The amicable and cordial relationship between India and Russia has proved to be advantageous for Indian medical aspirants for many years in a row. Among all the popular countries to study MBBS abroad for Indian students, Russia always tops the list. The country is always on its toes to help India in any way whatsoever like subsidizing the cost of studying medicine in Russia for Indian students. MBBS in Russia is undoubtedly a growing opportunity for Indian medical aspirants aspiring to become global doctors. More than 20,000 Indian students are studying medicine in Russia and chasing their dreams of becoming excellent doctors.
What is driving Indian medical aspirants to seek opportunities elsewhere?
India is one of the top countries where the population of medical aspirants is on the rise. On the contrary, Indian medical colleges fail to accommodate all the NEET UG pass-outs in the MBBS course due to a scarcity of medical seats and the requirement of a high NEET score. The fierce competition among Indian students to enter the medical field and the exorbitant MBBS fees of private medical colleges urge most Indian medical aspirants to join the medical universities or colleges of other countries. The promise of magnificent international exposure and high-quality medical education by Russian medical universities motivate thousands of medical aspirants from India to take MBBS admission in Russia and have a bright medical career.
Medical Education in Russia
The right way of becoming a successful doctor is to attain good medical education that is a combination of good medical knowledge with hands-on clinical experience. Russian medical universities stand out for meeting international standards and imparting excellent quality medical education through highly-intellectual faculty members to their medical students. The robust academic infrastructure and vast practical and international exposure at the top medical universities in Russia have always attracted medical aspirants from worldwide.
The major highlights of medical education in Russia for Indian students include:
1. Academics at par with UK, US, & Europe
As Russia is a popular country to study medicine for international students, the curriculum of MBBS in Russia is designed after a deep analysis of the MBBS curricula of India, the UK, the US, and Europe. This is the reason why all the best Russian medical universities are recognized and accredited by WDOMS, ECFMG, FAIMER, NMC, and medical councils of various countries of the world.
The MBBS curriculum of Russian medical universities is a culmination of the best features of the syllabus and study patterns of these countries so that international medical students do not feel refrained when they join the healthcare sectors of these countries. All international standards relating to the study of medicine are observed and followed by the top medical universities in Russia to impart top-tier medical education to their students.
2. Advanced academic infrastructure
Medical universities in Russia are well-known for their robust academic infrastructure that is always developing. India is still behind Russia in terms of academic infrastructure and technology. Right from the classrooms to the laboratories, the medical faculties use modern teaching methods and strategies like audio-visual aids to teach their students. Cutting-edge technology like visual cadaver tables is available at most Russian universities to impart anatomy and physiology classes.
3. Simulation centers
Simulation centers are a new feature at Russian medical universities in which promobots are used to educate medical students in patient handling and treatment. Students of MBBS in Russia perform treatments on human robots equipped with simulations to show the reaction of their treatments. Working at simulation centers enhances the educational and communication skills of the students with patients.
4. Highly-intellectual faculty
To maintain the quality of medical education, all medical universities in Russia only hire highly-qualified, experienced, and professional faculty members. They are either doctors, researchers, or scientists and doing well in their field. They are well-versed in Russian and English language to teach international students and are capable of resolving all their doubts. Even for the FMGE/NExT preparation, Russian medical universities invite renowned Indian doctors and faculties to deliver coaching classes on this medical licensing exam.
5. Practical approach
Medical education in Russia is more practical-based rather than just theoretical medical knowledge. Medical students spend more time in laboratories and clinical hospitals rather than in classrooms to enhance their practical skills in medicine. In Russia, they perform practical experiments in the laboratories from the first year along with theory classes and gain immense practical knowledge and skills by the time they pass out as medical graduates.
Whereas in India, the medical colleges focus more on widening the theory-based medical knowledge of students and practical training comes at a very later stage.
6. Summer observership program
During the summer vacations, Indian students get the opportunity to participate in summer observership programs at the top government or private hospitals in Russia or India. Summer observership programs are an essential part of the MBBS curriculum in Russia during which Indian students observe nurses, doctors’ helpers, specialized doctors, and ambulance services and grow their knowledge about working in hospitals. It is usually conducted during the summer vacations of the first and second years.
Medical students can enroll for summer observership programs in the Russian hospitals affiliated with their medical universities for free or get a paid observership program in India.
7. English-medium MBBS course
One of the biggest advantages of studying MBBS in Russia is the English-medium medical course for international students. Medical universities in Russia have a large majority of foreign students from India, Canada, Nepal, Australia, etc., studying medicine in Russia. English is the most common language spoken by all the medical students at Russian universities and making English the medium of teaching can enhance their learning experience in Russia. Highly-qualified English-speaking faculties and professors are hired by Russian medical universities for the convenience of international students.
8. Russian language
The Russian language is introduced to international students studying MBBS in Russia from the first year of the course. It is a part of the MBBS course in Russia and it is mandatory to clear the subject in the exams. It is a fact that Russian is the fifth most spoken language in the world and learning the language can only enhance your portfolio. Learning the Russian language during your MBBS in Russia will help you in communicating with Russian patients during clinical rotations.
9. Clinical rotations at top hospitals
Apart from the practical exposure which students gain during the first five years of their MBBS in Russia, they get to work in the top hospitals of Russia under the supervision and guidance of the best doctors during their clinical internships. Russian medical universities aim to create world-class doctors having the right balance of theoretical and practical knowledge of medicine and provide the best medical treatment to their patients. During the one-year clinical rotation, medical students get hands-on practical experience that immensely contributes to their medical career.
10. FMGE/NExT coaching
The top medical universities in Russia with a good majority of Indian students organize on-campus FMGE/NExT classes to help them in clearing this medical licensing exam after their MBBS in Russia. These classes are taken by the best Indian doctors and professors with years of experience to ensure good FMGE results. The students of Russian medical universities like Orenburg State Medical University, Perm State Medical University, and Mari State University cleared the FMGE exam in the first attempt in the FMGE December 2022 session. The FMGE passing percentage of these universities in the last session was about 50%.
Top Medical Universities in Russia
The quality of medical education you will get will completely depend on the Russian medical university selected. Russia is home to some of the world’s best universities to study medicine abroad where top-tier medical education meets your budget.
1. Orenburg State Medical University
Orenburg State Medical University is a 79-year-old medical university in Russia that has been continuously evolving its academic infrastructure for the benefit of medical students worldwide. It offers a well-designed MBBS curriculum in English for international students comprising theoretical and practical knowledge of medicine. The university is home to over 1200 Indian students currently pursuing their dream careers in Russia. The language of instruction of the MBBS course is English for international students. The excellent quality of medical education at this university has got various recognitions from global statutory bodies making its medical degree accepted worldwide.
2. Perm State Medical University
Over 107-year-old medical university in Russia, Perm State Medical University has been a top choice for Indian students aspiring to be global doctors. The Russian medical university stands out for its world-class and cutting-edge academic infrastructure such as hi-tech classrooms, simulation centers, and well-equipped laboratories. The teaching faculty is highly-qualified and experienced to impart good-quality medical education to students. Currently, there are more than 1500 Indian students studying medicine at Perm State Medical University.
Mari State University is a 50-year-old classical university in Russia that is worldwide renowned for its top-quality medical education and innovative infrastructure. The university in Russia aims to produce global doctors through its pragmatic approach to medical education. It has advanced classrooms, resourceful libraries, innovative laboratories, and a simulation center to impart excellent quality medical education.
The Ending Words
The top-tier medical education and affordable fee structure make MBBS in Russia a top choice for Indian students. Russian medical universities are always on the edge to incorporate new advancements in medical technologies to facilitate the best medical education in Russia for Indian students. Every student facility is taken care of at all the top medical universities of Russia like the hostel accommodation, mess arrangements, extracurricular activities, etc., to make medical studies in Russia memorable and remarkable in every way possible.
