Why Indians head to Ukraine to study medicine

Thousands of Indian students -- the largest international student group -- are stranded in Ukraine, as war rages on in the country. The overwhelming majority of them are pursuing a degree in medicine. So why is Ukraine such a popular choice for Indian students? Team ET gets you the lowdown

Why medicine in Ukraine?
Low cost
Degree costs a fraction of what it does in India

• Fee in Ukraine: Rs 15-22 lakh for 6 years
• In India: Avg of Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1.1 crore in private colleges

Paucity of seats in India
Country has 84,000-odd MBBS seats; 1.61 million students registered for NEET in 2021 for these seats

Global acceptance
MBBS from Ukraine is globally recognised, including by National Medical Commission

Average medical infrastructure in Ukraine

• 33 medical colleges
• Standard infrastructure
• Stress on the theoretical aspect; lack of practical exposure

Opportunities in India

• On return, candidates must take the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam
• Those who clear the exam are eligible for an internship and licence to practise

Other popular destinations for Indians studying medicine

• China
• Philippines
• Bangladesh