What MBBS in Russia actually costs
Most websites show you a first-year tuition figure. That is not what you will spend. Below is every cost head over six years, and a calculator that lets you build your own number.
Six-year cost calculator
Pick a university, set your living standard, and see the full figure. Everything updates instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.
Your six-year estimate
Indicative only. Tuition is revised by universities, the exchange rate moves, and remittance charges add a little on top. Treat this as a planning figure, never as a quotation.
Get the real fee structure on WhatsAppCosts that never appear in a brochure
None of these are large on their own. Together they are two to three lakh rupees you did not plan for.
Apostille & translation
Every Indian certificate must be apostilled and then translated and notarised in Russia. Budget for both ends.
Migration registration
Renewed each time you re-enter Russia. Small fee, big consequences if it lapses.
Annual visa extension
Your student visa is extended every year. It is routine, but it is not free and it is not automatic.
Medical insurance
Compulsory, renewed annually, and required for visa extension.
Winter clothing
A serious coat, boots and thermals in the first month. Not optional in Siberia — this is a genuine expense.
Remittance charges
Sending money to Russia now involves more steps and more fees than it used to. Ask us how it works today before you assume.
Books & equipment
Stethoscope, lab coat, dissection kit, textbooks. Mostly first and second year.
FMGE / NExT coaching
Serious preparation costs money whether you do it in Russia or after returning. Plan for it from year three, not year six.
Russia versus a private medical college in India
This is the comparison most families are actually making, so here it is without spin.
| Private college in India | State university in Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total cost | ₹60 lakh – ₹1.5 crore+ | ₹30 – 55 lakh |
| Donation / capitation | Common, and often not receipted | None — state universities publish their fee |
| NEET score needed | High, and the cutoff rises every year | A qualifying score is enough |
| Licence to practise in India | Direct, after internship | Requires clearing FMGE / NExT first |
| Language | English throughout | English course, but Russian needed on the wards |
| Living away from family | Usually within India | Six years, five time zones away, expensive to visit |
| Main risk | Cost | FMGE / NExT — historically low first-attempt pass rates |
If your family can comfortably afford a good private college in India, that is usually the simpler path. Russia makes sense when the Indian private route is out of reach financially, and when the student is disciplined enough to prepare for FMGE/NExT from the first year rather than the last. If that does not describe your child, we would rather tell you now.
Still deciding? Ask us one hard question.
No form-filling marathon, no sales script. Tell us your situation and we will tell you what we would tell our own family.