In a significant milestone for medical education in the Maldives, the United Kingdom’s General Medical Council (GMC) has officially recognised the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme offered by the School of Medicine at the Maldives National University (MNU).
The United Kingdom is the first country to grant official recognition to the Maldivian medical degree, creating new opportunities for MNU graduates to pursue medical careers abroad. The recognition allows graduates of the programme to sit the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) examination, a key requirement for international medical graduates seeking to practise medicine in the United Kingdom.
Following successful completion of the examination and other licensing requirements, graduates will be eligible to work within the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
Since establishing its School of Medicine, MNU has undertaken extensive efforts to strengthen its curriculum and academic standards to align with international medical education requirements.
Over recent years, the university adopted a modified version of the curriculum used by the National University of Malaysia, ensuring that its medical programme meets globally recognised standards. Following a comprehensive assessment of the programme, the GMC determined that the curriculum satisfies the requirements necessary for medical licensing in the United Kingdom.
Dean of MNU’s School of Medicine, Sheeza Ali, told PSM News that the university had not previously pursued UK recognition because of the relatively recent establishment of the medical school. However, she noted that many recent graduates had expressed interest in gaining clinical experience within the UK healthcare system, prompting efforts to obtain recognition.
Prior to the GMC's decision, Maldivian graduates seeking to sit the PLAB examination were required to undergo individual assessments by the council. The process was often lengthy and uncertain. The new recognition removes that requirement, enabling graduates to apply directly for the licensing examination.
The MNU MBBS programme has also been included in the World Directory of Medical Schools, further strengthening its international recognition and credibility.
The School of Medicine was established in 2019 and has so far produced four graduating cohorts of doctors.