Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, a constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has been recognised by the Singapore Government as one of the eight newly approved overseas medical schools.
The recognition is effective from February 1, 2026, a MAHE release said on Tuesday.
The inclusion of KMC, Manipal, places it among a select group of 120 globally reputed medical schools from countries such as Australia, Ireland, Malaysia, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) occasionally reviews overseas medical qualifications to ensure that training standards are comparable with those in Singapore. The assessment considers factors such as academic quality, language of instruction, clinical exposure, and graduates’ performance in professional practice. The announcement follows SMC’s review of the list of registrable medical qualifications to ensure that foreign-trained medical doctors applying to practice in Singapore have received an education and training that is comparable to Singapore’s medical schools, the release said.
Hailing the recognition, H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, “As the longest-serving official of MAHE, I am proud to see KMC, Manipal, recognised by the Singapore Medical Council. This milestone reflects our enduring commitment to excellence and honours the vision of our founder, Dr. TMA Pai, whose legacy continues to guide us.”
M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said: “This achievement not only elevates the international stature of KMC but also opens new global pathways for our graduates. It reaffirms our mission to produce competent, ethical, and globally competitive medical professionals who can serve healthcare systems across borders.”
Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE, said from 2026 onwards, aspiring medical students may apply to KMC, Manipal, with the assurance that the MBBS qualification is recognised for medical registration in Singapore. Graduates from KMC, Manipal, irrespective of nationality and year of graduation, will be eligible to seek registration with SMC, subject to fulfilling regulatory and supervisory requirements.
Published – January 27, 2026 09:01 pm IST
