I’m a third year student of medicine. I want to go abroad for higher studies. Could you tell me the required eligibility criterion for studying abroad? Which is the best institute for a masters degree in medicine? Could you give me an idea about the expenses involved? Also, could you recommend some relevant websites so that I can check for myself?

B. Majhi

Guwahati Medical College

An MBBS degree from your college is considered the pre-requisite to study abroad. However, you need to have a fantastic percentage to be able to get into the best institutes. That apart, there are different entrance tests like the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination), which you have to clear to get postgraduate medical training certification in a primary care or referral specialty, and finally, a license to practice in the US. The Australian equivalent is the GAMSAT (Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test). The entrance test you need to take will depend on the country or college you choose.

There are conflicting views about which is the best college for a masters in medicine. The Stanford School of Medicine in the US offers a master of science in medicine programme and is ranked sixth in the “2008 Top Medical Schools” list by US News and World Report. Given the limited number of seats available and the extremely competitive environment, I would suggest you also consider similar courses offered by the University of Melbourne (master of medicine by research) and the master of medicine / master of science in medicine offered by the University of Sydney. To get detailed information, log on to the websites of the institutes.

The yearly tuition at Stanford School of Medicine is about $13,900 or about Rs 5,46,400. The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000 (around Rs 3,93,100) or more, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, since expenses vary according to the lifestyle of a person, this is to give you just a rough idea.

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