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Due to increased competition in the admission of medical seats in India and spiralling tuition fees, an increasing number of Indian students are opting for imported medical education, like Russia, at affordable pocket pocket-friendly rates.
In response to an increased need, Russian universities expanded their Indian students by 2,000 spots this coming academic year alone.
This expansion takes the total number of seats available for Indian students in Russian medical colleges from 8,000 to 10,000. With Russia emerging as a leading destination for MBBS aspirants, it offers a viable alternative that is in line with the guidelines of the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India and the Foreign Medical Graduate Licence (FMGL) Regulations, 2021.
MBBS Study Abroad and NMC Accredited Medical Courses
For Indian students, the price of private medical education in the country, which ranges around ₹1 crore, acts as an obstacle. The same degree at a fraction of the price of India's Russian universities ranges from about ₹15-20 lakh for the full course of six years. These programs comply with the NMC and also prepare students to be ready for FMGE, which is a compulsory test of licensing in India.
The average FMGE pass rate for Indian graduates from Russia is 20-25%, a promising figure that adds to the appeal.
Growing interest and a growing Indian student community
A spokesperson for the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Chennai revealed that Russia plans to host 5,00,000 international students by 2030, up from the current 3,89,000. In 2023 alone, nearly 8,000 new student visas were issued to Indian nationals, taking the total number of Indian students in Russia to around 30,000.
Universities like Volgograd State Medical University have increased capacity, from 140 to 350 seats for Indian students, while others like Kazan State Medical University and Far Eastern Federal University are following suit.
The spokesperson adds, “Russian medical universities are expanding their capacity to accommodate Indian students. For example, Volgograd State Medical University has increased its intake for Indian students from 140 in 2024 to 350 seats at present. Similar trends are observed at Kazan State Medical University, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Baltic Immanuel Kant Federal University, Far Eastern Federal University, Moscow Aviation University, and others.”
Student Experience: Challenges and Support
Dr. Sparsh Rawat, a recent MBBS graduate from Russia’s Mari State University, chose the country over private Indian colleges because of affordability.
“A school senior told me that MBBS in Russia was more affordable, so I chose to study there. My total fees for six years in Russia were about Rs 15 lakhs, whereas private colleges in India cost nearly Rs 1 crore in 2017. I knew I would face challenges like clearing the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) and completing an internship, but I was willing to take the risk instead of spending crores in India,” he said to the Education Times.
Dr. Rawat stresses the need for self-discipline and focused study to clear the FMGE. He also highlighted how some Russian universities help Indian students by offering classes in Hindi and arranging guest lectures by Indian doctors.
Dr Rawat adds, “After completing MBBS in Russia, one needs to focus on passing the FMGE. It demands rigorous self-study while completing the course abroad. Indian FMGs must focus on topics relevant to India, such as diseases prevalent here, which differ from Russia’s disease profile. However, some universities assist Indian students by offering instruction in Hindi and inviting Indian experts for guest lectures. Similar support is also available in countries like Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Georgia.”
Systemic cracks send students abroad.
The All FMG Association (AFA) President, Dr. Kaushal, stresses the systemic failures in Indian medical education. NEET, a fierce competition of over 20 lakhs against only 1.18 lakhs seats, acceptance rate continues to be abysmal. Left States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are extracting all available seats, most vulnerable States are Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
This disparity magnifies the boomscribs industry, valued at ₹58,000 crore and growing 15% annually, which pushes a good chunk of students to either not join their prep year or to go abroad.
Russia’s edge in global medical education
Russia, with its 60 medical universities and over 600 higher education institutions, offers not only affordability but also a comprehensive learning experience.
The spokesperson says, “Indian students traditionally have been interested in studying Medicine, which aligns with NMC norms. Students begin learning the Russian language from the first year, which is crucial for patient interaction and clinical practice.”
The organized support and growing Indian community make it a great choice for MBBS aspirants seeking quality education abroad.
Reference:
1. Gupta, Ayushi. “NEET 2025: Rising Competition, Exorbitant Tuition Fees Push Indian Students to Medical Colleges in Russia.” Education Times, May 26, 2025. https://www.educationtimes.com/article/campus-beat-college-life/99738476/neet-2025-rising-competition-exorbitant-tuition-fees-push-indian-students-to-medical-colleges-in-russia.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)
