Medical students from Ukraine can continue studies in other countries: NMC

New Delhi: Indian medical students who had returned from war-torn Ukraine will now be allowed to relocate to universities in other countries and complete their studies.

Considering the special circumstances, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has agreed to recognize the academic mobility programme offered by Ukraine to allow such students to complete their education as the degree will be awarded by the parent Ukrainian university itself.

The latest "no-objection" essentially applies to students who gained admission to Ukrainian medical colleges after new regulations came into force in November 2021, the official said. The other students were free to continue their education in other countries under earlier regulations, which were ambiguous on such transfers.

According to the NMC Act, students studying in foreign medical colleges are required to complete their education and obtain a degree from a single university only. The public notice issued by NMC on Tuesday said the mobility program offered by Ukraine has been considered in the Commission in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, wherein it was intimated that the academic mobility program is a temporary relocation to other universities in different countries globally.

However, the degree will be awarded by the parent Ukrainian university, the official notice from NMC read. "The Commission hereby conveys its no-objection for academic mobility program in respect of Indian medical students who are studying in Ukraine provided that other criteria of Screening Test Regulations 2002 are fulfilled," the public notice said.

When contacted, an NMC official said the order does not mean that the students will be allowed to continue their course in colleges in India.