MBBS is the most popular degree-course for international students studying in China. The official figures show that in 2013, around 15 percent of 312,000 international students who study in China take English-medium MBBS courses. Many of China’s medical schools have a high prestige among worldwide students for the rich experience in MBBS teaching, abundant educational resources, and reliable affiliated hospitals. Chinese Medical schools are all authorized by the Medical Council of China and are on the list of “Directory of World Medical Schools” by the World Health Organization (WHO). The medical degree bestowed by Chinese medical schools is valid throughout the world and eligible for the USMLE in the US, the PLAB in the UK, the MCI Screening test in Indian and the PMDC in Pakistan, etc.
What is the MBBS program like in China?
The English- medium MBBS program in China lasts for five to six years. Students are required to complete 3-4 years’ basic education and then do normally one-year internship, either in the university’s affiliated hospitals or in hospitals in your home country as well as in other countries. The length of the internship depends on the specific requirements of each medical school.
Universities may have different requirements for applicants such as educational background, scores in science subjects and English language proficiency for those who aren’t English native speakers. Also, international students are required to pass the HSK test (Chinese language proficiency) before graduation by many of the medical schools in China. The required level of HSK may vary according to the respective universities.
Medical schools in China have designed sophisticated monitoring systems to evaluate the performance and progress of international students in mastering the subjects. Weekly tests, a midterm examination and final examination are taken every academic year according to the strictly formulated assessment manual. Generally speaking, the final grade is composed of the daily performance (30%), attendance (10%), and final exam (60%). You will get the credit if your final grade is over 60. Treated equally in China’s universities, international students should comply with all the rules and regulations of the universities as Chinese students. Besides, students have to take the final exam on Theory Test and Clinical Evaluation after the internship. Usually, the expenses for internal students studying in China are reasonable. Different universities have different regulations for tuition fees and living expenses standards.
Today, with issuing of China’s National Outline for Medium and Long Term Educational Reform and Development as well as the Study in China Plan, the Chinese government is creating a better political and cultural environment for international students to study MBBS in China. Also, the Chinese Ministry of Education has published a quality control regulation on medical education (“Circular of the Ministry of Education On Interim Provisions for Quality Control Standards on Undergraduate Medical Education in English for International Students in China”) to strengthen management and to upgrade education quality of medical schools in China. Studying MBBS in China will be a professional, smart choice rather than only a trend.