Cambodia, a Southeast Asian country, is widely known for its historic temples. Siem Reap province is home to the Angkor Archaeological Park, whose famous sites include Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Preah Khan.
Cambodian medical education is offered through public and private health sciences institutions. Programs generally follow Cambodia’s national medical curriculum, and applicants should confirm current admissions rules, program length, and licensing requirements with the university and Cambodia’s Ministry of Health before applying.
How long is Cambodian medical education?
In Cambodia, the Doctor of Medicine pathway in general medicine is usually described as an 8-year route: a foundation year, basic science and clinical study through Year 6, and an internship in Years 7 and 8. Some institutions describe the first six years as the pre-internship or Bachelor of Medical Sciences phase before the 2-year internship that leads to the medical doctor qualification.
What are the requirements to study medicine in Cambodia?
Applicants generally need a high school diploma or equivalent upper-secondary qualification and must pass the National Entrance Examination for health sciences programs. Depending on the university, students may also need to complete health checks, English placement testing, or other institutional requirements.
Top Medical Schools in Cambodia
1. University of Health Sciences
The University of Health Sciences is a public health sciences university based in Phnom Penh. It traces its roots to the School for Medical Officers, established in 1946, and later became the Cambodian Royal School of Medicine before becoming the University of Health Sciences.
UHS offers health-related education through faculties and schools that include medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and the Technical School for Medical Care. Medical education in Cambodia follows a national structure that includes a foundation year, medical study, and an internship period before the medical doctor qualification.
Students who want to specialize should check the latest UHS announcements for current specialist and postgraduate entry routes, because entrance requirements, fields offered, and training durations can change by academic year.
2. International University
International University, also known as IU, is a private university in Phnom Penh. IU states that it was founded by Prof. Dr. Uon Sabo on November 9, 2002, and endorsed by a Royal Government sub-decree on December 16, 2002.
Its Faculty of Medicine and Pediatrics is led by Dean Associate Prof. Dr. Em Samney, MD. The faculty describes its mission as delivering education, research, and community service in a bilingual and bicultural environment.
Students planning to use a Cambodian medical degree for ECFMG certification, USMLE, or overseas licensure should verify the school’s current World Directory of Medical Schools listing and ECFMG Sponsor Note. IMED has been replaced by the World Directory of Medical Schools, and ECFMG states that it does not recognize, accredit, or endorse medical schools.
IU lists cooperation partners across Asia, including National University of Laos, University of Malaya, National University of Singapore, Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, and Khon Kaen University.
3. Norton University Faculty of Health Sciences
Norton University is a private university founded on December 2, 1996, by Professor Chan Sok Khieng. Norton describes itself as the first private university in Cambodia and says it was recognized as a university by sub-decree on September 18, 1997.
Its Faculty of Health Sciences offers health-related programs, including Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dentistry, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Nursing, and Bachelor of Midwifery.
Norton lists its Doctor of Medicine program as an 8-year program. Its description of general medicine focuses on treating acute and chronic illness, prevention, and health education.
4. University of Puthisastra Faculty of Medicine
The final candidate in our list of top medical schools in Cambodia is the University of Puthisastra, a private university based in Phnom Penh. The university was recognized by the Royal Government of Cambodia through Sub-Decree No. 174, dated November 15, 2007.
Its Faculty of Medicine is currently led by Asst. Prof. Prom Vireak, MD, B.Ed., Pediatrician, MBA. The faculty states that it follows Cambodia’s national curriculum with additions and describes its MD/general medicine program as an 8-year route: Year 1 is the foundation year, Years 2 to 3 cover basic sciences, Years 4 to 6 are clinical years, and Years 7 to 8 are for internship and thesis work.
The University of Puthisastra MD program teaches medicine through in-class and online lectures, laboratory practice, clerkships, internships, field experiences, and volunteerism. Courses are taught in English, with Khmer translation when necessary.
During the internship period, medical students may train in public, private, and NGO hospitals.
To graduate, students must pass the required national curriculum courses, prepare and defend a dissertation, and pass the national exit exam, which includes multiple-choice questions and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination.
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