Every year, thousands of Indian students look outside India for an MBBS degree, and Russia always makes the shortlist. It’s easy to see why: lower fees, old and respected universities, and solid government support. But as popular as this path is, there’s a lot of misinformation moving around, enough to confuse both students and their parents at a time when they need clarity the most.
Let’s clear up the five biggest myths that keep turning up.
Myth 1: MBBS in Russia Isn’t Valid in India
This one comes up all the time. Parents worry their child’s Russian MBBS degree won’t count back home.
Here’s the truth: A Russian MBBS is valid in India, as long as the student picks an NMC-approved university, cracks NEET before joining, and sticks to the National Medical Commission rules. After graduation, you have to clear the FMGE (or the newer NExT exam) to get your Indian license—just like any other foreign medical grad. So, what matters isn’t the country, but following the rules.
Myth 2: Everything’s in English, So Language Isn’t a Problem
A lot of students think that if the course taught are all is in English, they’ll never have to worry about Russian.
Here’s what really happens: Yes, lectures and books are in English. But when you hit the hospital for clinical training, you’ll work with real patients—and most of them speak only Russian. If you want to take good care of patient’s histories or even just understand what a patient’s saying, you’ll need to pick up basic medical Russian. It is also because most natives don’t know English, or also might be the reason that they can express more in their own language.
h Language isn’t a wall, but if you ignore it, you’ll feel stuck when it matters most.
Myth 3: MBBS Abroad Is Easier Academically
People often think MBBS outside India is a walk in the park compared to Indian colleges.
Let’s get real: Russian medical universities don’t mess around. There are regular internal tests, practicals, vivas, and final exams. Mess up too often? You can end up repeating a year or, worse, getting kicked out. You need discipline, consistency, and a real habit of self-study—just like you would in India.
Myth 4: FMGE/NExT Is Easy After MBBS Abroad
Some students believe that passing India’s licensing exam (FMGE or NExT) is simple once they have their degree.
That’s just not true. FMGE/NExT is tough and tests your concepts across all subjects. If you only focus on university exams and ignore the FMGE/NExT pattern, you’ll struggle later. The ones who do well start preparing early, keep their basics strong, and revise all the way through—right from year one.
Myth 5: All Russian Medical Universities Are the Same
There’s this idea that any Russian university offering MBBS is pretty much like the next one.
Not even close. Universities differ a lot when it comes to ranking, facilities, professors, hospital links, patient load, and support for international students. Pick the wrong one and you risk poor training and shaky confidence. University selection is honestly one of the biggest choices you’ll make in this whole process.
Conclusion
MBBS in Russia can really be a great option for Indian students—as long as you know what you’re getting into. Don’t fall for any kind of myths. Do your homework properly on regulations, academics, language, and licensing. Pick your university with care and stick with your studies. If you do that, Russia can give you a solid foundation for your medical career.
