Webinar: Pursuing MBBS in India Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM IST FREE
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Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM
One of Kyrgyzstan's largest and best-known private medical schools, training doctors in Bishkek since 2003 with an English-medium, internationally oriented programme.
5000+ Students trust us
Kyrgyzstan
Country
Bishkek
City
#2 for General Medicine in Kyrgyzstan
Ranking (EdNet 2025)
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
The International School of Medicine main building with the ISM globe monument in front
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Recognition & Standing
The International School of Medicine is one of Kyrgyzstan's largest private medical schools and placed second in the country for General Medicine in the 2025 EdNet national ranking. It is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and recognised for the pathways Indian students use: NMC screening (FMGE/NExT) and the USMLE.
#2
in Kyrgyzstan for General Medicine (EdNet 2025)
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
AAEPO / EdNet
Accredited by WFME-recognised Kyrgyz agencies
The medical degree is recognised internationally. The International School of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), accredited by WFME-recognised Kyrgyz agencies (AAEPO and EdNet), and Indian graduates are eligible to qualify for practice in India through the NMC screening/exit examination (FMGE, transitioning to NExT).
NMC (India)
Graduates eligible to qualify for practice in India via the NMC screening exam
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
AAEPO / EdNet
Accredited by WFME-recognised Kyrgyz agencies
Complete Information About the International School of Medicine
Get complete information about the International School of Medicine, including tuition, living costs, admission, NEET rules, safety and recognition for Indian students.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
ISM offers an English-taught, internationally oriented medical degree at a moderate cost, with more than two decades of experience teaching international students in Bishkek.
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission to General Medicine at the International School of Medicine is based on Class 12 results, a valid NEET qualification for Indian students, and a short entrance interview with a verbal test in Biology, Chemistry and English. ISM runs two intakes a year, a Summer intake and a Winter intake, and Indian students apply through the school's admissions office or an authorised representative.
The main (summer) admission window runs from 1 August to 1 December for the autumn academic start.
Indian applicants must hold a valid NEET-UG qualification, both to enrol at ISM and for future licensing in India through the NMC.
Applicants complete a short interview and a verbal test in Biology, Chemistry and English as part of admission.
A second (winter) admission window runs from 20 December to 20 March for the spring academic start.
Admitted students receive an official invitation letter, arrange the Kyrgyz student visa and medical insurance, and travel to Bishkek.
Students complete university and residence registration and a medical check in Bishkek before classes begin.
Applicants must have completed twelve years of schooling (Class 12) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a minimum aggregate of 50% in these subjects (40% for reserved categories), together with English, in line with NMC rules for Indian students studying medicine abroad.
Subjects:
Candidates must be at least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year, as required by NMC rules for studying medicine abroad.
Selection is based on academic record, a valid NEET result and a short entrance interview with a verbal test. Applications may be made through the ISM admissions office or an authorised representative.
Interview & Verbal Test
A short admission interview with a verbal test in Biology, Chemistry and English, assessing readiness for an English-medium medical programme.
NEET Qualification
A valid NEET-UG qualification is mandatory for Indian applicants, both for ISM admission and for future NMC licensing in India.
The International School of Medicine admits students through an interview and verbal test in the sciences rather than a large written entrance examination.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Academic record | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology; minimum 50% aggregate in PCB (40% for reserved categories) |
| NEET (Indian students) | Valid NEET-UG qualification is mandatory before enrolment |
| Entrance interview | Interview plus a verbal test in Biology, Chemistry and English |
To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
The International School of Medicine teaches an integrated, block-modular General Medicine programme that blends fundamental biomedical sciences with early clinical modules, taught in English for international students and leading to a Doctor of Medicine qualification equivalent to an MBBS.
Total Duration:
5.5 Years (6-year track for NMC alignment)
Degree:
MD (Doctor of Medicine, General Medicine — equivalent to MBBS)
Year 1
The first year horizontally integrates the basic biomedical sciences, building the foundation of how the healthy human body works, with English and Russian language support:
Years 2–3
The middle years vertically integrate basic and clinical sciences in system-based modules and introduce structured patient contact:
Years 4–5.5
The senior years are built around clinical disciplines and rotations in the teaching clinics and hospitals, concluding with the pre-internship and internship phase:
Clinical training uses the school's own Vedanta medical clinics in Bishkek (34 Fuchik Street) and at Issyk-Kul, together with Bishkek city hospitals as clinical bases. An indicative pattern:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 2–3 | Propaedeutics and clinical skills, with first patient contact in the teaching clinics |
| Year 4 | Rotations in internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and specialties |
| Years 5–5.5 | Senior clinical disciplines and the pre-internship / internship phase |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Global Exchange
The International School of Medicine has a documented Erasmus+ portfolio, taking part in European Capacity Building in Higher Education projects and credit-mobility exchanges with universities across the European Union and the United Kingdom. Because Kyrgyzstan is a non-EU partner country, this mobility runs through Erasmus+ partner-country projects and the school's own agreements.
| Country | Erasmus+ Partner Universities |
|---|---|
| Italy | University of Milan; University of Florence |
| Germany | Technical University of Berlin; Hamburg University of Applied Sciences; Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg; West Saxon University of Applied Sciences |
| Lithuania | Vilnius University; Vilnius Gediminas Technical University |
| Estonia | University of Tartu |
| Netherlands | Utrecht University |
| Austria | FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences |
| United Kingdom | Brunel University London |
| Turkey | Istanbul Medipol University |
Explore Your Exchange Options
The table above highlights the Erasmus+ partner universities of the International School of Medicine.
Leadership
The International School of Medicine is led by an experienced team of Kyrgyz clinicians and academics who have built the school over more than twenty years.
Professor Stalbek M. Akhunbaev, Doctor of Medical Sciences, is the Rector of the International School of Medicine. He leads the school's academic and clinical work and its large international student body, building on the institution's more than two decades of medical teaching in Bishkek.
Professor Shamil M. Chyngyshpaev was the founding rector of the International School of Medicine in 2003. He established the school's integrated, internationally oriented medical programme, laying the foundation for an institution that has since graduated more than 4,000 doctors.
Professor Asel A. Usenova serves as Vice-Rector for academic and clinical affairs, overseeing the curriculum and the clinical training that students receive in the school's Vedanta clinics and Bishkek's hospitals.
Vladimir P. Alekseev is Vice-Rector for administrative affairs, responsible for the school's campus, hostels and student services, including support for the large community of international students.
Professor Orozaly J. Uzakov serves as Vice-Rector for scientific and language affairs, leading the school's research direction and the language preparation that international students need for clinical work in Kyrgyzstan.
The International School of Medicine is led by Rector Professor Stalbek M. Akhunbaev, with vice-rectors for academic and clinical, administrative and scientific affairs. Teaching is delivered by Kyrgyz physicians, surgeons and scientists across departments spanning anatomy and the fundamental sciences, pathology, therapy, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and public health, combining classroom teaching with practice in the Vedanta clinics, which helps students build the clinical foundation they need for the FMGE and NExT and for practice in India.
Experienced physicians and surgeons
Integrated block-modular teaching
Kyrgyz medical scientists
Own Vedanta teaching clinics
Dedicated international admissions support
FMGE preparation support
Clinical supervision during rotations
Large international student community
About University
Get all information about the International School of Medicine in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the International School of Medicine in Bishkek.
Role in medicine
Get all information about the International School of Medicine in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can study medicine at the International School of Medicine.
Affordable education
Bishkek is one of the most affordable cities in which to study medicine abroad, and at the International School of Medicine hostel and mess are bundled into the tuition fee from the second year, which simplifies budgeting. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown of remaining personal costs.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation & mess | Bundled into fees from Year 2 (~US$2,150/year) |
| Food (extra / eating out) | ₹6,000 – ₹12,000 |
| Transportation | ₹1,000 – ₹1,500 |
| Other Expenses (Internet, Leisure, Personal) | ₹4,000 – ₹8,000 |
Average monthly personal cost
₹12,000 – ₹22,000
Housing
The International School of Medicine provides student hostels in Bishkek, and from the second year hostel and mess are included in the tuition fee, so most students live in school accommodation.
The school operates student hostels in Bishkek, on streets including Bakaeva, Turusbekova, Deng Xiaoping and Intergelpo, giving international students secure accommodation close to the campus and clinics.
From the second year, hostel and mess are bundled into the tuition fee (about US$2,150 a year), so accommodation and daily meals are largely prepaid, which makes budgeting simpler for families.
Hostel rooms are furnished and typically shared between students, with common facilities and internet access, and the mess provides regular meals including options that suit Indian students.
First-year students, whose Year-1 fee does not include hostel and mess, arrange accommodation through the school on arrival, keeping them close to fellow students while they settle in.
Hostel places are arranged through the ISM admissions and student services office after admission; students should confirm their hostel allocation as early as possible.
The hostel mess caters to international students, and with a large Indian community on campus, vegetarian and Indian-style meals are part of daily life.
Students who prefer more independence can rent inexpensive private flats in Bishkek in later years, typically US$150–250 a month shared between students, though most stay in the bundled hostel.
Bishkek has a continental climate with cold, snowy winters that can fall to around minus 20°C, so students should budget for warm clothing, a real adjustment for students from most parts of India.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Indian and vegetarian food is easily available in the hostel mess, in restaurants and in grocery markets across Bishkek.
The International School of Medicine hostels include a mess that provides daily meals for students, with vegetarian and Indian-style options given the large Indian community, and this mess is bundled into the fee from the second year.
Location
International School of Medicine (International Higher School of Medicine), 1F Intergelpo Street, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Nearest Airport
Manas International Airport (FRU), about 25–30 km from campus; direct Delhi–Bishkek flights began in December 2025, with one-stop options via Almaty, Tashkent and Gulf hubs
Local Transport
Bishkek has buses, trolleybuses and marshrutka minibuses with very low fares (a single ride is about US$0.20, a monthly pass around US$11), and the campus is within the city
Your Roadmap to Success
Graduates earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in General Medicine, equivalent to an MBBS. As a WDOMS-listed school accredited by WFME-recognised Kyrgyz agencies, the International School of Medicine keeps international licensing pathways open, subject to each country's own requirements.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
To practise medicine in India after graduating from the International School of Medicine, Indian students follow the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Because the school is WDOMS-listed and teaches an English-medium programme, it meets the NMC's core criteria, and students must have qualified NEET-UG before joining.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. At present this is the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which the NMC plans to replace with the National Exit Test (NExT). Kyrgyz schools' FMGE pass rates are modest, so serious, early preparation is essential.
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete the required one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, which builds hands-on experience in Indian clinical settings under the NMC's framework.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council. Once registered, the graduate holds a full licence to practise medicine in India.
Student Life Style
Life at the International School of Medicine combines an English-taught medical course with a large international student community in Bishkek, a green, walkable capital surrounded by the Tien Shan mountains.
The monument and fountain in front of the International School of Medicine campus
Aerial view of the International School of Medicine campus and Bishkek
The gated entrance and grounds of the International School of Medicine campus
Scholarship & Financial
Honest note first: the International School of Medicine's main financial advantage is its moderate, all-inclusive fee rather than large scholarships, so families should plan as fully self-funded.
The biggest financial advantage at the International School of Medicine is its fee structure: tuition of about US$6,000 a year with hostel and mess bundled in from the second year keeps the total cost predictable and far below Western Europe, the Caribbean or Indian private medical colleges.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at the International School of Medicine.
4.1
156 reviews
Compare
Compare the International School of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
International School of Medicine vs CMC Vellore
| University | International School of MedicineBishkek, Kyrgyzstan | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private | Private (minority) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 5.5 years (6-year NMC track) | 5.5 years (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹5.2 lakh (≈US$6,000; hostel & mess bundled from Yr 2) | ~₹3–4 lakh |
| Admission | NEET + interview & verbal test | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | WDOMS-listed; AAEPO/EdNet accredited; NMC-eligible via FMGE/NExT | NMC-recognised |
| Global Ranking | Not in QS/THE world rankings; #2 for General Medicine in Kyrgyzstan (EdNet 2025) | Not in QS top 500 |
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FAQ
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