5 Big Mistakes Indian Students Make While Choosing an MBBS Abroad University — And How to Avoid Them

Every year, thousands of Indian students dream of becoming doctors and choose MBBS abroad as their pathway. But unfortunately, many fall into avoidable traps—mostly due to misinformation, social media hype, or misleading consultancy advice.

At Medischolars.in, we regularly meet students who come to us after picking the wrong university or country. So here’s a detailed, practical guide to help you avoid the most common mistakes students make.

❌ Mistake 1: Choosing a University Only Because It’s Cheap

Low fees may look attractive, but extremely low-cost universities often have:

• Poor clinical rotations

• Outdated infrastructure

• Limited patient inflow

• Very low FMGE/NExT performance

  ✔ What to do instead:

• Compare affordability with educational quality, hospital tie-ups, and NMC compliance.

❌ Mistake 2: Ignoring NMC’s Latest Guidelines

Many students still apply to universities that don’t meet NMC’s 2021 Gazette + 2023 Clarifications, such as:

• Duration below Indian standards

• Missing internship equivalence

• No clear proof of hands-on training

• This creates problems when they return to India for NExT.

  ✔ What to check:

• Ensure the university provides:

• 54 months + 12 months internship

• Hands-on clinical exposure

• Training equivalent to Indian MBBS standards

❌ Mistake 3: Believing Agent Recommendations Blindly

Some consultants push universities where their commission is higher—not where the education is better.

Common misleading lines include:

• “Seats filling fast!”

• “Only two universities are approved by NMC!”

• “FMGE/NExT pass rate doesn’t matter!”

  
  ✔ What to do instead:
  Ask for transparent details:

• University license proof

• Actual student feedback

• Past FMGE/NExT results

• Recognition certificates (NMC, ECFMG, WFME, etc.)

❌ Mistake 4: Not Researching Hostel & City Safety

Students often focus only on the university's name and overlook:

• Hostel hygiene

• Distance from university

• Senior-student community

• Local safety

• Availability of Indian food

• These directly impact your mental health and academic performance.

  ✔ What to do instead:
  Choose universities in cities with large Indian communities and safe student environments.

❌ Mistake 5: Not Understanding the Country’s Medical System

Every country has different:

• Language requirements

• Visa rules

• Clinical exposure patterns

• Living costs

• Climate

• Students often commit without knowing the ground reality.

  ✔ What to do instead:
  Match the country with your comfort in:

• Language

• Budget

• Climate

• Cultural environment

• Teaching style

How Medischolars.in Helps You Avoid These Mistakes

We simplify every step with:

✔ Zero-hype, transparent university shortlisting
✔ Verified university data (no hidden commissions)
✔ NMC-compliant guidance
✔ End-to-end documentation & visa support
✔ Honest student feedback from ongoing batches
✔ Assistance even after students reach abroad

Our mission is simple:
Right student → Right country → Right university.

Final Thought

Studying MBBS abroad can be life-changing—but only if you make informed decisions. Don’t let a small mistake affect a 6-year journey or your medical future