If Not Russia & Ukraine, Where Can Indian Students Apply for MBBS with NEET Score 2023?

Medicine is an extremely popular academic discipline among students who wish to serve mankind and cure diseases. However, practising medicine comes after a lot of struggle. The first step is taking admission to a medical institution for MBBS. For Indian students, the admissions process alone is quite challenging.

Every year, more than 7 lakh students compete for 110,000 seats in government and private medical colleges in India. The number of students qualifying for NEET 2022 burgeoned to 9,93,069, which is a massive figure. It is no wonder that this whopping number of students contended for the limited medical seats in the present year.

Students appearing for NEET 2023 faced a similarly grim picture. Coupled with that, affordable foreign medical destinations such as Russia and Ukraine are out of the list of low-cost MBBS countries due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions. Earlier these countries were extremely popular among Indian students because of their standard of education, infrastructure, reasonable tuition fees and affordable living expenses. 

The ongoing situation may make students rethink the decision to study medicine abroad. For them, however, there are other upcoming and popular countries to study medicine such as Latvia, Slovakia, Romania, Belarus, etc. In this article, we will attempt to explore the countries where students can apply for MBBS with their NEET score 2023. 

Why are Indian Students Opting for MBBS Abroad?

India has around 110,000 MBBS seats among which 51,000 seats are available in government medical colleges and 67,000 seats in private medical colleges. Even though 30,000 new undergraduate medical seats have been added in the last six years, there is cut-throat competition for the existing ones. The ratio of the number of MBBS seats to students was 1:10 in 2021. Besides, the number of NEET registrations is increasing every year with around 18 lakh students enrolling and half of them qualifying for the exam. Given the scenario, the ambitious students are left with no other choice but to opt for MBBS abroad. 

One of the other compelling reasons why Indian students study MBBS abroad is the high cost of medical education in private colleges in India. The tuition fees and capitation fees have increased drastically in recent years. Also, there is no relief in the government medical colleges, as the tuition fees have increased with some colleges mandating to fill bonds. In such cases, students are forced to take hefty loans to meet the MBBS expenditure. 

With the above problems plaguing medical education in India, foreign destinations have come to the rescue of Indian students. With their better infrastructure and modern facilities, some of them are proving to be worthier alternatives to Indian medical colleges. The laboratories and research centres are furnished with the latest equipment and resources that provide an insightful learning experience. 

Students do not have to appear for separate entrance tests as NEET cut-off scores are accepted abroad. The medical degrees provided in these destinations are approved by the National Medical Commission and these Foreign Medical Graduates can appear for licensing tests to practice in India. Furthermore, the cost of study is even lower in some countries than in India which makes them popular among Indian medical aspirants. 

Confused about where to apply with your NEET scores 2023? Consult our study abroad experts. 

Emerging Destinations for MBBS Abroad

For a decade or more, MBBS in Russia and Ukraine were favoured by Indian students. With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, a fresh batch of MBBS aspirants has to 

consider new destinations to study. Middle Eastern, South American and Eastern European countries are being seen as alternatives to Russia and Ukraine. These countries are gradually picking up among students. In addition, the neighbouring countries of Russia and Ukraine are promising similar scopes of MBBS studies. Let us explore some of the emerging destinations for MBBS abroad.

MBBS in Slovakia

MBBS in Slovakia is a blend of rich European history with modern medicine and its latest techniques. The country has some of the world’s best medical institutes that are recognised by WHO and NMC. It has a well-deserved reputation for being affordable among European countries. Most Slovakian universities offer medical degree courses in English for the convenience of international students. General medicine and dental medicine are the two branches of medical courses taught in Slovakia. 

• No separate entrance tests are required to study MBBS in Slovakia. Students can use their NEET 2023 scores to gain admission to these colleges. Also, general category applicants must have 50% in PCB. 

• There is no extra capitation fee charged from students. 

• The duration of MBBS in Slovakia is six years including a one-year internship programme. Students get a chance to work in leading hospitals in the country during their internships. 

• The Slovak government also offers scholarships as a part of the country’s official development assistance which covers food, travel and accommodation expenses.

The top MBBS colleges in Slovakia are Comenius University Bratislava, Safarik Medical University and Jessenius Medical University. The tuition fees are between EUR 9,500 to 11,000 per year. These universities provide general natural science education that has a human and ethical basis. Students gain deep theoretical and practical knowledge that enables them to think medically. 

MBBS in Latvia

Situated in northeastern Europe, Latvia is one of the top choices to study MBBS. The degree is quite affordable compared to its European counterparts resulting in a great influx of international students in the country. MBBS in Latvia is taught in English which will prove beneficial for Indian students. 

• The medical varsities are globally recognised and certified by WHO, NMC and other global regulatory bodies. 

• The MBBS doctors from Latvia are eligible to sit for the FMGE examination. 

• The healthcare system of Latvia has similarities with the National health service and students have to compulsorily undergo internships and community service. 

• The MBBS course is six years in Latvia including a year of practical training. 

• Only science stream students with Physics, Chemistry and Biology in their 10+2 can study MBBS in Latvia. 

• They must also score at least 50 to 60% in higher secondary and must have a NEET scorecard. 

• The English language test is another requirement that students must fulfil.

The MBBS in Latvia helps students learn the science and methods of medicine based on human morphology, functions, psychology, and basic clinical knowledge and obtain knowledge on disease prevention and promotion of health. After successful completion of the programme, doctors can enter residency or pursue further studies.

The popular MBBS colleges in Latvia are the University of Latvia and Riga Stradins University. The tuition fee in Latvia for each year of the course is between EUR 10,500 to EUR 12,500. 

MBBS in Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country situated in Eastern Europe. MBBS in Belarus is intended to create professionals with high functional, social, academic and personal competencies based on an innovative teaching model and introduction of new scientific developments to the study of medicine. 

• Most of the universities in Belarus are approved by the National Medical Commission of India, WHO and ECFMG Education Council Of Foreign Medical Graduates. 

• The excellent quality of medical education in Belarus has attracted thousands of students to the country for MBBS training.

• The Indian students usually do not face any language barriers as the courses are taught in English. 

• No capitation fee or donation is charged from the students. 

• The eligibility criteria to study MBBS in Belarus are quite similar to other countries. Students must be at least 17 years old while applying for the course. They must have at least 60% marks or a 7.0 GPA in higher secondary with physics, chemistry and biology as main subjects. Besides they have to score 50% on the NEET exam.  

• The course fee is quite affordable and is between USD 4,600 to 5,000 per year. The accommodation cost is nearly USD 800 per year.

• The duration of MBBS in Belarus is 6 years including a year of clinical training. 

There are four universities in Belarus that are famous for their MBBS course. They are Belarusian State Medical University, Gomel State Medical University, Vitebsk State Medical University and Grodno State Medical University. The universities provide teaching through lectures, seminars, and practical and laboratory training.

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MBBS in Romania 

MBBS in Romania is driven by the power of technology with a modern teaching approach and medical simulation. It has an unparalleled learning environment with the right facilities to produce career-ready medical graduates equipped with the skills needed for 21st-century medical professionals. Romanian medical universities are investing in facilities that help them deliver top-notch medical education.

•  The medical degree is recognised by the European Union countries and also by top medical licensing organisations of the world. 

• The main aim of MBBS in Romania is to train medical staff with high skills who can successfully integrate themselves into the international market. 

• The universities offer six-year MBBS courses with a year of compulsory training. The students must be between 17 years to 25 years of age and must have studied physics, chemistry, biology and English from a recognised board. It is necessary to score at least 55% in the higher secondary along with a satisfactory NEET score. 

• The average tuition fee for MBBS in Romanian universities is between EUR 4,500 and 5,000 which makes the country extremely affordable. The cost of accommodation and hostel facilities is way cheaper than in most European countries. 

• International students are also awarded scholarships to encourage them to study in Romania. 

The MBBS colleges in Romania where Indian students can apply are Bucharest Medical University, Cluj Medical University, Craiova Medical University and Craiova Medical University. 

MBBS in Moldova

Moldova is an eastern European country strategically positioned between Romania and Ukraine. Numerous Indian students are eager to experience MBBS education in Moldova. The country is the epitome of advancement in medical science and the universities are recognised by the National Medical Commission of India. Those who aspire to study medicine abroad after NEET 2023 can consider Moldova as a viable option. 

• The infrastructure of the medical universities is outstanding. The syllabus and curriculum of MBBS in Moldova are equivalent to the MBBS in USA with a student-centric framework. 

• The MBBS curriculum in Moldova takes six years to complete with a year dedicated to internship. The focus of the universities is more on practical training which enables students to get more hands-on experience in treating patients.

•  Pre-clinical courses are taught in the first three years while the next three years are based on clinical courses. Students are also trained to crack various licensing examinations. 

• The eligibility criteria to study MBBS in Moldova include qualifying for higher secondary with 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a decent NEET score. Students must be proficient in the English language however IELTS or TOEFL scores are not required. 

The top MBBS university in Moldova is Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Students do not need to pay a donation. Besides the tuition fee is also affordable which is around EUR 6,000 per year. The university implements new methods of education, research, diagnosis and medical assistance.

Cheapest Countries for MBBS Abroad

MBBS spans five to six years making it an extremely big-budget course. Often students find it difficult to afford the high tuition fees in MBBS colleges and their dreams of becoming doctors are shattered. However, in recent times, with more awareness, students have greater options to study MBBS abroad at universities where the tuition fees are low and other costs are comparatively cheaper. These foreign medical universities charge lesser fees than their Indian counterparts and have no hidden fees. The added boon is that these universities are recognised by National Medical Commission (NMC). Here are some countries to study MBBS at low cost: 

Top Countries for MBBS Abroad

Besides the emerging and cheaper countries for MBBS abroad, there are other countries which have been popular for medical studies among international students for a long time. Those who can shell out extra cash to get a medical degree can consider these options. UK, USA, Canada, France, Australia and the Netherlands have some of the best medical colleges in the world. 

Though the tuition fees are high in these countries, students can get financial aid in the form of scholarships that ease the burden of high expenses. The return on investment (ROI) is high as the doctors get a scope to earn high salaries if they stay back and practice in these countries. Let us have a cursory glance at the top countries for MBBS abroad along with their average tuition fees and top universities. 

There are several career opportunities once a student finished MBBS from these countries. The void left by Ukraine and Russia will be fast filled up by new and less popular destinations which provide quality and modern medical education to MBBS aspirants. Students also get the opportunity to bask in the new cultures and traditions of foreign countries. Further, the universities abroad have a lot of focus on research and provide better resources and opportunities to students. Therefore, students appearing for NEET 2023 must be optimistic about the scope to study medicine in other countries apart from Russia and Ukraine. One should remember that if one door closes, others do open. 

If you have any queries related to studying MBBS or any other degree abroad, you can connect with us at abroad@collegedekho.com.