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If you want to study medicine and become a licensed physician, this article is for you. We have analyzed the top medical schools in the Philippines and listed them here. Find out which medical school is right for you and apply today! Read more about our top best medical schools in the Philippines.
There are many reasons to study in the best medical schools in the Philippines.
- The first reason is that the education you receive will be of high quality.
- The second reason is that the cost of living and tuition fees are very affordable when compared to other countries.
- Lastly, the people, food, and climate in the Philippines are spectacular, which means that you can enjoy the hospitality of Pinoys, mouthwatering food, beautiful beaches, and lush vegetation all year round!
Medical schools in the Philippines offer some of the best medical education in the world. Located in a country with a tropical climate, medical schools in the Philippines provide students with an opportunity to learn about a different culture while getting a top-notch education.
In addition to offering a great education, medical schools in the Philippines are also very affordable. For international students, studying at a medical school in the Philippines can be up to 70% cheaper than studying at a school in the US, UK, Australia, or EU. If you are foreign national thinking of becoming a doctor, why not take advantage of everything that medical schools in the Philippines have to offer? If you’re a Filipino looking for a great education at an affordable price, then read on!
The process of collating the best medical schools in the Philippines
Our research team gathered 4-year data from the PLE PRC Results from 2019 to 2022.
The educational background and professions of the Medical Trends Now research team include registered nurses, pharmacists, medical technologists, radiologists, medical residents, and engineers. If you are wondering who are the people behind this article, they are both healthcare specialists and engineering professionals.
Inclusions:
- The best medical schools in the Philippines, according to this research, are those with at least 250 students who have passed the licensure exam for a period of 4 years.
- Data were taken from the PRC results from 2019 to 2022
- Only first-time PLE takers are included in our data
Exclusions:
- We have excluded schools that do not have at least 250 passing students within 4 years.
- We have excluded medical schools that have consistently ranked 0%-20%.
- We have removed the PLE retakers from the data
The Best Medical Schools in the Philippines are based on the Physician Licensure Exam of the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC).
An introduction to the best medical schools in the Philippines
The Philippines is home to some of the best medical schools in the world. Every year, thousands of students from all over the world come to the Philippines to study medicine.
The physician licensure exam is the most important exam for medical students who aspires to become licensed doctors in the Philippines. The results of this exam determine the knowledge and depth of understanding of medical students.
Why did we launch the best medical schools in the Philippines guide?
We have two reasons why we launch the best medical schools in the Philippines guide:
1. Remove inaccuracies found on the internet
There are numerous articles that you will find on the internet about the best medical schools in the Philippines. However, they are rubbish because:
- They have no basis
- No data
- Inconclusive evidence
- Poorly researched articles
The only objective of other articles that you found online is to drive traffic to their websites so they can earn money from ads. We don’t mind earning money from articles but they should ensure that the articles are data-driven and backed by solid evidence.
Unfortunately, most of the articles that you will find on the Google search engine are shallow and not driven by any formulas.
It is not right to mislead Filipino students who are looking for the best medical schools in the Philippines.
2. Filipino students’ barometer in selecting the best medical schools in the Philippines
We want to help Filipino students who want to become doctors.
This guide will help them ponder which best medical schools in the Philippines to consider applying to.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best medical school in the Philippines. One important factor is whether or not the school’s graduates have a high passing rate on the physician licensure exam. The passing rate is a good indication of the quality of education at the school. A high passing rate means that the school’s graduates are well-prepared for the rigors of the licensure exam and are more likely to be successful in their careers as physicians.
If you are a student planning to become a doctor, it is important to know which are the best medical schools in the Philippines and what are their current rankings in the Physician Licensure Exams.
The best medical schools in the Philippines article will be your guide in prospecting and selecting medical colleges and universities. The PLE results based on 4-year PRC data is a robust indicator for Filipino students to consider.
The top 18 best medical schools in the Philippines
Here is the list of the top 18 best medical schools in the Philippines based on 4-year PLC PRC results.
Schools with a minimum of 250 students passed the PLE | 2019-2022 PRC PLE Data | |||
Name of Medical School | Total Passed | Total Takers | Failed | % Passed |
1. Cebu Institute of Medicine | 319 | 320 | 1 | 99.69% |
2. Univeristy of Saint Louis Tugegarao | 468 | 474 | 6 | 98.73% |
3. University of San Agustin | 292 | 296 | 4 | 98.65% |
4. St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine William H. Quasha Memorial | 255 | 259 | 4 | 98.46% |
5. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila | 352 | 358 | 6 | 98.32% |
6. Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health Pasig | 438 | 446 | 8 | 98.21% |
7. University of the Philippines Manila | 422 | 431 | 9 | 97.91% |
8. University of Santo Tomas | 851 | 895 | 44 | 95.08% |
9. Saint Louis University | 330 | 355 | 25 | 92.96% |
10. University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center | 659 | 712 | 53 | 92.56% |
11. Davao Medical School Foundation | 386 | 422 | 36 | 91.47% |
12. San Beda University | 291 | 319 | 28 | 91.22% |
13. Far Eastern University Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation | 1097 | 1211 | 114 | 90.59% |
14. Cebu Doctors University College of Medicine | 252 | 290 | 38 | 86.90% |
15. De La Salle Medical & Health Sciences Inst. (DLSU Dasma) | 566 | 672 | 106 | 84.23% |
16. Emilio Aguinaldo College Manila | 303 | 377 | 74 | 80.37% |
17. Southwestern University | 183 | 270 | 87 | 67.78% |
18. Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela | 906 | 1553 | 647 | 58.34% |
Legend:
- Total passed = the total number of students passed the Physician Licensure Exam conducted by the Philippine Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) from 2019 to 2022.
- Total takers = the total number of students who took the Physician Licensure Exam from 2019 to 2022.
- Failed = the total number of students who failed the Physician Licensure Exam from 2019 to 2022.
- % Passed = the percentage of students that passed the PLE based on four year data from PRC.
Considerations:
- Data has a margin of ± 5%
- If there are any discrepancies, please notify us at medicaltrendsnow @ gmail . com so we can review and rectify accordingly.
- If your medical school has a high percentage passing rate but is not included in our list, they are most likely to fall within the threshold of fewer than 250 students. Remember that we only included the best medical schools that have produced more than 250 licensed doctors for the past four years.
- You might ask: How many medical schools did you consider? What medical schools were included in the research? There are 82 medical schools in the Philippines (to be exact) that were included in our research. Please scroll down below to the Appendix section (at the bottom of this article). You will see the entire list of medical schools that we have included in our research.
- 2020 PLE result has unusual raw data from the PRC due to the pandemic situation.
Here are more information about the Top 18 Best Medical Schools in the Philippines:
1. Cebu Institute of Medicine
- Total students passed the PLE: 319
- Number of students who took the PLE: 320
- Number of students who failed PLE: 1
- PLE passing rate percentage: 99.69%
Website: http://cim.edu.ph/
Address: F. Ramos Street, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
Mobile/Tel: (032) 253 6891
Email: admissions@cim.edu.ph
Social Media: Facebook
2. Univeristy of Saint Louis Tugegarao
- Total students passed the PLE: 468
- Number of students who took the PLE: 474
- Number of students who failed PLE: 6
- PLE passing rate percentage: 98.73%
Website: http://usl.edu.ph/
Address: Mabini Street, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: (078) 844-1822
Email: secretariat@usl.edu.ph
3. University of San Agustin
- Total students passed the PLE: 292
- Number of students who took the PLE: 296
- Number of students who failed PLE: 4
- PLE passing rate percentage: 98.65%
Website: https://usa.edu.ph/
Address: Gen. Luna St, Iloilo City, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: 0999 9971485
Email: info@usa.edu.ph
4. St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine William H. Quasha Memorial
- Total students passed the PLE: 255
- Number of students who took the PLE: 259
- Number of students who failed PLE: 4
- PLE passing rate percentage: 98.46%
Website: https://slmc-cm.edu.ph/
Address: Sta. Ignaciana St., Cathedral Heights, Quezon City
Mobile/Tel: (+632) 8723-0101
Email: info@slmc-cm.edu.ph
5. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
- Total students passed the PLE: 352
- Number of students who took the PLE: 358
- Number of students who failed PLE: 6
- PLE passing rate percentage: 98.32%
Website: https://plm.edu.ph/
Address: General Luna corner Muralla Streets, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: (+63) 916 341 0332
Email: admission_office@plm.edu.ph
6. Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health Pasig
- Total students passed the PLE: 438
- Number of students who took the PLE: 446
- Number of students who failed PLE: 8
- PLE passing rate percentage: 98.21%
Website: https://www.asmph.ateneo.edu/
Address: Don Eugenio Lopez Sr. Medical Complex, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig
Mobile/Tel: (632) 8706-3085 to 87, local 3010
Email: admissions.asmph@ateneo.edu
7. University of the Philippines Manila
- Total students passed the PLE: 422
- Number of students who took the PLE: 431
- Number of students who failed PLE: 9
- PLE passing rate percentage: 97.91%
Website: https://www.upm.edu.ph/
Address: Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: (02) 8524 0534
Email: upm-our@up.edu.ph
8. University of Santo Tomas
- Total students passed the PLE: 851
- Number of students who took the PLE: 895
- Number of students who failed PLE: 44
- PLE passing rate percentage: 95.08%
Website: https://www.ust.edu.ph/
Address: Espana Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: +63-2-3406-1611
Email: cb.online@ust.edu.ph
9. Saint Louis University
- Total students passed the PLE: 330
- Number of students who took the PLE: 355
- Number of students who failed PLE: 25
- PLE passing rate percentage: 92.96%
Website: https://www.slu.edu.ph/
Address: Baguio, Benguet
Mobile/Tel: (074) 444 8246
Email: urdir@slu.edu.ph
10. University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
- Total students passed the PLE: 659
- Number of students who took the PLE: 712
- Number of students who failed PLE: 53
- PLE passing rate percentage: 92.56%
Website: https://uerm.edu.ph/
Address: 64 Aurora Blvd, Quezon City, 1113 Metro Manila
Mobile/Tel: (632) 8-715-0861 to 71
Email: com@uerm.edu.ph / uermmed@yahoo.com
11. Davao Medical School Foundation
- Total students passed the PLE: 386
- Number of students who took the PLE: 422
- Number of students who failed PLE: 36
- PLE passing rate percentage: 91.47%
Website: http://www.dmsf.edu.ph/
Address: Medical School Dr, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur
Mobile/Tel: 0905-510-5025 / 0932-939-5866
Email: registrar@email.dmsf.edu.ph
Social media: Facebook
12. San Beda University
- Total students passed the PLE: 291
- Number of students who took the PLE: 319
- Number of students who failed PLE: 28
- PLE passing rate percentage: 91.22%
Website: https://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/
Address: 638 Mendiola St., San Miguel, Manila City
Mobile/Tel: (+632) 8-726-2332
Email: registrarmail@sanbeda.edu.ph
Social Media: Facebook
13. Far Eastern University Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
- Total students passed the PLE: 1097
- Number of students who took the PLE: 1,211
- Number of students who failed PLE: 114
- PLE passing rate percentage: 90.59%
Website: https://www.feu-nrmf.ph/
Address: Regalado Ave.,Fairview, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Mobile/Tel: +63 (02) 8 983 8338
Email: admissions@feu-nrmf.edu.ph
14. Cebu Doctors University College of Medicine
- Total students passed the PLE: 252
- Number of students who took the PLE: 290
- Number of students who failed PLE: 38
- PLE passing rate percentage: 86.90%
Website: https://cebudoctorsuniversity.edu/medicine/
Address: FV3P+6CR, North Reclamation Area Mandaue City Cebu, Cebu City
Mobile/Tel: +63 32 2388333
Email: cdu-cm@cebudoctorsuniversity.edu
15. De La Salle Medical & Health Sciences Inst. (DLSU Dasma)
- Total students passed the PLE: 566
- Number of students who took the PLE: 672
- Number of students who failed PLE: 106
- PLE passing rate percentage: 84.23%
Website: https://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/
Address: Governor D. Mangubat Avenue, City of Dasmariñas Cavite, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: +632 8988-3100
Email: webteam@dlshsi.edu.ph
16. Emilio Aguinaldo College Manila
- Total students passed the PLE: 303
- Number of students who took the PLE: 377
- Number of students who failed PLE: 74
- PLE passing rate percentage: 80.37%
Website: https://eac.edu.ph/
Address: 1117 San Marcelino Cor Gonzales St., Paco 1007 Manila, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: (02) 8521 2710
Email: admision@eac.edu.ph
17. Southwestern University
- Total students passed the PLE: 183
- Number of students who took the PLE: 270
- Number of students who failed PLE: 87
- PLE passing rate percentage: 67.78%
Website: https://swu.phinma.edu.ph/
Address: Urgello Street, Cebu City, Philippines
Mobile/Tel: 0917 8352881
Email: info.swu@phinmaed.com
18. Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela
- Total students passed the PLE: 906
- Number of students who took the PLE: 1,553
- Number of students who failed PLE: 647
- PLE passing rate percentage: 58.34%
Website: https://www.fatima.edu.ph/campus/our-lady-of-fatima-valenzuela/
Address: 120 MacArthur Hwy, Valenzuela, 1440 Metro Manila
Mobile/Tel: 09178122947 / 09171268455
Email: admissions-val@fatima.edu.ph
Social Media: Facebook
Why do medical students take a board exam?
The physician licensure exam is an important test for all medical students, regardless of which school they attend.
The PLE is a comprehensive assessment of a Filipino student’s knowledge of medicine and their ability to apply that knowledge to real-world situations.
Passing the PRC physician licensure exam is a necessary step in becoming a licensed physician in the Philippines.
What to consider before choosing the best medical school in the Philippines?
Choosing the best medical schools in the Philippines requires careful consideration of a number of factors.
Here are ten things to keep in mind when Filipino students are making a decision:
1. Ranking of the medical school:
Filipino students must consider the best medical schools in the Philippines before sending applications. You do not want to enroll in a medical school where 100% of the students do not pass the board exam.
2. Location:
One important factor to consider is where the school is located. Do you want to be in a big city or a smaller town? Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
3. Cost:
Another important consideration is the cost of attendance. Make sure you know how much tuition and other fees will be before making your decision. Is there a scholarship program? Most of the best medical schools in the Philippines accept a scholarship for high deserving students who excel academically. Furthermore, try to ask about staggard (monthly) payments and discounts if you are paying in full.
4. Curriculum:
What kind of curriculum do the best medical schools in the Philippines offer? Does it meet your needs and interests? Make sure you know what classes you’ll be taking before making your decision.
5. Faculty:
Another important factor to consider is the quality of the faculty. How is the faculty qualified? How experienced are they in their fields? The best medical schools in the Philippines has a variety of faculty members who are trained in the US, UK, EU, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.
6. Extracurricular activities:
Are there a lot of extracurricular events and opportunities available? If so, how will you fit into these activities with your busy schedule?
7. The medical facilities:
What kind of equipment, supplies, and technology does the school have? Does the school have a separate library for medical students? Is there a well-equipped hospital, laboratory, and state-of-the-art equipment? The best medical schools in the Philippines have the most innovative healthcare equipment and the hospital facilities are likely to be more modern than in other medical schools.
8. The campus:
How is the campus environment (e.g., social life)? Are people friendly and helpful? The campus of the best medical schools in the Philippines is well-designed, with spacious classrooms, well ventilation, and clean laboratories. The campus is likely to be cleaner than in other medical schools.
9. The students:
What is the student-to-teacher ratio? Are students friendly or competitive? The majority of the best medical schools in the Philippines have a low student-to-teacher ratio. Students are likely to be friendly and helpful.
10. Safety:
Are the school’s surroundings safe for students? The vicinity of the best medical schools in the Philippines is full of public spaces, readily available transportation, security, and restaurants.
Conclusion: Best Medical Schools in the Philippines
The best medical schools in the Philippines are those that offer a comprehensive and well-rounded education. These schools prepare their students for the Physician Licensure Exam and trained their students to have a successful career in medicine, and they provide an environment that is conducive to learning.
In conclusion, the Philippines has some of the best medical schools in the world. These schools offer a great education and the opportunity to become a licensed Filipino doctor. If you are interested in becoming a doctor, then you should definitely consider one of these schools.
Sources:
- September 2019 PRC Physician Licensure Examination Results
- November 2020 PRC Physician Licensure Examination Results
- March 2021 PRC Physician Licensure Examination Results
- October 2021 PRC Physician Licensure Examination Results
- March 2022 PRC Physician Licensure Examination Results
Appendix: Complete list of medical schools in the Philippines
Here’s the complete list of medical schools in the Philippines that we have included in our research (in alphabetical order).
The list of schools is based on the PRC PLE results from 2019 to 2022.
- Adventist University of the Philippines
- Ago Medical & Educational Center – Bicol Christian College of Medicine
- AMA School of Medicine Makati
- Angeles University Foundation
- Ateneo de Zamboanga University
- Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health Pasig
- Baguio Central University
- Bicol University Industrial Tech (BUCIT) Legazpi
- Bicol University DARAGA
- Bicol University Legazpi
- Brokenshire College
- Cagayan State University Andrews Campus
- Cagayan State University Andrews Caritan
- Cagayan State University Andrews Tuguegarao
- Camarines Sur Polytechnic College Nabua
- Capitol Medical Center Colleges
- Cebu Doctors University
- Cebu Doctors University College of Medicine
- Cebu Institute of Medicine
- Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College)
- Central Philippine University
- Centro Escolar University Manila
- Davao Medical School Foundation
- De La Salle Medical & Health Sciences Inst. (DLSU Dasma)
- De La Salle University Dasmarinas
- Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College
- Emilio Aguinaldo College Manila
- Far Eastern University Manila
- Far Eastern University Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
- Father Saturnino Urios University (Urios College)
- Foreign University
- Gullas College of Medicine
- Iloilo Doctors College of Medicine
- Lyceum Northwestern University, Dagupan City
- Manila Central University Caloocan City
- Manila Theological College
- Manila Tytana Colleges (Manila Doctors College)
- Mariano Marcos State University Batac
- Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine
- MATS College of Technology
- Medical College of Northern Philippines
- Metropolitan Medical Center College of Arts, Science & Technology
- Mindanao State University Marawi City
- Misamis University Ozamis City
- New Era University
- Our Lady of Fatima University, QC
- Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela
- Our Lady of Lourdes College
- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
- Philippine Muslim-Christian College of Medicine
- PLT College
- Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation
- Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial School
- Saint Louis University
- Saint Paul University Tuguegarao
- San Beda University
- San Pedro Collete Davao
- Silliman University
- Southwestern University
- St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine William H. Quas
- Unciano Colleges & General Hospital Manila
- Universidad de Santa Isabel
- University of Cebu College of Medicine Foundation Mandaue
- University of Northern Philippines Vigan
- University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Las Pinas
- University of Perpetual Help System Laguna
- Univeristy of Saint La Salle
- Univeristy of Saint Louis Tugegarao
- University of San Agustin
- University of San Carlos
- University of Santo Tomas
- University of Southern Philippines
- University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
- University of the Philippines School of Health & Sciences Leyte
- University of the Philippines Diliman
- University of the Philippines Manila
- University of the Visayas Mandaue City
- Velez College
- Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
- West Visayas State University La Paz
- Western Mindanao State University Zamboanga City
- Xavier University