India is at war today with Russia and Ukraine; however, it is interesting to note that universities in Ukraine continue to list admission deadlines on their websites, and consultancies are still advertising Ukrainian universities and actually registering some students.
So, should you go? And, most importantly, will India allow MBBS graduates to enter the country in 2026? Or should you view it as a gamble for your future as well as your individual safety?
To cut through the advertising hype and examine the ground facts, we will go over what is happening in Ukraine with respect to the registration of students by the National Medical Commission (NMC), and provide an honest assessment regarding the admission of MBBS graduates into the country from India in 2026.
The initial discussion will be about admission deadlines and the financial cost for Indian students. There is one very important point that should be addressed first, if there is to be any discussion regarding the admission of students to an MBBS program in 2026; i.e. the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
- Loss of Indian Medical Students:
A civil war on February 24, 2022, forced almost 18000 Indian medical students to return to India because of escalating violence. To recover as many Indian citizens as possible from war-torn Ukraine, the Indian government commenced “Operation Ganga.” The operation successfully evacuated more than 22000 Indian citizens through adjacent eastern European nations such as Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, and Slovakia.
Indians comprise almost 24% of foreign medical students attending school in Ukraine, and therefore are the largest single nationality of international students in that country. The operation for Indians to evacuate was extremely disorganized, created significant levels of trauma, and left a significant number of students without an immediate medical career path.
Are Ukrainian Universities Actually Operating?
Ukrainian medical universities are functioning and accepting students at this moment in time; however, there are major issues surrounding this operation.
- Schools That Have Resumed Operations:
In September 2022, however, with the initiation of the new academic year, several foreign students returned to Lviv, specifically to Lviv Medical University. Most cities in Western Ukraine (especially Lviv, which is further from active combat areas) have experienced a lesser degree of returning students.
- The Reasons Behind The Returns:
What compels students to return to a place where a war is taking place? The reasons students return are simple, yet sad at the same time:
- Sunk Cost:
If students abandon their studies at a university, they will lose four years of education and approximately €4,500 per year in tuition fees.
- NMC Policy:
The NMC does not recognise the delivery of an online medical education, and they have clarified that if the student takes an online delivery method of completing their degree, it will not be considered valid by the NMC when they return to India for licensing.
- Limited Opportunities To Transfer Schools:
According to the Guidelines for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), students who are FMGs must complete their entire medical education, as well as training and internship, at the same institution outside of the United States.
Admission Deadlines
Medical colleges in Ukraine offer admission for both MBBS and other medical degrees at two separate times during the year: September and March. These Consulting Firms continue to promote Ukraine’s affordable tuition and English-speaking programs, and this is also endorsed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India.
However, there is an important context surrounding these applications. Before the onset of hostilities in the region, there were defined application deadlines, and now, with some of the universities still functioning, these schedules continue; therefore, these “admission dates” as advertised with no mention of the war itself or the associated risks associated with international students, are simply misleading.
As stated above, before the conflict, there was an established schedule of admission. Typically, the dates were:
- Applications Could Be Made at Any Time, With Several Admissions Annually.
- The Primary Admission Date Was In September.
- The Secondary Admission Date Was In March.
- Classes Commenced Shortly After Received (Received/Processed) Admission Letters.
- Reality of 2026:
While the same cycle exists, applying to Ukrainian colleges for MBBS for 2026 is nothing more than placing an individual “bet” on the following things:
- The termination of hostilities in the region or a significant reduction in hostilities.
- The Continued Operation Of All The Colleges.
- The Ability Of Students To Have Safe Areas To Live In.
- The Presence Of a Stable Visa And Travel Infrastructure.
- Opportunities For Students To Have Access To Consistent Clinical Training.
Where Did Indian Students Actually Go?
The war has resulted in a complete reordering of where Indian medical students pursue their medical education. The data clearly shows how well Indian medical students adapted to this change:
- Georgia:
Indian’s remittances for education in Georgia skyrocketed to $50.25 million in 2024-25 compared to $10.33 million in 2018-19. Despite the decline of Indian’s total remittances for education abroad, Georgia experienced an increase of 19%.
- Russia:
Indian’s expenditures on Education in Russia grew to $69.94 million in 2024-25, compared to $22.48 million in 2023-24, which is a whopping 200% rise. The number of Indian students transferring to Russian universities has increased due to the similarities in language, credit system and tuition costs.
- Ukraine:
India’s remittance for education in Ukraine dropped from $14.80 million to $2.40 million from 2024-25. Before the war, India’s remittance for education in Ukraine was at an all-time high of $39.12 million in 2021-22.
- Academic Mobility Program:
Ukraine suggested an academic mobility program that would allow Indian students to temporarily relocate to other universities to continue their studies while still being awarded degrees by their home university in Ukraine. As a result, Indian students were able to complete programs in Poland, Russia, Hungary and various other countries.
- Transfer Destinations:
Approximately 70% of Indian students who were forced to return to India for medical education completed their medical education from schools in countries such as Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Georgia. These countries have become safe havens for Indian students who wish to complete their medical education.
NMC's Position
The National Medical Commission(NMC) has shown through its actions during the Ukrainian crisis an important insight into its policy positions:
- One-time exception (2022):
For the first time, on a one-off basis, the NMC allowed 4,000 students from Ukraine who were in their final semester to come and do their internship in India. This is a case of effective management of a crisis.
- Online Education Rejection:
The NMC’s policy has been to not allow for or permit online education, and therefore not allow for degrees requiring in-person clinical training to be obtained online or virtually. The rejection of online education by the NMC has helped protect the educational standards of the commission, but has caused hardship to many students.
- Academic Mobility Approval:
The NMC accepted the academic mobility program, which was also significant because it demonstrated that, in certain outstanding situations, students would be given flexible options for obtaining their degrees while maintaining the integrity of their education.
The Affordability & Safety
The total cost of a six-year MBBS education in Ukraine is estimated between 18000 and 24000 USD.
With the lower cost of attending medical school in Ukraine, middle-income families in India can save significantly. The cost of attending a medical school in Ukraine can be 15-20 lakh rupees versus the average cost of 50-80 lakhs rupees at private medical colleges in India.
- Additional Positive Features (Before Conflict)
- No Entrance Exam (other than NEET) to gain entrance
- Instruction in English-Medium
- European-Standard Education
- Acceptance of NMC & WHO
- Lower Cost of Living than Western Europe
- 100% Literacy Rate & Many High-Quality Universities
Safety
The priority consideration is safety above all else when making decisions regarding tuition, timelines, and employment opportunities.
- Current Safety Measures
The universities have prepared and maintained temporary housing for students in case of an alarm. However, you must also question whether you want your child attending a school where temporary shelters are viewed as viable safety precautions.
- Recent Events
As of July 2024, missile strikes have continued and are unpredictable throughout Ukraine, with no part of Ukraine having established safety from war conditions. However, western cities such as Lviv are generally more secure compared to eastern cities such as Kharkiv; however, being in a war zone, being referred to as “relatively safe” does not mean being “safe”.
EOCL India
Since 2013, Education Orbit Counselling & Link (EOCL India) has been helping students select secure medical training abroad that follows the NMC guidelines, with more than 5,000 students placed successfully. The primary objective of EOCL India when it comes to students’ safety and future career is to put that first, rather than chasing after commission payments.
