How to Study Medicine in Russia: 8 Things You Should Know

Being a professional in the community does not only earn you respect and honor. Along with these, responsibilities with the people and all those in line with your work will arise and you must take them seriously and professionally. This is also the reason why many people idolize and make these professionals, particularly doctors, their role models. Because of this, people tend to follow their career path and thus, the cause of the increase in the number of aspiring professional students, especially medical students. In this article, we will be going over studying medicine in Russia.

Even though becoming a doctor seems to be a satisfying and fulfilling job, aside from the everyday battle within the hospital, the process of becoming one is long, difficult, and tedious. A process in which full commitment and dedication are your drives is the path of anyone who wants to get a medical degree. You must be willing to sacrifice most of your time for studying or practicing medical theories and practices to be able to be a proper doctor. And you will get to do most of these activities in a country where a medical institution is one step ahead of other countries in terms of technological advancement, modern ways of teaching, and state-of-the-art facilities. At current times, the best country that fits all these criteria is no other than Russia.

1. Why Study Medicine in Russia?

Russia has been a powerhouse country when it comes to many things. May it be because of the development of their technology, their booming economy, or even on the wide range of education they could offer, Russia is one step ahead of other countries. That is why many international students, especially from western countries, want to study medicine in Russia to equip themselves with the knowledge that has a whole different setting than what they have in their own country.

2. In what language is the medical curriculum in Russia?

From preparatory levels of education up to tertiary education, the language of instruction in Russia has always been its native language – Russian. Even so, there are still a few international schools and universities that have been teaching education in the English language. For medical studies, it is advised but is not required to submit a language proficiency result for the Russian language.

However, if you will be working as a doctor in the country after studying medicine in Russia, you will need to master or be proficient in their mother tongue because most of your patients will be Russian citizens and communication will be better if you have learned their language. One university that also suggests international students should follow this guideline is the Orel State University’s Medical School.

3. What are the requirements to be enrolled in Russian medical schools?

Unlike other universities in other countries where you just need to get an application form and submit it with the other requirements, most universities in Russia will instead, make you fill up an application form online along with your uploaded documents such as your passport and your copy of your higher education certificate. You will be immediately reviewed by the university with just these documents and they will notify you whether you are accepted or rejected.

You will be notified through a formal invitation to their university that you have passed the screening for the medical course that you have chosen. After receiving your confirmation letter, you will need to submit the other necessary documents that the university will want from you such as a birth certificate that will prove your identity and nationality. In addition, you will need to get other supporting documents that will prove that you finished your secondary higher education and, lastly, other important documents for your stay in Russia like your student visa.

Moreover, medical schools in Russia do not require you to submit any Russian language proficiency test but if you will study medicine in the country and will work afterward, you must take language courses for yourself. Otherwise, there are still several medical institutions in Russia that have English as their language of instruction for foreign students.

4. Can you study medicine in Russia as an international student?

Yes! You can study medicine in Russia as an international student. There are even international medical schools that are established because only a few universities have been accepting international students before. At current times, the admittance of international students into Russian universities, no matter what degree they would be applying for, is still very strict and the screening process is difficult that is why you would only see a few numbers of international students when you go to Russia.

Some of the universities that hospitably accept and entertain international students into their degree programs, particularly in medicine, are the Orel State University Medical School and the Belgorod State University Medical College, which both have international relations office that will meet the concerns of their international students.

5. What are the components of its medical curriculum?

The curriculum for medical studies in Russia has a period of six whole years containing both theoretical and practical means of medical education. In comparison, it does not differ from other universities in other countries. Some parts of the medical curriculum in Russia may have variations from other curricula because of the advanced technologies available in the country. The arrangement of topics to be discussed in the curriculum may also vary.

6. How many medical schools are in this country?

More than 70 universities in Russia are offering medical degrees for students. This huge number confirms how medical education, research, and studies are very much important in the country. However, from all these universities, only 15 medical schools are authorized by the organization of MBBS in Russia to teach international students in the English language.

7. How difficult is it to study medicine in Russia?

Medical education in Russia is among the highest quality of education available worldwide. It is known to be the best in several specializations and is considered to be among the leading countries in medical technology. However, due to this, many students have burnt out because of their different capabilities in studying medicine in Russia with at most a 10% dropout rate.

8. What do you need to become a doctor in Russia?

After acquiring your medical degree for six years, your journey of being a doctor by acquiring your residency will begin only after passing the exam. This exam will be proof that you have the knowledge and the skills to be a medical practitioner in Russia. Only then can you pursue further studies to get your Ph.D.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.