Possibilities for International Students after Medical Studies in Russia: Job Prospects, Salaries, Post Graduation & Research
Wondering what to do next after completing your medical degree in Russia?
A student who finishes medical school in Russia is eligible to practice medicine in Russia. A Russian medical degree is approved by the National Medical Commission (NCM) of India, the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECGFMG), and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). Thus, after gaining the degree and clearing the Medical Licensing Examination, holders of medical degrees could settle anywhere in the world and practice medicine. Additionally, postgraduation and research options are also open to Russian medical graduates.
Here is a detailed account of all the opportunities after pursuing medicine in Russia.
Opportunities after pursuing Medicine in Russia: Overview
| Minimum criteria for Russian recognition | Medical degree > 54 months duration |
| International organizations that recognize a Russian medical degree | National Medical Commission of India, Medical Council of Canada, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, and World Directory of Medical Schools |
| Popular countries where Russian medical graduates apply for a license | Russia, India, UAE, Canada, USA |
| Average pay for doctors in Russia | USD 57,589 (Salary Expert) |
| Average pay for doctors in UAE | USD 188,643 (Salary Expert) |
| Average pay for doctors in India | USD 29,455 (Salary Expert) |
| Higher education after a medical degree from Russia | Post-graduation and Ph.D. |
Practice Medicine in Russia
As per the latest regulations, all medical universities in Russia that provide medicine courses for a duration greater than 54 months are recognized in Russia. After the completion of the medical course, the candidates may join any hospital in Russia, be it government or private. Students should be proficient in the local language to communicate with patients.
In order to start practicing, the degree holder must obtain a medical license issued by the Ministry of Health, Russia. The process is simple and involves submitting the necessary documents to the governing body. The process lasts for 1.5 to 3 months, and after the successful issue of the license, applicants can easily practice within the borders of Russia.
Average pay:
Doctors in Russia earn an average of USD 57,589 per year (Salary Expert) which is higher than the average mean pay for all professions in the country. Salaries may differ with the specific job titles.
Eligibility criteria:
- Attainment of the primary medical qualification from a recognized university.
- Proof or documentary evidence supporting the candidate’s passing of the final examination.
Practice Medicine in UAE
The United Arab Emirates offers excellent opportunities if you want to pursue a medical career in emirate countries. Graduates must obtain a territory-specific license to practice.
Licensing authorities:
The United Arab Emirates has four licensing authorities. These authorities have specific territories in which you can practice. The authority name for the territory has been listed below.
| Authority | Territory |
| DHA (Dubai Health Authority) | Dubai |
| MOH (Ministry of Health) | Northern emirates (Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm al Quwain, and Ajman) |
| DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City) | Dubai |
| HAAD (Health Authority Abu Dhabi) | Abu Dhabi |
The UAE Medical Council states that doctors must have at least two years of experience in their field before applying for a license. It takes approximately 2-4 weeks to review the initial application. Students then have to appear for a Prometric assessment test. They are issued a card within 5 working days.
Eligibility criteria:
- Attainment of the primary medical qualification from the university listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) or the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of FAIMER
- Proof/documentary evidence in support of the candidate having passed the final examination.
Average pay:
According to the Salary Expert statistics, the average yearly salary for a Doctor in UAE is AED 692,891 (USD 188,643) per year.
Practice Medicine in India
After the successful completion of the medical degree from Russia, the applicant is expected to appear for the National Medical Commission (NCM) of India screening test/Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE). This examination is conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE), India. A one-year mandatory internship follows this examination to provide hands-on training. Any Indian citizen who has a medical qualification from outside India needs to get permanently registered with the NCM by qualifying for this examination.
Examination dates:
This exam is conducted twice a year in June and December.
Eligibility criteria:
- Attainment of the primary medical qualification from the university approved by NCM.
- Proof/documentary evidence supporting the candidate’s passing of the final examination.
Documentary requirements:
- Admit Card issued by NBE.
- Candidate’s photograph (min 35x45mm), which indicates the name of the candidate and the date of capturing at the bottom of the photograph
- Any of the authorized photo Identity: PAN Card/Driving License/Voter ID/Passport/Aadhar Card
Average pay:
The average doctor’s salary in India is INR 24,06,386 or USD 29,455 per year (Salary Expert). The salary stays highly variable based on the city and specialization.
Some Russian universities also offer NCM Screening test preparation courses to Indian students. This is an add-on benefit while pursuing medicine, as it saves future time that the students spend on preparations for the screening tests.
Apart from becoming a medical practitioner, there are some other options that students can choose post-completion of their medical studies in Russia.
Go for a post-graduation
The students who want to pursue further studies can opt for specialization or post-graduation degrees in Russia or other countries as well. Countries like the UK, the USA, Singapore, Australia, etc., provide great options to pursue higher studies in medicine.
Specializations available:
Here is a list of popular specializations for clinical residencies:
| Angio surgery | Cardiology | Cardiovascular surgery |
| Coloproctology | Dermato-venerology | Gastroenterology |
| Maxillofacial surgery | Nephrology | Neurosurgery |
| Ophthalmology | Oral medicine | Oral pathology |
| Neurology | Orthodontics | Otorhinolaryngology |
| Pediatrics | Periodontics | Physiotherapy |
| Plastic surgery | Prosthodontics | Radiology |
| Pulmonology | Surgical dentistry | Therapy |
Pursue research after Medicine in Russia
Medical research is always in demand and is becoming increasingly important over time. Russia has been one of the most popular international destinations for medical research. This country holds boundless research opportunities for students passionate about research. Students can opt for a master’s degree in research followed by a Ph.D. degree.
Russia is the birthplace of scientists like Ivan Pavlov and Mikhail Lomonosov, thus the scholarly heritage has been taken over since then and is still considered an essential aspect of the nation’s growth. Russia provides a very affordable cost of living. It also offers various scholarships each year to international students, covering tuition fees and accommodations to make the applicant’s research journey easier and more enjoyable. The latest example of Russia’s contribution to global research includes the development of the world’s first COVID vaccine by the university hospitals of I. M. Sechenov, First Moscow State Medical University.
Other than Russia, many other countries provide variable research opportunities for applicants, along with an ample number of scholarship opportunities to meet their financial needs. Russian university standards have been widely acknowledged on several occasions. This recognition opens up a wide variety of opportunities after pursuing medicine in Russia.
