The Indian students applying for the admission in Russian medical institutes are advised to check the following:
1. Please visit the websites of the universities for finding out necessary details such as rankings, recent academic records, faculty, infrastructure etc. Kindly conduct a detailed research of the universities and also check with the alumni to ensure taking admission in good universities that offer quality education.
2. You must find out whether the university you are considering offers courses in English language. While some universities offer full course in English, all 6 years, most others teach in English only for the first three years with the rest three years being taught in Russian. According to these universities, it is important to know Russian and study in Russian in the final years in order to interact with the patients during clinical attachments. Please keep it in mind that sooner or later a student will be required to become proficient in Russian language.
3. We encourage students to deal directly with the university for admission without mediation of Agents/Contractors, also known as Educational Consultants (ECs). One may correspond with the universities to find out if they offer direct admission and take further action accordingly.
4. If at all one has to go through the ECs, their background and reputation should be carefully checked before hiring their services. One may also consult the former/current students who had utilized the services of an EC to ascertain their feedback/experience. Please avoid the ECs with whom the students had unpleasant experience.
5. Some of the ECs use services of sub-agents to reach out to prospective students in remote areas. It is also important to check the credentials of these sub-agents before hiring their services. Please also get in touch with the main EC for whom the sub-agent is working in order to cross check relevant details.
6. Documentation is extremely important and one must ensure that the relevant papers are in order. Please make sure that the contract is in English language or bilingual (English and Russian) and go through it carefully before signing it. Please do not sign a contract which is only in Russian language and the contents are not clear.
7. It is equally important to check the details about the university tuition fee, hostel fee and the service charge/commission charged by the EC. These should be reflected in the contract and the university admission letter.
8. Please be mindful of the services being provided by the ECs and their terms and conditions, especially with regard to the service charges and escalation clause, if any.
9. Please do not pay by cash to the EC. Kindly insist on banking transactions and ask for a proper receipt. The receipt should bear the name of the organization/company of the EC. Please also insist for the fee receipt issued by the university. Proper documentation with regard to fee and other charges is a must for obtaining a bank loan as well as safeguarding one’s interests.
10. Please also check details of hostel facilities being offered by the university. Most hostels might not be in good condition. Given the dietary preferences, students might be expected to cook their own food. Some of the universities allow students to make their own stay arrangements in apartments locally.
11. Medical insurance is also of critical importance. One need to go for a medical cover immediately on arrival. Insist for a proper receipt for insurance premium from the university/EC and also take the policy papers in your custody. This is required while seeking medical assistance from a Polyclinic/Hospital.
12. Please bear in mind that while Russia is a beautiful country, it also has harsh winters. One needs to be equipped with proper warm clothing, footwear etc. to handle tough weather conditions.
