what is your perspective on students going to china for MBBS after the implementation of FMGL 2021?
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Sorry, I have a question. FMGL (foreign medical graduate licentiate ) guidelines 2021 apply to all foreign countries. So is China of any concern?
@Nikhil3123
I believe the Language barrier that China comes with will be a gamechanger for future incoming medical students. Any student who has enrolled in Chinese universities after September 2020 must clear the country’s medical licensure exam for their foreign degree to be deemed equivalent to the Indian MBBS degree.
This poses a very difficult challenge for students. To sit for the National Medical Licensing Exam in China, you need to pass HSK Level 6 (5000+ words). HSK, short for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, is the Chinese language proficiency exam required to study, work, and live in China. One has to understand that learning the Chinese language is no walk in the park.
To obtain a degree from credible Chinese universities, students must pass the HSK Level 4 exam (1200 words) with a score of at least 210 out of 300 across reading, writing, and listening. Many students fail to do this. Speaking Chinese is not easy either; in fact, it can be considered one of the major obstacles when it comes to communicating with Chinese counterparts and patients during clinics. Poor speaking and comprehension skills also limit clinical exposure—this is one of the reasons why many students skip rotations. Therefore to obtain the licensing in China, is not easy compared to other Foreign Countries.
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I concur. Given the extra language burden, it is a better idea to go to some English speaking country for mbbs or at least go to your country where they don’t impose their own language while offering mbbs curriculum in English.
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FMGL 2021 has made it clear—just getting an MBBS degree abroad isn’t enough anymore. For countries like China, language barriers and unclear pathways to local licensure make it a risky choice. Students need to think beyond affordability and focus on long-term recognition and eligibility back in India.
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Yes, It should also be noted that many educational consultancies, despite knowing the limitations of foreign medical education—especially in China—continue to deceive young students with little to no exposure by portraying China as a golden ticket to the world of medicine. It is even more disheartening to know that most of these so-called consultancies are headed by doctors who have themselves completed MBBS from Chinese Universities, making them fully aware of these limitations.
Many students are misled into believing that scholarships alone will cover the high costs of living and studying in China. One must realize that not every student receives a scholarship, and those who do often cannot rely solely on it to live and thrive in a fast-developing country like China. Scholarships are awarded based on performance, and many students fail to secure them from the second year onward, as they struggle to score even 180 or 210 out of 300 in HSK Level 4, required condition for obtaining a scholarship beyond the freshman year.
Students planning to take out loans to study medicine abroad should be fully aware of the potential implications of studying in China. Many in this category overlook the fact that repaying the loan requires securing a job and earning an income soon after graduation. Unfortunately, many simply fail to do so, given the complexities of post-graduation licensure procedures in India, which only adds to their difficulties.
It is crucial for students to thoroughly research and understand the real challenges of studying abroad before making a decision. Rather than following trends or falling for misleading promises, students should carefully weigh the pros and cons of studying in foreign countries especially if they have taken gap years in an attempt to secure a seat in India. The more years one spends preparing without success, the longer it ultimately takes to earn a medical degree. Informed decisions made early on can save a lot of future hardship and regret.
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How do you answer with this ultra swift speed?
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I would also like to point of that, China has good and even great Universities to learn Medicine from, But you have to personally weigh the pros and cons before jumping into choosing a country for your education.
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I had already penned these down, like a week ago, but i didn’t know how to convey this to a larger audience. Since i came across this platform, I thought, Why not!
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You rock, Sree!
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