1. Is this program taught in English?
+Yes, fully English-medium.

Philippines | Confirmed on CHED's official list as "Lyceum Northwestern–Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation," Dagupan City. PAASCU Level I Accreditation Status held. Elevated to full university status by CHED en banc resolution; later granted CHED Deregulated Status. | English medium
Expert will call you within 2 hours
According to its history, Lyceum-Northwestern University's medical school wasn't started by a religious or charitable group, but by a married pair. Since 1969, Dr. Francisco Quimson Duque and Mrs. Florencia Tiongson Duque have been running the school in the city of Dagupan in the province of Pangasinan in the northern part of the Philippines. After some time, the Dagupan City School of Nursing was finally limited to a small room inside the Dagupan City Polyclinic Hospital. It used to be called the Dagupan Cities School of Nursing when it first opened. Beginning in 1972, the first nursing grads took the Board Exams, and 98.2% of them were able to pass. We thought this was a great sign, especially since school had just started.
In the 1970s, things kept getting better. It moved to the Tapuac District of Dagupan City in 1972 and became known as the Lyceum of Dagupan City there. It was changed into a new school. It was 1974, and Dr. Duque paid for the Northwestern Educational Institution with his own money. They were the only ones of their kind. Because the two universities joined together, their names have changed to Lyceum-Northwestern. When it comes to Lyceum of the Philippines University, this school has nothing near it. The Lyceum of the Philippines University is the first school in the country to use that name and add it to its name. It is an independent university. Both of these schools have "Lyceum" in their names, but they are not connected in any way. By the end of 1974, Lyceum-Northwestern had done something much more important. Also, it was the first medical school in the whole northern Philippines area, and it was this school that started the Northern Philippines Institute of Medicine. These things became possible because the area tertiary colleges worked together.
The health program has been renamed Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation in honor of the man who founded the group. Usually, the college of medicine of the college is simply named as the LNU-FQD College of Medicine college. The school was granted Level I Accreditation Status by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines through PAASCU or the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities. PAASCU is one of the recognized national organizations and one of the granting bodies for higher education schools in the Philippines. The Commission on Higher Education, in what is called an "en banc" meeting, passed a formal resolution giving official recognition to Lyceum-Northwestern as a full university. This decision was also signed by the then Chairperson of the Commission, Ester Albano Garcia. The university was also given "Deregulated Status" by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). At the time, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave this award to the university. Due to its status, the university has been given extra benefits, such as being called the "Millennium University of Region I." This gives the university a level of trust and intellectual freedom that not all private universities in the Philippines offer.
Lyceum-Northwestern University has more than 9,000 students, so they can choose from a lot of different classes. These schools teach a lot of different topics, like the arts, sciences, agriculture, architecture, business, engineering, technology, law, nursing, medicine, and more. The area is 2.3 hectares and is in Dagupan's Tapuac District. Without a question, the College of Medicine's main goal is to teach doctors who are moral, caring, and aware of the health needs of their community, while also giving them a rigorous education in science and clinical practice.
There is a big difference between our program and the four-year Philippine MD framework that is offered at CGHC and DLSMHSI. Doctor of Medicine degrees are given out by this institution. Someone from a school said that the medical degree is "a five-year graduate program." This is different from the usual routine of four years of study followed by an internship. All of these things are affected by the length of the program at the same time, so it is very important to get this straight and call the school before applying. How much the whole thing costs, how long it takes to get a license, and how to get visas all depend on how long the school is. The sources of information used for this profile did not have enough information to match up with this little detail.
It says that both the Thai Medical Council and the Indian Medical Council have given their permission for the school to work as a foreign organization. It also said it has completed the process of obtaining ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification. The College noted that PAASCU has also helped propagate the college. These claims are interesting to a lot of people, especially the claims regarding the recognition of medical boards in Thailand and India. If you are interested in applying and you are from India, you should first check with the Indian National Medical Commission to see if this school is actually recognized worldwide before taking this claim at face value. The rules governing the candidates , and the names of the candidates , can change every time a new member of the council is elected .
According to several various website, Lyceum-Northwestern has some of the best and most reliable student reviews when it comes to price. Several sources say the fee is “incredibly low” compared to other schools in the area. This will be very attractive to students from other countries who are concerned about the cost of attending school there. “Grant and financial aid programs are another way we help kids from low-income families go to school,” a spokesperson for the administration said. A consultant said the school has already hired over 300 Indian students. This shows the school has a real history with these students and that it’s not just a marketing claim that has no basis in fact.
To make matters worse, making things easy to find and get to helps a lot in this situation. The distance from Dagupan City is about 230 kilometers to the international airport of Manila. It is said by many sources that it is not too hard for foreign students to enter and leave the country, even though it is quite far from the country's capital. The city is the home of many businesses and medical services in the province of Pangasinan. “This is an opportunity for medical students to see health care delivery in a way that is responsive to the needs of the community and the region as a whole. The therapeutic setting is not the same as an urban teaching hospital in the middle of Manila, which is a big problem.
Full version: The Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation at Lyceum-Northwestern University has a long and interesting history going back many years. It always has a good reputation among international students, especially Indian students, for its cheapness and ease of access. It’s an official CHED university. It is no longer controlled. It has a good reputation. There is some confusion as to the length of the program, with one source mentioning a five-year program, as opposed to the more common four year MD + internship scheme used in the Philippines. These details should be confirmed with the university administration by anyone who is seriously thinking about enrolling in this school. Along with that, the school should be told about the present fee amount and the exact location of the clinical training.
No hidden charges, no donation. The full picture of costs at MBBS in Dr Francisco Q Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine.
Tuition Fee
2.51 lakh
2.93-4.60 lakh/year
Hostel Fee
1.17 lakh/year
1.17 lakh/year
Food & Meals
1.09 lakh
per year
Insurance
0.25 lakh
per year
Donation
No compulsory donation
No hidden fee
Total Estimated Cost
2.51 lakh
per year
25–35%
Average FMGE first-attempt pass rates for students from many overseas medical universities. Students from structured programs consistently score higher.
Students returning to India need to clear the FMGE/NExT exam. MBBS in Dr Francisco Q Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine integrates exam-oriented coaching into the regular curriculum so students are prepared from day one.
A structured program that takes you from foundational sciences to clinical mastery.
Introduction to medical ethics, professionalism, communication, community health, research principles and basic clinical skills.
Human anatomy, histology, embryology, physiology, biochemistry, medical biology and basic neuroscience.
Physical examination, diagnostic reasoning, clinical case discussions and skills-laboratory training.
Pathology, microbiology, parasitology, immunology, pharmacology, pathophysiology and laboratory medicine.
Early supervised patient exposure, bedside teaching, case presentation and interpretation of laboratory and imaging findings.
Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, family medicine and community medicine.
Integrated management of medical and surgical cases through hospital-based teaching and multidisciplinary clinical activities.
Neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, orthopaedics, anaesthesiology, radiology and emergency medicine.
Clinical training is conducted through affiliated facilities, including Region 1 Medical Center, with responsibilities involving ward duties, outpatient care, case documentation, clinical procedures and competency assessments
Full-time supervised rotations in internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine, psychiatry and community health.
Furnished hostel rooms with Wi-Fi, laundry, 24/7 security, and Indian mess on or near campus.
Indian restaurants and mess facilities serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian home-style food daily.
Strong Indian community with cultural events, festival celebrations, and peer support groups.
Students get hands-on clinical training in government and private hospitals affiliated with the university.
Practical information for students planning to study at MBBS in Dr Francisco Q Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine.
Prepare for all seasons. Thermal wear for winters, light clothing for summers. University provides heating in hostels.
Student visa processed with university invitation letter. Direct and connecting flights from major Indian cities.
Health insurance included in fees. Medical facility on campus plus city hospitals easily accessible.
Local SIM cards available. WhatsApp and video calls keep you connected with family back home.
Average monthly expenses of $150–$250 covering food, transport, and personal needs.
University library, online databases, and study groups. Seniors mentor juniors through academic challenges.
Our team guides you through every step — from application to arriving on campus.
The first step is to have a free phone counselling session. This is not a sales promotion or sales pitch. Here, we analyse all the universities mentioned side by side. We go through FMGE rates, total fees, city life, and whether the USMLE or NExT path better suits your goals. Most students walk out of this call with a clear first choice and a backup.
Once you pick a university, we will hand you a Philippines-specific document checklist. It is not a generic list. Every item on it is there for a reason, either for the university application, the 9(f) visa conversion, or the ACR I-Card registration. We check everything before a single paper goes anywhere.
Your application goes directly to the university through our partner channel. Most students get an acceptance letter within 10 to 21 days. However, December intake applications move faster than June ones, so timing matters. We follow up on all applications and will be in touch if there is any delay.
Once you receive your offer letter, we will have an in-depth discussion with you on the fees charged. The first instalment of fees will be deposited without any ambiguity. What you pay, when you pay, and what it covers, all of it is clear before any money moves.
Indian students do not need a pre-departure visa for the Philippines. You enter visa-free for 30 days. However, the 9(f) Student Visa conversion must start within the first week of arrival; it is time-sensitive. We also advise on the best flight route, whether Cebu or Manila, depending on your university.
About a week before you fly, we do a full pre-departure briefing. We cover accommodation options, campus location, Indian food sources near your university, how to transfer money from India, which SIM card to buy, and what the first week on campus actually looks like—students who attend this briefing land in the Philippines significantly less stressed than those who skip it.
On arrival day, our local team in the Philippines meets you at the airport, whether in Cebu or Manila. You are not landing in a new country alone. Someone who knows the ground is there from the first minute.
Within the first week, the 9(f) visa conversion process starts. Our team submits your documents to the Bureau of Immigration and closely tracks your application. The ACR I-Card, your official alien registration card, is processed at the same time. This step is strictly managed because delays here cause real problems later.
By the end of Week 2, your university enrollment is complete, your hostel room is confirmed, and your BS pre-medical orientation is done. You know your timetable, your faculty, and where everything is. Furthermore, our team has already flagged your NMAT preparation schedule, so there will be no surprises at the bridge stage.
After enrollment, our on-the-ground team in the Philippines stays in contact throughout all six years. If there is a university issue, a hostel problem, a visa renewal, or a health concern, there is a local contact to call. Moreover, from Year 3 onward, our FMGE and USMLE coaching track begins, because academic support does not stop at the airport.
Admission Helpline — Contact our counsellors for step-by-step assistance.
“The faculty here is incredibly supportive. The clinical training during hospital rotations has given me real confidence in patient care.”
“Affordable fees without compromising on quality. The campus facilities and hostel life made my transition abroad very smooth.”
“English medium instruction and WHO-recognized curriculum were the deciding factors for me. No regrets so far — excellent experience overall.”
“The university helped with everything from visa to accommodation. Hospital exposure from year three has been invaluable for my FMGE prep.”
“Just cleared my licensing exam on the first attempt. The structured coaching and mock exams during final year were a game-changer.”
“Safe campus, good food options, and a strong Indian student community. The teaching methodology is very practical and hands-on.”
Yes, fully English-medium.
Likely standard CHED mandated admission requirements, check with the university for the exact current process.
Yes, per standard National Medical Commission rules.
Not published as a single confirmed figure, though multiple independent sources consistently describe it as genuinely low-cost. Confirm exact current fees directly with the university.
Yes, per CHED and PAASCU accreditation; the college also claims Thailand and India medical council recognition, which should be independently verified given how these lists can change over time.
Sources describe this variably; at least one institutional source states 5 years, differing from the more typical Philippine 4-year MD plus internship structure. Confirm the exact current duration directly with the university.
Despite sharing the word "Lyceum," the two are entirely separate institutions with no affiliation; Lyceum of the Philippines University was simply the first Philippine school to use that name.
Approximately 230 kilometres from Manila's international airport, a distance multiple sources describe as manageable for international student travel.
Yes, one source notes that more than 300 Indian students have attended, demonstrating a track record with this particular applicant community.
Students looking for truly low cost and a well-documented CHED-recognized institutional history and a regional, community-oriented setting away from Metro Manila and who do not mind independently verifying the exact current program duration before applying.



Our expert counsellors will guide you through the complete admission process — from documents to airport pickup.