Questions to Ask Before Paying a Deposit

A deposit is often the first money that changes hands, and it can be requested quickly, sometimes with a deadline attached. Once it is paid, it can be hard to walk away. The questions below are meant to be answered before that point. Some go to the school; others are best answered by official bodies, because a school is not a neutral source on its own standing. Ask in writing, keep the replies, and do not accept "yes, we are recognized" without being told by whom and for what.

1. Is the school legally established and listed?

• Which government authority authorizes the school to operate and award a medical degree? Ask for the name of the ministry or regulator and check its website.
• Is the school in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)? Search for it and check that the name, city, degree title and program length match what the school told you. WDOMS confirms a school's government recognition and operational status before listing it, but its disclaimer states that a listing does "not denote recognition, accreditation, or endorsement." See WDOMS listing vs accreditation.
• Is the campus you would attend the one that is listed? Branch campuses and partner sites may be treated differently. ECFMG, for example, may require separate confirmation from the government of a branch campus country.

2. Who accredits it, and is that agency recognized?

• Which agency accredits the medical program, when was the last decision, and when is the next review?
• Can you confirm it on the agency's own website? WFME's FAQ advises asking the school which agency accredits it, then verifying the status on that agency's site.
• Is the agency recognized by WFME, for this country, and is its status current? WFME recognizes agencies, not schools. A claim that the school itself is "WFME-accredited," or approved by an international health body, misdescribes the system and should prompt further questions. See WFME Agency Recognition Explained.

3. Will the degree be accepted where I want to practice?

This is the question that matters most, and the school cannot answer it for you. The regulator in your intended country decides.

• What does my intended regulator require? Read its rules yourself. The UK General Medical Council, for instance, sets criteria on program duration (at least three years and 5,500 clock hours in allopathic/clinical medicine), clinical placements, in-person teaching and transfers between institutions, and keeps a list of institutions whose qualifications it does not currently accept. India's National Medical Commission sets conditions for foreign graduates, including a course of at least 54 months, a twelve-month internship at the same foreign institution, and a degree taught in English.
• If US training is a possibility, does the school have an ECFMG Sponsor Note covering my graduation year? ECFMG states that without a Sponsor Note on the school's WDOMS listing, its students and graduates are not eligible for ECFMG Certification. ECFMG also states that it does not recognize, accredit or endorse schools, and that it may remove a note for good cause, for example if a school publishes false information about ECFMG Certification or USMLE on its website. See ECFMG Sponsor Notes Explained.
• Can graduates register in the country that awarded the degree? Several regulators require this. The GMC requires that the qualification allows the holder to register to practice, including a postgraduate internship, in the awarding country; ECFMG and India's NMC have comparable conditions.

No school can guarantee residency, licensure or employment, and accreditation in one country never guarantees eligibility in another. Treat any such promise as a warning sign. Our guide to investigating practice requirements walks through the research.

4. Where and how is the program taught?

• Where does each year take place, including every clinical rotation? Some regulators restrict training outside the degree-awarding country; see clinical training and cross-border rotations.
• How much of the program is in person? The GMC expects the majority, theoretical and clinical, to be completed in person.
• In which language are classes taught, and in which language will I speak with patients?
• Is there a foundation or premedical year, and does it count toward the degree?
• If I am transferring in, will my previous study be credited, and will my destination regulator accept a transfer? The GMC usually accepts no more than one transfer and asks for a justifiable reason.

5. What exactly am I paying for?

• What is the deposit for, and is it refundable? Ask for the refund policy in writing, including what happens if your visa is refused, if you withdraw before starting, or if the program is not delivered as described.
• What is the total cost of the program in the contract currency, including annual increases, repeat years and mandatory fees? Fee rules can change your status if you repeat a year: in Ireland, for example, Citizens Information notes that students repeating a year after failing exams generally lose free-fees eligibility.
• Who receives the payment? Pay the institution through its official channels. If an agent or recruiter is involved, ask whether they are paid by the school, and confirm the payment details directly with the school using contact details you found independently.
• Is the program eligible for the loan or scholarship I am counting on? Check with the lender or funding body, not only with the school.

6. Visas, residence and work

Ask the school what documents it provides for a student visa, but do not rely on the school, an agent or this site for the rules. Visa and residence conditions, and any right to work or train, depend on your nationality and the country involved. Check the current official government source for your situation before paying.

A short checklist

Before you pay, you should be able to write down:

1. the government authority that authorizes the school, with a link;
2. the school's WDOMS entry and what its Sponsor Notes tab shows;
3. the accrediting agency, its decision date, and its WFME status;
4. the regulator in your intended country of practice and the rules you checked, with dates;
5. where every year of the program, including clinical training, takes place;
6. the total cost and the refund terms, in writing.

If any line is blank, ask again or wait. School profiles on this site summarize what we found in official sources.