Webinar: Pursuing MBBS in India Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM IST FREE
Reserve free seat
Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM
An English-medium MBBS (General Medicine) at the oldest medical school in Central Asia, founded in 1930, in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Samarkand — listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and affordable for Indian students.
5000+ Students trust us
Uzbekistan
Country
Samarkand
City
6 Years
Course duration
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
The Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand, the university's UNESCO World Heritage home city
Download our free brochure for immediate information, or get personalised professional counselling from our experts.
Recognition & Prestige
Samarkand State Medical University is the oldest medical school in Central Asia and one of Uzbekistan's leading state medical universities. Its strength for international students is heritage, recognition and affordability rather than global ranking: it is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, holds international institutional accreditation, and offers a recognised pathway to Indian licensing.
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
ECAQA
International institutional accreditation
English
Fully English-medium for international students
Samarkand State Medical University is the oldest medical school in Central Asia, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and holding ECAQA international institutional accreditation. Indian students can qualify to practise in India through the National Medical Commission screening/exit examination, subject to meeting NMC conditions.
Complete Information About Samarkand State Medical University
Get complete information about studying MBBS at Samarkand State Medical University, including fees, the admission process and recognition for Indian students.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Samarkand State Medical University offers an affordable, English-medium, internationally recognised medical degree at the oldest medical school in Central Asia, in a safe and historic city with a growing Indian student community.
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission to Samarkand State Medical University for Indian students is direct and NEET-based: it is decided on Class 12 (PCB) marks and an admissions interview, together with a qualifying NEET-UG score. There is no separate entrance examination like the UCAT and no IELTS requirement for the English-medium programme. NEET is mandatory both to study MBBS abroad and to practise in India afterwards.
Applicants must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and English, and must have a qualifying NEET-UG score, which is mandatory for any Indian student studying MBBS abroad.
Applicants submit an application with academic documents and passport to the university's international department or its authorised representatives, and register on the national portal for international students.
The university admits foreign students on the basis of an interview in Biology, Chemistry and the language of instruction; there is no separate UCAT-style entrance test.
Eligible students receive an admission (invitation) letter from the university confirming their place on the international MBBS programme.
Students apply for the Uzbekistan student visa with the admission letter and supporting documents, and arrange travel to Samarkand.
Students enrol at the start of the academic year, typically in September, complete arrival formalities and a medical check, and begin the six-year MBBS programme.
Applicants must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. The general requirement is a minimum of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology taken together (with the standard relaxation to 40% for SC/ST/OBC and other reserved categories), in line with the National Medical Commission's eligibility norms for studying MBBS abroad.
Subjects:
Applicants must have completed, or will complete, 17 years of age on or before 31 December of the year of admission, in line with the National Medical Commission's rules for MBBS.
Indian applicants need Class 12 with PCB, a qualifying NEET-UG score, a valid passport and the supporting documents for admission and the student visa, and must pass the university's admissions interview. No IELTS is generally required for the English track.
NEET & Class 12
A qualifying NEET-UG score and Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology are the core academic requirements for admission and for later Indian licensing.
No UCAT or IELTS
Unlike UK schools, there is no UCAT admissions test, and the English-medium programme generally does not require IELTS; the university assesses applicants through an interview.
There is no university entrance examination like the UCAT for the international programme; the university admits on Class 12 marks and an interview, and for Indian students a qualifying NEET-UG score is required.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application route | Direct application to the university's international department or its authorised representatives |
| Admissions test | No UCAT/IELTS; an admissions interview and a qualifying NEET-UG score (for Indian students) |
| Academic requirement | Class 12 with PCB and English; minimum 50% in PCB (40% for reserved categories) |
| Intake | Main intake in September each year |
| India-side requirement | NEET-UG qualification, mandatory to study abroad and for later FMGE/NExT licensing in India |
Indian applicants typically provide the following documents for admission and the student visa:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
The six-year, English-medium General Medicine programme leads to the qualification of Doctor (Physician), the Uzbek equivalent of an MBBS. Early years cover the basic medical sciences, middle years the clinical subjects with hospital training, and the final year is a clinical internship.
Total Duration:
6 Years (including the internship year)
Degree:
Doctor (Physician), General Medicine — the Uzbek MBBS-equivalent qualification
Years 1–2
The pre-clinical foundation years, taught in English, covering the core basic medical sciences with laboratory and early clinical-skills work:
Years 3–4
The para-clinical and early clinical years, introducing disease mechanisms and clinical subjects with training in the university's multidisciplinary and paediatric clinics and Samarkand hospitals:
Year 5
Senior clinical study across the major specialties, with increasing hands-on hospital training under supervision:
Year 6
A final internship year of supervised clinical practice completing the six-year programme, after which graduates receive the Doctor (Physician) qualification.
Clinical training takes place in the university's own Multidisciplinary Clinic No. 1 and Paediatric Surgical Clinic No. 2 and in Samarkand's city hospitals, followed by the final internship year. For Indian students, a further internship in India is required for Indian registration (see the FMGE & NExT section). An indicative pattern is:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 3–5 | Clinical training in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Psychiatry and the specialties in the university clinics and Samarkand hospitals |
| Year 6 | A rotational clinical internship completing the Doctor (Physician) qualification |
| Back in India | Indian graduates clear the FMGE/NExT and complete the required internship in India before registering with the NMC or a State Medical Council |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Legacy
Over more than nine decades, Samarkand's medical school has trained notable physicians and scientists. The figures below have a documented connection to the university.
Ravshanbek Davletovich Qurbonov is one of Uzbekistan's most eminent cardiologists, a founder of arrhythmology in the country and a long-serving leader of its national cardiology centre. An Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and a Hero of Uzbekistan, he graduated with honours from the Samarkand Medical Institute in 1972, making him among the university's most distinguished alumni.
Professor Azamat Muhiddinovich Shamsiyev is a senior surgeon and academic who served as Rector of the university (2004–2020) and is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. He is closely associated with the development of paediatric surgery and medical education in Samarkand.
Teaching is delivered across the university's eight faculties and its basic-science and clinical departments, with clinical training in the university's own clinics and Samarkand's hospitals. The university is led by its Rector, Professor Jasur Rizayev, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, who has held the post since 2020.
The oldest medical school in Central Asia (since 1930)
Eight faculties and attached research institutes
The university's own multidisciplinary and paediatric clinics
English-medium teaching for international students
A dedicated International Faculty of Medical Education
Support for a growing international student community
Clinical supervision in hospitals
Guidance for Indian students on FMGE/NExT
About University
The pediment of Samarkand State Medical University with its name in Uzbek
Get all information about Samarkand State Medical University in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Samarkand State Medical University.
Role in medicine
Samarkand State Medical University building illuminated at dusk
Get all information about Samarkand State Medical University in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Samarkand State Medical University.
Cost of living
One of the biggest attractions of Samarkand is its low cost of living. Beyond the affordable tuition, day-to-day living is inexpensive by Indian and Western standards. Here is an approximate monthly breakdown for a student (this is separate from tuition).
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (hostel) | US$30 – US$65 (₹2,600 – ₹5,600) |
| Food & Groceries | US$60 – US$100 (₹5,200 – ₹8,600) |
| Transport & Personal | US$15 – US$35 (₹1,300 – ₹3,000) |
| Utilities & Miscellaneous | US$15 – US$40 (₹1,300 – ₹3,400) |
Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
US$120 – US$240 (₹10,000 – ₹21,000)
Housing
Samarkand State Medical University offers hostel accommodation for its international students, and there are also private rental options in the city, all at a low cost by Indian standards.
The university provides hostel accommodation for international students, giving new arrivals a secure, supervised place to live at a low annual cost.
Hostel rooms are furnished with the basics — beds, desks and storage — usually on a shared basis, within a supported student environment.
Hostel fees are low, commonly around US$300–800 per year (about ₹26,000–69,000), a fraction of accommodation costs in Western Europe or the UK.
With a growing Indian student community in Samarkand, hostels and nearby areas offer a familiar, supportive environment for students from India.
Hostels and nearby messes cater to Indian students with Indian and vegetarian food, and Indian grocery items are available in the city.
Students who prefer more independence can rent private apartments or shared flats in Samarkand, still at a low cost compared with Western cities.
Accommodation is in Samarkand, a safe UNESCO World Heritage city with good local transport, so students can live and study comfortably.
The university's international department and student representatives help with airport pickup, arrival formalities and settling into accommodation.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Samarkand has a growing Indian student community, so Indian and vegetarian food is available, alongside affordable local Uzbek cuisine.
Hostels and nearby messes serve Indian food, including vegetarian meals, so Indian students can eat familiar home-style food throughout their studies.
Location
Samarkand State Medical University, 18 Amir Temur Street, Samarkand 140100, Uzbekistan
Nearest Airport
Samarkand International Airport (SKD), usually reached via a one-stop connection from India (often through Tashkent); from Tashkent, Samarkand is about two hours by the high-speed Afrosiyob train. Uzbekistan is only 30 minutes behind Indian time
Local Transport
Samarkand has affordable buses and taxis, and the high-speed Afrosiyob train links it to Tashkent, so students can travel around the city and country easily and cheaply
Your Roadmap to Success
The Doctor (Physician) degree from Samarkand State Medical University is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, opening licensing pathways in India and, subject to each country's requirements, elsewhere.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
An Indian graduate of Samarkand State Medical University who wants to practise in India follows the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC): qualifying NEET before starting the course abroad, completing a course and internship that meet the NMC's conditions, clearing the NMC screening examination (currently the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), completing the required internship in India and registering with the medical council. It is important to understand that the NMC does not 'approve' individual foreign universities; it sets conditions the student and course must meet.
Step 1
Under NMC rules, an Indian student must have qualified NEET-UG before beginning the course abroad to be eligible later for Indian licensing. NEET is mandatory both to study MBBS abroad and to sit the FMGE/NExT.
Step 2
The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 require that the course and internship together last at least 54 months plus a 12-month internship, are completed in the same institution, are taught in English, and that the degree entitles the holder to be registered as a physician in the country of study (Uzbekistan). The six-year, English-medium Samarkand programme is structured to meet these conditions, but eligibility is assessed for each individual student.
Step 3
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination for foreign medical graduates, currently the FMGE, which India is replacing with the National Exit Test (NExT), then complete the required internship in India and register with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council.
Student Life Style
Being a medical student in Samarkand is a mix of demanding study and life in a safe, affordable and historic UNESCO World Heritage city with a growing Indian student community.
The Shah-i-Zinda necropolis in Samarkand illuminated at dusk
Fees & Financial
The main financial attraction of Samarkand State Medical University is its low cost. Tuition and living costs are far below those of private medical colleges in India or medical schools in the West, so realistic planning is mostly about budgeting the whole affordable package.
International students pay tuition of about US$3,000–3,500 per year, with hostel accommodation of roughly US$300–800 per year on top, so the whole course, including living costs, comes to around ₹25–30 lakh — a fraction of the cost of a private MBBS in India or a UK medical degree.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at Samarkand State Medical University.
4.4
110 reviews
Compare
Compare Samarkand State Medical University with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Samarkand State Medical University vs AIIMS New Delhi
| University | Samarkand State Medical UniversitySamarkand, Uzbekistan | AIIMS New DelhiIndia |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Public (state) medical university | Government institute of national importance |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 6 years including internship (Doctor / MBBS-equivalent) | 5.5 years including internship (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~US$3,000–3,500 (~₹2.6–3.0 lakh) | Nominal (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Admission | NEET-qualified + Class 12 (PCB) + interview | NEET-UG (extremely high rank) |
| Recognition | WDOMS-listed / ECAQA-accredited; NMC-eligible via FMGE/NExT | NMC-recognised |
| World Ranking | Not in the main QS/THE world rankings | India's top-ranked medical institute (NIRF #1) |
Compare Top MBBS Universities for Me
See key differences in fees, ranking, eligibility and recognition.
Our blog
Articles that turn complex MBBS-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying MBBS at Samarkand State Medical University.
