Before getting into the answer to this most asked question, let’s first know what NEET actually is. NEET, the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test is an entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the students to get admitted into the courses like MBBS and BDS in India. Based on this exam, the students are allotted medical seats in the government and private Indian Medical Colleges in India.
Yes, as per the National Medical Commission, NMC, NEET has become a compulsion as it acts as an eligibility test for Indian students in Foreign Universities.
Now, this compulsion is only mandatory if the student is willing to perform medicine in India with a foreign degree. As in this case, the student will get a registration code from the NMC that will be asked at the time of the screening test to practice medicine in India.
And if the student doesn’t want to practice medicine in India after MBBS from abroad, then NEET is not at all a compulsion.
If in case a student does not qualify for NEET on the first attempt, he is left with two options. Either he can wait for the next year in case he is looking for seats only in India, or he can start studying abroad.
Well, nothing to get confused about, NEET is mandatory to perform medicine in India with a foreign degree but there is an alternative. Instead of wasting a complete year waiting for the next NEET attempt, the student can start the medical course abroad. Most of the universities offer a pre-medical program before the start of the actual course. The students can join the course in the desired university abroad and while studying pre-medicine, they can also appear for the NEET in India.
According to NMC, NEET is mandatory for students to join the MBBS or MD program, as pre-medicine does not include in the actual program. Even though it is equivalent to MBBS in India, the student can therefore start the course abroad.
FAQ’s
- Is NEET compulsory in 2021 to study medicine abroad?
Yes, NEET is compulsory, but only if the student wants to practice medicine in India with a foreign degree.
- Is NEET necessary if I want to settle abroad?
No, NEET is not mandatory if the student wants to settle abroad.
- What to do if I fail to qualify for NEET 2021?
Either the student can wait for the next year to appear for NEET again or he can start the pre-medicine course abroad and can then apply for NEET simultaneously.
- Can I appear for NEET while studying pre-medicine abroad?
Yes, definitely, as the pre-medicine program is not considered as the actual MBBS course, the students can freely appear for NEET during the same.
- Why is NEET compulsory to study MBBS abroad?
From the 8th of March, 2018, NMC has made NEET compulsory for all the students seeking admissions abroad if they wish to serve India after the completion of their MBBS course.
