Medical Schools in the Philippines
Hi scholar, you are on this page because you are looking for excellent medical schools in the Philippines to attend. if you an international student that is interested in studying at the medical schools in the Philippines?
This article is drafted out after careful research to give you information on the best medical schools in the Philippines.
Apart from its recreational and aesthetics pleasures, the Philippines is known as a strong country in education. They have one of the top universities, research facilities, and highly educated professionals in the world. It is indeed an excellent school to bag a medical certificate from.
Why should I study at the Medical Schools in the Philippines?
- The Philippines is also considered to be very safe and comfortable for both local and international students.
- Studying and accommodations are relatively cheap in the Philippines compared to the US, UK or Canada. Plus the fact that you will be opportune to explore excellent travelling opportunities.
Top Medical Schools in the Philippines
1. Emilio Aguinaldo College
The Emilio Aguinaldo College was established in 1957 in the heart of Manila. Emilio Aguinaldo College is regarded as the best medical school in the Philippines, which offers a hands-on learning approach with a welcoming arm for international students. The Emilio Aguinaldo College medical started operation in the year 2001, and it has grown ever since.
The Emilio Medical School is affiliated with many hospitals, including Manila Med, Philippine General Hospital, Emilio Aguinaldo College Primary Care Clinic, Birthing Facility, etc. These affiliations provide an excellent opportunity for students to undergo their internship program and gain relevant clinical experiences.
The education in the Emilio medical school lasts for four years which upon completion, you are awarded a medical Doctor (MD) Diploma.
Diplomas acquired here are recognised and respected globally, as the medical school has been awarded the Government Recognition by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). They are also a registered member of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Foundation, Inc. (APMCFI).
2. University of Cebu
The University of Cebu was established in 1964. Apart from university education, it also offers preschool, grade school, junior & senior high school, undergraduate degrees, and post-graduate degrees.
The University of Cebu medical school was established in 2012, making it 9 nine years now. Although it is still young, it runs on well-established principles and structures.
The exciting thing about the University of Cebu is that it follows a modern approach towards disseminating education and it is well equipped with the latest research facilities and technologies.
The medical education here is divided into three years of theoretical teaching and one year of clinical studies in UC Medical Center, where you will learn practical experiences under professionals.
3. University of the Philippines
The University of the Philippines hosts one of the best medical schools in the Philippines. The College of Medicine was the oldest school in the University of the Philippines, and it started operation in 1905.
The medical school is affiliated with Philippine General Hospital, which provides students with clinical experience and internship experience.
4. St Luke’s College of Medicine
St Luke’s College of Medicine was founded in 1994 and is located right behind St Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. Unlike other medical schools that run for four years, St. Luke’s college of medicine runs for five years.
Three years are for academic and theoretical lessons, while the remaining two years are dedicated to junior and senior internships in St Luke’s Medical Center. As a student here, you will be opportune to acquire the whole experience of preclinical and clinical education.
To pass the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), you must be proficient in English; if you are not, you must undergo an English proficiency test.
5. University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas is regarded as one of the most prominent Catholic universities in the world. It was founded in the year 1611, which is over 400 years ago. It has the oldest medical school in the Philippines, established and formally started operation in 1871 as the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
At inception, it has only nine students, but it has gone through much changing, transformation and development, now it can boast of a good number of students.
Like every other medical school, the medical education at the University of Santo Tomas lasts for four years, and it’s broken down into three years of academic and one year of clinical studies in the University of Santo Tomas Hospital.
6. Davao Medical School Foundation
Existing for 45 years now is The Davao Medical School that was established in 1976. Unlike most medical schools in the cities, the Davao medical school aims to educate doctors in rural communities.
They operate modern infrastructure and facilities alongside high-quality education with clinical practice in one of five affiliate hospitals.
This is one of the best schools to study in as an international student. In addition to what I said above, Davao medical school provides materials like simulation mannequins and 3-D imagery dissection units. And, these materials are rare to get in most medical schools in the Philippines.
7. Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
Far Eastern University was founded in 1934, with its independent medical school that started operation in 1952. It is well known for its high standard of education, healthcare, and research.
The medical education that this leading medical school in the Philippines offers lasts for four years. The first two years are theoretical (preclinical) that sets a good foundation for further practical education. The third and fourth years are clinical, where students are taught reasonable steps to handle patients with love, empathy, and care, navigate through diagnostics, and accommodate family members.
Can I Get Admitted into the Medical Schools in the Philippines as an international Student?
Yes, you can. The official site of Emilio Aguinaldo College states that international students could enroll in medical schools in the Philippines as far as they meet their requirements. This is coupled with the fact that English is one of the official languages in the country. So as an international student coming from an English dominated country, you don’t have a problem with the language of instruction.
How Long Does Medical Schools in the Philippines Take?
The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) is a four-year professional degree program dealing with medical theories, practices, technologies, and problem solving. The completion of the degree program with one-year postgraduate internship qualifies a candidate to take the licensure exam for medical doctors in the Philippines.
As stated by the official university site of Emilio Aguinaldo College, medical schools in the Philippines lasts for four years. Upon completion, the student is honoured with the Degree of Medical Doctor (MD).
The education is divided into three years of theoretical classroom lessons and 1-year of clinical practice.
After four years, students will undergo a 1-year internship in one of the affiliate hospitals. They can gain more practical experience and integrate it into the real-life medical world.
To get admitted into any of the medical schools in the Philippines, you must pass the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT).
What are the Requirements to Study at the Medical Schools in the Philippines?
The requirements for admission to Philippine medical schools are the same for both Filipino and international aspirants.
I got the requirements from the “Updated Policies, Standards and Guidelines for Medical Education”, CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 10, series of 2006.
The requirements include:
- Bachelor’s Degree, as an aspirant into any of the medical education programs, you must possess any baccalaureate degree.
- National Medical Admission Test (NMAT): As an applicant to medical schools in the Philippines, you must take and pass the NMAT. This test is designed and administered by the Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM) as authorised by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) per Memorandum of Agreement (1985) between the former Board of Medical Education, now Technical Committee for Medical Education, and CEM. The testing dates (local and abroad) are planned, decided and announced by the CHED and CEM.
Before you can write the NMAT exam, you must be a graduate or a graduating student of any college degree course at the time of testing.
Your score on the NMAT test will determine whether you will be accepted or not in any of the medical schools in the Philippines. So you are encouraged to do well in the test and obtain your best scores in the NMAT to increase your chances of being accepted.
- Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to a Medical Course (CEMed): The CEMed application form can be obtained from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regional offices. As an international student, you can apply at the CHED Office of Student Services (OSS) located at the National Engineering Center Building, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. To secure a CEMed, you must fulfil the following:
- Fully accomplished CEMed application form.
- Academic Transcript
- Certificate of Graduation authenticated by the Registrar of the school you graduated from.
- NMAT results (original or duplicate copy of Examinee Report Form) issued by CEM
- Birth Certificate
- Certificate of authentication of good moral character
- Applicant’s Acceptance in Medical School: This is the last requirement. CEMed does not automatically assure the applicant of a slot in any of the medical schools in the country. If you have been issued a CEMed, it means that you will only be given full acceptance only upon meeting the other requirements of the admitting school, such as passing the interviews. It is advisable; you seek preliminary approval from the medical school chosen by the applicant before obtaining the CEMed.
How Much Does it Cost to Study at the Medical Schools in the Philippines?
The cost of studies ranges from P151,000 to P120,000 per semester, including tuition, basic, laboratory fees and miscellaneous.
Conclusion
I hope that this article on the medical schools in the Philippines was helpful. It would help if you did adequate research before applying to any of the medical schools in the Philippines.
