Singapore Recognises Manipal, 7 Overseas Medical Schools as Total Hits 120

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) have announced that from 1 February 2026 the city-state will recognise medical degrees from eight additional overseas institutions as registrable for practice in Singapore, bringing the total number of recognised overseas medical schools from 112 to 120 .

The newly approved schools are Adelaide University, College of Health (Australia) ; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Kasturba Medical College (India) ; University of Galway, School of Medicine (Ireland) ; Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Medical Sciences (Malaysia) ; The Aga Khan University Medical College (Pakistan) ; Tsinghua University, School of Medicine (China) ; City St George’s, University of London, School of Health and Medical Sciences (United Kingdom) ; and University of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (United Kingdom) - will appear on the Second Schedule of the Medical Registration Act 1997. From 2026, students who wish to pursue a medical degree can apply to these universities as part of their overseas options, and their degrees will be registrable with SMC if they meet Singapore’s prevailing requirements.

The recognition means that graduates of these schools regardless of nationality and whether they graduate before or after 2026 can apply for registration with the SMC to practise medicine in Singapore, subject to the Council’s conditions for licensure and supervision. SMC will continue to assess foreign-trained medical doctors in their initial years through a supervisory framework , involving workplace monitoring and reporting, to ensure high clinical standards once they begin practising locally. The Council’s review process considers factors such as international rankings , English as the language of instruction , and the performance of alumni doctors in Singapore.

The inclusion of Manipal Academy of Higher Education’s Kasturba Medical College means that this Indian institution alongside a few others already recognised such as AIIMS New Delhi and CMC Vellore will be an officially recognised pathway for students targeting Singapore as a future workplace. Manipal and the other seven schools will start appearing in relevant admissions cycles from 2026 onwards, though prospective students should check each university’s specific intake dates and application deadlines with the institutions directly, as these vary by country and programme.

Recognition does not guarantee automatic full registration upon graduation; applicants must satisfy SMC’s prevailing requirements, which typically include document verification , completion of specified clinical training , and any additional assessments Singapore may require for provisional, conditional or full registration . Many graduates enter Singapore initially on provisional or conditional registration via a recognised employer’s accredited training placement (such as a hospital offering PGY1 training) and thereafter transition to full registration once local conditions are met under the supervisory framework.

Singapore’s move comes amid ongoing pressures on healthcare resources. While domestic medical schools have increased their annual intakes from about 440 students in 2014 to around 555 in 2025 , the aging population and growing healthcare needs continue to strain doctor availability. Recognising more foreign-trained graduates is part of the strategy to expand the pipeline of qualified doctors capable of meeting future care demands.

For aspiring Indian students considering this pathway, the practical registration steps usually involve: (1) ensuring the chosen school and degree match the SMC’s Second Schedule ; (2) applying for and completing the medical programme including required clinical rotations; (3) securing a provisional/conditional registration application via a Singapore employer if planning to practise immediately after graduation; (4) submitting the registration dossier to SMC with certified documents; and (5) completing any required local supervision or assessments before applying for full SMC registration. Formal guidance on documentation and timelines is available from SMC’s official registration pages.

This expanded recognition offers additional global pathways for medical education for Singapore’s workforce goals and gives students in India and beyond more internationally aligned options, particularly when local competition for limited medical seats remains high.