MBBS in Saudi Arabia for Indian Students

Indian students can study medicine in Saudi Arabia, but the opportunities are limited, highly competitive and generally expensive. The standard international scholarship route at Saudi public universities excludes undergraduate health and medical specialities, although a few universities now offer fee-paying medicine seats for international students. Ministry of Education (opens in a new tab)

For an Indian student, admission must satisfy two separate systems:

1. 1.Saudi requirements: university admission, student visa, internship and eligibility for Saudi medical registration.
2. 2.Indian requirements: NEET qualification and full compliance with the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021.

A Saudi medical degree is not automatically valid for Indian registration merely because the university is authorised, accredited or listed in WDOMS. NMC does not publish or endorse an “approved foreign medical-college list.” NMC (opens in a new tab)

The INR estimates below use approximately SAR 1 = ₹25.68. Exchange rates and bank conversion charges will change.

Locations: Jeddah, Aseer, Dammam and other expanding campuses Type: Private medical college Practical position: One of the clearest options for Indian-board students

BMC explicitly publishes a route for students from the Indian curriculum. Applicants to the Foundation Year Medicine programme must complete Class 12 through CBSE or another recognised Indian board with science subjects and normally obtain at least 90% overall. كلية البترجي الطبية (opens in a new tab)

The route normally consists of:

• •One foundation year
• •Five academic medical years
• •One internship or training year

BMC states that its clinical internship is undertaken in government and private hospitals. كلية البترجي الطبية (opens in a new tab)

The currently published medicine fee is SAR 45,000 per semester, with a separate SAR 4,500 registration fee. كلية البترجي الطبية (opens in a new tab)

International students seeking direct programme placement generally need:

• •Around 95% in Class 12
• •IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 80 or equivalent
• •Direct-placement examination
• •Personal interview

Direct placement should be treated carefully for NMC purposes because the complete medical course and internship structure must still meet the prescribed minimum duration. كلية البترجي الطبية (opens in a new tab)

Strong points

• •Indian curriculum is explicitly recognised.
• •English-testing alternatives are clearly published.
• •Established medical programme with graduates.
• •Internship arrangements are officially mentioned.

Before payment, obtain written confirmation of:

• •Exact internship duration of 12 continuous months
• •Internship location and responsible institution
• •Eligibility of non-Saudi graduates for Saudi medical licensing
• •Medium of instruction
• •Total medical-course duration excluding any optional pathway

Type: Private university Degree: Six-year MBBS Practical position: Premium and expensive international option

Alfaisal officially describes its MBBS as a six-year programme. International applicants are accepted through its international-student office. Alfaisal University Catalogs (opens in a new tab)

The seat-reservation amount forms part of the tuition payment rather than being an additional yearly tuition charge. Medical insurance and student-visa charges vary. VAT may apply where legally applicable. Alfaisal University Catalogs (opens in a new tab)

International applicants must submit an authenticated six-month bank statement showing at least:

• •SAR 150,000
• •Approximately ₹38.52 lakh

The amount is intended to demonstrate the ability to cover first-year educational expenses. A recognised financial guarantee may be accepted as an alternative. OISE AlFaisal University (opens in a new tab)

Alfaisal accepts examinations such as:

• •SAT
• •ACT
• •IB
• •A-Level
• •UCAT
• •MCAT
• •Saudi Qudurat or Tahsili equivalents

An official TOEFL or IELTS result is generally required for international applicants. OISE AlFaisal University (opens in a new tab)

The official page identifies a six-year MBBS, but an Indian applicant should not assume that this automatically proves a separate 12-month internship in the same institution.

Obtain a signed university letter clearly stating:

• •Academic teaching duration
• •Clinical-clerkship duration
• •Separate internship duration
• •Whether internship is included in or additional to the six years
• •Whether international students can obtain Saudi professional registration

Type: Private university Degree: MBBS Duration: Six years of study plus one internship year

AlMaarefa’s official programme page states that its MBBS requires six years of successful study and one internship year, totalling seven years and 222 credit hours. It also reports enrolment of foreign medical students. جامعة المعرفة (opens in a new tab)

These are published university fees. Applicable VAT, housing and other charges should be confirmed separately for non-Saudi students. جامعة المعرفة (opens in a new tab)

Its published six years plus one-year internship structure is closer to the format required under NMC’s 54-month plus 12-month rule. However, the student must still obtain written confirmation that:

• •The internship is hands-on and continuous.
• •It is conducted under the same university in Saudi Arabia.
• •International students receive the same internship opportunity.
• •Graduates are eligible for the Saudi licensing pathway.

Type: Public university Route: Fee-based international Health Sciences admission Practical position: Prestigious but extremely selective

KSU now permits self-sponsored non-resident international applicants to apply for Medicine and Surgery through the Study in Saudi route. Both male and female applicants are listed as eligible. KSU Admissions (opens in a new tab)

• •Minimum SAT score: 1200
• •Class 12 certificate obtained within the previous two years
• •Applicant normally not older than 25
• •Medicine students must achieve at least 4.5 out of 5 in first-year courses to remain in the programme

Failure to achieve the continuation GPA can prevent progression into medicine. KSU Admissions (opens in a new tab)

The accessible KSU international-admission page does not publish a final medicine tuition amount. Students should obtain an official invoice through the admission portal before paying.

KSU’s ordinary external-scholarship programme should not be confused with its newer fee-based Health Sciences pathway. Medicine is generally unavailable through the standard international public-university scholarship route. Ministry of Education (opens in a new tab)

Type: Public university Route: Paid international admission Practical position: Clear fee structure, but immigration sponsorship requires clarification

The published charges exclude VAT. Actual semester tuition depends on the number of registered credits. iStudents (opens in a new tab)

KKU’s published requirements for international applicants include:

• •Foreign-certificate equivalency
• •Strong Class 12 science performance
• •English proficiency, commonly IELTS 5 or above
• •Standardised-test alternatives depending on the school system
• •A limited international quota in medicine and health programmes

An official KKU international-admission page has stated that tuition-based admitted students cannot obtain a university-issued residency permit through that route. This needs direct written clarification from KKU before a non-resident Indian student accepts admission or pays tuition. iStudents (opens in a new tab)

Do not proceed unless the university confirms:

• •Which educational visa it will support
• •Whether it will arrange or facilitate legal residency
• •Whether the student can remain legally for the entire course and internship

Location: Al Bukayriyah Type: Private university International admission: Saudi and non-Saudi students are accepted. SR.edu.sa (opens in a new tab)

The standard medicine route usually requires:

• •Class 12 science with approximately 90%
• •Admission or foundation assessment
• •English proficiency
• •Recognition/equivalency of overseas school documents

For international curricula not specifically listed, the university allows students to apply after their certificates are evaluated by the Saudi Ministry of Education. Direct US-system admission may use SAT 1050 with additional science-test criteria; IELTS 5.5 is listed for certain direct-admission pathways. SR.edu.sa (opens in a new tab)

A current, complete medicine tuition figure was not clearly visible on the accessible official fee page. The student should request a stamped fee sheet covering:

• •Foundation year
• •Every academic year
• •Internship
• •VAT
• •Hostel
• •Insurance
• •Visa and residency services

Do not rely on an agency quotation without matching it against the university invoice.

Programme: Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery Duration: Six academic years plus internship Practical position: Attractive published discount, but external visa eligibility needs confirmation

The college states that the current partial scholarship reduces medicine tuition by 20%, while non-Saudi students are charged 15% VAT. Summer tuition is separate when applicable. Al Nahda College (opens in a new tab)

The programme and tuition are officially published, but an Indian applicant living outside Saudi Arabia should obtain confirmation that AlNahda will:

• •Admit a fresh non-resident international student
• •Support an educational visa
• •Provide the complete 12-month internship
• •Permit progression to Saudi professional licensing

Status: New medical-program intake from 2026–27 Practical position: Expensive and should be treated cautiously by Indian applicants

PMU confirms that non-Saudi students pay 15% VAT on tuition and applicable fees. pmu.edu.sa (opens in a new tab)

Because this is a new medical programme, it does not yet have a mature graduation, internship or international-licensing record. Before admission, obtain NMC-focused written confirmation for the entire course and internship.

First intake: Academic year 2026–27 Status: Preparatory-year admission for the first medical cohort

The university states that transfer into medicine is unavailable for 2026–27 because this is the programme’s first cohort. Prince Sultan University (opens in a new tab)

Requirements include strong school marks, Qudurat/Tahsili or SAT alternatives, English proficiency and successful preparatory-year performance. Students must pass required preparatory courses on the first attempt to progress. Prince Sultan University (opens in a new tab)

Indian students should wait for complete written evidence of:

• •Programme authorisation and accreditation
• •Full 54-month academic duration
• •Separate 12-month internship
• •Internship access for non-Saudis
• •Saudi licensing eligibility
• •Stable WDOMS record

A new medical programme is not automatically unsuitable, but it carries more regulatory uncertainty for an Indian foreign medical graduate.

These figures are indicative annual tuition based on currently published fees. They exclude future fee increases, living costs, flights, insurance and miscellaneous expenses.

Saudi Arabia should therefore not be presented as a low-cost MBBS destination. Tuition alone at many private universities may approach or exceed ₹1.3–1.6 crore over the full programme if current rates remain unchanged.

Indian and OCI candidates taking admission in a foreign medical programme must qualify NEET. For foreign medical admission, the NEET result is treated as the eligibility certificate and is valid for three years, including any pre-medical or language course followed by the main medical course. NMC (opens in a new tab)

Do not select a university simply because it has a famous Saudi medical college. Confirm that the current admission cycle specifically accepts:

• •Non-Saudi applicants
• •Applicants living outside Saudi Arabia
• •Indian Class 12 qualifications
• •Educational-visa applicants
• •Male and/or female students as applicable

Collect the following directly from the university:

• •Complete curriculum
• •Academic calendar
• •Credit-hour plan
• •Medium-of-instruction letter
• •Internship policy
• •Internship hospital list
• •Local licensing eligibility letter
• •Accreditation and authorisation evidence
• •Current fee sheet
• •Refund policy
• •Visa and residency-support policy

Class 10 and 12 records issued outside Saudi Arabia may need:

• •Board verification
• •Attestation in India
• •Saudi diplomatic authentication where requested
• •Saudi Ministry of Education equivalency

Requirements differ by university and curriculum.

Depending on the institution, an applicant may require:

• •SAT or ACT
• •University entrance examination
• •Biology and Chemistry assessment
• •IELTS or TOEFL
• •Interview
• •Preparatory or foundation year

NEET is an Indian eligibility requirement; it does not normally replace a Saudi university’s own academic tests.

The student should receive:

• •Final admission letter
• •Programme name and duration
• •Tuition invoice
• •Student number
• •Refund rules
• •Visa-support confirmation
• •Internship and licensing statement

Saudi Arabia’s long-term educational visa is generally issued for one year and can be renewed annually. The official conditions include:

• •Applicant aged at least 16
• •Passport valid for at least six months
• •Admission from an authorised Saudi institution
• •Proof of financial capacity or financial guarantee
• •Medical report showing freedom from infectious disease
• •Health insurance
• •Proof of proficiency in the programme’s teaching language
• •Guardian consent for applicants below 18 Study in Saudi (opens in a new tab)

For an Indian student covered by the 2021 FMGL Regulations, transferring the internship to India or a third country can create NMC non-compliance.

The foreign medical course must have at least 54 months of academic study, including theory, practical and clinical training equivalent to the Indian MBBS curriculum. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

A foundation year should not automatically be counted as part of the prescribed medical-training duration unless its subjects and status satisfy the regulatory requirements.

The student must complete at least 12 months of internship in the same foreign medical institution where the primary medical qualification is obtained. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

The internship should include hands-on clinical training across required subjects such as medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, community medicine, emergency medicine and other mandated disciplines.

The entire course, clinical training and internship must be completed:

• •Outside India
• •In the same foreign institution
• •In the country awarding the medical qualification

No part should ordinarily be shifted to India or another country. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

This makes branch transfers, outsourced internships and cross-country clinical rotations particularly risky.

The foreign medical degree must be taught in English. The student should obtain a formal medium-of-instruction certificate rather than relying only on website wording. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

The curriculum must contain all subjects required under the NMC regulations and provide theory, practical and clinical training comparable to an Indian MBBS programme. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

The graduate must be registered with the relevant foreign regulator or be eligible for a licence to practise medicine at par with a Saudi citizen graduating from the same system. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

Saudi Arabia’s professional medical examination assesses competence after the internship year. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties permits interns to apply for its licensing-exam eligibility service, and its rules exempt graduates of Saudi universities from the usual one-year foreign-experience requirement for non-Saudis. SCFHS (opens in a new tab)

However, an Indian student must obtain written university/SCFHS confirmation that a non-Saudi graduate can:

1. 1.Complete the Saudi internship
2. 2.Take the Saudi Medical Licensure Examination
3. 3.Apply for professional classification and registration
4. 4.Receive equivalent licensing eligibility

The complete foreign medical course must be finished within ten years from the date of joining. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

FMGE remains operational in 2026. NBEMS conducted the June 2026 examination and published its results and pass-certificate schedule. NMC continues to list NExT as deferred; therefore, FMGE remains the applicable screening examination until a replacement system is formally implemented. NBEMS (opens in a new tab)

NBEMS requires the foreign qualification to be recognised for enrolment as a medical practitioner in the country where it was awarded, with confirmation from the concerned Indian Embassy where required. NBEMS (opens in a new tab)

After satisfying the foreign-degree requirements and clearing the prescribed screening/licensing examination, an FMG covered by the 2021 regulations must also complete at least 12 months of supervised internship in India before permanent registration. eoibeijing.gov.in (opens in a new tab)

A student may face registration difficulty even after passing FMGE if the foreign programme lacks:

• •Sufficient academic duration
• •A compliant 12-month foreign internship
• •Required clinical subjects
• •English-medium instruction
• •Local licensing eligibility
• •Same-country and same-institution training

Therefore, FMGE preparation and NMC course compliance are two separate issues.

NMC explicitly states that it does not endorse a list of foreign medical institutions. Students must directly verify the course content, duration, internship and fee structure before admission. NMC (opens in a new tab)

Accordingly:

• •WDOMS listing is useful as a directory check.
• •Saudi accreditation is necessary for local legitimacy.
• •Neither one alone guarantees Indian registration.
• •There is no correct claim such as “NMC-approved Saudi university.”

The safer wording is:

“The university is authorised in Saudi Arabia and must be individually checked for compliance with the NMC FMGL Regulations, 2021.”

NBEMS publishes institute-wise and country-wise FMGE performance data, including annual files through 2025. However, I did not find a sufficiently clear, official Saudi university-specific performance breakdown in the accessible NBEMS material to responsibly quote a Saudi FMGE pass rate. NBEMS (opens in a new tab)

Therefore, any agent advertising a fixed “Saudi Arabia FMGE pass percentage” should be asked to provide the original NBEMS institute-wise record.

The student should have all of the following in writing:

1. 1.Exact duration: at least 54 months of medical education plus a separate 12-month internship.
2. 2.Same institution: confirmation that the university controls and certifies the internship.
3. 3.Same country: confirmation that all clinical training occurs in Saudi Arabia.
4. 4.English medium: official letter covering the whole programme.
5. 5.Internship eligibility: confirmation that non-Saudi students receive internship placement.
6. 6.Saudi licence pathway: written confirmation of SMLE/SCFHS eligibility.
7. 7.Degree title: confirmation that the qualification permits medical registration in Saudi Arabia.
8. 8.Full fee sheet: tuition, VAT, internship fee, insurance and other compulsory charges.
9. 9.Visa responsibility: confirmation of educational-visa and residency support.
10. 10.Refund policy: especially if the visa, equivalency or medical progression is refused.

Batterjee Medical College It explicitly recognises the Indian Class 12 curriculum and publishes medicine fees and internship information.

AlMaarefa University It clearly states six years of medical study plus one internship year, although local licensing and internship access must still be confirmed for non-Saudis.

Alfaisal University It has a well-defined international-admission system but is expensive and requires substantial financial evidence. The separate internship structure needs written clarification.

King Saud University and King Khalid University These can be attractive academically, but admission is competitive. KSU does not clearly publish the final medicine tuition, while KKU’s residency-support condition requires serious clarification.

Prince Sultan University and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University Their medical programmes are new from 2026–27. Indian students should not commit until all NMC duration, internship and local-licensing requirements are confirmed in writing.

Saudi Arabia can be a high-quality but high-cost medical education destination for a small number of academically strong Indian students. It is most suitable when:

• •The family can afford approximately ₹22–27 lakh annual tuition.
• •The student has strong Class 12 science results.
• •The university provides a full English-medium programme.
• •A 12-month Saudi internship is guaranteed.
• •Non-Saudi graduates are eligible for Saudi medical licensing.
• •Every part of the NMC FMGL Regulations is verified before payment.

It should not be marketed as an easy, fully funded or automatically NMC-recognised MBBS destination.