The USD’s consistent appreciation is inadvertently making things more challenging for Indian international medical school applicants seeking overseas educational opportunities.
In order to pursue careers as doctors, many students travel to various nations each year, including Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and Russia. The US dollar’s high value relative to other currencies, particularly the Indian rupee, drives up the price of goods and services other than tuition. Even though tuition costs have not gone up, students still have to pay more because they need more local currency to make purchases in foreign currencies like dollars. Not only do you have to pay more for basic needs like housing, groceries, and health insurance, but these expenses also go up dramatically.
Money transfers from India are more expensive when converting local rupee bills into foreign currencies required overseas, because so many international expenditures depend on US dollars. The impact of dollar rates on MBBS abroad fees for Indian students 2026 would likely result in a significant increase in overall educational expenses, given how important foreign exchange rates have been in determining medical school tuition costs overseas for Indian students.
The Reasons Russia Is a Safer Choice
Russian medical schools are among the best in the world, and international students have little financial hardship when it comes to currency conversions.
In order to avoid administrative headaches and lessen dependency on dollars, the majority of students usually pay their tuition through the university using Russian currency.
The tuition fees in Russia are 3 to 5 lakh rupees per year. The living costs range between 9,000 and 13,000 rupees a month.
Russia is one of the most predictable and reasonable options out there.
Why do Indian Students keep choosing Russia?
Russia has a group of the best government medical colleges. Students get clinical training experience early from clinics, laboratories, and simulation centers.
The rupee’s depreciation against the US dollar in 2025 has had a severe financial impact on individuals anticipating overseas vacations and students intending to pursue MBBS overseas.
Indian students pursuing MBBS overseas are facing severe financial strain due to a declining rupee, as their daily expenses, living expenses, and tuition fees increase dramatically. More than just tuition fees are being impacted by the rupee’s decline; daily expenses like groceries, travel, and lodging are also becoming more expensive, adding to the financial burden. Parents and students are finding it challenging to plan and budget for overseas MBBS education due to currency fluctuations.
Steps Indian Students Abroad can take
Forex cards are a cost-effective alternative for students pursuing MBBS abroad, eliminating foreign transaction charges.
Forex cards offer a more stable and affordable way to handle expenses overseas than INR-denominated credit or debit cards, which are affected by fluctuating rupee rates.
Selecting a 0% mark-up forex service is a wise decision because traditional money changers and banks charge high mark-ups (2% to 8%). Students should optimize discretionary spending and consider cost-saving steps such as shared accommodation. Moreover, where permitted, students can explore part-time job opportunities to boost their income. According to financial experts, if you want to pursue your MBBS degree overseas, your financial strategy should include applying for scholarships, taking out student loans, and saving money through investments.
In order to manage the expenses, they especially enjoy using diversified stock mutual funds. That’s because these investments can help your savings grow faster than the rising price of education and protect you when the Indian rupee loses value against foreign currencies. Having particular investments can serve as an important fiscal safety net. For most Indian students, the depreciation of the Indian rupee means higher tuition fees and living costs, as well as difficult financial decisions.
Forex cards will allow students to preload money at set rates, whereas with multi-currency accounts, students can hold and convert money when the rates are favorable to them. Exchange rates can be monitored daily, and by converting in bits at a time instead of converting the entire amount in one go, students can save money.
Living and Studying Costs Go Up
In big US cities like New York and San Francisco, just finding a place to live is now much harder. You’ll need to pay at least $1,000 per month (which is about 1.30 lakh rupees). Because the dollar is stronger, basic expenses like rent, food, and getting around (transportation) all suddenly cost a lot more.
Repaying Education Loans Becomes Harder
When the Indian rupee loses value (depreciates), it creates extra financial stress on students and their families who took out education loans in Indian rupees. The amount you have to pay back each year for the loan goes up by an extra 3% to 5%. The cost is increased by necessities like mobile services, Wi-Fi, and electricity.
When you plan to study MBBS abroad, the way money is exchanged (the currency exchange rate) really affects your budget, both for daily life and the total cost of your education loan. If you take out a loan in a foreign currency (like US Dollars or Euros), listen up: if your home currency loses value (called devaluation) while you’re not making payments (the grace period), you might end up owing a lot more money when you finally start repaying! Getting that acceptance letter from an international college is exciting! It means new programs, new friends, and a better future. When international students make a budget, they usually focus on living costs, travel, and tuition. For Indian students planning to study MBBS overseas in 2026, the US Dollar exchange rate is especially important for tuition fees.
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