Dr. José Rizal
The Philippines' national hero, who studied medicine at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery before continuing ophthalmology training in Europe: a physician, writer and reformer, and the most revered figure in Philippine history.
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
The oldest medical school in the Philippines, at Asia's oldest university (founded 1611), offering an English-medium, QS-world-ranked Doctor of Medicine with outstanding licensure results.
5000+ Students trust us
Philippines
Country
Manila
City
QS #184 world · Est. 1611
Ranking & Heritage
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
- Study programme:Doctor of Medicine (MD), English
- Language:English
- Duration:4 Years (graduate-entry MD, after a bachelor's degree)
- University type:Private Catholic (Pontifical) university
- Fees:Annual MD tuition per UST schedule + one-time US$15,000 out-of-state fee (foreign students)
- Entrance examination:NMAT; NEET also required for Indian students
- Application deadline:Annual cycle, results Mar–Apr (August start)
- International seats:~480 first-year MD places; foreign ~5–7%
A modern academic building at the University of Santo Tomas
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Recognition & Prestige
Rankings & Recognition
The University of Santo Tomas is one of the top universities in the Philippines and Asia's oldest, ranked #184 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Its Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is a CHED Center of Excellence with an outstanding record in the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination, and its degree is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
QS #184
QS World University Rankings 2026 (University of Santo Tomas)
#4 in PH
4th in the Philippines (QS 2026)
98.17%
UST passing rate, October 2025 Physician Licensure Exam (national 77.46%)
CHED CoE
CHED Center of Excellence; WDOMS-listed
The medical degree is recognised internationally. The UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is recognised by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a Center of Excellence, its Doctor of Medicine holds PACUCOA Level III accreditation and AUN-QA certification, 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.
Accreditations and Recognition
NMC compliant
Follows NMC rules for Indian students: a course of at least 54 months, a 12-month internship at the university and teaching in English. Graduates sit the FMGE to practise in India.
WDOMS
Listed in WDOMS, the World Directory of Medical Schools.
CHED / PACUCOA / AUN-QA
CHED Center of Excellence; Doctor of Medicine holds PACUCOA Level III accreditation and AUN-QA certification
Complete Information About the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine
Get complete information about the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Manila, 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
MBBS at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery: Key Highlights
The University of Santo Tomas offers an English-medium, QS-world-ranked Doctor of Medicine at Asia's oldest university and the Philippines' first and most prestigious medical school, with an outstanding licensure record and a strong route to the USMLE.
Asia's Oldest University
QS World-Ranked
Outstanding Licensure Results
Taught Entirely in English
A Strong Route to the USMLE
Its Own Major Teaching Hospital
A Graduate-Entry, Degree-Holder Cohort
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How to Apply
Admission Process for the Doctor of Medicine
The University of Santo Tomas 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 English requirements. International students also pay a one-time out-of-state fee, and Indian students should hold a valid NEET qualification for future licensing in India.
Admission Timeline
- 1Before applyingComplete a Bachelor's Degree
Applicants must hold (or be about to complete) a bachelor's / pre-medical degree from a recognised institution with a strong grade average and no failed subjects. The MD cannot be entered directly from Class 12.
- 2Before applyingTake the NMAT
Applicants sit the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) and should achieve a competitive percentile (UST expects around the 85th percentile or higher).
- 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.
- 4Annual cycleApply to UST
Applicants submit the online application to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery with academic records, NMAT score, TOEFL (93+ for non-native English speakers), certificates of good moral character and the application fee.
- 5On acceptanceReserve the Seat & Pay Fees
Accepted applicants pay the reservation fee (US$1,000 / PHP 50,000, credited to tuition) and, for foreign students, the one-time US$15,000 out-of-state fee, then complete enrolment.
- 6AugustClasses Begin
The academic year begins in Manila; international students also begin learning conversational Filipino for ward work from the second year.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
Applicants must hold a bachelor's (pre-medical) degree from a recognised institution with a general weighted average of at least 2.00/B+/86% and no failed subjects. 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 degree (science preferred)NMAT
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, the NMAT score, English proficiency and an assessment of the applicant. Indian students also need a valid NEET result for future Indian licensing. Applications are made directly to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
NMAT & Academic Record
A completed bachelor's degree with a strong grade average and a competitive NMAT percentile (around the 85th percentile or higher) are the core academic requirements; there is no direct entry from Class 12.
English Proficiency
The programme is taught entirely in English; non-native English speakers provide a TOEFL score of 93 or higher (or equivalent).
Entrance Examination (NMAT)
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 with GWA ≥ 2.00/B+/86% and no failures |
| NMAT | National Medical Admission Test, around the 85th percentile or higher |
| English (international) | TOEFL 93+ for non-native English speakers |
| 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 online application to the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (US$320 application fee)
- Bachelor's-degree transcripts and diploma (legalised/apostille) plus the NMAT result
- TOEFL score (93+), NEET scorecard and a valid passport
- Certificates of good moral character, medical/health questionnaire
- + More
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Programme Structure
MD Curriculum & Internship Structure
The University of Santo Tomas teaches a four-year, English-medium Doctor of Medicine with an integrated, organ-system and problem-based curriculum, moving from basic sciences to full clinical clerkship, followed by a post-graduate internship and the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination.
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Course
Total Duration:
4 Years (MD) after a bachelor's degree, plus post-graduate internship
Degree:
Doctor of Medicine (MD, equivalent to MBBS)
Curriculum Phases at the University of Santo Tomas
Year 1
Foundations & Basic Sciences
The first year covers the basic medical sciences through an integrated, problem-based approach, with early exposure to ethics and community medicine:
Gross & Clinical AnatomyHistologyBiochemistryPhysiologyNeurosciencesClinical EpidemiologyMedical EthicsPreventive & Community MedicineYear 2
Disease Mechanisms & Early Clinical
The second year introduces the disease sciences and the core clinical disciplines, with international students also beginning conversational Filipino for patient contact:
PathologyPharmacotherapeuticsMicrobiologyParasitologyMedicine ISurgery IObstetrics & GynaecologyPaediatricsMedical FilipinoYear 3
Clinical Specialties
The third year deepens the clinical specialties in preparation for clerkship:
Medicine IISurgery IIPaediatrics IIObstetrics & Gynaecology IIPsychiatryOphthalmologyENTRadiologyYear 4
Clinical Clerkship
The fourth year is a full-time clinical clerkship (junior internship) in the University of Santo Tomas Hospital and affiliated services, followed by qualifying (revalida) examinations before graduation:
Internal MedicineSurgeryPaediatricsObstetrics & GynaecologyFamily & Community MedicineElective postings
Clinical Rotations
Clinical training is based at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, a large teaching hospital in Manila with charity/clinical and private divisions, with clerkship rotations across the core specialties. An indicative pattern:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 1–2 | Basic and disease sciences with early clinical exposure |
| Year 3 | Clinical specialties and case-based learning |
| Year 4 | Full clinical clerkship across Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Family Medicine |
| After the MD | Post-graduate internship (PGI), then the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) |
Get the full curriculum
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Global Exchange
International Links & USMLE Pathway
The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery has international academic links and a strong pathway to the United States. Its graduates are a well-known feeder into US residency programmes through the ECFMG/USMLE route, and the faculty runs a ladderised Master in Public Health International with the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
| International Link | Details |
|---|---|
| ECFMG / USMLE pathway | Graduates are a well-known feeder into US residency programmes via ECFMG certification and the USMLE |
| University of Leeds (UK) | Ladderised Master in Public Health International run jointly with the University of Leeds |
| Research collaborations | Faculty research links with institutions including Harvard Medical School |
Explore Your Options
Ask our team about the USMLE pathway and international options for University of Santo Tomas medical graduates.
Legacy
Prominent Figures of the University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas and its Faculty of Medicine and Surgery count national heroes, health leaders and distinguished physicians among those who have studied and taught there.
Dr. Edgar V. Lerma
Class of 1992: an internationally recognised nephrologist and prolific medical author and editor based in the United States, and a UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery outstanding alumnus.
Dr. Maria Minerva Patawaran-Calimag
A distinguished physician, pharmacologist and academic leader who has served twice as president of the Philippine Medical Association, recognised among UST's outstanding medical alumni.
Dr. Saturnino P. Javier
A leading Filipino cardiologist and hospital medical director in Manila, and a recognised outstanding alumnus of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
Dr. Primo A. Andres Jr.
A distinguished physician recognised among the outstanding alumni of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, part of a long line of Thomasian doctors who lead in Philippine and international medicine.
Philippine Health Leaders
UST-trained physicians have repeatedly led Philippine medicine, including Secretaries of Health and co-founders of major hospitals such as the Makati Medical Center, underscoring the faculty's national role.
Faculty
The UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is led by its Dean, Prof. Ma. Lourdes D. Maglinao, MD, MHPEd. Teaching combines full-time academic staff in the basic sciences with practising consultants at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, so students learn from both scientists and working clinicians: a dual structure that supports preparation for the Philippine licensure exam, the USMLE and India's FMGE.
Academic Expertise
Founded 1871 (first medical school in the Philippines)
CHED Center of Excellence
Practising consultants at UST Hospital
Strong USMLE orientation
Student Support & Mentorship
English-taught programme
Integrated / problem-based learning
Clinical supervision in the university hospital
Established international student cohort
About University
History Information
Founded in 1611
Medicine from 1871
A National Institution
A Top University Today
Get all information about the University of Santo Tomas in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
Role in medicine
Role in medical education
The Philippines' First Medical School
A Licensure and USMLE Powerhouse
An English-Medium, International Medical School
Get all information about the University of Santo Tomas in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
Cost of living
Living Cost in Manila
Manila is a large, lively capital where student living costs are moderate, especially in the 'University Belt' around UST. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown for an Indian student.
Monthly Living Cost
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (dormitory / shared flat) | ₹12,000 – ₹30,000 |
| Food | ₹12,000 – ₹22,000 |
| Transportation | ₹2,000 – ₹4,000 |
| Other Expenses (Utilities, Internet, Leisure) | ₹6,000 – ₹12,000 |
Get free MD guide
Average monthly living cost
₹32,000 – ₹60,000
Housing
Accommodation
The University of Santo Tomas sits in Manila's 'University Belt', so students have a wide choice of dormitories and shared flats within walking distance of the campus and the university hospital.
The University Belt
Student Dormitories
Monthly Cost
A Supported First Year
How to Apply
Private Flats & Condominiums
A Central City Location
A Tropical Climate
Need accommodation details?
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Food & Dining
100% Veg Options and Indian Food, Always Available
Indian and vegetarian food is available in restaurants, grocery stores and student kitchens across Manila, alongside the Philippines' own affordable student food.
The University Belt around UST is packed with affordable canteens, carinderias and cafés, and Manila has a huge range of restaurants, with vegetarian options widely available in the city's malls and food courts.
Manila, a metro area of over 13 million people, has a good number of Indian and South-Asian restaurants, especially in Makati, Ermita and around UN Avenue, serving North and South Indian dishes with vegetarian menus.
Manila has Indian and Asian grocery stores stocking rice, dal, atta, spices and ready mixes, particularly in areas with an Indian community, so students can cook their own Indian meals.
Many dormitories and shared flats around UST have kitchen facilities where students cook their own meals, which many Indian students use to prepare familiar food on a budget.
Manila is very well served by food and grocery delivery through apps such as GrabFood, Foodpanda and others, which deliver from restaurants and supermarkets across the city.
Location
How to Reach the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Address
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (St. Martin de Porres Building), University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila 1008, Philippines
Nearest Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), Manila: one-stop from India via Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) or Southeast Asia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong)
Local Transport
The University Belt is served by the LRT, buses and jeepneys with cheap fares, so students can reach the campus, the UST Hospital and the rest of Manila easily
Your Roadmap to Success
Career Pathways After Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas
After the four-year MD and a post-graduate internship, graduates sit the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) administered by the PRC; UST's outstanding pass rate makes this a strong first step for those who wish to train in the Philippines.
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.
UST is WDOMS-listed and Philippine MDs are strongly USMLE-oriented, so graduates are well placed to pursue ECFMG certification, the USMLE and US residency, a well-trodden path for Thomasian doctors.
Graduates can register with the UK's General Medical Council through the PLAB/UKMLA route and enter UK training, the standard path for international medical graduates.
After licensing, graduates can enter residency and specialty training in the Philippines, the US or elsewhere in fields such as internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics or cardiology, building on UST's hospital and academic network.
With an English-language degree from a QS-world-ranked university and a strong USMLE orientation, UST graduates build careers across the Philippines, the US, the UK, the Gulf and India after clearing the relevant licensing examinations.
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 the University of Santo Tomas, Indian students follow the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). UST 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
FMGE (or NExT, once it starts)
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 the University of Santo Tomas
Life at the University of Santo Tomas combines a demanding, English-taught medical course with life in Manila, a warm, lively tropical capital, and the traditions of Asia's oldest university, with the Philippines' famous islands and beaches within easy reach.
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: fee-paying international medicine at the University of Santo Tomas has limited scholarship support, and international students pay a one-time out-of-state fee on top of tuition, so families should plan as fully self-funded.
The University of Santo Tomas offers a range of academic scholarships and financial-aid schemes administered by its Office for Student Affairs, but these are primarily aimed at Filipino students and specific categories rather than fee-paying international MD students; check current eligibility directly with UST.
- University-administered scholarships
- Mostly for Filipino / specific categories
- Apply through the UST Office for Student Affairs
High-performing students may be recognised with academic honours and awards within the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery; these are recognition-based rather than full tuition waivers for international students.
There is no broad tuition-waiver scholarship for fee-paying international MD students, and international students pay a one-time US$15,000 out-of-state fee plus annual tuition. A scholarship is official only when the university confirms it in writing, so get that letter before any money is paid.
Compare
Compare Colleges
Compare the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
University of Santo Tomas vs CMC Vellore
| University | University of Santo TomasManila, Philippines | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private Catholic (Pontifical) | 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 CoE; WDOMS; ECFMG/USMLE; NMC-eligible via FMGE | NMC-recognised |
| Global Ranking | QS World #184 (2026); 4th in the Philippines | Not in QS top 500 |
| Licensure | 98.17% PLE pass (Oct 2025) | High NEET-PG / INI-CET performance |
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Our blog
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Articles that turn complex medicine-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying medicine at the University of Santo Tomas.
The University of Santo Tomas is in Sampaloc, Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on España Boulevard in the city's 'University Belt'. Its Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the University of Santo Tomas Hospital are on the same campus.
No. The Philippine Doctor of Medicine is graduate-entry: you must first complete a bachelor's (pre-medical) degree and pass the NMAT before starting the 4-year MD. UST does not offer a direct-from-Class-12 medical programme.
UST admits students by bachelor's degree and the NMAT rather than NEET. However, under NMC rules, Indian students must hold a valid NEET-UG qualification to be licensed in India after a foreign medical degree, so qualify NEET if you may return to practise in India.
Yes. UST is ranked #184 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 4th in the Philippines, and its Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is a CHED Center of Excellence with a 98.17% passing rate in the October 2025 Physician Licensure Examination.
Yes. Medicine in the Philippines is taught entirely in English, so Indian students study the whole Doctor of Medicine in English, with conversational Filipino learned from the second year for talking to patients.
The Doctor of Medicine is a four-year graduate-entry degree taken after a bachelor's degree, with the fourth year a clinical clerkship, followed by a post-graduate internship and the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination.
International students pay a one-time US$15,000 out-of-state fee on enrolment, plus annual MD tuition set out in UST's official fee tables, a US$320 application fee and a US$1,000 reservation fee credited to tuition; living costs in Manila are about ₹32,000–₹68,000 a month.
Yes. Admission requires the NMAT (National Medical Admission Test), the standard Philippine medical entrance test, along with a completed bachelor's degree and, for non-native English speakers, a TOEFL score of 93 or higher.
Yes. UST is WDOMS-listed and Philippine MDs are strongly USMLE-oriented, so graduates can pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE for the United States and the GMC's PLAB/UKMLA route for the United Kingdom.
Yes, but plan carefully. Graduates can practise in India after clearing the NMC screening examination (FMGE, transitioning to NExT), completing the internship and registering with the NMC. Because the Philippine MD is graduate-entry, the NMC duration rules matter before you commit.
Manila is a large capital city with the usual big-city considerations, and the España/Sampaloc 'University Belt' around UST is an established, busy student district. Students should take normal city precautions, as they would in any major metropolis.