MBBS in China — medical degree for international students

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is the English-taught medical track in China, accredited by the WHO and the Chinese Ministry of Education. It costs 3–5× less than its European or Australian equivalents at comparable quality.

Program structure

• Length: 6 years (5 of theory + 1 of clinical practice).
• Language: 100% English in the first 4 years; the last 2 years run in English with basic Chinese for clinical work.
• Tuition: 30,000–55,000 ¥/year = $4,100–7,600.
• Scholarships: CSC, Belt & Road, university grant programs.

Top 10 MBBS universities

1. Tianjin Medical University (Tianjin) — top-3 in prestige.
2. Capital Medical University (Beijing).
3. China Medical University (Shenyang).
4. Wuhan University.
5. Jilin University (Changchun).
6. Southern Medical University (Guangzhou).
7. Xi'an Jiaotong University.
8. Dalian Medical University.
9. Harbin Medical University.
10. Nanjing Medical University.

How to get in

Licensing after graduation

After 6 years in China you receive an MBBS diploma. To practise as a doctor in:

• Russia — diploma recognition with the Ministry of Education + the FEPO exam.
• Kazakhstan — recognition through CBPIU + 1-year internship.
• Uzbekistan — recognition through NCEPI + 1 year of clinical residency.
• USA — USMLE Step 1 and 2 + residency.
• UK — PLAB Test + GMC registration.

Case: Anna, MBBS Tianjin Medical University

"Enrolled in 2020. Total cost with housing — about $7,000/year. Teaching is in English, instructors practise at Tianjin hospitals. After year 4 — internship at the University General Hospital. After graduation I plan to take exams in Russia and work in cardiology."