Dr. Caroline Marian S. Enriquez
President of Our Lady of Fatima University, which she has led since 2008, overseeing its growth into a six-campus, CHED-autonomous university.
Our Lady of Fatima University College of Medicine
A CHED-autonomous private university in Metro Manila, teaching an English-medium Doctor of Medicine since 1979, with its own teaching hospital and US clinical-clerkship partnerships.
5000+ Students trust us
Philippines
Country
Valenzuela
City (Metro Manila)
Est. 1979 · CHED Autonomous
Heritage & Recognition
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
Our Lady of Fatima University College of Medicine
- Study program:Doctor of Medicine (MD), English
- Language:English
- Duration:4 Years (graduate-entry MD, after a bachelor's degree)
- University type:Private, non-sectarian university
- Fees:Int'l MD Year 1: US$3,500/semester + one-time US$6,000 foreign fee (~₹6 L + ₹5.2 L)
- Entrance examination:NMAT required for MD entry; NEET also required for Indian students
- Application deadline:Annual intake; via the OLFU College of Medicine / international office
- Teaching hospital:Fatima University Medical Center (150 beds), on the Valenzuela campus
A modern academic building at Our Lady of Fatima University
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Recognition & Prestige
Rankings & Recognition
Our Lady of Fatima University holds CHED Autonomous Status and a QS 4-Star rating, and its College of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with a strong record in the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination. As a specialist private university it does not hold a QS/THE world-league ranking; its standing rests on its recognition, licensure results and international clerkships.
QS 4 Stars
QS Stars rating (incl. 4 Stars in Medicine), 2023
CHED Autonomous
CHED Autonomous Status 2024–2027 (CMO No. 07 s.2024)
Top-performing
Strong Physician Licensure Exam record (Top 2 school, March 2019)
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
The Philippine Doctor of Medicine is recognised internationally. OLFU holds CHED Autonomous Status, its College of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and accredited for US clinical clerkships by the New York State Education Department, and it works with the Thailand and Maldives medical councils. Graduates qualify for the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination (PRC), are eligible to pursue ECFMG certification for the USMLE, 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, and the school is not 'MCI-approved' (the MCI was replaced by the NMC in 2020).
Accreditations and Recognition
NMC (India)
Indian graduates are eligible for licensing via the NMC screening examination (FMGE/NExT) if they qualify NEET and meet the FMG Licentiate Regulations 2021; the NMC does not 'approve' individual foreign schools.
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; supports eligibility to apply for ECFMG certification.
Complete Information About Our Lady of Fatima University College of Medicine
Get complete information about the OLFU College of Medicine, including admission, the graduate-entry MD pathway, recognition and the FMGE route for Indian students.
Success stories
Student Success Stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Why Study Medicine at Our Lady of Fatima University
Our Lady of Fatima University offers an English-medium Doctor of Medicine at a CHED-autonomous university with its own teaching hospital, a strong licensure record and US clinical-clerkship partnerships, in Metro Manila.
A CHED-Autonomous University
A Strong Licensure Record
Its Own Teaching Hospital
US Clinical Clerkships
Taught Entirely in English
Recognised for the USMLE and India
Educating Doctors Since 1979
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How to Apply
Admission Process for the Doctor of Medicine
The Our Lady of Fatima University Doctor of Medicine is graduate-entry. Applicants must already hold a bachelor's (pre-medical) degree and take the NMAT (National Medical Admission Test). Indian students should hold a valid NEET qualification for future licensing in India, and international applicants submit authenticated documents and obtain a Philippine student visa through the university.
Admission Timeline
- 1Before applyingComplete a Bachelor's Degree
Applicants must hold a bachelor's (pre-medical) degree — for example a BS in Biology, Psychology or Medical Laboratory Science, which OLFU itself also offers — since the MD cannot be entered directly from Class 12.
- 2Before applyingTake the NMAT
Applicants sit the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), the standard Philippine medical entrance test, required for MD entry.
- 3Before applyingQualify NEET (Indian students)
Indian applicants should hold a valid NEET-UG qualification, required by India's NMC for licensing after a foreign medical degree.
- 4ApplicationApply to OLFU
Applicants submit the application with an authenticated transcript of records, authenticated college diploma, NMAT result and supporting documents to the OLFU College of Medicine / international office.
- 5Before travelDocuments & Visa
International students have their documents authenticated by the Philippine Embassy, and OLFU processes the student visa / study permit before enrolment.
- 6IntakeClasses Begin
Students begin the MD at the Valenzuela campus, with clinical training at the Fatima University Medical Center.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
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:
Bachelor's / pre-medical degreeScience-based preferredNMAT
Age Requirement
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.
- Graduate-entry ageStudents typically hold a bachelor's degree before starting the MD
Requirements
Selection is based on the bachelor's-degree record and the NMAT, with authenticated documents for international students. Indian students also need a valid NEET result for future Indian licensing. Applications are made directly to the OLFU College of Medicine.
Bachelor's Degree + NMAT
A completed baccalaureate degree and an NMAT result are the core academic requirements for MD entry; there is no direct entry from Class 12.
Authenticated Documents (International)
International students submit an authenticated transcript of records and college diploma (authenticated by the Philippine Embassy) and, for Indian licensing, a valid NEET qualification; the programme is taught entirely in English.
Entrance Examination (NMAT)
Admission to the Doctor of Medicine requires the NMAT (National Medical Admission Test), the standard Philippine medical entrance test, alongside the bachelor's-degree record.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite degree | A completed bachelor's / pre-medical degree (preferably sciences) |
| NMAT | National Medical Admission Test — required for MD entry |
| Documents (international) | Authenticated transcript of records and college diploma; passport and visa |
| NEET (Indian students) | Valid NEET-UG qualification for future licensing in India |
Required Documents
To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:
- Completed application to the OLFU College of Medicine / international office
- Authenticated bachelor's-degree transcript of records and college diploma, plus the NMAT result
- NEET scorecard (Indian students), valid passport and passport photographs
- Recommendation, medical/health documents and visa paperwork
- + More
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
MD Curriculum & Internship Structure
Our Lady of Fatima University teaches a four-year, English-medium Doctor of Medicine that moves from basic sciences to clinical subjects and a final-year clinical clerkship, followed by a 12-month post-graduate internship and the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination. OLFU also offers US-based clerkship options through its foreign hospital partnerships.
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Course
Total Duration:
4 Years (MD) after a bachelor's degree, plus post-graduate internship
Degree:
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Curriculum Phases at Our Lady of Fatima University
Years 1–2
Basic Sciences & Classroom
The first two years are classroom instruction in the basic medical sciences, with early exposure to preventive and community medicine and psychiatry:
AnatomyPhysiologyBiochemistryHistologyMicrobiologyPathologyPharmacologyPreventive & Community MedicinePsychiatryYear 3
Clinical Subjects
The third year covers the clinical (medical and surgical) subjects in preparation for full clinical work:
Internal MedicineSurgeryPaediatricsObstetrics & GynaecologyClinical specialtiesYear 4
Clinical Clerkship
The fourth year is a full-time clinical clerkship in the Fatima University Medical Center and affiliated hospitals, with the option of US clerkships through OLFU's foreign hospital partnerships:
Internal MedicineSurgeryPaediatricsObstetrics & GynaecologyFamily & Community MedicineElectivesOptional US hospital clerkshipsAfter the MD
Internship & Licensure
Graduates complete a 12-month post-graduate internship and then sit the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination (PLE):
12-month post-graduate internshipPhysician Licensure Examination (PLE)
Clinical Rotations
Clinical clerkship is based at the university's own Fatima University Medical Center (150 beds) in Valenzuela, with the distinctive option of clerkships at partner hospitals in the United States. An indicative pattern:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 1–2 | Basic sciences and classroom instruction with early clinical exposure |
| Year 3 | Clinical (medical and surgical) subjects |
| Year 4 | Clinical clerkship at the Fatima University Medical Center, with optional US hospital clerkships |
| After the MD | 12-month 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.
Global Exchange
International Links, US Clerkships & USMLE Pathway
Our Lady of Fatima University runs a distinctive institution-to-institution clinical clerkship programme with hospitals in the United States, accredited by the New York State Education Department, and works with the Thailand and Maldives medical councils. Its US-model MD, as a WDOMS-listed degree, supports the ECFMG/USMLE pathway to United States residency.
| Country | Partner / Recognition |
|---|---|
| United States | Peninsula Hospital Center (New York) · Jackson Park Hospital (Chicago) · Harbor Hospital (Baltimore); NYSED-accredited clerkships |
| United States | New York State Education Department (NYSED) accreditation; Illinois State Board of Education |
| Thailand | Recognised by / works with the Thailand Medical Council |
| Maldives | Recognised by / works with the Maldives Medical Council |
Explore Your Options
Ask our team about US clerkships, the USMLE pathway and international options for OLFU medical students.
Legacy
Leadership and People of Our Lady of Fatima University
Our Lady of Fatima University is led by experienced administrators and clinicians, and its College of Medicine is headed by an alumnus who was the school's first national licensure topnotcher.
Dr. Jose Arnel Manalili
Head of the College of Medicine. A Batch 1989 OLFU graduate, he was the school's first national Top-1 placer in the Physician Licensure Examination, embodying the college's licensure tradition.
Dr. Kevindaeile S. Torralba
Placed second nationally in the March 2019 Physician Licensure Examination (88.92%), part of OLFU's Top-2 Performing School result that year.
Faculty
Our Lady of Fatima University is led by President Dr. Caroline Marian S. Enriquez, with the College of Medicine headed by Dr. Jose Arnel Manalili. Teaching combines academic staff in the basic sciences with practising consultants at the Fatima University Medical Center 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.
Academic Expertise
Educating doctors since 1979
CHED-autonomous university
Own 150-bed teaching hospital
US clerkship partnerships
Student Support & Mentorship
English-taught MD
Dedicated international office
Clinical supervision at the Fatima University Medical Center
Strong licensure tradition
About University
History Information
From a Hospital in 1967
Medicine from 1979
University Status in 2002
A CHED-Autonomous University Today
Get all information about Our Lady of Fatima University in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the OLFU College of Medicine.
Role in medicine
Role in medical education
An Established Private Medical School
A US-Facing Clinical Programme
An International Medical School
Get all information about Our Lady of Fatima University in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the OLFU College of Medicine.
Cost of living
Living Cost in Metro Manila
Valenzuela is a city in northern Metro Manila, where student living costs are moderate and lower in the outer districts than in central Makati. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown for an Indian student.
Monthly Living Cost
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (dormitory / shared flat) | ₹13,000 – ₹30,000 |
| Food | ₹12,000 – ₹20,000 |
| Transportation | ₹2,000 – ₹4,000 |
| Other Expenses (Utilities, Internet, Leisure) | ₹6,000 – ₹11,000 |
Get Free MD Guide
Average monthly living cost
₹33,000 – ₹60,000
Housing
Accommodation
Our Lady of Fatima University's medicine campus is in Valenzuela, northern Metro Manila, and students live in nearby dormitories, condominiums and shared flats within reach of the campus and the Fatima University Medical Center.
Near the Valenzuela Campus
The College of Medicine and the Fatima University Medical Center are on the Valenzuela campus on McArthur Highway, and dormitories, condominiums and boarding houses are available in the surrounding area.
Student Dormitories & Boarding Houses
A range of dormitories and boarding houses cater to students, offering furnished rooms with internet and security, popular with both local and international students.
Monthly Cost
A shared room or dormitory bed typically costs around PHP 7,000–16,000 per month (roughly ₹11,000–₹24,000), with private studios and condominium units higher, depending on the area and standard.
A Supported First Year
New international students are encouraged to arrange accommodation close to the campus for their first year, which keeps them near classmates and the teaching hospital and eases settling in.
A Ready-Made Community
OLFU's dedicated international office and its international student community help incoming students find housing and settle into Metro Manila.
Private Flats & Condominiums
Many students share condominiums or flats across northern Metro Manila, budgeting for a deposit and monthly utilities on top of rent; listings are found through local platforms and student groups.
A Connected Metro
Metro Manila is served by the LRT/MRT, buses, jeepneys and ride-hailing apps, so students can reach the campus, hospitals and the rest of the city, though traffic can be heavy.
A Tropical Climate
Metro Manila has a hot, humid tropical climate with a wet season from around June to November, 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
100% Veg Options and Indian Food, Always Available
Indian and vegetarian food is available across Metro Manila, in restaurants, grocery stores and student kitchens, supported by the metro's established Indian community.
The Valenzuela campus area and Metro Manila's malls and food courts offer a wide range of affordable dining, with vegetarian options widely available, and local eateries around the campus for everyday student meals.
Location
How to Reach Our Lady of Fatima University
Address
Our Lady of Fatima University (College of Medicine), 120 McArthur Highway, Valenzuela City 1440, Metro Manila, Philippines
Nearest Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), Manila — reached from India with a one-stop connection via Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) or Southeast Asia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong)
Local Transport
Valenzuela and Metro Manila are served by the LRT/MRT, buses, jeepneys and ride-hailing apps, so students can reach the campus, the teaching hospital and the rest of the metro
Your Roadmap to Success
Career Pathways After Medicine at Our Lady of Fatima University
Graduates who wish to return home appear for the Indian screening examination, currently the FMGE and transitioning to the NExT, complete the required internship and register with the NMC or a State Medical Council. A valid NEET qualification is required under the NMC's 2021 FMG regulations.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
FMGE & NExT Details
To practise medicine in India after graduating from Our Lady of Fatima University, Indian students follow the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). OLFU 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
National Exit Test (NExT)
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
Clinical Internship (CRRI)
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
Medical Registration
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
Student life at Our Lady of Fatima University
Life at the OLFU College of Medicine combines a demanding, English-taught medical course with life in Metro Manila, a large, lively capital region, and the Philippines' famous beaches and islands a short flight away.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the Philippines
Academics
A tropical island lagoon in the Philippines
Campus and City
Challenges and Growth
The Banaue rice terraces in the northern Philippines
Social Life
Overall Experience
Scholarship & Financial
Scholarship & Financial Aid
Honest note first: OLFU's medical scholarships are largely aimed at Filipino students, so international students should plan as fully self-funded.
OLFU offers medical scholarships such as its '100 Medical Scholars' programme (up to full coverage) and the Leonora Juzgaya Olivares Foundation Grant (tuition plus a lodging and living allowance), but these are largely reserved for natural-born Filipino citizens.
- Up to full-tuition medical scholarships
- Largely for natural-born Filipino citizens
- Apply through the OLFU College of Medicine
Ratings
Reviews & Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at the Our Lady of Fatima University College of Medicine.
4.3
118 reviews
Academics4.4
Infrastructure4.3
Hostel4
Campus Life4.3
Value for Money4.2
Compare
Compare Colleges
Compare the Our Lady of Fatima University College of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Our Lady of Fatima University vs CMC Vellore
| University | Our Lady of Fatima UniversityMetro Manila, Philippines | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private, non-sectarian | 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 (+ NEET for Indians) | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | CHED Autonomous; WDOMS; NYSED (US clerkships); NMC-eligible via FMGE/NExT | NMC-recognised |
| Fees (Year 1, international) | US$3,500/semester + one-time US$6,000 foreign fee | ~₹3–4 lakh/year |
| Track record | QS 4-Star; strong PLE record (Top 2, 2019); not QS/THE world-ranked | Top NEET-PG / INI-CET performance |
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Our blog
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying medicine at Our Lady of Fatima University.