Hainan Medical University The building of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is a landmark strategic move, personally conceived, designed, and advocated by General Secretary Xi Jinping. This ambitious project demonstrates that China continues to deepen its reform and opening-up drive in the new era, and strategically integrates with domestic needs and international trends.
About Hainan Medical University
In April 2022, when on an official tour of inspection to Hainan, General Secretary Xi Jinping directed expediting the building of a Free Trade Port with Chinese features that exercises worldwide influence. Such a vision implies turning Hainan into an exemplar of China’s policies of reform and a prosperous example of the country’s special development path, providing it with a central mission for the overall socio-economic transformation in the nation.
At the core of this grand vision lies a strong and innovative healthcare system underpinned by high-quality education institutions. With HMU being the sole public medical university in Hainan Free Trade Port, it is pivotal in making this vision a reality. Not only does the university become a pillar supporting the province’s higher medical education and research but also a root pillar in the establishment of an elite healthcare system for the nation based on national priorities, such as the “Healthy China” and maritime power strategies.
Hainan Medical University – Table of Contents
- About
- Advantages
- Ranking
- Departments And Course Duration
- Facilities And Infrastructure
- Fee Structure
- Required Documents
- Eligibility Criteria
- Admission Process
- Benefits
- Privileges And Benefits for Indian students
- FAQ’s
The FTP preferential policies and advantageous location of HMU are carefully used to underpin healthcare, marine economy growth, and safety for the South China Sea. It is also strongly devoted to enlarging the scale and influence of tropical medicine studies, in keeping with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the aspiration to create a “Community of Shared Future for Human Health” in Southeast Asia.
Located in Haikou, the tropical coastal capital city of Hainan Province and lovingly referred to as the “Coconut City,” HMU boasts a long history since the Haiqiang School of Medical and Technical Studies (1947) and the Private Hainan University Medicine College (1948). Now, the university runs three campuses: Chengxi (main campus), Guilinyang (new campus), and Longhua, with a total area of 1,416.71 mu. Inspired by the motto “Be Honest, Be Rigorous, Be Erudite, Be Harmonious,” the university is characterized by a culture of self-perfection, harmony, and constant pursuit of excellence.

Since its inception, HMU has nurtured over 70,000 graduates, and it was one of the first few universities in China chosen as pilot institutions for the Excellent Doctor Education Program. It is also a crucial institution in the Ministry of Education’s reform for undergraduate medical education and has been awarded as a high-level university with unique features in Hainan Province, and it has a leading role in running the National Emergency Medical Rescue Team (Hainan).
With an emphasis on local applicability and scholarly excellence, HMU adopts a high-quality development model. It has built a multi-layered, multi-level talent training system that involves undergraduate, postgraduate, international, continuing, and adult education. It currently has 15,301 full-time students, 12,397 of whom are undergraduates and 2,001 of whom are postgraduate students. Its students have won awards in 32 national and international contests, including the National Pharmaceutical Innovation Competition, International Physiology Quiz, and National Mathematical Contest in Modeling. HMU has 11,816 faculty and staff members, 1,233 of whom are full-time academic staff, of which 806 are stationed on the main campus. Remarkably, 481 of the faculty members are senior professional titles, 166 are full professors, and more than 54% have doctoral degrees.
Hainan Medical University Accreditations, Affiliations, Recognitions
The university boasts one member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, three National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and 21 national-level talents. Scholarship-wise, HMU provides 36 undergraduate programs in four big majors: medicine, science, management, and engineering. It has five national first-class undergraduate program construction bases, two nationally outstanding majors, and three nationally first-class courses.
The university accommodates three affiliated hospitals—the Affiliated Hainan Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital, and the Second Affiliated Hospital—which are all Class-A tertiary hospitals and treat 33.8% of outpatient services and 35.15% of inpatient treatment throughout Hainan. The facilities constitute a key part of the “treatment without leaving the island” healthcare policy. HMU also has 10 non-directly affiliated hospitals and works alongside two provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs). It hosts 21 national key clinical specialties, and its clinical medicine discipline is ranked among the top 0.5% of ESI global rankings. The university now has five doctoral-level disciplines and 15 master’s level programs.
In innovation and research, HMU takes a strategy of scientific development based on local applicability. It has three Ministry of Education key laboratories, a research center for engineering, and one National Health Commission key laboratory. In the last five years, the university won 283 National Natural Science Foundation grants, initiated 431 provincial-level research programs, and published 10,593 papers, of which 3,011 were SCI-indexed articles.
Remarkably, four papers have been published in the most influential journals in the world: Cell, Nature, and Science. HMU has also received 36 major awards, including six first prizes for the Natural Science Award and Science & Technology Progress Award of Hainan Province. It publishes six all-English academic journals, two of which are internationally recognized SCI- indexed journals specializing in tropical medicine.
The university has a global approach with its “open university strategy.” HMU has entered into strategic alliances with world-renowned institutions, such as the University of Nebraska (USA), University of Basel (Switzerland), Mahidol University (Thailand), University of Hong Kong, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Nanjing Medical University. It co-founded the International Cancer Alliance Center (ICAC) with the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (USA) and Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai. Together with the University of the West of England (UWE), HMU has set up the UWE College of Hainan Medical University, a milestone in Sino-foreign cooperative education.
The university also launched “Belt and Road Tropical Medicine Alliance”, an alliance of 122 institutions in 30 nations and regions, and hosted six successful sessions of the International Tropical Medicine Summit Forum. Marking a giant step in its innovation and reform process, on September 15, 2023, CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and People’s Government of Hainan Province designated the world-acclaimed medical educator, Chinese Academy of Sciences academician and past dean of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, as full-time president of HMU. This was followed by the promulgation of the “Measures of Hainan Provincial People’s Government on Supporting Hainan Medical University to Deepen Reform and High-Quality Development”, which offered increased policy and financial support.
HMU now runs the Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences, marking a revolutionary phase of ambitious reform, innovation, and internationalization. With a stream of internationally oriented, high-caliber scholars and educators, HMU is committed to establishing a world-class university that reflects the medical, educational, and scientific ambitions of the Free Trade Port, eventually becoming a symbol of China’s achievement in global health and education.
Advantages of Studying at Hainan Medical University
Reasonable Tuition Fees:
Hainan Medical University provides affordable and competitive tuition fees relative to most international institutions, promoting its appeal as a quality learning center at affordable cost to international students.
Multicultural Student Population:
The university admits students from different nations, faiths, and cultural backgrounds, thus fostering a lively multicultural learning environment.
Widespread Practical Training Opportunities:
The students acquire hands-on clinical experience by collaborating with partner hospitals locally and abroad, advancing their practical clinical skills and global exposure.
Global Recognition Accreditation:
The institution is accredited both by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), hence international credibility and qualification for worldwide medical practice and advanced studies.
English-Medium Instruction
All medical programs are being taught in English, which is particularly beneficial for foreign students because this allows for easy integration and proper understanding.
No Entrance Examinations:
Admission procedures are made simple with frequently no need for entrance tests, thus making It is easier for foreign applicants to gain admission.
Programs Adapted to Local and Regional Needs:
Educational programs are designed to meet the healthcare needs of Hainan Province and globally, with targeted courses in clinical medicine, preventive medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and pharmacy.
Adherence to Advanced Research and Technology:
The university makes significant investments in advanced medical technologies and research programs, especially in the fields of tropical diseases, public health, and medicinal plant studies, in favor of the world “Belt and Road” health cooperation.
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Hainan Medical University – China Ranking
Hainan Medical University has a rich and evolving history that dates back to 1947, when Lin Xiaohai founded the Haiqiang School of Medical and Technical Studies. In 1948, Tse-ven Soong established the Private Hainan University Medicine College, and by 1951, the two institutions merged to form the Hainan Medical Specialized School.
The institution was renamed Hainan Medical College in 1952, and in 1973, its affiliated hospital was established. By 1977, the college began offering undergraduate medical programs. In 1983, it merged into Hainan University, but in 1993, Hainan Medical University was officially established with approval from the State Education Commission.
A year later, it gained the authority to confer bachelor’s degrees, and by 1996, it successfully passed the national undergraduate teaching evaluation. In 2000, the main campus relocated to Chengxi, and in 2003, the university was permitted to jointly train postgraduate students. International education was initiated in 2006, and efforts to achieve full university status were launched in 2007. In 2013, the university was authorized to offer master’s degree programs, followed by professional master’s programs in 2014.
The integration of Hainan Nongken General Hospital in 2016 and Hainan General Hospital in 2018 expanded the university’s clinical infrastructure, becoming its second affiliated and affiliated hospital respectively. In 2019, the university received approval to offer doctoral programs and was granted two key laboratories by the Ministry of Education.
In 2020, the Haikou Municipal People’s Government allocated land for the development of the new Guilinyang campus. By 2021, the university’s renaming plan was incorporated into Hainan’s 15th Five-Year Plan for higher education. In July 2022, in collaboration with the University of the West of England (UWE), Hainan Medical University established the UWE College, marking a new phase in international academic partnerships.
Departments And Course Duration in Hainan Medical University
Hainan Medical University (HMU), located in Haikou, Hainan Province, offers a comprehensive MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) program tailored for international students. The program is recognized by global medical councils, including the WHO, and is structured to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical clinical experience.
MBBS Program Overview
Duration: 6 years, comprising 5 years of academic study and 1 year of clinical internship.
Medium of Instruction: English. However, students are required to study Chinese during the initial phase to facilitate communication during clinical rotations.
Internship: The final year is dedicated to clinical internship, which can be undertaken either in affiliated hospitals in China or in the student’s home country, subject to university approval.
Degree Awarded: Upon successful completion, students receive an MBBS degree, qualifying them to apply for medical licensing examinations in various countries.
Departments and Curriculum
HMU’s MBBS program encompasses a broad range of departments and courses designed to equip students with a solid foundation in medical sciences and clinical practice:
Basic Medical Sciences:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Clinical Sciences:
- Internal Medicine
- Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Psychiatry
- Dermatology
- Radiology
- Emergency Medicine
Public Health and Preventive Medicine:
- Epidemiology
- Community Medicine
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Health
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
- Introduction to TCM
- Acupuncture
- Herbal Medicine
Language and Communication:
- Medical Chinese
- Medical Ethics
- Doctor-Patient Communication
The curriculum is designed to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the challenges of modern medical practice.
Affiliated Hospitals and Clinical Training
HMU boasts several affiliated hospitals that serve as training grounds for medical students:
First Affiliated Hospital: A comprehensive hospital offering a wide range of medical services.
Second Affiliated Hospital: Specializes in various medical disciplines and provides advanced clinical training.
Affiliated Hainan Hospital: Known for its state-of-the-art facilities and diverse patient population.
These hospitals provide students with hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating patients under the supervision of experienced medical professionals.
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Facilities And Infrastructure in Hainan Medical University – China
Hainan Medical University (HMU) offers a comprehensive and modern campus environment designed to support both academic excellence and student well-being. The university’s infrastructure and facilities cater to a diverse student body, ensuring a conducive atmosphere for learning, research, and personal development.
Campus Infrastructure
Campuses: HMU comprises three campuses: Chengxi (main campus), Guilinyang (new campus), and Longhua.
Academic Buildings: Equipped with state-of-the-art lecture halls, laboratories, and research centers to facilitate advanced medical education and research.
Libraries: The university boasts extensive library resources, including digital databases, providing students and faculty access to a vast array of medical literature and research materials.
Accommodation And Student Living
Dormitories: Student accommodations are designed for comfort and convenience, featuring:
- Private bathrooms and balconies.
- In-room amenities such as air conditioning, desks, wardrobes, and electric kettles.
- 24/7 supply of water and electricity.
Shared Facilities: Each dormitory floor includes:
- Public kitchens equipped with induction cookers, microwaves, and refrigerators.
- Common areas like discussion rooms, meditation rooms, 24-hour study rooms, and group activity rooms.
Convenience Stores And Cafés: On-campus amenities include a supermarket, café, and a 24-hour LAWSON convenience store, ensuring students have easy access to daily necessities.
Medical Facilities
On-Campus Clinic: Located within the student living area, the clinic offers
- General medical consultations.
- Pharmacy services.
- Laboratory testing, physical examinations, physiotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine health care.
Dining Options
Canteens: Multiple dining halls provide a variety of cuisines, catering to diverse dietary preferences.
Cafés And Coffee Shops: Including popular outlets like COTTI COFFEE, offering students comfortable spaces to relax and socialize.
Hostel facilities are separate for boys and girls, with security and amenities suited to Indian culture. Availability of Indian food and multi-cuisine options in the canteen. Supportive International Student Services Dedicated International Students’ Office helps Indian students with:
- Visa renewal, travel support, academic guidance, and health insurance
Laboratories And Research Centers
Advanced Laboratories: HMU houses cutting-edge labs for disciplines such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate research.
Research Initiatives: The university actively engages in research projects, particularly in tropical medicine and public health, contributing to national and international scientific communities.
Sports And Recreation
Sports Facilities: HMU provides various sports amenities, including:
- Basketball and volleyball courts.
- Football fields.
- Indoor gyms and fitness centers.
Extracurricular Activities: Students are encouraged to participate in clubs and organizations that promote cultural exchange, arts, and community service, fostering a well-rounded university experience.
Hainan Medical University – China Fee Structure
Fee Structure Approximately 30 lakhs to 40 lakhs
Required Documents For Admission in Hainan Medical University – China
- Copy of the Passport.
- Copy of Mark sheets and passing certificates of 10th and 12th class.
- Copy of offer letter
- Birth certificate
- Medical certificate
- 10 Passport size photographs
- The Ministry of External Affairs authorizes all the documents.
- Visa fees
- HIV test documents and results
- NOC from the Public Authority
- Address Proof
- Bank statement of parents or guardians
- Health Insurance
- Covid19 Report
Official site For Hainan Medical University: Click Here
Eligibility Criteria For Hainan Medical University – China
- They should have Physics, Biology, and Chemistry as the main subjects of study at the 10+2 level.
- The applicant must have a non-china nationality.
- The age of the applicant must be a minimum of 17 years and maximum of 30 years.
- The applicant must have a good track of academic records.
- The student must be fluent in the English language.
- Students must have completed 10+2 of their education or any equivalent education with a minimum 50% aggregate marks.
Admission Process For Hainan Medical University – China
- Apply on the official portal of the college.
- Fill the admission form on the online portal.
- Send the scanned copies of the documents.
- Get the offer letter and keep it safe for future use.
- Pay registration fees for your desired college.
- Apply for the visa after you have paid the college fees and received the confirmation letter.
- Get the visa to study in China.
- Book a flight to China.
- Fly to China and start attending your lectures.
Get more details about the colleges in China: Click Here
Benefits of Studying in Hainan Medical University – China
1. Affordable Tuition and Cost of Living
HMU offers lower tuition fees compared to many Western and Asian medical universities. The cost of living in Haikou (Hainan’s capital) is relatively low, making it budget-friendly for international students.
2. Multicultural and Inclusive Environment
The university welcomes students from diverse countries, backgrounds, and religions, promoting cross-cultural understanding and global collaboration.
3. English-Medium MBBS Program
HMU offers the MBBS program entirely in English, making it accessible and easier for international students to follow.
4. Hands-On Clinical Experience
Students gain practical training through internships at affiliated hospitals, including exposure to tropical medicine and community health needs. Collaboration with government hospitals in other countries adds global clinical experience.
5. Globally Recognized Degrees
HMU is recognized by the NMC (India), WHO, and other international medical bodies, ensuring that its degrees are valid worldwide. Graduates are eligible to take exams like FMGE/NExT (India), USMLE (USA), PLAB (UK), etc.
6. Modern Facilities And Research Opportunities
The university boasts well-equipped laboratories, research centers, smart classrooms, and technologically advanced infrastructure. Special focus areas include tropical diseases, public health, and traditional Chinese medicine.
7. Comfortable Student Life
HMU provides modern hostel accommodations with international student-friendly amenities, such as 24/7 security, Wi-Fi, study areas, and multi-cuisine canteens. Facilities like gyms, sports areas, and cultural clubs help students lead a balanced life.
8. Strategic Location in Hainan Province
Hainan is known as the “Hawaii of China”, with a tropical climate and high focus on healthcare development. Students benefit from safe surroundings, a clean environment, and public health-driven policy initiatives.
Privileges And Benefits for Indian Students in Hainan Medical University – China
1. NMC Recognition (India)
HMU is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC), allowing Indian students to:
- Sit for the FMGE/NExT licensing exam.
- Practice medicine in India after completing the degree and passing the required exams.
2. English-Medium MBBS Program
The entire MBBS course is taught in English, eliminating the need to learn Mandarin for academic success, which suits Indian students.
3. Affordable Education
Tuition fees and living expenses are more economical than private medical colleges in India or other foreign universities. Offers value-for-money education without compromising quality.
4. Clinical Training in Recognized Hospitals
Indian students benefit from hands-on clinical experience in affiliated hospitals, including:
- Hainan General Hospital (affiliated hospital)
- Hainan Nongken General Hospital
Exposure to both modern and traditional Chinese medicine, enhancing their skillset.
5. Globally Accepted Degree
The MBBS degree from HMU is accepted in countries such as:
- India, UK (PLAB), USA (USMLE), and Australia.
Prepares Indian students for global medical careers.
6. Safe and Comfortable Campus Life
Hostel facilities are separate for boys and girls, with security and amenities suited to Indian culture. Availability of Indian food and multi-cuisine options in the canteen.
7. No Donation or Capitation Fee
Admission is based on merit and eligibility; there are no hidden charges, donations, or capitation fees.
8. Supportive International Student Services
Dedicated International Students’ Office helps Indian students with:
- Visa renewal, travel support, academic guidance, and health insurance.
9. Ideal Environment
Located in Hainan Province, known for its clean air, tropical climate, and peaceful surroundings, offering a stress-free learning environment for Indian students.
FAQ’s
Is Hainan Medical University recognized by the NMC (India) and WHO?
Yes, HMU is recognized by both the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India and the World Health Organization (WHO), making its MBBS degree valid for licensing exams like FMGE/NExT, USMLE, and PLAB.
What are the hostel facilities like?
HMU provides separate hostels for male and female students. Rooms are furnished with beds, study desks, attached bathrooms, air-conditioning, and internet access. Indian food options are available in the canteen.
Are there Indian students currently studying at HMU?
Yes, a significant number of Indian students are currently enrolled, and HMU has established systems to support their academic and cultural needs.
What is the nearest airport to Hainan Medical University?
The university is located in Haikou, Hainan province. The nearest airport is Haikou Meilan International Airport, which has direct connections to major Chinese cities and some international hubs.
Is the MBBS course taught in English at HMU?
Yes, HMU offers a full English-medium MBBS program, designed specifically for international students, including those from India.
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