MD vs MBBS and Other Medical Awards

"MD or MBBS?" is one of the most common questions from people comparing medical schools in different countries. The short answer is that the letters describe naming traditions more than quality or level. An MBBS from one country and an MD from another may both be first medical degrees that lead to registration as a doctor. In some places the letters "MD" are used for something else entirely. This guide explains the main award names and how to look past them.

MBBS and its variants

MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. The UK General Medical Council (GMC) calls it "an undergraduate degree in medicine" and notes that it is "referred to differently by different institutions, for example, an MB ChB or final medical diploma (MD)." The two "bachelor" degrees are awarded together as one qualification; they are not two separate programs.

MBBS-style titles are common in countries whose systems developed from British models. Australia's list of accredited programs, for example, includes MBBS programs and an MBChB at the University of Auckland. India's regulations use the MBBS course of India as the yardstick for judging foreign degrees: foreign training must be "equivalent to Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) of India."

Despite the word "bachelor," an MBBS is a full professional qualification for entry to medicine in the systems that use it.

MD in the United States and Canada

In the United States, LCME-accredited programs award the MD (Doctor of Medicine). The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) describes itself as "an accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the MD degree," and says it is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) as the authority for accrediting those programs.

The USMLE eligibility rules show how the MD sits next to its international equivalents: eligibility covers graduates of LCME-accredited MD programs, COCA-accredited DO programs, or "the equivalent of the MD degree from a medical school outside the U.S." that meets ECFMG's requirements.

DO: the osteopathic degree

The DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is a second U.S. route to the same profession. According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), osteopathic medical schools are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. AACOM describes a curriculum in which "the first two years focus on the biomedical and clinical sciences" and the next two years on patient-oriented clinical training. USMLE eligibility explicitly includes DO students and graduates of COCA-accredited schools.

Do not assume that a qualification called "osteopathy" in another country is equivalent to a U.S. DO. Check the regulator in the country where you intend to practise.

MD as a first degree outside North America

Several systems now use "MD" for a first medical degree, often in graduate-entry or combined formats. Australia's accredited program list includes stand-alone Doctor of Medicine programs (for example at Deakin, Flinders, Griffith, Macquarie and the University of Melbourne), a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) at the Australian National University, and combined awards such as a Bachelor of Medical Studies with a Doctor of Medicine (BMedSt/MD). The same list shows one university teaching out its MBBS while running a combined bachelor/MD program.

Elsewhere, "MD" can appear in the title of a first degree because of local tradition. The GMC's glossary mentions the "final medical diploma (MD)" as one of the names used for the undergraduate medical degree. When you see "MD" on a program page, check the entry requirements and program length to understand which stage of training it represents.

European diploma titles

Many European countries use titles in their own languages. Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC lists, for each member state, the evidence of formal qualifications in basic medical training. Examples include:

• Germany: "Zeugnis über die Ärztliche Prüfung"
• Italy: "Diploma di laurea in medicina e chirurgia," listed with a separate certificate of qualification to practise
• Spain: "Título de Licenciado en Medicina y Cirugía"
• Poland: a diploma conferring the title of "lekarz," listed with a state examination certificate
• Netherlands: a certificate of having passed the "artsexamen"

These titles do not translate neatly into MBBS or MD, and they do not need to. Within the EU, the official Your Europe portal says doctors "enjoy automatic recognition" of their qualification, but warns that training which does not meet the minimum requirements may not benefit from it. The legislation.gov.uk copy cited here reflects the text as of 31 December 2020; check EUR-Lex for the current list. An EU degree does not give unrestricted practice everywhere: outside the EU, each country applies its own rules.

How regulators look past the title

Regulators generally ignore whether a degree is called MBBS or MD and ask more practical questions:

• Is it a basic medical qualification in allopathic medicine? The GMC only counts hours in "allopathic/clinical medicine," which it contrasts with traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy and similar systems.
• Does the title match the official record? The GMC says "the title of a PMQ must match the title in the World Directory of Medical Schools." A WDOMS listing is not accreditation, but mismatches cause delays.
• Was it long enough, with enough clinical training? See Medical Qualifications Around the World for examples of minimum hours and years.
• Can holders register in the awarding country? See Understanding National Recognition of Medical Schools.

Practical tips when comparing programs

• Compare program length, entry route (school-leaver or graduate) and clinical years, not just the letters. Our compare tool and program listings show these fields where official sources give them.
• Read the award title exactly as it will appear on the diploma, in the original language.
• If you plan to practise in another country, check that country's regulator before enrolling. A title that is accepted in one country can be assessed differently in another.
• Ask who awards the degree. The GMC notes that the awarding body is usually a university and is "sometimes your medical school/college but not always." The awarding body's name is part of what regulators check.
• If you transfer between schools, keep records. The GMC expects any transferred credits to come from a program that would have led to an MBBS "or equivalent qualification," and usually accepts no more than one transfer.
• Be cautious with claims that a degree is "equivalent" everywhere. No award name guarantees residency, licensure or employment.

For the difference between programs that admit school-leavers and those that require a prior degree, see School-Leaver vs Graduate-Entry Medicine.