New Delhi: A combination of English-medium instruction, US-influenced opportunities, and relatively affordable fees is drawing an increasing number of Indian students to study medicine in the Philippines.
One of the most compelling success stories coming out of the Philippines, as cited in a report by Gulf News, is Nirav Prajapati. The Indian student graduated from the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) College of Medicine. Prajapati topped India’s June 2017 Medical Council of India screening examination, scoring 239 out of 300, and finishing ahead of more than 4,000 candidates. He secured the first rank in the exam, becoming only the second UNP graduate. The last a student had achieved the feat was in 2013.
“That kind of result gave Indian students and parents an important signal: studying medicine in the Philippines did not necessarily mean sacrificing competitiveness in India’s licensing system,” the detailed report noted.
By 2017, UNP already had more than 400 Indian students in its College of Medicine and over 300 in pre-medicine courses.
The appeal has since expanded well beyond Luzon, the largest and most popular island in the Philippines. Davao, a city in the southern part of the country, is also emerging as a major centre.
In March 2026, 1,015 Indian-origin students received Doctor of Medicine degrees from the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) at its 25th International Medical Doctors Graduation Ceremony. It was described as one of the largest cohorts of Indian medical graduates from a single overseas institution in recent years. DMSF noted that the class exceeded 1050 students, the largest in the school’s history.
Why choose the Philippines?
The numbers illustrate how the Philippines has established itself as an overseas destination for medical education among Indian students, rather than an alternative for those who could not secure a seat in an Indian medical college.
The central reason behind the emerging trend is the fact that medical education in the Philippines is English-medium. Medical textbooks, lectures, examinations and much of the clinical environment can be navigated by Indian students without learning an entirely new language – as opposed to some of the other overseas options.
Secondly, the medical education in the Philippines has long been influenced by the American model. DMSF describes its curriculum as US-influenced – combining basic sciences with clinical integration and promoting preparation for international licensing pathways. It allows students to pursue postgraduate training in the US, Australia and West Asia.
Davao is also a principal urban centre and a regional hub for health services, offering access to teaching hospitals, laboratories, a large patient population, accommodation, transport, international food options, and an airport. It is ranked the second safest in the Philippines in the 2025 World Travel Index and is frequently cited among Southeast Asia’s safer cities.
DMSF offers dedicated support, including Indian food and accommodation services. Students from states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Gujarat, and Delhi often find classmates who share languages, food preferences, and experiences.
For many families, the Philippines is a more affordable route than competitive private medical schools in India with exorbitant fees.
Graduates have pursued exams such as India’s FMGE, as well as USMLE, PLAB, AMC, and DHA. However, a foreign medical degree does not grant the right to practice in India or elsewhere. India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) requires compliance with the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021, and related rules.
The Philippine system has specific considerations under NMC guidelines. Philippine authorities have noted that the programme is designed to meet requirements communicated to the Indian Embassy, including a 54-month medical program plus a 12-month clinical internship.
The 2026 DMSF graduating class included first-generation doctors, those continuing family medical traditions, and siblings following earlier graduates. Top performers included students from Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. For many parents from places such as Nashik, Kanchipuram, Mysuru, and Saharanpur, the ceremony marked their first visit to the Philippines and the realization of a long-held dream.
Davao’s combination of English instruction, medical training, relative affordability, safety, community support, and international career pathways helps explain its rise as one of the most visible destinations for Indian medical students in the Philippines.
(Edited by Aakriti Handa)