Medicine is one of the most requested — and most regulated — fields for international students in China. The bachelor’s-level programme for international students is usually the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery).
How it is structured
- MBBS: typically 6 years, including clinical rotations; taught in English at many universities.
- Some universities offer other medical/health degrees (nursing, pharmacy, public health) at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level.
Entry requirements (typical)
- High-school diploma with strong chemistry and biology (some require physics/maths).
- English proficiency for English-taught MBBS (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent), and often an interview or entrance test.
- Health check; some universities require specific vaccination records.
- Age and other criteria set by each university.
Language
- English-taught MBBS: the most common route for international students; no HSK required at entry.
- Chinese-taught medicine: requires strong HSK (usually 5) and includes Chinese medical terminology.
Learning some Chinese is essential either way — clinical communication with patients depends on it.
Costs
Medical programmes cost more than most fields, and fees vary a lot by university and city. Confirm current tuition and any other charges on the official admissions page.
Licensing and recognition — read carefully
- Graduates typically need to pass the Chinese medical licensing examination to practise in China, and often need to meet licensing requirements in their home country to practise there.
- Recognition varies by country. Before you enrol, check with your own country’s medical council or health ministry whether the degree and university are accepted.
- China publishes an official list of universities approved to enroll international students in clinical medicine (MBBS); confirm your target university is on the current official list.
How to choose
- Confirm the university is officially approved for international MBBS.
- Check whether your country recognises the programme for licensing.
- Ask about teaching hospitals and the amount of clinical exposure.
- Verify fees, dormitory costs and insurance on the official page.
Step by step, with the questions to send a programme: How do I choose an MBBS programme in China? — the official list, the language you will work in, the internship year, and what your own medical council needs to accept.
Medicine is heavily regulated and rules change. Confirm everything with the university, the official education authorities and your home country’s medical regulator. VisChat provides public information only and advises no one on licensing.