Bangladesh offers several private medical colleges that teach the MBBS curriculum in English under Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and university rules. For students comparing costs, the country may be an affordable option compared with many other study destinations, but applicants should always check current tuition, recognition, admission circulars, and licensing rules in their home country before applying.
How many years does it take to become a physician in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, the MBBS course comprises 5 years of academic study followed by a mandatory 1-year logbook-based rotatory internship. The national curriculum divides the academic program into four phases: 1.5 years, 1 year, 1 year, and 1.5 years. The internship normally includes hospital-based rotations and a field-level placement.
What are the application documents needed by a Bangladeshi medical school?
Admission requirements are set by the Government of Bangladesh and the relevant college for each session. Applicants generally need SSC/O-level and HSC/A-level or equivalent science qualifications with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, the required GPA or grade equivalence, and recent qualifying examinations. Foreign applicants normally need an equivalence certificate from DGHS/DGME through the Bangladesh Embassy or High Commission, along with academic certificates and transcripts, passport documents, photographs, and any medical fitness or other documents required in the current admission circular. Always confirm the latest requirements on the DGME foreign-student portal and the selected college’s admissions page.
Top Medical Schools in Bangladesh
1. Bangladesh Medical College
Bangladesh Medical College (BMC), located in Dhanmondi, describes itself as the first private medical college in Bangladesh. It was established in 1986 and later received affiliation from the University of Dhaka.
The college offers the 5-year MBBS course under the national medical curriculum, followed by the required 1-year internship. BMC currently lists 120 seats per year.
The curriculum follows the four-phase BMDC structure: pre-clinical subjects, para-clinical subjects, and clinical training in Medicine and Allied subjects, Surgery and Allied subjects, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
After passing the final professional examination, students complete their internship at the college’s teaching hospital. BMC’s current history page lists Bangladesh Medical College Hospital as a 600-bed tertiary care facility.
BMC states that its graduates are eligible to take the USMLE and may be eligible for limited registration with the UK General Medical Council, but applicants should confirm licensing eligibility directly with ECFMG, the GMC, or the relevant licensing authority because rules can change.
2. Dhaka National Medical College
Dhaka National Medical College (DNMC) traces its roots to the Dhaka National Medical Institute, which was established in 1925. The current medical college came into existence in 1994, and World Directory of Medical Schools data lists instruction as beginning in 1995.
DNMC is currently affiliated with the University of Dhaka and offers an English-medium 5-year MBBS program.
The national MBBS curriculum is divided into four phases. The first phase covers Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry. The second phase covers Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. The third phase covers Community Medicine and Public Health, Pathology, and Microbiology. The final phase covers Medicine and Allied subjects, Surgery and Allied subjects, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
After completing the academic course, graduates must complete the mandatory internship before applying for full medical registration.
3. Community-Based Medical College, Bangladesh
Through the support of the Community Health Foundation Bangladesh, Community Based Medical College Bangladesh (CBMCB) was established in 1995.
The college is located at Winnerpar, Churkhai, about 10 kilometers from Mymensingh town. Its college profile describes the location as a 13-acre campus, and students are required to stay in hostels on payment of the prescribed dues.
CBMCB follows the 5-year MBBS curriculum under the University of Dhaka and BMDC, followed by a 1-year compulsory internship in its attached hospital.
The college profile lists a teaching hospital with provision for 500 beds for clinical practice and learning. It also includes community-based field practice and satellite-clinic training for students and interns.
4. Jahurul Islam Medical College
Jahurul Islam Medical College was established under the Aftab Rahima Welfare Trust by philanthropist Jahurul Islam in Bhagalpur, Bajitpur, Kishoreganj. The college began on August 26, 1992, and is affiliated with the University of Dhaka.
The school is set on a self-contained campus with laboratories, dissection halls, lecture theaters, a library, museums, student hostels, and staff accommodation. It also has a Nursing Training Institute, which was set up in 1989.
MBBS students complete clinical duties at Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital, which the college describes as a tertiary-level teaching hospital with more than 500 beds.
The college is approved by the University of Dhaka and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council and is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. As with any medical school directory listing, applicants should verify current licensing rules in the country where they plan to practice.
5. Ibrahim Medical College
The next school in our list is Ibrahim Medical College, a private medical college established in 2002 by the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh in honor of National Professor Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim.
IMC is affiliated with the University of Dhaka. Its campuses are located at Segunbagicha and Shahbag, and the departments are equipped with classrooms, dissection halls, skill labs, laboratories, museums, and a library.
BIRDEM General Hospital and BIRDEM General Hospital for Mothers and Children serve as the teaching hospitals of IMC. The college describes the BIRDEM complex as an about 750-bed multidisciplinary teaching hospital and a WHO Collaborating Centre for diabetes and endocrine disorders.
6. Enam Medical College
Located in Savar, Enam Medical College was established in 2003 after fulfilling criteria set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, and University of Dhaka.
The college was created to provide medical education and training for aspiring doctors. It is affiliated with the University of Dhaka and recognized by the BMDC.
Students receive practical training at the attached Enam Medical College Hospital, which offers a broad range of clinical services and modern facilities.
The college’s current website lists 155 MBBS seats and notes that Enam Medical College appears in international medical-school directories through FAIMER, AVISINA, and IMED. Directory listing is not the same as accreditation, so applicants should verify current recognition and licensing requirements with the appropriate authority.
7. International Medical College
International Medical College was established in 2000 and is located at Gushulia, Sataish, Tongi, Gazipur, near Dhaka.
The college offers a 5-year MBBS course approved by the University of Dhaka and BMDC. Its pre-clinical subjects include Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry; para-clinical subjects include Community Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Pharmacology, Pathology, and Microbiology; and clinical subjects include Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine, Surgery, and their allied subjects.
Foreign students must obtain an equivalence certificate through the Bangladesh Embassy or High Commission and DGHS/Ministry of Health before admission.
Clinical rotations are conducted through International Medical College Hospital, the college’s attached teaching hospital.
8. Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College
Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College was founded by Dr. M. M. Amjad Hussain and came into existence in 2005. The college is located in Enayetpur, Sirajganj, and is named after the Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Yunus Ali.
The MBBS program is an English-medium 5-year course. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists the college’s current academic affiliation as Rajshahi Medical University, with the University of Rajshahi listed as a former academic affiliation.
Practical training is conducted through the college’s academic multidisciplinary hospital and related clinical facilities.
9. Sylhet Women’s Medical College
Sylhet Women’s Medical College (SWMC) is a private medical college in Sylhet for women. Its official materials state that the women’s medical college came into being in 2005.
SWMC is located in Mirboxtola/Naya Sadak, Sylhet, and offers the MBBS program for female students. Applicants should check the current admission page for the latest intake, hospital, affiliation, and document requirements.
The college has teaching-hospital facilities for clinical training, and foreign applicants should follow the current DGME and college admissions procedures.
10. Anwer Khan Modern Medical College
Anwer Khan Modern Medical College (AKMMC) started its journey in 2008, and its first MBBS batch was admitted in January 2009. The Dhanmondi-based campus is affiliated with the University of Dhaka.
The college has academic facilities such as lecture rooms, laboratories, a library, and hostel facilities. Its MBBS program follows the 5-year English-medium curriculum listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Its MBBS course starts with basic science subjects such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, followed by para-clinical and clinical subjects under the national MBBS curriculum.
The college is attached to Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital. The hospital’s official page describes it as a 750-bed hospital in Dhanmondi.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page and the Open Courses Page for International Students.
