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

URL: https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-philippines/davao-medical-school-foundation/
Last checked: 2026-11-14
Publisher: 4MBBS (https://4mbbs.com) — independent, source-cited guide to MBBS abroad

**Quick answer:** Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) in Davao City offers a Doctor of Medicine for students who already have a bachelor's degree and an NMAT score at or above the 40th percentile. It has more Indian graduates sitting FMGE than any other Philippine college: 2,424 in 2025, of whom about 16.5% passed. DMSF does not publish international tuition; Careers360 reports about ₹3.5 lakh ($3,700) a year. NMC FMGL 2021 compliance of the Philippine MD remains disputed.

Key facts:
- Location: Davao City, Philippines
- Type: private
- Tuition per year: $3,700
- Hostel per year: $1,800
- Duration: 4-year MD after a bachelor's degree, then post-graduate internship
- Medium: English
- Intake: Documents due at least 30 days before the academic year starts; confirm dates with DMSF
- Recognition: Graduates appear in NBEMS FMGE institute-wise reports (2024, 2025); Ranked 5th among Philippine medical schools in the October 2026 PLE (as reported by DMSF); Check WDOMS listing at search.wdoms.org
- Official website: https://www.dmsf.edu.ph/

Key takeaways:
- DMSF's College of Medicine requires an NMAT result of at least the 40th percentile, a college diploma, transcripts and a short essay.
- 2,424 DMSF graduates sat FMGE in 2025 (NBEMS), the largest cohort from any Philippine college; about 16.5% passed, against 19.6% in 2024.
- DMSF does not publish international tuition; Careers360 estimates about ₹3.5 lakh ($3,700) a year, plus a hostel of about ₱9,500 a month.
- DMSF reports that its College of Medicine ranked 5th among Philippine medical schools in the October 2026 Physician Licensure Examination.
- The pre-med BS does not count under NMC FMGL 2021, and licence reciprocity for Indians in the Philippines is unresolved (Embassy, June 2026).

## 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.

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Doctor of Medicine (MD), graduate entry |
| Location | Dr. A. Gahol Ave., Bajada, Davao City |
| Entry | Bachelor's degree + NMAT (≥ 40th percentile) |
| Reported tuition | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh/yr (≈ $3,700), Careers360 |
| Hostel (reported) | ≈ ₱9,500/month (≈ $150) |
| Hospital | DMSFI Hospital (100 beds) + affiliated hospitals |
| FMGE 2025 (NBEMS) | 2,424 appeared, ≈ 16.5% passed |

## 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):

| Item | Amount | ≈ USD | ≈ INR | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition, foreign student (estimate) | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh a year | ≈ $3,700 | ₹3.5 lakh | Careers360 |
| Hostel (rent, electricity, water, wifi) | ₱9,500 a month | ≈ $150 | ≈ ₹14,000 | Careers360 |
| Food | ₱3,500 a month | ≈ $55 | ≈ ₹5,200 | Careers360 |
| Application and entrance exam fee (local) | ₱1,300 | ≈ $20 | ≈ ₹1,900 | DMSF |
| Commitment fee (local, credited to tuition) | ₱10,000 | ≈ $157 | ≈ ₹14,700 | DMSF |
| Down payment (local) | ₱38,000 | ≈ $596 | ≈ ₹56,000 | DMSF |

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](https://4mbbs.com/guides/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**:

| Session | Appeared | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (June + Dec) | 2,993 | 586 | ≈ 19.6% |
| June 2025 | 1,369 | 283 | ≈ 20.7% |
| December 2025 | 1,055 | 116 | ≈ 11.0% |
| 2025 combined | 2,424 | 399 | ≈ 16.5% |

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](https://4mbbs.com/guides/fmge-exam/).

## Is a DMSF MD valid in India?

NMC does not approve universities; it applies [FMGL 2021](https://4mbbs.com/guides/nmc-fmgl-rules-mbbs-abroad/) 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](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-philippines/) 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](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-philippines/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](https://4mbbs.com/guides/mbbs-abroad-agent-scams-red-flags/).

## FAQ

**What is the fee for MBBS (MD) at Davao Medical School Foundation?**
DMSF does not publish international tuition online. Careers360 reports about ₹3.5 lakh (≈ $3,700) a year, with hostel at about ₱9,500 a month and food about ₱3,500 a month. DMSF's own admissions page lists, for first-year local students, a ₱1,300 application and exam fee, a ₱10,000 commitment fee and a ₱38,000 down payment. Ask DMSF's Office of the Dean for the current international fee in writing.

**What is the NMAT cut-off for DMSF?**
DMSF's College of Medicine asks for an NMAT result with a minimum score at the 40th percentile, along with a college diploma or certificate of graduation, transcripts, two IDs, two passport photos and an essay of no more than 100 words on why you want to be a doctor. CHED rules require the NMAT to be taken within two years of admission.

**What is the FMGE pass rate of Davao Medical School Foundation?**
According to NBEMS data, 1,369 DMSF graduates appeared in FMGE June 2025 (about 20.7% passed) and 1,055 in December 2025 (about 11.0% passed), about 16.5% combined. In 2024, 2,993 appeared and 586 passed, about 19.6%. Some agent websites quote much higher pass rates for DMSF; check the NBEMS reports yourself.

**Is DMSF's MD valid in India?**
NMC publishes no list of approved universities. Your DMSF MD must itself meet FMGL 2021: at least 54 months of study in English (the BS does not count), a 12-month internship at the same institution, and licence eligibility in the Philippines on par with citizens. CHED says Philippine MDs comply, but students disputed this in 2025 and the Indian Embassy says licence reciprocity is unresolved. See the [Philippines hub](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-philippines/).

**What visa do Indian students need for DMSF?**
DMSF's Foreign Students Unit converts eligible students (18 and over, in a course above high school) to a 9(f) student visa. For medicine, the documents include CHED's Certificate of Eligibility for Admission, a notice of acceptance and a school endorsement. Students who do not qualify for a student visa can study on a Special Study Permit under a visitor visa. Visa extensions should be filed two months before expiry.

## Sources

- DMSF College of Medicine (Davao Medical School Foundation): https://www.dmsf.edu.ph/medicine/
- Admissions (Davao Medical School Foundation): https://www.dmsf.edu.ph/admissions/
- Foreign Students Unit (Davao Medical School Foundation): https://www.dmsf.edu.ph/foreign-students-unit/
- FMGE Performance Report 2025 (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences): https://natboard.edu.in/viewUpload?xyz=WGFid2M2R252YlMzblhsemdCYWF5QT09
- Country/Institute Wise Performance in FMGE 2024 (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences): https://natboard.edu.in/viewUpload?xyz=VEJVVnlqNVhIWVNCWXJoL1k5TXBnUT09
- Davao Medical School Foundation, Davao City - fees and courses (Careers360): https://studyabroad.careers360.com/philippines/universities/davao-medical-school-foundation-davao-city-unpg
- Advisory on Medical Education in the Philippines (17 June 2026) (Embassy of India, Manila): https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/alerts-details/6821

Quote with attribution to 4MBBS: https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-philippines/davao-medical-school-foundation/