Seeking a Russian medical degree? Clear NEET first

The Russian Education Fair is being organised in Chennai on May 19 and 20, at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, and in Madurai, on May 21, at Hotel Royal Court. Addressing the media about the event, Mairova said India and Russia share good ties and a large number of students from India visit Russia to study medicine, engineering and some rare arts and science courses.

This year, four engineering universities and eight medical universities will try to woo those seeking to pursue higher studies in Russia, at highly subsidised costs. Some of the top universities such as the Volgograd State Medical University, Far Eastern Federal University, National Research Nuclear University and so on will take part in the event. Medical studies in Russia is popular as around 30 of the top 100 medical universities are in the country.

However, from this year, clearing the NEET had been made mandatory by the Centre to apply for any foreign medical university and only those students who have written exam can apply for Russian universities. Some private agencies are trying to cheat students who have not written the NEET with false promises of sending them to Russia, said Valentina.

Suresh Babu, director, Study Abroad Educational Consultants, said for medical studies, the cost for a student would be around Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakh, while for engineering, the tuition fees for a student would be about Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakh. The common fear among parents is whether there are hidden charges and can students clear the screening tests after the courses, but the truth is that the hostel fees work out to only Rs 8,500 per student and they can easily clear the screening tests, he said.