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Is a Russian MBBS Degree Valid in India? A Guide for Indian Students
Since many years I have been helping Indian students in their MBBS Abroad journey. Most students always ask me, “Is Russian MBBS Degree valid in India?” I have sent lots of Indian students to study MBBS in Russia, so I know how it works in India if you do it right.
The simplest answer to the question above is yes, a Russian MBBS degree in valid in India. But there is more to it, you need to understand the whole process of how it works, from choosing the right college to getting the license to practice in India. In this article, we’ll cover it everything.
You should know this. Some students do good, some don’t. Knowing how to do it makes it easier.
Why Russia Good for MBBS?
Why Russia Good for MBBS? There are plenty of reasons why russia is one of the best choices of doing MBBS Abroad. But remember your first choice should always be India, if you’re eligible or can afford to do MBBS in private indian medical universities, go ahead take admission there but do research well before choosing the which private university to get admission in.
So we were talking about why russia is good for MBBS, let me give a quick overview:
- It’s Affordable
- Curriculum is in English
- Quality Education
If you want to learn more about it…click here
In order to understand, how Russian MBBS degree can be valid in India, you’ll need to know the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines.
NMC Rules for MBBS Outside: What You Gotta Know
When I help my students prepare for their MBBS journey in Russia, I always say follow NMC guidelines. Here’s the NMC guidelines explained in the simplest way.
Course Duration:
Your MBBS course duration should be at least 54 months. Most Russian Medical Universities follow this guideline so don’t worry about that. But still just to be safe, do your research before choosing a university.
Internship Requirement:
You’ll have to do 12 months of Internship working in hospitals at the same medical university, you did MBBS graduation from. One of my students, Rakesh, he went to Kazan State Medical University, he did his internship in a top hospital affiliated with the university, which is important because the NMC doesn’t accept internships done somewhere else. Doing it all in one place makes sure you learn consistent practical training.
Tip: Make sure to choose a medical university who has it’s own hospital or affiliated with one of the top hospitals.
Curriculum Compliance:
Most of the Russian medical universities teaches all the mandatory subjects listed in the Schedule-I of the NMC guidelines. I always check this before I recommend a medical university to any of my students. Make sure you check it too.
Language of Instruction:
Russian medical universities teach MBBS course in English, which is really great. But I always tell my students to learn Russin language as soon as possible. Not for tests, but for when you work with patients during your clinical rotations. I have seen students feel more confident when they can talk to patients in their language, improves their learning experience. But you need to learn the Russian language till you reach the end of your course, which most students do anyways. I’ll explain the reason in the next point.
Foreign License Requirement:
Once you complete your MBBS Graduation, the degree you receive by Russian medical universities includes the registration number of the competent Russian authority. However, to practice in Russia, students must pass an accreditation examination, which is taken in Russian language.
Once you pass this exam, you’ll receive a certificate of medical practice license in Russia. This is a very important step if you plan to practice medicine in India, because according to the NMC guidelines, you need to have the licence to practice medicine in the country you’re doing MBBS graduation from.
Which means if you’re doing MBBS from Russia, you need to give their licensing exam which they take in Russian language, and then only you’re MBBS degree will be considered valid in India. So, in short, learn Russian as soon as possible.
This is one of the main disadvantages of doing MBBS in Russia, students often struggle to learn the Russian language because there is so much already on their plate. But don’t worry every MBBS university in Russia teach Russian language in the first year. Also, you can do additional Russian language course, which will speed up your learning process.
Tip: At Debora Education, we conduct special online classes to teach Russian language to our students, so they have one less thing to worry about.
Learn more disadvantages of doing MBBS in Russia.
NExT or FMGE Exam:
When students come back to India, they have to pass either NExT or FMGE. The NExT is gonna replace FMGE soon, but both tests make sure students who got MBBS degree from abroad, has enough knowledge to practice medicine in India. It’s hard, but if you study well, you can do it.
Additional Internship in India:
Even after you pass the NExT or FMGE test, you’ll have to do another 12 months of internship in India. I tell my students to do their internship in an NMC recognized hospital. This helps students to learn how Indian health care system works, cause it’s different from Russian system.
What the Indian Gazette Says About Russian MBBS Degrees
I always tell the parents to read the Indian Gazette because it states the official requirements for foreign medical degrees, like Russia. According to the 2021 guidelines:
- MBBS course must be 54 months, then 12 months of internship.
- The degree must be taught in English, and curriculum must match Indian standards. (For ex. Should include all the mandatory subjects)
- You must get a license to practice in the country where you studied, like Russia, before you apply in India.
The Gazette also says that the entire course and internship must be completed in the same university and country. I have seen students get stuck cause they didn’t follow this part, so make sure you know this part.
The Russian Embassy’s View on Indian Students
When I went to Russia, I talked to people who work for Russia at Russian Embassy. They said Russian medical universities comply with NMC regulations and fully support Indian students. I have seen how they take care of Indian students, from helping them to get comfy to making sure they are ready for clinical rotations.
Russian medical universities have tailored their programs to suit Indian students, and lots of Indian students study there, so it’s easier to fit in. Many hostels even offer Indian food, which sounds small, but lots of parents thank me for that!
Tips for Kids Who Wanna Go
Let me tell you some good ideas I learned:
Research Universities Thoroughly:
Institutions like Kazan State Medical University and Tver State Medical University have great reputations and many successful Indian doctors have come out from there.
Prepare for FMGE/NExT Early:
Don’t wait till last year to study for these exams. I tell my students to start studying for the FMGE or NExT in third year. Many of my students who did this, passed in the first try.
Stay Updated with Regulatory Changes:
The rules and tests, like changing from FMGE to NExT, are changing. I tell the parents and my students to be updated on the latest regulations, whenever rules change, you should know it too. This can stop you from getting surprised later.
Conclusion
A Russian MBBS degree is valid in India, but you need to do your research well and carefully plan your MBBS journey. And always stick to NMC guidelines. I’ve helped many of my students guiding towards their medical journey. Always remember, this ain’t just about studying in another country; it’s about being a good doctor later, and everything you do matters.
If a car mechanic screws up, it doesn’t matter that much but if you do, someone can lose their life or can suffer their entire life just by one mistake. So, make sure you give your best and make our country proud!
Final Tip
If you thinking of doing MBBS from Russia, I have a one step solution for you. Let us do all the work, you don’t have worry about anything, we’ll take care of everything. From admission, visa to settling you down in russis and taking care of you for 6 years. Join the Debora Education family now! And let us worry about everything.
