Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF): MD Fees, Admission and FMGE Review for Indian Students

Davao Medical School Foundation at a glance

Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) is a private medical school in Davao City, on the southern island of Mindanao. DMSF says the foundation was formed in the early 1970s by Ateneo de Davao University, Brokenshire Hospital, the Development of People's Foundation, San Pedro College and San Pedro Hospital. Its College of Medicine awards the Doctor of Medicine (MD), the Philippine equivalent of an MBBS.

DMSF matters to Indian families because of scale: more Indian graduates of DMSF sat FMGE in 2025 than from any other Philippine college (2,424 candidates, NBEMS). That makes it the default recommendation of many agents, and it is worth looking at its results carefully.

How much does DMSF cost?

DMSF does not publish its international tuition. The figures below come from DMSF's own admissions page (local first-year fees) and from Careers360 (estimates for foreign students):

Peso amounts are converted at ₱63.8 = US$1 (ECB reference rate, 13 November 2026). Over the four MD years, reported tuition plus hostel comes to about $22,000–$26,000 (≈ ₹21–24 lakh), before food, books, visas, flights and the pre-medical BS. Get the international fee schedule from the Office of the Dean before paying anything, because agents' quotes vary.

Admission requirements

DMSF's College of Medicine lists these requirements:

1. NMAT result with a minimum score at the 40th percentile.
2. College diploma or certificate of graduation (a bachelor's degree is mandatory for any Philippine MD).
3. Transcript of records.
4. Two IDs and two passport-size photos.
5. A short essay (maximum 100 words) on why you want to become a doctor.
6. Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) — DMSF cites DECS Order No. 52, s. 1985; for foreign students' visas it lists CHED's Certificate of Eligibility for Admission for medicine.

International applicants pay a non-refundable application fee, and documents must reach the Office of the Dean at least 30 days before the academic year starts. Indian citizens also need a qualifying NEET-UG score to practise in India later; see NEET for MBBS abroad.

Visa. DMSF's Foreign Students Unit handles conversion to a 9(f) student visa for students aged 18 and over (documents include the CHED eligibility certificate, notice of acceptance and school endorsement) and a Special Study Permit for those who do not qualify for a student visa.

Teaching and hospitals

DMSF describes an integrated curriculum that combines lectures, team-based learning, problem-based learning and small-group discussions. Anatomy uses cadaveric dissection, plastinated cadavers, a body-mapping approach and an Anatomage table, and clinical skills are taught in a simulation centre. The school runs its own 100-bed DMSFI Hospital and lists affiliated hospitals for clinical training.

DMSF reports that its College of Medicine ranked 5th among Philippine medical schools in the October 2026 Physician Licensure Examination — a sign of strength for Filipino graduates, but not the exam that Indian graduates must pass.

FMGE performance of DMSF graduates

DMSF's FMGE record is below average and falling:

All Philippine graduates passed at about 18.8% in 2025 and all countries at about 21.5% (NBEMS). Some agent websites advertise much higher DMSF pass rates; the official NBEMS reports do not support them. The large cohort also means these are robust numbers, not small-sample noise. Plan serious FMGE preparation from year one; see the FMGE exam guide.

Is a DMSF MD valid in India?

NMC does not approve universities; it applies FMGL 2021 to each graduate. For DMSF, as for every Philippine college:

• The pre-medical BS does not count; the MD must itself run at least 54 months in English.
• The 12-month internship must be at the same institution; ask DMSF where its foreign graduates intern.
• You must be eligible for a Philippine licence on par with citizens; the Indian Embassy's June 2026 advisory says this reciprocity is still awaiting Indian guidance.

The Philippines country hub explains the 2025–26 dispute in detail.

Life in Davao City

Davao is cheaper than Metro Manila and has a large Indian student community built around DMSF. The climate is tropical and humid year-round. Teaching is in English; the local language is Cebuano (Bisaya), useful for ward work. Follow the Indian Embassy's advisories for Mindanao and register with it on arrival.

Who should consider DMSF?

DMSF suits a student who wants the Philippine MD route at a lower cost than Manila and values a big Indian peer group. Weigh that against its FMGE record and the unresolved FMGL questions. Compare it with Our Lady of Fatima University, and with countries that have clearer FMGL fit, before you sign. Watch for the red flags in our agent scams guide.

Pros and cons of DMSF

Advantages

• Largest Indian alumni network of any Philippine medical college, judging by FMGE candidate numbers
• Lower reported tuition than Metro Manila colleges, and Davao is cheaper to live in
• Own 100-bed DMSFI Hospital plus affiliated hospitals; simulation centre and cadaveric dissection
• Strong local licensure results (5th in the October 2026 PLE, per DMSF)

Drawbacks

• FMGE pass rate fell to about 16.5% in 2025 (11% in the December 2025 session)
• No published international tuition, so you depend on quotes
• Philippine MD compliance with FMGL 2021 and licence reciprocity for Indians are unresolved
• Very large Indian intake can mean less exposure to local language and patients