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INDIA – RUSSIA TIES FUELING MEDICAL DREAMS

Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medical Council of India (MCI) (now NMC), Russian Medical degrees became popular for Indian students who aimed to return to India for medical practice after passing the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE).
Indian students represented one of the largest international student communities in Russia. Students also benefited from Cultural Exchanges, as Russia and India maintained friendly diplomatic relations.
Russia has remained a strong choice for Indian students, especially for medical studies, due to its affordability, high-quality education, and well-recognized medical degrees. The steady relationship between the two countries further enhances educational collaboration, ensuring that Russia continues to be a sought-after destination for Indian students.

India Russia

COLLABORATION

The history of Indian students studying in Russia, particularly for medical education, dates back several decades and has been marked by growing trends of Indian students seeking quality and affordable education abroad.
During this period, the USSR and India shared strong political and economic ties, making it easier for Indian students to seek admission to Soviet universities.

India and Russia maintain a strong global friendship rooted in decades of strategic partnership, mutual respect, and shared global interests. Their alliance spans defense, energy, and technology, supporting stability and development on the international stage.

Data Visualization

According to the data from the Ministry of External Affairs in 2024, 9665 Indians were in the Philippines for higher education. This regulation change is likely to increase the number of Indian students enrolled in Philippine medical colleges by 25-30 per cent, says Gaurav Tyagi, Founder of Career Xpert.

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The country’s English-based instruction, US-aligned curriculum, and affordable tuition fees have drawn thousands of aspirants annually. Among 64 accredited medical schools and globally recognised residency programmes, the Philippines offers a rare combination of quality education and affordability,” said Pillai, calling the amendment a great opportunity for Indian medical students.

According to study abroad consultants, factors such as low tuition fees, quality education, US-recognised syllabus and degree, extensive clinical practice, English as the teaching language, and climatic factors, among others, are attracting international students, particularly Indians, to the Philippines. “By allowing foreign nationals to practice medicine in the country, the Philippines is strengthening its appeal as a destination for aspiring medical professionals,” said Aritra Ghosal, Founder and Director of OneStep Global.

Not just for the Philippines, the recent amendment will bring bigger benefits for Indian students as “they can now access a larger market and obtain practical experience in a global healthcare setting when practicing in the Philippines. This makes it beneficial for students who find it challenging to return to India,” Gaurav Tyagi explained.

Philippines Amendment

Philippines to allow students to practice medicine; how it will help Indians

The amendment will allow international students to practice medicine in the Philippines which has been a long demand from the international medical students community.

The Philippines government recently approved an amendment to the Philippine Medical Act allowing foreign nationals to practice medicine in the island nation. Now, international students including Indians will be able to practice medicine in the Philippines.Along with this, the amendment introduces the creation of the Medical Education Council and the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine to elevate academic standards, promote ethical practices, and ensure the island nation remains competitive in global medical education.

Along with this, the amendment introduces the creation of the Medical Education Council and the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine to elevate academic standards, promote ethical practices, and ensure the island nation remains competitive in global medical education.

Philippines Bills

The Philippines: A New Hub for Medical Education

Along with Russia, Ukraine, and China, the Philippines could become a popular choice for Indian students pursuing medical education abroad.

Earlier speaking with The Indian Express, some medical students shared why they did not prefer the big four nations for medical education but instead went to the island nation. A student from Telangana chose the Philippines because of the nation’s affordability with quality education. Students such as Aditya have also claimed that the number of Indian students in the nation has been on the rise — from 380 in 2019 to 1200 now.

Study Abroad in the Philippines

In the Philippines, the degree of MBBS is six years long with the last year devoted to internship opportunities. Any international student has to first enrol in a three-semester BS course before they are eligible to take the NMAT test and enrol for the MD course. Undergoing a BS course and getting a competitive score in the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) exam is a pre-condition for a medical course.

Other than the eligibility, Indian aspirants need to know that the Philippines has its nodal agency, the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), to look after higher education that publishes the list of medical colleges recognised by them that also includes all the state-run and private universities.