Q. Is English the medium of instruction at GCM?
+Yes. All classes, exams, and clinical training are in English. The Philippines is an English-speaking country. Indian students face no language barrier at all.
The University of the Visayas has a rich history in Philippine education. Don Vicente A. Gullas and his wife, Lady Josefina R. Gullas, founded it in 1919 as the Visayan Institute in Cebu City. The goal was simple: give young people from average-income families access to quality education. The institute grew steadily over the years. The Second World War destroyed much of its early infrastructure. But Don Vicente did not give up. He reopened classes in Argao, Cebu in 1946. Within two years, the institution moved back to Cebu City. In 1948, the Visayan Institute became the University of the Visayas. It was the first institution in the entire province of Cebu to receive university status.
The Gullas College of Medicine was founded in 1977 by the Gullas family. It is located in Banilad, Mandaue City. The Ministry of Education, Culture & Sports gave formal approval for its establishment. The college was created to address a clear need: the Philippines required more trained physicians. It also aimed to give students from the Visayas and Mindanao regions better access to quality medical education close to home. That founding mission is still alive today. The college's guiding values are Amor, Servitium, Leadership et Humanitas; which means Love, Service, Leadership, and Humanity.
Today, the College of Medicine sits on the Banilad campus in Mandaue City. It shares this campus with the Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital, the UV College of Nursing, the Gullas College of Dentistry, and the Tan Kim Ching Cancer Center. Having all these health facilities in one place is a real advantage. Students can access clinical training without travelling across the city. The Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital is the primary teaching hospital. Students also rotate through major hospitals in Cebu. These include the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, an 800-bed government hospital, and Chong Hua Medical Center, a 660-bed tertiary care hospital. This gives students wide exposure to both public and private healthcare settings.
The programme at GCM follows the BS-MD format. It meets both Philippine regulatory standards and India's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations 2021. Students first complete a 14-month BS Biology pre-medicine phase. This builds the science foundation needed before entering the core Doctor of Medicine programme. After the BS phase, students sit the National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT). All students must appear for the NMAT. International students do not need a minimum score, but they must take the exam. After this, students enter the 54-month MD programme. This runs across four years with an extended clinical semester. It is followed by a mandatory 12-month internship at an affiliated teaching hospital in the Philippines. This full structure meets the NMC's requirement of 54 months of core medical study at one institution, plus a compulsory internship year.
The entire programme is taught in English. This is one of the biggest advantages of studying medicine in the Philippines. There is no language preparation year. There is no separate language test before admission. Students do not need to transition into studying medicine in a foreign language. Indian students, in particular, can focus fully on medicine from day one.
GCM uses an American-influenced curriculum. This model is standard across Philippine medical schools. It places early focus on clinical reasoning and patient interaction, alongside the basic sciences. The college has air-conditioned lecture rooms, well-equipped laboratories across all departments, and a main library with departmental libraries. These hold medical texts, international journals, and an e-library with computer access. The campus also has study halls, recreational areas, and a playground for students.
The university is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS). It is also WHO listed and recognised by FAIMER and IMED. These recognitions make graduates eligible for ECFMG certification and the USMLE pathway to practice in the United States. NMC recognition for NExT eligibility is also in place. However, as with all foreign medical institutions, students must check the current listing status at nmc.org.in before applying or paying fees. Recognition is reviewed from time to time.
GCM has produced over 43 batches of doctors. It has more than 3,000 alumni. These graduates are now working in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the Middle East. The college has had a series of dedicated deans since it was founded. The current dean is Dr. Jose Juan Rafael G. Laico, a neurologist. He continues the college's commitment to excellence in clinical training and medical education. GCM also welcomes students from over 25 countries, making the campus a genuinely international place to study.
Cebu and the surrounding Mandaue City area offer a good quality of life for students from abroad. Cebu is the Philippines' second-largest metropolitan area. It is well-connected by air, with flights to major Indian cities available via one or two stops. The cost of living is much lower than in Metro Manila and far more affordable than in Europe or Australia. The tropical climate is familiar and comfortable for most Indian students. Indian food is available in the on-campus hostels. The international student community in Cebu is large and well-established.
On-campus hostel facilities are available for both male and female students in separate blocks. Rooms are air-conditioned. Students have access to study halls, 24-hour internet, housekeeping, hot water, and laundry facilities. The college also runs a dedicated admissions office in India. It helps students with applications, NEET verification, visa processing, documentation, and flight planning.
Scholarships are available for international students at GCM. Selection is based on NMAT score at entry. Merit-based fee discounts are also available for students who maintain strong grades throughout the programme.
Annual tuition fees for international students range from approximately USD 3,700 to USD 5,000 per year. The exact amount depends on the year of study. Total tuition for the full BS-MD programme is approximately USD 30,200 over 68 months. When hostel, food, insurance, and travel are included, the total all-inclusive cost is estimated between USD 40,000 and USD 45,000 for the full programme. No donation or capitation fee is charged at any stage. Philippine government regulations strictly prohibit it.
