Recently, Uzbekistan has become a popular destination for MBBS abroad among Indian students. It is one of the top destinations among Indians in terms of the number of students going to study MBBS abroad. The other top destinations are Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Georgia. While there are many advantages to studying MBBS in Uzbekistan, it certainly is not without its shortcomings. In general, a majority of Indian students pursuing their MBBS in Uzbekistan are satisfied with their overall experience. Global Medical Foundation’s Shobhit Jayaswal has visited the medical universities in Uzbekistan multiple times. We have sent hundreds of students to study MBBS in Uzbekistan. Most of these students visit the office of Global Medical Foundation every year for their visa renewal process. Therefore, we are in regular contact with the students sent by us. By staying in regular touch with the students, we have a very good idea of the problems faced by students during their stay in Uzbekistan. These are the actual Disadvantages of studying MBBS in Uzbekistan faced by Indian students:
Language Barrier
One of the very first problems faced by Indian students when they start their journey of becoming a doctor in countries like Uzbekistan/Russia/Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan/Bangladesh is that they can’t speak or understand the local language. The classroom studies are in English and the education part is not a problem. However, the problem starts when you have to ask for directions or talk with the shop owners when you go out to buy groceries.
This problem gets solved slowly as the universities teach the local language in the first three years.
Furthermore, once you go for clinical training/internship, you are required to speak with the locals in their language which is rarely English. A lot of the time, your teachers will act as the translator for you which is a great help. However, you are required to learn a new language when you go to Uzbekistan.
Recognition and Accreditation Issues
The NMC introduced FMGL Regulations in 2021 but never confirmed which country fulfils these rules. The NMC does not maintain a list of recognised universities abroad. Therefore, there is no confirmation if Uzbekistan or any other country fulfils all the rules mentioned in FMGL regulations. We are dependent on the information provided by the universities/Education Ministry/Indian Embassy of a particular country to understand if it fulfils FMGL Regulations.
Though we understand that most of the rules under FMGL Regulations are being satisfied by the medical universities in Uzbekistan, there is still a grey area regarding some regulations. The medical universities in Uzbekistan mention that they fulfil the FMGL Regulations and will continue to make changes if and when required whenever any new rules are introduced. Indian students going to study MBBS abroad in any country are advised to thoroughly research and satisfy themselves that the country they are choosing fulfils FMGL Regulations.
Overcrowded Universities
The recent surge in the popularity of medical universities in Uzbekistan has led to an even bigger surge in the number of students going to study at some universities. Two universities, namely, Tashkent Medical Academy and Samarkand State Medical University have become too overcrowded. The Indian students who are taking admission in these two universities are facing many issues including not getting hostel rooms which have forced many students to stay in expensive apartments. Overcrowding also leads to a significant drop in the quality of education. There are many better options available in Uzbekistan. For eg. it is better to opt for Bukhara State Medical Institute which is the No.1 Ranked medical university as per the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan. The university takes a limited number of students and provides an excellent quality of education.
Yearly Visa Extension & Registration
On average, the students are shelling out anywhere between ₹40,000-50,000 per year on visa extension and registration. While registration is a simple though time-consuming process, getting a visa extension every year has become a major headache for students. As many consultancies undertake this process on behalf of the students, there are often huge delays in getting visas. Many students book their tickets in advance but are often forced to cancel their tickets due to visa delays causing them monetary losses. The visa extension process is a major headache for Indian students. In many instances, the students are forced to wait for months for their visa extension which leads to them missing classes and even exams.
Quality of Education Variability
While some universities in Uzbekistan are well-regarded, the quality of education can vary between institutions. You may find disparities in faculty qualifications, infrastructure, clinical training opportunities, and research resources. There are many new universities, particularly private universities in Uzbekistan which are being promoted by the agents in India. These universities often lack basic infrastructure and also do not have an experienced faculty. The quality of education in such universities is often below the normal standards. Therefore, Indian students need to contact experienced consultancies like Global Medical Foundation.
Living Conditions
While the living standards are good in cities like Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, the same cannot be said about many other cities. For eg. many students opt to study at a university in Urgench which is not a very good city and is a small place. We at Global Medical Foundation would recommend that you check the city too in which the university is located. While this should and cannot be the main criterion for selecting a university, it is certainly an important criterion as you will be living in that city for the next few years.
Availability of Better Options
As Uzbekistan is a relatively new option, there are not many graduates from medical universities in Uzbekistan. Therefore, data on the FMGE passing percentage is also not available. MBBS in Uzbekistan is still untested. Therefore, students can choose to study in countries like Georgia from which the graduates have performed extremely well in FMGE. If you have a good budget then you can choose to study MBBS in Georgia over MBBS in Uzbekistan.
Conclusion
While there are some disadvantages of studying MBBS in Uzbekistan for Indian students, the advantages simply outweigh the disadvantages. If you are looking to study MBBS abroad at an affordable budget, Uzbekistan is certainly one of the best options for Indian students.
For counselling on MBBS abroad and for admission, get in touch with Global Medical Foundation.