MBBS in Kazakhstan: Case Study of an Underdog
As is evident, the Indian medical colleges (government and private) don’t have enough seats to incorporate all the medical aspirants of the country. In such a case, MBBS abroad is the only option for many, out of which one of the very underrated choices is MBBS in Kazakhstan.
This post, therefore, lists down all that a student needs to know about this prospect so that s/he can make a more informed decision when choosing this prospect.
Why MBBS in Kazakhstan?
One can understand from the above that it’s ultimately the dichotomy of seats to the number of takers that forces many to move abroad. However, that’s just half the explanation for why MBBS in Kazakhstan is considered by many over the other prospects available.
- FMGE Result: Students with medical degrees from Kazakhstan have consistently performed well throughout the years. This is evident from the FMGE passing percentage of around 84%.
- Affordability: Not just the Kazakhstan MBBS fees but the overall stay there is quite light on the pockets. First of all, it’s a cheap fee that is hardly around INR 20 Lakh. Secondly, INR 1 = 5.84 Kazakh Tenge, which makes one’s stay all the more affordable. Accommodations, groceries, other shopping, travel, it’s all cheap there.
- Quality of Study: Nothing less is expected from a country having a literacy rate of almost 100%. This is reflected through the top-notch faculty and pedagogy of the medical universities here. Thanks to this quality, medical education here is NMC/MCI and WHO certified.
- Hassle-Free Admissions: Enrolling in MBBS in Kazakhstan doesn’t warrant any entrance tests or proficiency tests like IELTS/TOEFL. Moreover, unlike India, there’s also no need to pay donations and/or capitation fees.
Essentials to Have During Stay
Since candidates will give 5-6 years of their lives living here, having a good quality of life is important. While the university has a part of this responsibility, ensuring one also lies in the hands of the candidate itself.
Thus, here are some basic essentials that one must ensure during his/her MBBS in Kazakhstan journey.
- Bags (maximum 2 carry bags, 1 handbag, and laptop bag) while ensuring that the 30 KG weight limit isn't breached
- Invitation Letter by the university
- Travel documents i.e. Passport, Visa, and Air-ticket
- Exchanged currency
- Passport size phots (colored)
- Schooling mark sheets with apostille stamp (Class 10 and 12)
- HIV and Covid-19 reports
- Books and Stationery
- Snacks and Munchies
- Dry spices
- First Aid Kit
- Grooming products (cream, oil, moisturizer, deo/perfume/cologne, nail cutter, etc)
- Bathroom Essentials
- Necessary clothing
This, however, isn’t an exhaustive list. One can make the needed changes
MBBS Colleges to Consider in Kazakhstan
Though there are quite a number of prestigious medical universities in Kazakhstan, the ones mentioned below are those that you need to focus on, to ensure quality and affordability.
- Kazakh National Medical University
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
- Semey State Medical University
- Karaganda State Medical University
- Astana Medical University
- Kokshetau State University
- South Kazakhstan Medical Academy
- Caspian International School of Medicine
- North Kazakhstan State University
- Kazakh Russian Medical University
The numbering above doesn’t denote the ranking of these universities. Each Kazakhstan medical college is great in itself.
Is an MBBS in Kazakhstan Valid in India?
Since the release of the NMC Gazette back at the end of 2021, there has been 1 question throughout; whether or not a degree from a Kazakhstan medical college is still considered valid in India.
Kazakh universities fill almost all the criteria that have been mentioned in the document including the: -
- Mandatory 1-year internship
- English language curriculum
- A degree that is accredited and ratified by national and international authorities
- A degree that is considered valid within the jurisdiction of Kazakhstan.
However, one point where it falters is the duration of the course program. An MBBS in Kazakhstan is in total 5 years long (including internship), which is just 0.5 years i.e. 6 months less than the minimum duration prescribed by the NMC Gazette 2021.
Thus, due to this single clause, Kazakh medical degrees are currently facing difficulties being accepted in India. However, given the fact that Indian students are the biggest source of income and seat fillers in the country, steps are being taken to tackle this problem.
Though not a concrete proposal as of yet, there are chances that the duration of the MBBS degree here be increased to 5.8/6 years.
