Ajman, UAE: Gulf Medical University (GMU), the flagship institution of Thumbay Group, has announced that admissions for the 2026 intake of the Thumbay International Pathway Program will close soon, offering students a structured route to an internationally awarded medical degree with annual fees starting at approximately ₹16 lakh.
The programme also offers flexible instalment payment options to enrolled students, aimed at making international medical education more accessible.
Three years of study in UAE
Under the Thumbay International Pathway Program, students complete the first three years at Gulf Medical University in Ajman, UAE, where they pursue the CAA-accredited Higher Diploma in Pre-Clinical Sciences (HDPCS).
After successfully meeting the prescribed academic and progression requirements, students can transfer to a selected international partner university for three years of clinical education. According to the programme details, students do not require an additional entrance examination upon progression.
The final medical degree is awarded by the respective partner university.
Multiple international clinical destinations
The programme provides students with an expanding network of international clinical destinations. The destinations listed include Poland, Romania, Malta, Italy, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Ghana and Uzbekistan.
This model allows students to complete their pre-clinical education in the UAE before continuing their clinical training at an international partner university, with the choice of destination depending on the student’s career and licensing objectives.
Priority consideration for Romania residency pathway
One of the major developments associated with the programme is the newly launched Thumbay–UMFST International Residency Pathway Program.
Developed in collaboration with the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș (UMFST), a Romanian public university, the pathway provides eligible medical graduates with priority consideration for residency training in Romania.
Eligible graduates of the Thumbay International Pathway Program can progress from their medical education at GMU towards a guided route to postgraduate medical specialisation in Europe.
The residency pathway covers 49 medical specialties recognised under the Romanian and European healthcare systems. These include:
- 28 clinical medical specialties
- 13 surgical specialties
- 8 paraclinical specialties
The residency training opportunity is subject to eligibility requirements, regulatory approvals, available capacity and the admission policies of the respective institutions.
Programme records nearly a decade of growth
The Thumbay International Pathway Program was launched in 2017 with 27 students. It has since grown to 335 students from more than 45 nationalities enrolled across the three pre-clinical years at Gulf Medical University.
The Poland pathway, offered in partnership with the Medical University of Lublin, has already produced 90 medical graduates, while its tenth student cohort is currently progressing through the programme.
The growth of the programme reflects its focus on providing students with an integrated route combining pre-clinical education in the UAE with clinical education at international partner universities.
Key features of the programme
According to the programme details, key advantages include:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fees | Starting at approximately ₹16 lakh |
| Payment options | Flexible instalment plans |
| Pre-clinical education | Three years at Gulf Medical University, Ajman |
| Qualification | CAA-accredited HDPCS after three years |
| Clinical education | Three years at selected international partner university |
| Entrance examination | No additional entrance examination upon progression, subject to requirements |
| Clinical destinations | Poland, Romania, Malta, Italy, UK, Malaysia, Ghana and Uzbekistan |
| Residency opportunity | Priority consideration for Thumbay–UMFST International Residency Pathway |
| Romania pathway | 49 medical specialties |
| Learning environment | Simulation facilities, early clinical exposure and integrated academic healthcare system |
Admissions for 2026 intake closing soon
Applications for the upcoming 2026 intake are currently open, with admissions closing soon. Students and parents can obtain information about admission requirements, fees, instalment plans and available clinical destinations from Gulf Medical University’s admissions team.
The programme combines pre-clinical education in the UAE with international clinical training and provides eligible graduates with a potential route towards postgraduate residency training in Romania.
However, progression to partner universities and residency training remains subject to successful completion of academic requirements, eligibility criteria, regulatory approvals, available capacity and the admission policies of the respective institutions.
For students considering an international medical education pathway, the programme offers a structured model that begins at Gulf Medical University in Ajman and can lead to clinical education abroad, while eligible graduates may also receive priority consideration for the newly established Romania residency pathway.
Admissions: [email protected]
Romania residency pathway enquiries: [email protected]
Website: Gulf Medical University