Russia Expands Medical Seats for Indian Students, Adding 2,000 More To Meet Growing Demand
Russia has added 2,000 medical seats for Indian students to its medical institutions, taking the total number to 10,000. The development comes as Russia continues to assert itself as one of the leading destinations for Indian students looking for cost-effective and high-quality medical studies outside India.
Consistent increase in numbers
The leap from 8,000 to 10,000 seats mirrors the increased pattern of Indian students opting for Russia to pursue their medical degrees. According to Valery Khodzhaev, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Chennai, the increase is evidence of Russia's longstanding reputation for providing high-quality medical education.
According to Khodzhaev, "Russia has been the country of choice among Indian medical aspirants for more than 60 years now," during a recent discussion in Chennai. "With reasonable fee levels and internationally recognised degrees, thousands of Indian students continue to enrol each year."
What is unique about Russia, Khodzhaev continued, is that it is fully compatible with India's new National Medical Commission (NMC) standards for foreign medical education. That means diplomas earned in Russia will be recognised in India, providing students with some level of assurance about their credentials.
Scholarship schemes
In addition to adding seats, the Russian government is also extending its annual 100% scholarship scheme, whereby 200 Indian students annually will pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialist courses without having to pay any tuition fee. This step further makes Russia a popular place for students seeking quality education at an affordable rate.
The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Chennai is hosting an All-India Russian Education Fair on May 10 and 11 to assist prospective students. Tiruchirappalli, Salem, and Coimbatore will follow. Universities, including Moscow State Regional University, Kazan State Medical University, and Volgograd State Medical University, will be present at the exhibition. Though medical courses continue to be the pull, the fair will also showcase new areas like biotechnology, AI, and data science.
On-the-Ground Perspectives
Recent graduates and current students shared with FPJ why Russia remains a favoured destination despite challenges.
Pratik Anurag, a recent MBBS graduate from Crimean Federal University, shared, “As many of you know, in India, you have to take an exam for admission into the medical colleges, called the NEET-UG. I too took the same exam; I didn't get good enough marks to get into a government medical college, and my financial status was not strong enough for I to be admitted to a private or a semi-government college. So I started to look for options that I could opt for. And that's how I came across Russia. I looked at many other countries as well, not only Russia. It's just that I felt Russia to be a safer place considering the political connections between India and Russia.”
Sachin Katara, a student from Crimea State Medical University, echoed similar concerns. "Deterrents include the competition for government seats and the exorbitant costs of private colleges in India." Furthermore, questions concerning the system's openness have been raised by the recent NEET UG scandal. Because of the positive ties between India and Russia, I believe Russia is still a secure country despite the present war-related problems.”
A Growing Trend
According to the latest data from the Indian education ministry, the number of Indian students in Russia rose by 34% in 2024, climbing from 23,503 in 2023 to 31,444.
As Russia strengthens its educational ties with India, it is clear that the demand for medical education there is only set to grow, making Russia a reliable and appealing option for Indian medical aspirants.
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