Philippines | Est. 1905Philippines | CHED Center of Excellence; PAASCU Level IV (2015) | English medium
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Ask any Filipino doctor which medical school carries the most weight back home, and UP College of Medicine comes up almost every time. It sits inside the University of the Philippines Manila campus in Ermita. It has trained the country's medical leadership for well over a century now.
Its roots go back to the Philippine Medical School, established by the Philippine Commission in December 1905 and opened in 1907, two years before UP itself existed as a university. It was folded into the UP system in 1910 as the College of Medicine and Surgery, then shortened to its current name in 1923. That history makes it one of the oldest continuously operating medical schools in Southeast Asia.
Degree-granting authority runs through the University of the Philippines Charter and the Commission on Higher Education. The college holds status as a CHED Center of Excellence in Medical Education. PAASCU re-accredited it at Level IV in 2015, the highest tier that body awards and the benchmark other Philippine medical schools tend to get measured against.
Clinical training runs through the Philippine General Hospital, a state-owned facility on the same campus. Its capacity was recently raised toward 2,200 beds, making it the country's largest hospital. PGH functions as the national referral center, so students see an enormous, complex patient load rather than a curated slice of cases.
Manila is roughly a five to nine hour direct flight from major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Filipino culture leans heavily English-speaking too, which softens the usual culture-shock curve for Indian families arriving for the first time.
One number worth sitting with: the flagship medical track, INTARMED, enrolls roughly 200 students into medicine proper each year system-wide. Those seats go to applicants who already rank among the strongest in the entire UP pool. This is a highly selective public program, not a revenue-driven international pipeline.
Reliable published fee data for foreign nationals at UP Manila is thin, so the figures below combine the university's own tuition bracket schedule with rough consultancy-style estimates for living costs, flagged where uncertain.
Cost Item | Per Year (USD / local currency) | Total Programme Cost (approx.) |
Tuition (per unit, standard bracket) | Approx. PHP 1,500/unit (unverified for foreign students) | Not officially published for foreign nationals |
Miscellaneous/Laboratory Fees | Approx. PHP 40,000-50,000 | Approx. PHP 280,000-350,000 (7 years) |
Hostel/Accommodation | Approx. PHP 60,000-90,000 | Approx. PHP 420,000-630,000 |
Food & Living Expenses | Approx. PHP 90,000-120,000 | Approx. PHP 630,000-840,000 |
Application/CHED Processing Fee | One-time, a few thousand PHP | Not consistently published |
Donation/Capitation Fee | None reported | None reported |
Total Estimated (excluding tuition) | Varies by year | Roughly PHP 1.3-1.8 million over 7 years, tuition excluded |
Republic Act 10931 makes tuition free for Filipino citizens at state universities, but that law does not extend to foreign nationals, and UP Manila has not published a standard international tuition schedule online, so treat the tuition line above as unverified and confirm directly with the Registrar before budgeting.
Why UP College of Medicine Deserves a Harder Look Than You've Given It
Few Philippine medical schools can claim this combination. A public national university with a teaching hospital, PGH, that most private institutions simply cannot match for clinical volume and pathology diversity. Doctors trained there tend to walk straight into residencies and public health leadership roles nationwide, largely on the name's strength alone.
Here's the part an honest page has to say plainly. This is not an easy or even a clearly-defined route for most Indian applicants. The college's own FAQ, as of the most recent published version, stated that implementing rules for foreign student admission would be posted "soon" rather than pointing to a finished policy. Foreign applicants must pass the same NMAT as Filipinos, and UP Manila's own cutoff sits at the 90th percentile. That means outperforming nine in ten test-takers nationwide.
Compare that to how most Indian students actually study medicine in the Philippines. It's usually through private universities with admissions tracks built specifically for NEET-qualified foreign students, predictable fees, and defined intake seasons. UP Manila doesn't appear to run that kind of pipeline at all. Several consultancy websites list it alongside those private schools anyway, with identical-looking fee tables and NEET-only requirements. Cross-checking against UP Manila's own tuition bracket system shows they're reusing generic templates rather than UP-specific data, so that marketing deserves real skepticism.
Tuition itself is a genuine open question. RA 10931 zeroes out tuition for Filipino citizens at public universities, but nothing in the law, or anywhere on UP Manila's admissions pages, extends that to foreign nationals. No foreign-student tuition schedule for medicine has been published officially anywhere. Budgeting off an unconfirmed number is a real risk here.
So weigh it like this. If NMAT at the 90th percentile plus a genuinely competitive undergraduate record sounds realistic, UP Manila is worth pursuing directly through its Office of the University Registrar rather than through a consultancy. If the goal instead is a dependable, well-worn channel built for Indian NEET candidates with known costs and timelines, this school probably isn't it. Better to know that before committing application fees and travel plans.
No hidden charges, no donation. The full picture of costs at MBBS in University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine.
Tuition Fee
Roughly $3,500 to $5,000 USD per year
Approx. PHP 1,500
Hostel Fee
Approx. PHP 60,000-90,000 per year
Approx. PHP 60,000-90,000 per year
Food & Meals
Approx. PHP 90,000-120,000
per year
Insurance
Approx. PHP 4,000 -5,000
per year
Donation
No donation fee
No hidden fee
Total Estimated Cost
$17,500 to $25,000 USD
5-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 University of the Philippines Manila 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.
Replaces a separate four-year bachelor's degree for students on this track
Liberal arts and basic science coursework taken by INTARMED entrants straight out of secondary school
Early clinical exposure and community medicine modules alongside classroom science
Organ Systems Integration curriculum covering anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology in an integrated block format
Entry point for post-baccalaureate MD applicants who join via NMAT rather than INTARMED
Full clinical rotations through PGH's wards, covering internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, and specialty services
Heavy hands-on exposure to PGH's high patient volume, central to the training model
Spervised hospital internship required before the MD is conferred and before taking the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination
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 University of the Philippines Manila 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.”
For most applicants, honestly, no. It suits only someone with an exceptionally strong record who can clear the NMAT at the 90th percentile. Most Indian students studying medicine in the Philippines go through private universities built for that purpose; UP Manila isn't structured that way.
No. NEET satisfies India's regulatory requirement for studying medicine abroad, but UP Manila layers its own NMAT requirement on top, with a published cutoff at the 90th percentile. Think of NEET as a baseline here, not a substitute for the actual entrance exam.
UP Manila's seven-year program taking students from secondary school straight through to the MD, skipping a separate bachelor's degree. It draws the strongest applicants in the whole UP system and isn't built as an international channel, so foreign applicants more realistically enter through the post-baccalaureate Medicine Proper route.
Nobody has a clean public answer. Filipino citizens get free tuition under RA 10931, but that law doesn't cover foreign nationals, and UP Manila hasn't posted a standard international rate for medicine. Get written fee confirmation from the registrar's office rather than a third-party number.
Only after clearing the NMC's screening process for foreign medical graduates, currently FMGE and shifting toward NExT — the same rule for any school outside India, regardless of prestige.
It's a big deal. PGH is the country's largest public hospital and national referral center, with capacity raised toward roughly 2,200 beds. Students see an enormous, genuinely varied patient load, one of the strongest arguments for this school specifically.
Be cautious. Several reuse identical fee tables and NEET-only claims across universities whose actual policies differ. Cross-checking against UP Manila's own pages shows mismatches, so official correspondence should outrank consultancy marketing.
Seven years covers INTARMED through to the MD, including the mandatory internship year. Add Philippine licensure, then FMGE or NExT for India, and the runway to practicing at home stretches well past the degree.
Yes, entirely, one factor that makes the Philippines broadly attractive to Indian applicants even where a given school is genuinely hard to get into.
A CHED Center of Excellence designation and PAASCU Level IV re-accreditation from 2015, the top tier that body issues at all. Degree authority itself runs through UP's own charter. A specific WDOMS listing couldn't be independently confirmed during research, so check that directly before relying on it.
Our expert counsellors will guide you through the complete admission process — from documents to airport pickup.
