The National Medical Commission (NMC) has allowed students to transfer in colleges in countries, which is a huge relief for students who had to return to India after the Russia-Ukraine war. Previously, students studying medicine in a foreign country were not permitted to change their country of study mid-course.
Considering the special circumstances, the NMC in its recent notice said, “NMC conveys its no-objection for academic mobility program in respect of Indian medical students who are studying in Ukraine provided that other criteria of Screening Test Regulations 2002 are fulfilled.”
The earlier rule stated, “the entire course, training, and internship or clerkship shall be done in the same foreign medical institution throughout the course of study and no part of training/internship shall be done from other institute.”
Academic mobility program
“It is informed that the mobility program offered by Ukraine has been considered in the Commission in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs, wherein it was intimated that the academic mobility program is a temporary relocation to other universities in different countries globally. However, the degree will be awarded by the parent Ukrainian University,” NMC said in its latest order.
Despite the fact that universities in Ukraine have begun to operate, students are not enrolling due to geopolitical conditions. Although the majority of students attend classes online, NMC only recognises theory classes and a significant portion of medical education is practical education. As a result, students who have returned from Ukraine are looking for alternatives.
The National Medical Commission and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have yet to respond to the majority of Ukraine-returned students’ request for seats in Indian private medical schools as a temporary solution.
