Each consultancy website, including this one, will put the tuition fee at the front and the center of its sales pitch. It is, after all, one of the significant costs, and it is a considerable draw for prospective students: studying in China is much cheaper than pursuing an MBBS at relatively elite private medical colleges in Pakistan. However, if you ask any student who has spent a few years in China about their finances, they will tell you that, despite being substantial, tuition fees were rarely a surprise. Everything else, the additional costs surrounding the study in China, were much more challenging to estimate.
This is not to scare you or detract from the main point that studying MBBS in China is, overall, much cheaper than in Pakistan. Instead, it is a note of caution to consider additional, ancillary, expenses when planning finances for the MBBS study in China.
The Hidden Costs of MBBS in China Which Pakistani Students Should Know
Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for everyone, and it is one of the expenses one must budget for before even thinking about traveling to China. For one, the Chinese authorities require valid health insurance for everyone during their stay in China, and it is an integral part of any visa application. However, even upon arrival, one will have to go through the insurance verification process for obtaining the residence permit.
Physical Examination and Medical Paperwork
Prior to departure, a medical examination is necessary to fill the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, the required statement for Chinese authorities. The cost depends on the medical facility, so it is best to select it in advance and contact them for an estimate of costs. Another examination is necessary upon arrival for the official residence permit, so budget about 600 RMB for it. Since there is no equivalent expense back home in Pakistan, it is easy to forget to budget for it, but one should remember it nonetheless.
Document Attestation and Apostille
The process of attestation of documents is one that many overlook when budgeting for a study abroad. It happens rather early in the timeline, so it is easy to forget the expense months later when another round of document verification becomes necessary. Most academic documents, including degrees and transcripts, will have to go through the attestation process with either HEC or IBCC, depending on the level of education. Additionally, they will have to be officially apostilled with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each step may have additional costs, and it is easy to budget too low if one remembers only the initial round of document attestation.
Hostel Deposit and Setup Costs
Most likely, the hostel fee you pay to your university will include the cost of the room only. Most Chinese universities have an additional security deposit you will have to pay upon arrival, and possibly some additional setup costs, including bedding, mattress covers, and other items, depending on the hostel’s regulations. It is best to plan for some expenses in cash for this upon arrival, as having these expenses ready in advance makes settling in China much easier.
Books and Course Materials
Tuition fees rarely include the cost of books, and, when pursuing an MBBS, there are many course materials that one will have to purchase separately, including lab coats, dissection kits, and other relevant equipment. Some will be necessary only once, but some course materials will have to be purchased for each semester.
Money Transfers and Bank Fees
Transferring money from Pakistan to China is an inevitable part of the experience, but it is also one that comes with additional costs. Depending on the particular banks one uses, international transfers may be rather expensive, and it is easy to vastly underestimate these expenses when calculating the overall cost of studies. One should research the transfer options in advance and select the most affordable one, as these costs may add up significantly over the course of five or six years.
The Cost of Flights Between Pakistan and China
Flights between the two countries are not cheap, and their price depends on a variety of factors, including the time of the year and the availability of seats. Most students will attempt to visit their families in Pakistan at least once a year, usually during the summer, and flights should be budgeted for as an annual expense.
Local SIM Cards, Internet, and Transportation
Many small expenses, including a local SIM card, mobile data, and transportation, add up faster than one might expect. It is always advisable to have a separate budget for everyday transportation, as the fares are usually minimal but add up to a considerable sum over the course of a year. The same applies to mobile internet: budgeting for it as a regular monthly expense helps ensure you do not go over budget for the month.
NLE Preparation Materials
As graduation approaches, most students will want to prepare for the National Licensing Examination so that they have a better chance upon taking it in Pakistan. The review books, practice materials, and courses can be rather expensive, and this additional expense should be budgeted for in the last year or two of study.
Unplanned Medical Expenses
Despite being able to use the health insurance most of the time, there are occasional expenses that one may have to cover on their own, especially when a more specialized or expensive procedure is required. It is always best to set aside some money for these kinds of eventualities, as most people will find themselves in a situation where they have to pay for something out of pocket despite having insurance.
A Realistic Budget for Study in China
Each of these expenses on their own is relatively small, but one should remember that all of these will add up to make a considerable addition to the main expenses of tuition and hostel fees. It is best to build an accurate monthly budget based on an estimated tuition and hostel fee and add additional money for transportation and other expenses. Finally, one should plan for an additional 15-20% on top of that for unplanned expenses such as the winter clothes in the first year or another round of document attestation.
The realistic picture of the additional expenses in China is much less daunting than it might seem at first, but it is critical for families to understand it in order to avoid surprises down the road. The more one knows in advance about all expenses, including those that might seem marginal at first glance, the easier it will be to handle them in practice. If you would like a more detailed view of the budget, it is best to get in touch with our team directly, as costs can vary significantly from one university to another and we can walk you through what to expect for your specific choice.