Ivan Sechenov
Ivan Mikhailovich Sechenov (1829–1905), the 'father of Russian physiology', whose name the university carries. His work on reflexes and neurophysiology was foundational, and the university was named in his honour in 1955.
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russia's oldest and leading medical university, founded in 1758 in Moscow. English-medium General Medicine, ranked in the QS World University Rankings, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, with around 20 clinical hospitals in central Moscow and a large Indian student community.
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Russia
Country
Moscow
City
6 Years
Course duration
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
- Study programme:MBBS: General Medicine (6-year Specialist / MD, 'Physician'), English-medium
- Language:English (students also learn Russian, which is needed for the clinical/ward years with local patients)
- Duration:6 Years (integrated Specialist degree)
- University type:Public (federal) medical university under the Russian Ministry of Health
- Tuition fees:About US$16,500/year (roughly ₹14 lakh/year); realistic all-in ~US$19,000–20,000/year (about ₹16–17 lakh/year); roughly ₹85 lakh to ₹1 crore+ over the course, approx.
- Entrance examination:No UCAT/IELTS; admission based on Class 12 marks and university assessment, with a qualifying NEET-UG score required for Indian students
- Application deadline:Main intake in the autumn (around September) each year
- Recognition:QS-ranked; listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; ECFMG/WFME-recognised; NMC/FMGE pathway for India (see below)
Red Square in Moscow with the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower and St Basil's Cathedral in winter (Moscow city context, not the campus)
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Recognition & Prestige
Rankings & Recognition
Sechenov University is one of the few MBBS-abroad options that is a genuinely globally ranked institution. It is Russia's oldest medical university (since 1758), ranked in the QS World University Rankings, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools since 1995, and recognised by ECFMG and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). Its reputation, heritage and Moscow clinical network are its core strengths for international students.
QS Ranked
Ranked in the QS World University Rankings (~#790–800 band, 2025)
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools since 1995
ECFMG / WFME
Recognised by ECFMG and the World Federation for Medical Education
Sechenov University is Russia's oldest medical university (founded 1758), ranked in the QS World University Rankings (honestly, in the ~#790–800 band rather than the top 100) listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools since 1995 and recognised by ECFMG and WFME. It is a federal government medical university under Russia's Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Indian students can qualify to practise in India through the National Medical Commission screening/exit examination, subject to meeting NMC conditions.
Complete Information About Sechenov University
Get complete information about studying MBBS at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, including fees, the admission process and recognition for Indian students.
Success stories
Student Success Stories
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Academic Excellence
MBBS at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University: Key Highlights
Sechenov is the premium, prestigious end of the MBBS-abroad market: a genuinely ranked, historic medical university in Moscow with a huge clinical network. These are its real strengths, with the honest trade-offs.
Russia's Oldest, Ranked Medical University
English-Medium General Medicine
A Huge Moscow Clinical Network
World-Class Heritage
Strong Recognition
A Large Indian Community
Plan Honestly
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How to Apply
Admission Process for MBBS
Admission to Sechenov for Indian students is NEET-based. The university admits international applicants on the basis of Class 12 marks and a university assessment, with a qualifying NEET-UG score required for Indian students, and without a UCAT-style entrance exam or IELTS. Because Sechenov is competitive and premium-priced, apply early through the university's admission office or a legitimate, verified route, and pay only through the university's current official payment route, given the sanctions environment.
Admission Timeline
- 1Class 12 & NEETQualify Class 12 and NEET-UG
Applicants must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, and must have a qualifying NEET-UG score, which is required for Indian applicants and for later Indian licensing.
- 2Plan the Track & CostsCheck the Programme, Fees and Payment Route
Plan for the English-medium General Medicine programme, the full six-year cost and the official fee-payment route the university currently accepts; the degree and internship structure must fit NMC FMGL-2021.
- 3Apply EarlySubmit the Application to Sechenov
Apply to Sechenov's admission office (directly or through a legitimate, verified representative) with academic documents and passport; places on the English track are competitive, so apply early.
- 4Offer & Eligibility CertificateAdmission Letter and NMC Certificate
Eligible students receive an admission/invitation letter, and Indian students obtain the NMC Eligibility Certificate now expected before starting an MBBS abroad.
- 5Visa, Payment & TravelVisa, Fee Payment and Travel
Students apply for the Russian student visa, pay tuition via the university's current legitimate route, and plan flights around current travel advisories before departure.
- 6AutumnEnrolment
Students enrol at the start of the academic year and complete arrival formalities and a medical check in Moscow.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
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. Sechenov is competitive, so stronger marks help.
Subjects:
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English at Class 12 (minimum 50% in PCB; 40% for reserved categories)
Age Requirement
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.
- NEET-UG qualification is mandatoryRequired for Indian applicants and by the NMC for later FMGE and Indian practice
Requirements
Indian applicants need Class 12 with PCB, a qualifying NEET-UG score and NEET certificate, an NMC Eligibility Certificate, a valid passport and the supporting documents. No IELTS is required for admission to the English-medium track.
NEET Qualification
A qualifying NEET-UG score is required for Indian applicants, along with Class 12 marks meeting the minimum PCB percentage.
Plan Fees, Payment & Track
Plan for the full six-year cost and the official payment route, and choose a programme and internship that meet NMC FMGL-2021 conditions.
Admissions Test
There is no UCAT-style entrance exam and no IELTS requirement for the English track; Sechenov admits international applicants on Class 12 marks and its own assessment, plus the NEET requirement for Indian students.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application route | Sechenov admission office (directly or via a legitimate, verified representative); pay only through the official payment route |
| Admissions assessment | Based on Class 12 marks and university assessment; no UCAT/IELTS entrance exam |
| Academic requirement | Class 12 with PCB and English; minimum 50% in PCB (40% for reserved categories) |
| Intake | Autumn (around September) each year |
| India-side requirement | NEET-UG qualification and NMC Eligibility Certificate, for later FMGE licensing in India |
Required Documents
Indian applicants typically provide the following documents for admission and the student visa:
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard/certificate and NMC Eligibility Certificate
- Valid passport (with sufficient validity)
- Passport-size photographs and a birth certificate
- Admission/invitation letter, medical fitness certificate (incl. HIV test) and visa documents; documents may need attestation/apostille
- + More
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Programme Structure
MBBS Course Structure at Sechenov University
Sechenov's General Medicine programme is a six-year integrated Specialist degree taught in English for international students, moving from basic sciences to clinical study in the university's Moscow clinical hospitals. The exact structure and internship arrangement matter for Indian licensing.
MBBS (General Medicine / Specialist) Course
Total Duration:
6 Years (integrated Specialist / MD degree in General Medicine)
Degree:
Specialist Diploma in General Medicine ('Physician'), the MBBS-equivalent Russian medical qualification
Course Phases at Sechenov University
Years 1–2
Basic Medical Sciences
The pre-clinical foundation years, taught in English, covering the core basic medical sciences with laboratory and early clinical-skills work, and Russian language alongside for the clinical years:
AnatomyPhysiologyBiochemistryHistologyMicrobiologyMedical humanitiesYears 3–4
Para-clinical & Clinical Subjects
The para-clinical and early clinical years, introducing disease mechanisms and clinical subjects with training in Sechenov's Moscow clinical hospitals:
PathologyPharmacologyForensic MedicineInternal MedicineSurgeryYear 5
Senior Clinical Subjects
Senior clinical study across the major specialties, with increasing hands-on hospital training under supervision:
Obstetrics & GynaecologyPaediatricsPsychiatryCommunity MedicineSurgical and medical specialtiesYear 6
Clinical Practice & Graduation
The final clinical year and graduation as a 'Physician'; for FMGL-2021 the internship/clinical-practice requirement must be met at the same institution and the degree must entitle practice in Russia.
Advanced clinical rotationsFinal state examinations
Clinical Training & Internship
Clinical training takes place in Sechenov's network of around 20 university clinical hospitals in central Moscow. 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 Sechenov's Moscow clinical hospitals |
| Year 6 | Advanced clinical practice and the final state examinations |
| Back in India | Indian graduates clear the FMGE and complete the required internship in India before registering with the NMC or a State Medical Council |
Get the full curriculum
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Legacy
Alumni and Heritage of Sechenov University
Unusually for an MBBS-abroad option, Sechenov has a genuinely world-famous medical heritage. The figures below are giants of medicine and science associated with the university and its predecessor faculty.
Nikolai Pirogov & Sergei Botkin
Nikolai Pirogov, a founder of field surgery and anatomical teaching, and Sergei Botkin, a founder of Russian clinical medicine, are among the towering medical figures associated with the university's heritage.
Korsakoff, Sklifosovsky & Anton Chekhov
The psychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff (Korsakoff's syndrome) and the surgeon Nikolai Sklifosovsky are part of the university's legacy, and the celebrated writer Anton Chekhov studied medicine at its predecessor faculty.
Faculty
Teaching is delivered by the university's faculties, research institutes and its network of clinical hospitals in Moscow, with modern simulation and research facilities. The university is led by its Rector, Professor Petr V. Glybochko, MD, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Academic Expertise
Russia's oldest medical university (since 1758)
Ranked in the QS World University Rankings
Around 20 clinical hospitals in Moscow
English-medium teaching for international students
Student Support & Mentorship
A large, established Indian student community
Hostel and arrival assistance
Clinical supervision in Moscow hospitals
Guidance for Indian students on FMGE
About University
History Information
A Sechenov University building in Moscow with Russian signage and the university emblem
Founded in 1758
An Independent University (1930)
Named After Ivan Sechenov (1955)
A Global Medical University Today
Get all information about Sechenov University in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Sechenov University.
Role in medicine
Role in medical education
A Leading Russian Medical University
Training International Doctors
Research and Clinical Excellence
Get all information about Sechenov University in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Sechenov University.
Cost of living
Living Cost in Moscow
Moscow is a large capital city, so living costs are higher than in smaller Russian or Central Asian cities, and students must budget for cold winters. Here is an approximate monthly breakdown for a student (this is separate from tuition, which is high at Sechenov).
Monthly Living Cost
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (hostel) | ₹19,300 – ₹28,900 (US$200 – US$300) |
| Food & Groceries | ₹14,400 – ₹24,100 (US$150 – US$250) |
| Transport & Personal | ₹3,900 – ₹7,700 (US$40 – US$80) |
| Heavy Winter Clothing & Utilities | ₹4,800 – ₹9,600 (US$50 – US$100) |
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Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
₹37,000 – ₹61,000 (US$440 – US$730)
Housing
Accommodation
Sechenov University provides hostel accommodation for its international students in Moscow, and there are also private rental options, with heated buildings essential for the cold winters.
University Hostels
Furnished, Heated Rooms
Moscow Housing Costs
Large Indian Student Community
Indian Food & Messes
Private Apartments
A Major Capital City
Arrival Support
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 in Moscow
Moscow has a large Indian student community and a cosmopolitan food scene, so Indian and vegetarian food is available, alongside Russian and international cuisine.
Indian messes serving the student community, and hostel kitchens, mean Indian food, including vegetarian meals, is accessible for Indian students in Moscow.
As a major capital city, Moscow has a good number of Indian restaurants catering to the large Indian community and visitors.
Russian and international food is widely available; while local cuisine is meat-heavy, vegetarian options such as breads, grains, salads and vegetable dishes are available in a cosmopolitan city.
Supermarkets and Indian grocery stores stock produce, spices and Indian items, so students can cook their own food.
Hostels and rented apartments typically have kitchen facilities, an economical option for students who prefer to cook their own vegetarian or home-style meals.
Location
How to Reach Sechenov University
Address
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya Street 8, bld. 2, Moscow 119991, Russia
Nearest Airport
Moscow's international airports (Sheremetyevo SVO, Domodedovo DME, Vnukovo VKO). Direct India–Moscow flights have historically operated, but connectivity has been affected by the current sanctions environment, so many routes are now one-stop. Moscow is 2.5 hours behind Indian time
Local Transport
Moscow has an extensive metro, buses and taxis and excellent public transport, so students can travel around the city and to the clinical hospitals easily, though the cold winter makes heated indoor transport important
Your Roadmap to Success
Career Pathways After MBBS at Sechenov University
The Specialist (Physician / General Medicine) degree from Sechenov University is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and recognised by ECFMG and WFME, opening licensing pathways in India, the United States and other countries.
Indian graduates can appear for the Indian screening examination (currently the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), complete the required internship and register with the National Medical Commission, provided they qualified NEET before starting and meet the NMC's licentiate conditions.
Graduates are eligible to apply for ECFMG certification and sit the USMLE, opening the pathway to residency and medical practice in the United States.
Graduates can also pursue licensing in the UK (through the GMC's PLAB route) and other countries, each with its own screening or licensing requirements.
After qualifying, graduates can pursue postgraduate specialisation (residency/ordinatura) in Russia, in India (through NEET PG, or NExT once it starts), or in other countries.
A recognised, English-medium degree from a QS-ranked university gives graduates strong flexibility to build clinical careers in their home country or internationally.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
FMGE & NExT Details
An Indian graduate of Sechenov University who wants to practise in India follows the licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC): qualifying NEET before starting, 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. The NMC does not 'approve' individual foreign universities; it sets conditions, and the Russian Specialist-degree structure should be checked against them.
Step 1
NEET Before You Start
An Indian student must have qualified NEET-UG before beginning the course abroad to be eligible later for Indian licensing. A qualifying NEET score is required for admission, and an NMC Eligibility Certificate is now expected before starting.
Step 2
Meet the FMGL 2021 Conditions
The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 require the course and internship to meet the NMC's minimum duration (about 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship), completed in the SAME institution, taught in English, with a degree that entitles the holder to practise in Russia. Because Sechenov awards a six-year integrated Specialist degree, the internship requirement must be met within it and the medium must be English throughout.
Step 3
Clear the FMGE / NExT and Register
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
Student life at Sechenov University
Being a medical student at Sechenov is a mix of demanding study at a historic university and life in Moscow, a major world capital, with the adjustment of cold winters.
A snowy Russian winter riverscape with pine forest (Russian nature, not Moscow city or the campus)
Academics
The Winter Palace (State Hermitage) in St Petersburg, Russia: another Russian city, shown as national context, not Moscow or the campus
Life in Moscow
Challenges and Growth
Social Life
Overall Experience
Fees & Financial
Fees & Financial Planning
Sechenov is a premium, high-fee option, so realistic financial planning across the whole six-year course, plus the current Russia-related payment logistics, matters a great deal.
International students pay tuition of about 1,300,000 RUB a year in 2026-27 (roughly ₹15 lakh), and with hostel, insurance and Moscow living costs the realistic all-in is roughly ₹1.2–1.4 crore across the six-year course: far more than most MBBS-abroad options, so budget and funding must be planned carefully.
- About 1,300,000 RUB/year tuition in 2026-27 (roughly ₹15 lakh)
- Hostel ~US$2,500/year (about ₹2.1 lakh)
- Medical insurance ~US$250/year (about ₹21,000); Year 1 may add a one-time ~US$1,000
- Moscow living costs of roughly ₹42,000–70,000 per month
- Roughly ₹85 lakh to ₹1 crore+ all-in over six years
- Pay only through the official fee-payment route
Because of the current sanctions environment, transferring fees from India to Russia can be complex: SWIFT/bank transfers have been disrupted since 2022, so pay only through the official payment method the university accepts, and plan travel and insurance carefully. Direct India–Moscow flight connectivity has also been reduced, so plan routes around the latest Indian government travel advisory. Our counsellors can help you navigate the current logistics.
Given the high total cost, many families use an education loan; the university's global ranking and recognition can support loan applications. We can guide families on documentation for loans, visas and the current payment logistics.
Compare
Compare Colleges
Compare Sechenov University with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
Sechenov University vs AIIMS New Delhi
| University | Sechenov UniversityMoscow, Russia | AIIMS New DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Public (federal) medical university under the Russian MoH | Government institute of national importance |
| Medium | English (Russian needed for clinical years) | English |
| Course Duration | 6 years (integrated Specialist / MD) | 5.5 years including internship (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~1,300,000 RUB (~₹15 lakh); ~₹1.2–1.4 crore all-in | Nominal (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Admission | NEET-qualified + Class 12 (PCB) + university assessment | NEET-UG (extremely high rank) |
| Recognition | QS-ranked; WDOMS-listed; ECFMG/WFME; NMC via FMGE | NMC-recognised |
| World Ranking | Ranked in the QS World University Rankings (~#790–800 band) | India's top-ranked medical institute (NIRF #1) |
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Articles that turn complex MBBS-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying MBBS at Sechenov University.
Yes. Sechenov offers an English-medium General Medicine (six-year Specialist/MD, MBBS-equivalent) programme for international students. Students also learn Russian, which is needed for the clinical/ward years when working with local patients.
Yes: unlike many affordable MBBS destinations, Sechenov is genuinely ranked in the QS World University Rankings (in the ~#790–800 band in 2025) and is typically Russia's top or a top medical university. It is realistic to call it globally ranked, though it is around #800 rather than top-100.
Sechenov is premium-priced. Tuition is about 1,300,000 RUB a year in 2026-27 (roughly ₹15 lakh), and with hostel, insurance and Moscow living costs the realistic all-in is roughly ₹1.2–1.4 crore across six years, far more than most MBBS-abroad options.
Plan carefully. Because of the current sanctions environment, transferring fees from India to Russia can be complex and direct flight connectivity has been affected. Pay only through the official payment route the university accepts, and plan flights and travel around the latest advisories before committing.
Sechenov is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (since 1995) and recognised by ECFMG and WFME. Indian students can qualify to practise in India by clearing the NMC screening examination (FMGE, transitioning to NExT), provided they qualified NEET before starting and their programme meets the NMC's conditions.
Yes. A qualifying NEET-UG score is required for Indian applicants, and NEET is mandatory for any Indian student who wants to study MBBS abroad and to sit the FMGE to practise in India.
Sechenov awards a six-year integrated Specialist ('Physician') degree in General Medicine. For NMC eligibility, the FMGL-2021 internship requirement must be met within the Russian structure and teaching must be English-medium throughout.
Cold. Moscow has cold winters with sub-zero temperatures and snow for months (January often around minus six to minus ten degrees or lower). Budget for heavy winter clothing. Moscow is 2.5 hours behind Indian time.
Sechenov has a world-famous medical heritage, including the physiologist Ivan Sechenov (its namesake), the surgeon Nikolai Pirogov, the clinician Sergei Botkin, the psychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff and the surgeon Nikolai Sklifosovsky, and the writer-physician Anton Chekhov studied medicine at its predecessor faculty.
It is a genuinely prestigious, QS-ranked, English-medium option at Russia's oldest medical university, with a huge Moscow clinical network and a large Indian community. The honest caveats are the premium cost (₹1.2–1.4 crore), the current Russia-related payment and travel logistics, cold winters, the degree structure under NMC rules, and clearing the FMGE.
Campus photographs supplied by the client, two views of a Sechenov University building with Russian signage and the university emblem (used in the Hero and History sections); these are the only images here that actually show Sechenov University. City and scenery images courtesy of Unsplash: Red Square and the Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral and the Zhivopisny Bridge over the Moskva River (all genuinely Moscow): photos by contributors including Michael Parulava, Nikolay Vorobyev, Nikita Karimov and 'dotzero'; a Russian winter riverscape, photo by Vladimir Fedotov (generic Russian nature, not Moscow); and the Winter Palace / State Hermitage, photo by Victor Malyushev (this is St Petersburg, a different city, used only as national context in Student Life).