It is estimated that around 20,000-25,000 [Indian] students go abroad every year to study medicine. But what are the preferred study destinations abroad for these students? China, Russia, Ukraine, Philippines, Poland, and Kyrgyzstan are some of the top countries that come up in online searches for cheap medical education abroad.
China
According to data released by the Indian Embassy in China, more than 23,000 Indian students were enrolled in Chinese universities before the COVID-19 outbreak. Of these, more than 18,000 were pursuing medical degrees.
The Medical Council of India had approved and recognised 45 Chinese universities in 2019 for Indian students to enroll in.
Some of the top institutions that feature in the list are Jilin University, Xinjiang Medical University, and Sichuan University. The enrolment plan for foreign students in these institutes also include classes in English medium.
According to Omkar Medicom, a consultancy for Indian students who want to pursue MBBS abroad, the average cost of medical education in China is between Rs 14 lakh (1 lakh =100.000.000. – InfoBRICS) and Rs 24 lakh for the entire duration of the course.
Russia
Over 16,000 Indian students are currently enrolled in various medical institutions in the Russian Federation, according to the website of the Indian Embassy in Russia.
The MBBS students from Russia are required to register with a State Medical Council (SMC) in order to practice in India after completion of their medical education.
Some of the Russian medical colleges are also approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) that makes these degrees valid in both India and global bodies like the European Council of Medicine.
The fees range between US$4,000 and US$6,000 per year.
