Doctors are respected professionals because they diagnose illnesses, treat patients, and often make decisions that affect lives. Many students dream of becoming doctors because they want to help people, but gaining the knowledge, skills, and legal authority to practice medicine takes many years of study and training.
Medical students usually study longer than students in many other fields. In the Philippines, the usual route is to complete a bachelor’s degree, enter a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program, complete clinical training, finish the required postgraduate internship, and pass the Physician Licensure Examination before practicing as a physician. This article goes over important things to consider if you want to study medicine in the Philippines.
1. Do the Philippines have a good medical curriculum?
Yes. The Philippines offers CHED-regulated Doctor of Medicine programs, and many medical schools are listed in the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges directory. Quality, tuition, facilities, accreditation, clinical training, and admissions standards vary by school, so students should compare official school pages before applying.
The Philippines can be attractive for international students because English is widely used in higher education, and many schools provide admissions information for foreign applicants. However, it is not accurate to describe one country as the best choice for every student. Your decision should depend on accreditation, licensure recognition in your home country, tuition, visa requirements, clinical training, and the school’s current admissions rules.
2. How many medical schools are in the Philippines?
The APMC directory published in 2025 lists 78 medical schools in the Philippines. This number may change as new schools open, programs close, or institutional names are updated, so applicants should check the latest APMC, CHED, CEM, and university pages before applying.
3. What are the requirements to study medicine in the Philippines?
The general requirements to study medicine in the Philippines include holding a bachelor’s degree, taking the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), and meeting the requirements of the medical school where you apply. CHED/CEM guidance also refers to the Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to a Medical Course, or CEMed, where applicable.
Typical application documents may include an application form, official transcript of records, diploma or certificate of graduation, NMAT result, birth certificate or citizenship documents, certificates of good moral character, a health questionnaire or medical form, and the required application fee. Requirements vary by school and by applicant category, so always check the current admissions page of each university.
English-language requirements are school-specific. For example, the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery states that English is the medium of instruction and that non-English-speaking international applicants must submit TOEFL or ESL results. UST lists a total TOEFL score of 93, with a minimum score of 22 in Writing and Speaking. Other schools may have different requirements.
4. Is it difficult to get into medical schools in the Philippines?
Admission can be competitive, especially at older and highly selective medical schools. For example, UST states that first-year admission slots are limited and that scholastic standing and NMAT performance carry the greatest weight in screening applicants. Some schools may also conduct interviews, diagnostic examinations, or other screening procedures.
Because admissions standards differ by institution, applicants should review each school’s NMAT cut-off, grade requirements, document rules, deadlines, and interview process before applying.
5. What is the average drop rate for students in the medical program?
Reliable current national data on medical school dropout rates in the Philippines was not found in official sources. Dropout and attrition rates can vary by institution, year level, student background, academic policy, and personal circumstances.
A historical study on the University of the Philippines College of Medicine reported an average first-year dropout rate of 10% over a specific six-year period, but that figure should not be treated as a current national average for all medical schools in the Philippines. Prospective students should ask each school about retention rates, promotion rules, remediation policies, and student support services.
6. Can you study medicine in the Philippines as an international student?
Yes. Foreign students can apply to Philippine medical schools that are authorized to admit international students, but admissions rules, required documents, fees, visa requirements, and available slots vary by institution and nationality. CHED/CEM guidance says that Philippine medical school admission procedures apply to both Filipino and foreign nationals, while Philippine foreign-student rules require students to follow entry and stay regulations.
Examples of well-known medical schools in the Philippines include the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine, the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health. Because policies change, international applicants should confirm the current foreign-applicant rules directly with each school’s admissions office.
7. What are the components of the medical curriculum in this country?
The standard route to medical education in the Philippines is post-baccalaureate. Most students first complete a bachelor’s degree, often in a health science or science-related field, before entering the Doctor of Medicine program.
Under CHED policy, the Doctor of Medicine program is a full-time program of at least four years. The fourth year is a complete 12-month rotating clinical clerkship, mainly in a base hospital. After the M.D. program, graduates must complete the required 12-month postgraduate internship before taking the Physician Licensure Examination.
Some accelerated pathways exist, such as UP’s INTARMED and UST’s LEAPMed, but these are selective programs with different structures and limited admissions. Applicants should check the official curriculum of the specific school they plan to attend.
8. In what language do you study?
English and Filipino are the official languages of the Philippines for purposes of communication and instruction. Many medical programs use English for lectures, readings, and examinations. However, medical students may need Filipino, Tagalog, or local language skills during patient encounters, especially in clinical clerkship and internship.
For example, the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery states that English is the medium of instruction. It also says that international students and non-Filipino, non-Tagalog-speaking applicants are expected to learn Filipino because it becomes essential from the second to fourth year levels, when students begin actual patient encounters in hospital wards and ambulatory clinics.
9. What do you need to become a doctor in the Philippines?
To become a licensed physician in the Philippines, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree and meet medical school admission requirements, including the NMAT. After completing the Doctor of Medicine program and clinical clerkship, graduates must complete the required 12-month postgraduate internship.
After that, graduates apply for and pass the Physician Licensure Examination administered through the Professional Regulation Commission. Passing the NMAT does not make you a doctor; the NMAT is an admissions test. The M.D. degree is earned after completing medical school, and passing the Physician Licensure Examination is the key step required to practice legally as a physician in the Philippines.
I hope this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Available Courses for International Students and Scholarships Page.
