Can Indian students do their MBBS internship in India instead of China?

Under India's National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021, an Indian student who earns an MBBS degree in China must not do the internship that is part of that degree in India. That internship must be completed in the same Chinese medical institution where the degree is obtained. The same regulations require a second, separate internship in India of at least twelve months.

For a short overview of the course and internship structure, see Course and internship in China.

The internship within the Chinese degree must be done in China

Regulation 4(a)(ii) of the National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021 (Gazette of India, 18 November 2021) requires a foreign medical graduate to have "undergone an internship for a minimum duration of twelve months in the same foreign medical institution."

Schedule I, paragraph 2(iii) of the same regulations states that the entire course, training and internship or clerkship shall be done outside India in the same foreign medical institution throughout the course of study, and that no part of medical training and internship shall be done in India or in any country other than the country from where the primary medical qualification is obtained.

The Commission's FAQ Q11 answers "No" to whether foreign medical graduates are allowed to take transfer to an Indian medical college for internship and exams, citing Schedule I, paragraph 2(iii).

The National Medical Commission's 19 May 2025 advisory (section 3, key requirements) states that the 12-month internship must be completed at the same foreign university (requirement b), and that clinical training must not be done in parts or across different countries (requirement c).

So the internship that is part of the Chinese MBBS degree cannot be moved to India.

A separate internship in India is required afterwards

Regulation 4(c) of the FMGL Regulations, 2021 requires a foreign medical graduate to have "undergone supervised internship in India for a minimum term of twelve months, after applying for the same to the Commission," as one of the conditions for permanent registration.

FAQ Q14 confirms this is mandatory: in addition to completing the twelve-month internship in the same foreign institution, foreign medical graduates are required to undergo a supervised internship in India for a minimum term of twelve months.

FAQ Q17 explains that the two are separate phases. Internship or clerkship and clinical posting and training are separate phases of practical learning; while clinical posting and training is a part of the 54 months MBBS course, the internship is done after completion of the MBBS course but is an integral part of the undergraduate medical education degree.

Where to apply — FAQ Q15 states that foreign medical graduates should apply for the internship with the respective State Medical Council through the National Medical Commission.

Conditions to be eligible for the internship in India — FAQ Q16 lists that the foreign medical graduate must have:

• undergone a course leading to foreign medical degree with minimum duration of fifty-four months;
• undergone an internship for a minimum duration of twelve months in the same foreign medical institution;
• received a foreign medical degree with medium of instructions in English;
• studied the mandatory subjects specified in Schedule-I;
• registered with the respective professional regulatory body or otherwise, competent to grant license to practice medicine in their respective jurisdiction of the country in which the medical degree is awarded and at par with the license to practice medicine given to citizen of that country;
• passed the screening test or National Exit Test or such other mandated test or tests conducted by the Commission;
• obtained provisional registration from the respective State Medical Council.

(The FAQ prints the last two items both as (vi).)

The 19 May 2025 advisory also restates that no foreign medical graduate shall be granted permanent registration unless he or she has undergone a supervised internship in India for a minimum term of twelve months, after applying to the Commission.

Who these regulations apply to

Under regulation 5 of the FMGL Regulations, 2021, these regulations do not apply to foreign medical graduates who had acquired their foreign medical degree, or were already pursuing their education in a foreign institution, before the regulations came into force. The Commission's FAQ Q2 gives that date as 18 November 2021, and FAQ Q4 states that such persons are governed by the earlier applicable regulations.

Related questions

Is the China internship the same as the India internship?

No. FAQ Q17 states that internship or clerkship and clinical posting and training are separate phases: clinical posting and training is part of the 54 months MBBS course, while the internship is done after completion of the MBBS course.

Can a student transfer to an Indian medical college for the internship and exams?

No. FAQ Q11 states that foreign medical graduates are not allowed to take transfer to an Indian medical college for internship and exams, citing Schedule I, paragraph 2(iii).

How long is each internship?

The internship within the degree is a minimum of twelve months in the same foreign institution, per regulation 4(a)(ii). The supervised internship in India is a minimum term of twelve months, per regulation 4(c).

Sources

• National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021 — National Medical Commission, India
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): FMGs covered by National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021 — National Medical Commission, India (Undergraduate Medical Education Board)
• Advisory U-14021/UGMEB-2025 of 19 May 2025: Alert regarding unauthorised medical colleges and off-shore medical programs — National Medical Commission, India (Undergraduate Medical Education Board)

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or professional-licensing advice, is not published by the bodies named, promises no admission, examination or registration outcome, and the official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.