Why study in Russia?
Most Indian students who go to Russia study General Medicine, the Russian equivalent of an MBBS. It is a six-year 'Specialist' degree, and a number of medical universities teach it in English. Russia also offers English-taught master's degrees in data science, AI, engineering and business.
If you plan to practise in India, the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 apply. The course must last at least 54 months and be taught in English, followed by a 12-month internship at the same foreign university. You must also be eligible for a licence to practise in Russia, and you must have qualified NEET-UG. NMC does not endorse any list of foreign universities, so check each programme against these rules before you pay.
Patients in Russia speak Russian, so you will need to learn the language for clinical training. Graduates sit a Russian-language accreditation exam to get a licence to practise in Russia. Study visas are issued against an invitation that your university requests from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- English-medium General Medicine at universities such as Sechenov, Pirogov, Kazan Federal and Bashkir State Medical
- Published annual fees for 2026–27 from about ₽653,400 (Kazan Federal) to ₽1,300,000 (Sechenov)
- English-taught master's degrees in data science, AI and management at HSE and ITMO
- Full-time students on state-accredited programmes can work in their free time without a work permit
- Russian Government quota scholarships and university schemes such as RUDN's Open Doors can cover tuition
Popular universities in Russia
Sechenov University
Moscow · General Medicine taught in Russian and English
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Moscow · General Medicine in English, 350 fee-paying places
RUDN University
Moscow · English-medium General Medicine and master's degrees
Kazan Federal University
Kazan · English-taught medicine, IT and business degrees
Bashkir State Medical University
Ufa · General Medicine in Russian or English
HSE University
Moscow · English-taught master's in data science and business
ITMO University
St Petersburg · English-taught master's in AI and big data
Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University
St Petersburg · English-taught business and engineering degrees
Popular programmes
- General Medicine (MBBS equivalent)
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Data Science and Machine Learning
- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
- Software Engineering
- International Business and Management
- Petroleum Engineering
Courses from our Course Finder
General Medicine
Sechenov University · Moscow · MBBS / Medicine · 6 years
General Medicine (profile: Practical Medicine) using an intermediary language (English)
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University · Moscow · MBBS / Medicine · 6 years
General Medicine (in English)
Kazan Federal University · Kazan · MBBS / Medicine · 6 years
General Medicine
Bashkir State Medical University · Ufa · MBBS / Medicine · 6 years
General Medicine (in English)
RUDN University · Moscow · MBBS / Medicine · 6 years
Software Engineering (Digital Product Development)
Kazan Federal University · Kazan · Bachelor’s · 4 years
Cost of studying: financial breakdown
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| General Medicine (MBBS) tuition | ₽490,080–1,300,000 / yrEnglish-medium, 2026–27 published fees; Bashkir to Sechenov |
| Undergraduate tuition (non-medical) | ₽379,452–579,000 / yrKazan Federal and ITMO, 2026–27 |
| Postgraduate tuition | ₽341,220–850,000 / yrEnglish-taught master's, 2026–27 |
| Accommodation | ₽1,400–5,500 / monthITMO dormitory rates, 2026–27; private rooms cost more |
| Food | From about ₽10,000 / monthITMO student survey, St Petersburg |
| Health insurance | About ₽4,000–6,000 / yrVoluntary medical insurance plans listed by HSE for 2026–27 |
| Student visa fee | Set by the consulateCharged on a reciprocal basis; confirm when you book |
Typical tuition in rupees: ≈ ₹4–15 lakh per year (European Central Bank and Bank of Russia reference rates, 9 October 2026).
Application checklist
- 1Qualify NEET-UG (the result is valid for three years for study abroad)
- 2Check the programme meets NMC FMGL 2021 rules: 54+ months, English medium, 12-month internship at the same university
- 3Class 12 marksheet and certificate meeting Indian MBBS eligibility rules
- 4Passport valid for at least 18 months from the start of your visa
- 5Signed study contract and admission letter from the university
- 6Invitation issued by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (requested by your university)
- 7HIV-negative certificate (valid for three months)
- 8Completed online visa application form and photographs
- 9Health insurance policy for Russia
- 10Budget for a Russian-language course alongside your studies
Student visa: Study visa (ordinary study visa)
Indian students need a study visa to enrol at a Russian university. Your university asks the Ministry of Internal Affairs to issue an invitation, and you then apply at a Russian embassy, consulate or visa centre in India. Apply well before your course starts, as the invitation must be issued first.
What you’ll need
- Passport valid for at least 18 months from the start of the visa
- Completed electronic visa application form
- Photograph (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
- Original invitation (paper or a printout of the electronic invitation) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Certificate showing you are HIV-negative, valid for three months
- Consular fee
Work and employment options
- While you study
- Full-time students on state-accredited programmes can work in their free time without a work permit or patent (rule in force since 2020).
- After you graduate
- There is no dedicated post-study work visa. The permit-free work rule applies only while you study, and the job contract ends when you finish or stop your course. MBBS graduates who want to practise in India return to take the NMC screening test (or NExT, once it applies) and a 12-month supervised internship in India.
- To practise in Russia, medical graduates must pass an accreditation exam held in Russian
- To practise in India, foreign medical graduates must pass the NMC screening test or NExT
- India also requires a 12-month supervised internship in India, on top of the one completed abroad
- HSE's English-taught master's degrees hold Russian state accreditation
- Permit-free part-time work during study lets you gain local experience before graduating
Good to know: Russian General Medicine degrees include clinical rotations within the six years, but NMC rules require a 12-month internship in addition to the course, at the same university. NMC does not endorse any foreign university, so ask each one in writing how its course and internship meet FMGL 2021 before you pay. Kazan Federal says its English-taught programmes do not qualify for scholarships.
Scholarships to explore
- Russian Government quota scholarships, applied for through education-in-russia.com
- RUDN 'Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project' Olympiad: free tuition for winners (master's and PhD)
- HSE University scholarships and tuition fee waivers on selected English-taught master's degrees
- ITMO University fee-free places through the Russian Government scholarship
Official sources · checked 10 October 2026
- National Medical Commission: FAQs on FMGL Regulations 2021 (opens in a new tab)
- National Medical Commission: For Students to Study Abroad (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Moscow: General information for prospective Indian medical students (opens in a new tab)
- Consular Department, Russian MFA: Visas to enter Russia (opens in a new tab)
- President of Russia: Simplified employment for full-time foreign students (6 Feb 2020) (opens in a new tab)
- ITMO University: Cost of Living (2026–27) (opens in a new tab)
Figures are indicative planning ranges and change often. Always confirm fees, funds and visa rules on the university and official government websites before you apply.