Beyond the stunning landscapes and cultural richness of the Philippines, international students may find the country a practical destination for pursuing higher education. English is widely used in Philippine higher education, and several medical schools explicitly use English as their program language. However, admission policies, tuition fees, and international-student requirements vary considerably among institutions.
If you are planning to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in the Philippines, this guide explains how to compare medical schools, understand common admission requirements, estimate academic and living costs, and prepare for the transition.
Types of Medical Degrees
Medical qualifications differ by country. The titles, entry routes, and program lengths below should not be treated as interchangeable.
| MEDICAL DEGREE OR PROGRAM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery | MBBS, MBChB, BMBS, and similar titles are primary medical qualifications used in many countries. They commonly require at least five years of study, although the exact length and degree title depend on the country and university. |
| Doctor of Medicine | In the Philippines, the MD is generally a post-baccalaureate professional medical degree. Several schools offer four-year programs, while the University of the Philippines College of Medicine describes its Medicine Proper program as five years, including internship. |
| Integrated or Accelerated Medical Program | Some universities provide combined premedical and medical pathways. For example, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine’s INTARMED program lasts seven years: two years of premedical courses, four years of medical studies, and one year of clinical internship. |
| Master of Public Health | An MPH is a graduate professional degree focused on public health practice, policy, prevention, epidemiology, and population health. It is not a primary qualification for practicing as a physician, and its duration varies by university. |
| Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | The DO is a professional medical degree primarily associated with the United States. Most programs take four years, followed by graduate medical training. It is not the standard medical qualification offered by Philippine medical schools. |
Let’s now focus on how you can study for an MD degree in the Philippines.
How to Appy for an MD in the Philippines
Select Schools/Universities that Offer an MD Program
Start by confirming that a prospective medical school operates under the standards of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). You may also check whether its medical program has voluntary accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).
The Philippine Medical Association is the accredited professional organization for licensed physicians; it is not the agency responsible for accrediting medical-school programs. In addition to government recognition and program accreditation, examine each school’s admission standards, NMAT cutoff, curriculum, teaching hospital, clinical facilities, international-student policy, tuition, and additional foreign-student charges.
The table below provides examples of Philippine institutions offering MD programs. International admission policies should always be confirmed with the individual school before applying.
| INSTITUTION | INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION | ADMISSIONS |
|---|
| University of the Philippines Manila | Special rules apply. The College of Medicine states that Filipino citizens receive admission priority and provides separate guidance for foreign applicants. | Admissions |
| University of Santo Tomas | Yes. The school reports that foreign students make up approximately 5% to 7% of its first-year MD population. | Admissions |
| Adventist University of the Philippines | Yes. The College of Medicine publishes additional requirements for foreign students. | Admissions |
| De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (De La Salle University profile) | Yes. DLSMHSI publishes separate application requirements and fees for foreign applicants. | Admissions |
Check the Admission Requirements
Philippine medical schools set their own academic cutoffs and document requirements. The items below are commonly requested, but applicants should follow the current checklist published by each institution.
| COMMON REQUIREMENT | DOCUMENT DETAIL |
|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | Applicants to a regular post-baccalaureate MD program generally must have completed, or be completing, a recognized bachelor’s degree. Some schools recommend or require specific science courses. |
| Official Transcript of Records | This document provides a formal record of the applicant’s completed courses and grades. Foreign academic records may need to be certified, authenticated, or apostilled, depending on the school. |
| National Medical Admission Test Result | Applicants to Philippine medical schools are required to take the NMAT. The result must normally have been issued within two years of admission, and each school may set a cutoff higher than the general minimum. |
| Passport Copies | International applicants are commonly asked for copies of the passport biographical page and pages showing identifying information, immigration status, or the latest arrival stamp. |
| Police or NBI Clearance | Some schools require a police clearance from the applicant’s country of residence. Applicants who have lived in the Philippines may also need a National Bureau of Investigation clearance. Authentication requirements vary. |
| Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to a Medical Course | Foreign applicants may need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to a Medical Course, commonly called a CEMed, in accordance with CHED procedures. |
| English or Filipino Language Requirement | Some schools require proof of English proficiency from applicants whose first language or previous medium of instruction was not English. Schools may also require Filipino or Tagalog communication training for clinical encounters. |
| Student Visa or Immigration Documents | A 9F student visa and ACR I-Card are generally associated with enrollment and legal study status rather than the first stage of every application. Follow the school’s instructions concerning visa conversion and document submission. |
Application Process and Admission Timeline
Application procedures vary by medical school, but the process commonly includes the following steps:
- Visit the medical school’s official application system, create an account, and begin the application. For example, Manila Central University provides an online portal.
- Complete the application form and upload the academic, identity, NMAT, and supporting documents required for your applicant category.
- Pay the application or processing fee only through the payment method specified by the university. International fees can differ substantially from fees charged to Filipino applicants.
- Attend an interview when required. Schools generally notify shortlisted applicants through their application portal, email, telephone, or text message.
- Monitor the official portal for the admission decision. Result timelines are school-specific. For example, DLSMHSI advises applicants to check their portal at least one week after the interview, but this is not a universal Philippine medical-school timeline.
- If admitted, follow the instructions for accepting the offer, reserving your place, submitting original documents, enrolling, and arranging the appropriate student visa or immigration status.
There is no single application month used by most Philippine medical schools. The deadlines are usually on February to April.
Academic Finances (Tuition and Other Costs)
| INSTITUTION | OTHER PUBLISHED CHARGES AND TUITION NOTES |
|---|
| Adventist University of the Philippines | A PHP2,500 application fee, PHP5,000 acceptance fee, and PHP130,000 tuition per semester. |
Students should also budget for laboratory and clinical materials, textbooks, uniforms, medical examinations, vaccinations, insurance, student services, immigration processing, and other school-specific charges. Ask the university for a complete fee assessment for your academic year and applicant category before making a financial commitment.
Living Expenses in the Philippines
In addition to academic expenses, you should budget for living expenses. Costs differ significantly among Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and smaller cities, so nationwide US-dollar estimates can be misleading.
| EXPENSE | PLANNING GUIDANCE | DETAILS |
|---|
| Accommodation | Varies by city and housing type | Compare university residences, accredited dormitories, shared apartments, and private rentals. Ask whether electricity, water, Internet access, meals, and deposits are included. |
| Food | Depends on dining habits | As one location-specific example, Ateneo de Davao University lists approximately PHP50 to PHP200 per meal for exchange students in Davao City. |
| Transportation | Depends on location and commute | Ateneo de Davao lists approximately PHP13 to PHP30 per jeepney or bus ride in Davao, while taxis and ride-hailing services cost more. Rates in other cities may differ. |
| Utilities and Communication | Confirm what is included in rent | Budget separately for electricity, water, mobile service, and Internet access when these are not included in your accommodation. |
| Overall Basic Budget | Location-specific estimate required | Ateneo de Davao estimates PHP20,000 to PHP25,000 per month for basic living expenses for exchange students in Davao City, although its listed on-campus residence costs PHP30,000 per month. Housing choices can therefore change the total substantially, and Metro Manila costs may differ. |
Applying for a Philippines Student Visa
Foreign nationals who are at least 18 years old and will undertake higher education generally use a student visa (9F). The Bureau of Immigration states that foreign nationals under 18, or those taking a non-degree course lasting less than one year, use a Special Study Permit instead.
- Coordinate with the international student office or registrar of your admitting institution concerning school endorsement, visa conversion, and enrollment deadlines.
- Obtain the Consolidated General Application Form from the Bureau of Immigration website or an authorized BI office.
- Prepare the documents on the current BI checklist and any additional records requested by the school. These may include the admission or acceptance document, passport records, academic credentials, proof of eligibility, and clearance documents.
- Submit the documents for pre-screening at the BI Main Office or another immigration office authorized to process the transaction.
- Pay the amount assessed by the Bureau of Immigration and retain the official receipt.
- Complete image and fingerprint capture and submit the requirements for the Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card.
- Monitor the Bureau of Immigration’s system for approval. Once approved, submit your passport for visa implementation and follow the instructions for claiming the ACR I-Card.
The Bureau of Immigration’s public 9F page displays a total of PHP9,720 plus US$50 for the ACR I-Card. However, the same page states that this fee schedule was updated on March 6, 2014, and may change without notice.
We hope this article brings you closer to pursuing an MD in the Philippines. Before applying, verify the medical school’s government recognition, program accreditation, curriculum, teaching facilities, international-admission policy, current fees, application dates, and immigration procedures. Because requirements and charges can change between academic years, rely on the latest official university and government instructions.
Hopefully, this article will serve as a guide to applying for an MD program in the Philippines. If you are interested, check out the Study in the Philippines Page and Available Programs for International Students!
