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One of the Philippines' top-performing medical schools, founded in 1957, offering an English-medium Doctor of Medicine with an outstanding record in the national licensure examination.
5000+ Students trust us
Philippines
Country
Cebu City
City
Est. 1957 · CHED CoE
Heritage & Recognition
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
The entrance of the Cebu Institute of Medicine building
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Recognition & Prestige
The Cebu Institute of Medicine is a CHED Center of Excellence with CHED Autonomous Status and one of the strongest records in the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination. As a specialist medical college it is not ranked in the QS or THE world rankings; its standing rests on its licensure results and its degree's international recognition.
CHED CoE
Center of Excellence for Medicine; CHED Autonomous Status (2001)
129
graduates placed in the national Physician Licensure Exam top ten
Top-performing
repeatedly among the highest-scoring schools in the Physician Licensure Exam
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
The medical degree is recognised internationally. CIM is recognised by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a Center of Excellence with Autonomous Status, its Doctor of Medicine holds PAASCU accreditation, and it is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). Graduates qualify for the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination (PRC), are eligible to pursue ECFMG certification for the USMLE in the United States, and Indian graduates can qualify for practice in India through the NMC screening/exit examination (FMGE, transitioning to NExT). The Philippines is not an EU member, so there is no automatic EU-wide recognition.
NMC/MCI
Eligible for Indian licensing via the NMC screening examination (FMGE/NExT) for graduates who qualify NEET and meet the FMG Licentiate Regulations 2021.
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; graduates eligible to apply for ECFMG certification.
Complete Information About the Cebu Institute of Medicine
Get complete information about the Cebu Institute of Medicine, including admission, the graduate-entry MD pathway, recognition and the FMGE route for Indian students.
Success stories
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Academic Excellence
The Cebu Institute of Medicine offers an English-medium Doctor of Medicine at one of the Philippines' top-performing medical schools, with a rigorous problem-based curriculum, its own teaching hospital and a strong route to the USMLE, in the relaxed island city of Cebu.
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How to Apply
The Cebu Institute of Medicine Doctor of Medicine is graduate-entry. Applicants must already hold a bachelor's (pre-medical) degree, take the NMAT (National Medical Admission Test), and meet the academic and interview requirements. Foreign applicants need an NMAT percentile of at least 90%, and Indian students should hold a valid NEET qualification for future licensing in India.
Applicants must hold (or be completing) a bachelor's / pre-medical degree, preferably in the sciences, earned within about five years of applying — the MD cannot be entered directly from Class 12.
Applicants sit the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT); foreign applicants need a percentile of at least 90% (local applicants at least 70%).
Indian applicants should hold a valid NEET-UG qualification, required by India's NMC for licensing after a foreign medical degree.
Applicants submit the application with academic records, the NMAT result, two academic reference letters, a certificate of good moral character and the application fee (US$100 for foreign applicants), then sit a personal interview and personality inventory.
Accepted applicants pay the commitment fee to reserve a place and complete enrolment; acceptances are released monthly through the admission cycle.
The academic year begins in Cebu City.
Applicants must hold a bachelor's (pre-medical) degree, preferably in the sciences, from a recognised institution. For Indian students, the NMC also requires a valid NEET qualification, and a minimum aggregate of 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (40% for reserved categories) plus English at Class 12, for licensing in India.
Prerequisite degree:
Because the MD is graduate-entry, students are typically 20 or older on entry, having already completed a bachelor's degree; Indian students must also meet the NMC minimum age of 17 at the time of qualifying.
Selection is based on the bachelor's-degree record, the NMAT score, references, an interview and a personality inventory. Indian students also need a valid NEET result for future Indian licensing. Applications are made directly to the Cebu Institute of Medicine.
NMAT & Academic Record
A completed bachelor's degree and a competitive NMAT percentile (at least 90% for foreign applicants) are the core academic requirements; there is no direct entry from Class 12.
Interview & References
Applicants provide two academic reference letters and a certificate of good moral character, and sit a personal interview and a personality inventory as part of selection.
Admission to the Doctor of Medicine requires the NMAT (National Medical Admission Test), the standard medical entrance test in the Philippines, alongside the bachelor's-degree record.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite degree | A completed bachelor's / pre-medical degree (preferably sciences), earned within ~5 years |
| NMAT | National Medical Admission Test — at least the 90th percentile for foreign applicants |
| Interview & references | Personal interview, personality inventory, two academic references, good moral character |
| NEET (Indian students) | Valid NEET-UG qualification for future licensing in India |
To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
The Cebu Institute of Medicine teaches a four-year, English-medium Doctor of Medicine through a fully problem-based, integrated curriculum, moving from the basic biomedical sciences to integrated clinical science and a senior clerkship, followed by a post-graduate internship and the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination.
Total Duration:
4 Years (MD) after a bachelor's degree, plus post-graduate internship
Degree:
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Year 1
The first year covers the basic biomedical sciences through problem-based, small-group learning, building the scientific foundation of medicine:
Year 2
The second year integrates the disease sciences with clinical reasoning across the organ systems, with early clinical exposure:
Year 3
The third year deepens the clinical disciplines in preparation for full clinical work:
Year 4
The fourth year is a full-time senior clerkship in the affiliated teaching hospitals, followed by a post-graduate internship and then the Physician Licensure Examination:
Clinical training is based at the affiliated Cebu Velez General Hospital, the school's founding hospital, with rotations also at major Cebu hospitals. An indicative pattern:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 1–2 | Basic biomedical and integrated clinical science with early clinical exposure |
| Year 3 | Integrated clinical specialties and case-based learning |
| Year 4 | Full senior clerkship across Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Family Medicine |
| After the MD | Post-graduate internship, then the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Legacy
The Cebu Institute of Medicine was built by leading Cebu physicians and has produced more than 5,000 doctors who practise in the Philippines and around the world.
The driving force behind the founding of the Cebu Institute of Medicine in 1957 and its first dean. A leading Cebu physician, he and the Velez family also built the Cebu Velez General Hospital that became the school's teaching hospital.
President and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Cebu Institute of Medicine, continuing the Velez family's leadership of the institution and its mission of producing excellent physicians.
A pioneer of the school's research tradition through the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, and a nationally recognised figure in Philippine nutrition and public-health research.
A Cebu Institute of Medicine graduate (Class of 1987) recognised for humanitarian medical service, reflecting the school's community-oriented ethos.
CIM has produced over 5,000 doctors, many of them leading practitioners and medical-association figures in the Philippines and abroad, and a large number who have gone on to United States residency and practice.
The Cebu Institute of Medicine is led by its President and Chair, Dr. Carmen M. Velez, with the College led by its Dean. Teaching combines full-time academic staff in the basic sciences with practising consultants at the Cebu Velez General Hospital and affiliated hospitals, so students learn from both scientists and working clinicians — a structure that supports preparation for the Philippine licensure exam, the USMLE and India's FMGE/NExT.
Founded 1957
CHED Center of Excellence
Practising consultants at Cebu Velez General Hospital
Problem-based, integrated teaching
English-taught programme
Problem-based small-group learning
Clinical supervision in the teaching hospitals
Strong US-residency alumni network
About University
Get all information about the Cebu Institute of Medicine in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the Cebu Institute of Medicine.
Role in medicine
Get all information about the Cebu Institute of Medicine in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the Cebu Institute of Medicine.
Cost of living
Cebu City is a coastal city in the central Philippines with moderate student living costs, generally more affordable and relaxed than Manila. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown for an Indian student.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (dormitory / shared flat) | ₹14,000 – ₹35,000 |
| Food | ₹12,000 – ₹22,000 |
| Transportation | ₹2,000 – ₹4,000 |
| Other Expenses (Utilities, Internet, Leisure) | ₹6,000 – ₹12,000 |
Average monthly living cost
₹35,000 – ₹70,000
Housing
The Cebu Institute of Medicine is in uptown Cebu City, so students have a wide choice of condominiums, dormitories and shared flats within reach of the campus and the teaching hospital.
CIM sits on F. Ramos Street in uptown Cebu City, close to the Cebu Velez General Hospital, so students can find housing within a short distance of both the campus and their clinical training.
Cebu City has many condominiums, student dormitories and boarding houses offering furnished rooms with internet and security, popular with both local and international students.
A shared room or dormitory bed typically costs around PHP 6,000–15,000 per month (roughly ₹9,000–₹23,000), with private studios and condominium units higher, depending on the area and standard.
New international students are encouraged to arrange accommodation close to the campus for their first year, which keeps them near classmates and the hospital and eases settling into a new country.
Rooms are arranged directly with condominium landlords and dormitory operators; because uptown Cebu is popular with students, it helps to arrange housing as soon as a place is accepted.
Many students share condominiums or flats around the uptown area, budgeting for a deposit and monthly utilities on top of rent; listings are found through local platforms and student groups.
Cebu is a coastal city with a warm climate and good transport (jeepneys, buses and ride-hailing), and the airport on Mactan Island is a short drive away, so students can get around and travel home easily.
Cebu has a hot, humid tropical climate with wet and dry seasons, so students should plan for the heat and the rains, a change from most of India's climate.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Vegetarian and Indian food is available in restaurants, grocery stores and student kitchens across Cebu City, alongside the Philippines' own affordable student food.
Uptown Cebu around CIM has many affordable canteens, carinderias and cafés, and Cebu's malls and food courts offer a wide range of cuisines, with vegetarian options available.
Location
Cebu Institute of Medicine, 79 F. Ramos St. cor. V. Ranudo St., Barangay Cogon, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
Nearest Airport
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) — reached from India with a one-stop connection via Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) or Southeast Asia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong)
Local Transport
Jeepneys, buses and ride-hailing apps connect the campus, the teaching hospitals and the rest of the city easily and cheaply
Your Roadmap to Success
After the four-year MD and a post-graduate internship, graduates sit the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) administered by the PRC; CIM's strong pass record makes this a solid first step for those who wish to train in the Philippines.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
To practise medicine in India after graduating from the Cebu Institute of Medicine, Indian students follow the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). CIM teaches an English-medium MD and is WDOMS-listed, and students should qualify NEET-UG before joining and plan the pathway carefully because the Philippine MD is graduate-entry.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. At present this is the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which the NMC plans to replace with the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete the required one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, which builds hands-on experience in Indian clinical settings under the NMC's framework.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council. Once registered, the graduate holds a full licence to practise medicine in India.
Student Life Style
Life at the Cebu Institute of Medicine combines a demanding, English-taught medical course with life in Cebu, a warm, friendly island city, with the Philippines' famous beaches, islands and dive sites close by.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the Philippines
A tropical island lagoon in the Philippines
The Banaue rice terraces in the northern Philippines
Scholarship & Financial
Honest note first: fee-paying international medicine at the Cebu Institute of Medicine has limited scholarship support, so families should plan as fully self-funded, though the base tuition is moderate by international standards.
The Cebu Institute of Medicine offers some scholarships and financial-aid schemes, but these are primarily aimed at Filipino students and specific categories rather than fee-paying international MD students; check current eligibility directly with CIM.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at the Cebu Institute of Medicine.
4.5
96 reviews
Compare
Compare the Cebu Institute of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Cebu Institute of Medicine vs CMC Vellore
| University | Cebu Institute of MedicineCebu, Philippines | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private, non-stock, non-profit | Private (minority) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course | Doctor of Medicine (graduate-entry, 4 years after a bachelor's) | MBBS (5.5 years, direct entry) |
| Admission | Bachelor's degree + NMAT (≥90% foreign) (+ NEET for Indians) | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | CHED CoE; WDOMS; ECFMG/USMLE; NMC-eligible via FMGE/NExT | NMC-recognised |
| Fees (per year) | ~₹4.5 lakh (MD tuition) | ~₹3–4 lakh |
| Licensure record | 129 graduates in the national PLE top ten | High NEET-PG / INI-CET performance |
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Our blog
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FAQ
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying medicine at the Cebu Institute of Medicine.
The hero (CIM building signage) and About gallery image 1 (the CIM building entrance) were supplied by the client; About gallery image 2 is a Cebu City skyline; the feature-band, Open Graph and Student Life images are Philippine landscape landmarks (Coron lagoon, the Chocolate Hills, an island lagoon and the Banaue rice terraces). The NMC and WDOMS emblems are shared site assets.
