Abstract: Objective To investigate the learning adaptability and to explore the factors influencing the learning adaptability of medical students in higher medical colleges. Methods The subjects interviewed were full-time undergraduates in a medical college. We used interview method to collect data and analyzed the data by content analysis method. Results The interview results show that senior students had a high learning motivation and enthusiasm, they could reasonably allocate learning time, and master the appropriate learning rhythm. The clinical students met internship pressures because of their unskilled clinical practice, and therefore, thier learning adaptability was relatively poor. The highest number of inadaptabilty was among the low-grade students, and the main reason is that teachers teaching methods did not macch most students' acceptability. Conclusion The adaptability of students in medical colleges and universities is affected by the students' learning ability, teachers' teaching methods, students’specialties, students’friendship, psychological and environmental factors. Learning adaptability education should be focused on the low-grade students.