Chennai: The crisis caused by National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) has opened a window of opportunities to Russian universities offering medical courses.
Expecting a windfall in applications for medical courses, most universities have increased their intake of Indian students from 20 per cent to 100 per cent this year. “Over 700 candidates from south India got student visas to pursue medical education in Russia in 2016-17. We expect over 1,000 students this year,” said Ravichandran, managing director, Study Abroad Educational Consultants.
“Amid Neet crisis, this comes as a great opportunity for Indian students as they can fulfil their dreams of pursuing medical education,” he said.
Vernadsky Crimea Federal University, one of the top universities in Russia, has increased its intake of Indian students to 240 this year.
About 60 students joined the medical course at this university last year. For the first time, the university has decided to conduct the mandatory entrance exam to Indian students at Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi.
Students who have passed class 12 with 50 per cent in Biology, Chemistry and English can write the entrance examination at Russian Centre of Science and Culture. The exam will be conducted on Wednesday (August 23) between 10 am and 1 pm.
“Those who have already received admission letters and sought admission through online and other means also need to take this exam to confirm their eligibility for pursuing medical programmes at our university,” said Gusev Alexei Nikolaevich, vice-secretary of admission board of Vernadsky Crimean Federal University.
But, foreign graduates are faring poorly in bi-annual Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FGME). Of 6,498 students who appeared for the exam held in June only 480 students (7.4 per cent) had cleared it.
“Around 80 to 85 per cent medical graduates from Russia are clearing the exam in first two attempts. Now, many Russian universities have started training programme for clearing the screening test,” Ravichandran said.
The six-year M.D. offered by Russian universities is equivalent to MBBS in India. Russian Universities are charging around Rs 2 lakh per year which is cheaper than the private universities in India.
Mikhail Gorbatov, Vice-Consul, Consulate General of the Russian Federation in South India and director, Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Kotov Sergei Fedorovich, dean of the faculty of biology and chemistry of Taurida Academy of Vernadsky Crimean Federal University were also present.
