As we all know, Russia has become a top destination for Indian students to study MBBS. There are many advantages of pursuing MBBS in Russia, but there are also some disadvantages that students must keep in mind before taking admission.
In this blog, we will explain what disadvantages exist when studying MBBS in Russia. Our goal is to cover every topic related to the disadvantages of studying MBBS in Russia, so you are fully informed before making your admission decision.
Language Problems in MBBS in Russia
Bilingual Course Issue
According to the Indian Embassy in Russia, 80% of Russian universities that conduct the MBBS course are bilingual. This means the first 3 years are taught in English, but the next 3 years are conducted in the Russian language, mainly for clinical subjects.
Although, after the new NMC FMGL regulations, most Russian universities started claiming that the course is conducted in English medium, the reality is different. Most colleges do not have enough teachers who can teach clinical subjects in English, which becomes one of the major Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Language problem during clinical rotation
In most Russian universities, after the 3rd year, students are sent to hospitals for clinical practice. This helps students interact with patients and improve their practical skills. However, most people in Russia speak only the local language, Russian, because of which students face difficulty in communicating with patients.
This language barrier directly affects clinical exposure and learning, making it a serious Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Change in accent
Even teachers who speak English often have a different accent compared to the English commonly spoken in the Indian community. Because of this accent difference, students face difficulty in understanding lectures, especially during clinical teaching.
Communication difficulty
Most people in Russia prefer speaking in the Russian language. Therefore, while traveling by bus, doing marketing, or managing daily tasks, knowledge of Russian becomes necessary. This creates daily communication challenges for Indian students.
Compulsory to learn the Russian language: In most Russian universities, Russian language is a compulsory subject from the 1st semester to the 6th semester. Students must study it alongside medical subjects.
According to the Russian Education Ministry, learning Russian until the 3rd year is mandatory for international students. This is done so that students can easily communicate with patients in hospitals and avoid language gaps during travel or daily activities.
For Indian students who want to pursue or are already pursuing MBBS in Russia, learning the Russian language has become almost necessary. According to NMC FMGL regulations, students studying MBBS in Russia must hold a license to practice as a doctor in Russia. The Russian government conducts a licensing examination in the Russian language, which further highlights this key Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Cold Climate Challenges for Indian Students
Indian students are used to living in a tropical climate, while most cities in Russia experience extremely cold weather. Because of this difference, Indian students face several difficulties in adjusting to the climate. Therefore, the cold weather becomes one of the important Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Let us understand in detail how the cold climate of Russia creates challenges for Indian students who go there to pursue MBBS.
In most cities of Russia, for around 8–9 months of the year, the temperature remains below zero. Besides that, snowfall occurs for nearly 6–8 months, which is completely different from the Indian climate. Because of this, students face difficulties while attending classes and during daily travel.
Most importantly, this harsh weather directly affects daily routines, making it a notable Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
It is important to note that in Russian universities, classes usually start at 8 AM. Students have to leave for college in the freezing morning temperatures, which becomes physically challenging, especially during the initial months.
However, based on our 15 years of experience at Rus Edutech, we have observed that Indian students gradually adapt to this climate. Slowly, the cold weather stops being a major challenge. In many cases, students even start enjoying the cold climate while continuing their MBBS journey in Russia.
Clinical Exposure and Education Quality
Clinical exposure
Indian students who are planning to pursue MBBS in Russia must pay attention to some important factors at the time of admission. If these points are ignored, a student’s medical career, time, and money can all be affected. Therefore, this becomes one of the serious Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Let us understand this in simple language.
If a student is thinking of doing MBBS in Russia, it is very important to carefully check the clinical department of the selected university. Students must confirm whether dead bodies are available for practical training. They should also check if the college has well-equipped laboratories.
Besides that, it is necessary to verify whether departments such as gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology, and orthopedics are available for clinical practice. Most importantly, if these departments exist, students should also confirm whether proper equipment for practical training is available.
Before taking admission, students must confirm all these points. Otherwise, they may obtain a degree, but they will not become good doctors. Their clinical skills will remain weak, which is a major Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Education quality
Becoming a good doctor is your dream. You want that after completing MBBS from Russia, you can clear the FMGE/NEXT exam in the first attempt, practice successfully in India, and pursue PG in a good branch. Therefore, quality education during MBBS becomes extremely important.
It is important to know that in nearly 70% of universities in Russia, the quality of education is very poor. Many colleges do not have sufficiently trained teachers who can provide high-level medical education to students.
It has been observed that several teachers do not have proper command over English. Because of this, they are unable to deliver lectures effectively in the English language. As a result, students’ concepts do not become clear, their focus shifts away from the subject, and gradually the subject becomes weak.
This directly affects the student’s FMGE results, and therefore, it is considered one of the major Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Low FMGE Passing Percentage in Russia
Before planning to pursue MBBS abroad, students often have one major concern in mind. After completing MBBS, will they be able to clear the FMGE exam? And if they fail to pass FMGE, what will happen next? Therefore, this concern becomes one of the key Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Let us understand why the FMGE passing percentage of students who complete MBBS from Russia remains low. In most cases, only 15–25% of students are able to clear this exam. Besides that, we will also understand what shortcomings exist in Russian universities’ education systems because of which 75–85% of students fail FMGE.
Why is the FMGE passing percentage low for students who have done MBBS from Russia?
If students, due to wrong guidance by consultants, select an unsuitable college—such as a bilingual university, where the FMGE passing percentage of the last 5–8 years is below 15–25%, and where English-speaking teachers are not available—then the basic subjects of students remain weak. Because of this, 75–85% of students fail the FMGE exam, making it a major Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
On the other hand, if students, at the time of admission, choose a good university where MBBS has been taught in the English language for the last 10–15 years, where well-trained English-speaking teachers are available, and where the college has a well-equipped hospital and strong clinical departments for practical training, the outcome changes.
Besides that, if such a university has shown a good FMGE passing percentage over the last 10 years, then students completing MBBS from Russia can clear the FMGE exam without major difficulty.
Longer Course Duration Compared to India
As we all know, in India, the duration of the MBBS course is 4.5 years, followed by a 1-year mandatory internship. Therefore, the total duration becomes 5.5 years.
However, if we talk about pursuing MBBS from Russia, the situation is different. According to the new NMC FMGL regulations, along with 54 months of MBBS studies, a separate 1-year internship from the same Russian college has become mandatory. Because of this, completing MBBS from Russia can now take 6–7 years, which is an important Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Besides that, NMC has mentioned several other rules in the NMC Gazette 2021. It is believed that Russia, like many other countries, is not fully complying with all these guidelines.
Clear clarity on these rules will come only when students who went to Russia for MBBS after 18 November 2021 receive their degrees in 2026–27. At that time, it will become evident which regulations NMC enforces strictly, further highlighting the Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
Fake Information by Agents
Indian students are often provided wrong information about Russian universities by some Indian agents. Because of this, students do not get accurate details about the college.
As a result, many students, influenced by these agents, take admission in bilingual colleges or in colleges whose FMGE passing percentage is very low, making this a significant Disadvantages of Studying MBBS in Russia.
If you want to avoid such issues and select a good Russian university, Rus Edutech can guide you. All the information provided by us is genuine. Rus Edutech also provides a bond paper facility, meaning all information given by us is officially documented.
Conclusion
We have discussed above the disadvantages of studying MBBS in Russia. After understanding these points, you can see that if you get correct information and pursue MBBS from a good university in Russia, you can become a successful doctor.
Even after these challenges, every year thousands of students choose Russia for MBBS. For the last 40 years, Russia has remained a top destination for Indian students seeking MBBS.
Students who select a good college—one with a high FMGE passing percentage, complete English-medium instruction, and a well-equipped hospital for practicals—can become competent doctors. After returning to India, they can easily pass the FMGE exam and practice successfully as doctors.
The major disadvantages of studying MBBS in Russia include language barriers, bilingual courses, limited English-speaking clinical teachers, low FMGE passing percentage in many universities, extreme cold climate, weak clinical exposure in some colleges, and misleading information provided by agents. If students do not select the right university, these issues can seriously affect their medical education and future career.
Yes, language is one of the biggest disadvantages of studying MBBS in Russia. Around 80% of Russian medical universities are bilingual, where clinical subjects after the third year are taught in Russian. During hospital rotations, most patients speak only Russian, making communication difficult for Indian students. Additionally, the Russian language is compulsory, and the licensing exam in Russia is also conducted in Russian.
The FMGE passing percentage for MBBS graduates from Russia remains low (around 15–25%) mainly due to poor college selection. Many students unknowingly join bilingual universities with weak English-medium teaching, poor clinical exposure, and low-quality education. As a result, their basic medical concepts remain weak, which directly impacts their FMGE or NEXT exam performance.
Yes, MBBS in Russia now takes more time compared to India. In India, MBBS duration is 5.5 years, whereas in Russia, due to NMC FMGL regulations, students may have to complete 6 to 7 years, including a separate 1-year internship from the same university. This increased duration is considered an important disadvantage of studying MBBS in Russia.
Indian students can avoid most disadvantages by selecting a good Russian medical university that offers complete English-medium instruction, has experienced English-speaking faculty, strong clinical departments, and a consistently high FMGE passing percentage. Taking guidance from trusted consultants like Rus Edutech, who provide verified information and bond paper documentation, can help students make the right admission decision.
