National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), as a common and uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET (UG) for admission to undergraduate medical education in all medical institutions. India is home to several good medical colleges across India. NEET (UG) has been a qualifying entrance exam since 2020 for admission to the MBBS/BDS courses in AIIMS and JIPMER (although such Medical Institutions are governed under separate Statutes), as per the provisions under Section 14 (1) of the NMC Act (2019).
There is currently a great demand for medical education amongst students in India; this is evident as more than 22 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET exam 2025 at 5468 different Centres located in 552 Cities throughout the country and 14 Cities outside India on May 4, 2025. Owing to the high level of competition and limited number of seats available, many students begin seeking alternative ways to study Medicine overseas, such as in Russia, one of the most popular choices for Indian students.
In view of this, thousands of international students travel abroad to obtain an MBBS and MD degree each year; Russia is one of the top three destinations for international students, along with China and the Philippines. According to the NavBharat Times Hindi report, Students from India have been studying Medicine in Russia for decades. As of 2024, there are more than 31,000 Indian students enrolled at various institutions throughout Russia; over 21,000 of these students are studying Medicine or a related field.
Numerous universities in Russia are well-known and highly regarded. Among them are Lomonosov Moscow State University, Saint Petersburg University, and Kazan State Medical University. All three of these institutions have received the approval of the WHO and NMC, thereby allowing graduates of these schools to also sit for the FMGE exam upon completion of studies.
“As per the regulations, “An Indian citizen / Overseas citizen of India possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India who is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with Medical Council of India or any State Medical Council on or after 15.03.2002 shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority for that purpose as per the provisions of section 13 of the Act,” reads the information bulletin of NMC FMGE.
When studying overseas, the most significant obstacle that most students encounter is often a language barrier. Fortunately, many medical institutions throughout Russia provide programmes taught in English. This allows students to comprehend their courses much more easily than if they were taught in Russian. In addition, these universities provide high-quality education.
An individual wanting to attend an Indian Private Medical College to earn a Medical Degree would have to spend at least Rs 1 crore (rupees). Whereas, in Russia, you can obtain your Medical Degree for approximately Rs 2.70 lakhs to Rs 4 lakhs yearly. Additionally, the living expenses, including food, are much lower compared to India.
The above-mentioned factors are three reasons many Indian students travel each year to Russia to obtain their medical degree. The increasing number of Indians studying medicine in Russia has resulted in the Russian Government providing many scholarships to Indians.
Why is Russia a popular choice for Indian MBBS students?
There is currently a great demand for medical education amongst students in India; this is evident as more than 22 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET exam 2025 at 5468 different Centres located in 552 Cities throughout the country and 14 Cities outside India on May 4, 2025. Owing to the high level of competition and limited number of seats available, many students begin seeking alternative ways to study Medicine overseas, such as in Russia, one of the most popular choices for Indian students.
In view of this, thousands of international students travel abroad to obtain an MBBS and MD degree each year; Russia is one of the top three destinations for international students, along with China and the Philippines. According to the NavBharat Times Hindi report, Students from India have been studying Medicine in Russia for decades. As of 2024, there are more than 31,000 Indian students enrolled at various institutions throughout Russia; over 21,000 of these students are studying Medicine or a related field.
Why is the cost of studying in Russia lower compared to India?
Numerous universities in Russia are well-known and highly regarded. Among them are Lomonosov Moscow State University, Saint Petersburg University, and Kazan State Medical University. All three of these institutions have received the approval of the WHO and NMC, thereby allowing graduates of these schools to also sit for the FMGE exam upon completion of studies.
“As per the regulations, “An Indian citizen / Overseas citizen of India possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India who is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with Medical Council of India or any State Medical Council on or after 15.03.2002 shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority for that purpose as per the provisions of section 13 of the Act,” reads the information bulletin of NMC FMGE.
When studying overseas, the most significant obstacle that most students encounter is often a language barrier. Fortunately, many medical institutions throughout Russia provide programmes taught in English. This allows students to comprehend their courses much more easily than if they were taught in Russian. In addition, these universities provide high-quality education.
An individual wanting to attend an Indian Private Medical College to earn a Medical Degree would have to spend at least Rs 1 crore (rupees). Whereas, in Russia, you can obtain your Medical Degree for approximately Rs 2.70 lakhs to Rs 4 lakhs yearly. Additionally, the living expenses, including food, are much lower compared to India.
The above-mentioned factors are three reasons many Indian students travel each year to Russia to obtain their medical degree. The increasing number of Indians studying medicine in Russia has resulted in the Russian Government providing many scholarships to Indians.