiene. People in India go to a dentist only when there is some oral problem. I am yet to see a person who regularly visit dentist for periodic check-ups (I once went to a dentist who happen to be my friend, for regular check-up, he told me why have you come – you dont have any problem?).
Plus there is a huge mismatch between supply and demand. Number of dentist is much more than required in urban areas and much less than required in rural areas. It will not be wrong to say that in India, generally, a dentist earn less than other specialist doctors whereas in developed countries a dentist earn more than other medical specialists.
Now the point comes, how can we practice and have a career in developed countries. Lately some universities in UK are offering courses in MDS and MSc in the field of Implantology, Prosthodontics, Maxillofacial surgery, oral sciences, etc. Although the fees structure of these courses is on higher side, but in the long run, one can settle in UK and make a great career in dentistry field.
Q. What do foreign MBBS graduates do when they don’t pass FMGE?
A. Legally if someone’s doesn’t pass FMGE then he / she cannot practice in India. He would risk his future career if he attempts to practice since the chance of getting caught is very high. Also, preparing for more than 1 year for FMGE is wastage of time since with passage of time you tend to loose grip on your medical practice.
The best option available for FMGE aspirants is to join a PG course in some speciality in UK and then prepare for MRCP. While studying in UK as per their standards, you will be able to upgrade your skills and be better prepared to face and hence have a higher chances of success in MRCP.
Q. I am in second year, doing MBBS from India. I want to do my postgraduation from the UK. What would be the steps to get an MD/MS degree from there? Also, what would be the annual fee burden? If I talk about Oxford or Cambridge, what would be their requirements?
A. There are various pathways through which you can join medical system of UK. I will describe some of the pathways often followed by Indian students.
Pathway 1 – After completion of MBBS, take PLAB exam. Although PLAB is a bit difficult 2-stage screening test for foreign medical graduates for UK, it is the most common pathway. Those candidates who clear PLAB, are given licence to work in UK. They can further go for specialist training.
Pathway 2 – You can directly join a post graduation course (MD/MS/PGDip) in some university in your choice of speciality. Complete that course and then take MRCP / MRCS as the case may be. You can get licence to practice as a specialist. The chance of getting through this pathway are slightly higher.
Fee ranges from GBP 12000 to 35000 per year depending upon you choice of speciality and university. Every university has its own requirement.