FMGE: Over 80% foreign medical colleges don't figure on any global university rankings list

FMGE: Over 80% foreign medical colleges don't figure on any global university rankings list

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SanjayUpdated on 01 Jul 2024, 10:22 AM IST

Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the number of Indian students going abroad to pursue medical education. In 2022, over 54,000 Indian students appeared for two sessions of the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) from 496 foreign institutions. The dismal pass percentage of 23.25% naturally raises questions about the quality of education being provided in these colleges and more importantly, how credible they are.

FMGE: Over 80% foreign medical colleges don't figure on any global university rankings list
80% foreign medical colleges don't figure on any global university rankings list

A closer look revealed that most of these institutions don't figure on any credible international university ranking list. Of the 496 colleges listed in the FMGE Report 2022, only 88 – a mere 17.74% – are ranked on an international rankings list. Careers360 looked at Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE), Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Rankings.

Students who acquire a medical qualification from countries outside India need to clear the FMGE in order to practise modern medicine in India. The exam is conducted by the National Board for Examination (NBE) twice – in June and December – every year. FMGE December 2023 exam will be held in a computer-based test (CBT) mode on January 20, 2024.

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Number of foreign medical colleges in international rankings

Rankings

Number of foreign institutes

QS

15

THE

24

CWUR

48

ARWU

26

FMGE 2022: Countries, rankings

China has been leading from the front when it comes to the number of Indian students writing the FMG examination. In 2019, 10,626 students appeared from 77 institutions which increased to 14,005 from 108 institutions in 2022 – a rise of 24.12%. But only 39, or one-fourth, of the total numbers show up on an international university ranking list.

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Similar is the scenario in the case of the Philippines, second in line after China in the number of medical graduates appearing for the FMGE. The number of students writing the examination increased more than six-fold, from 1,460 in 2019 to 8,769 in 2022. But of the total 32 institutions whose graduates wrote the FMGE 2022, only the University of the Philippine Manila College of Medicine was ranked on the CWUR 2023 list.

Bangladesh and the Russian Federation saw 67 and 65 colleges with Indian students taking part in FMGE 2022 respectively. While 6 institutions from the former show up on THE and CWUR 2023 rankings, none from Bangladesh find mention in the rankings. Similarly, none of the medical colleges in Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia and many more nations figure on any of the university ranking lists.

FMGE 2022: Countries, colleges and ranks

Country

Total number of colleges in FMGE 2022

Number of colleges with an international rank

China

108

39

Philippines

29

1

Bangladesh

67

1

Russian Federation

65

6

Latvia

2

2

Nepal

23

1

Kazakhstan

18

1

Kyrgyzstan

18

0

Ukraine

37

0

Georgia

15

0

Armenia

7

0

Tajikistan

3

0

As the second part of the “MBBS Abroad” series explained, there’s more to add to the students’ woes. Just 205 out of the total 496 colleges listed in FMGE Report 2022 are accredited by the medical council of a country, the equivalent of India’s National Medical Commission (NMC), and 217 colleges – less than half – were accredited by a government body. More than 50 institutions don't even have a functioning or an easily-accessible website.

Note: This is the third part of a five-part series on MBBS abroad.

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Questions related to FMGE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to FMGE ?

Hello,

If you gave your name in the FMGE 2026 form as per Aadhaar and other documents, but your passport has a different full name or surname, then there is a real chance of a name-mismatch problem.

Here is the simple picture:

1. FMGE does not allow name changes after submission.
The name you used in the application cannot be edited later.

2. Your ID proof must match the name on your FMGE application.
If the passport name and application name do not match, the exam centre can refuse entry.
This is also a common issue during document verification after the exam.

3. A mismatch in surname or full name is risky.
FMGE is very strict about name matching, so this can create a problem for you.

There is risk, but it is not hopeless. If you act now and prepare proper documents, you may be able to avoid problems during the exam or verification.

Hope it helps !

Hello,

If there is a spelling mistake in your FMGE passing certificate , you should contact the National Board of Examinations (NBE) , which issues the certificate. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Write an application to NBE explaining the mistake clearly.

    • Mention your name, roll number, exam session, and the correct spelling.

  2. Attach supporting documents , such as:

    • A copy of your FMGE pass certificate (with the error)

    • A valid ID proof (Aadhaar, passport, etc.) showing the correct spelling

    • Your MBBS degree or other educational documents for verification

  3. Send the documents to NBE through email or post.

  4. Wait for their response. NBE will verify your documents and issue a corrected certificate if the mistake is genuine.

It’s best to keep copies of all emails and documents you send.

Hope it helps !

Hello,

If you have an MBBS from Nepal and haven't passed the FMGE, you have several options for further courses abroad, including pursuing a postgraduate degree in countries like the UK, the USA, and Australia, which may not require the FMGE to practice there.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello nivedita bm,

For FMGE, passport is the primary form of identification, you must apply using your name exactly as it appears on your passport. If your passport does not have your surname on it and your other documents do, You might face issues during verification.

So, to avoid such problems, you can either prepare a notarized "one and the same person" affidavit linking both names, from your passport and your other documents, or update your passport with your surname to avoid any problems during your FMGE exams.

I hope this will help you.

Hello Aspirant,

Yes, your 54.6% score in the FMGE July 2025 exam is above the required 50% passing mark for the general category. This qualifies you to apply for a provisional medical license from the NMC. To be eligible for INICET and JIPMER , you must have a valid MBBS degree, complete your one-year internship, and possess an NMC registration number.