A Complete Guide to Studying in Russia for Malaysians

If you had to name the most countries overseas that Malaysian students chose to study at, Russia may spring to mind. Having always been a wildly popular option among many students, the world’s largest nation can be quite a daunting prospect to any one-person contemplating to settle there for a good six years. Is it really that cold? How much does a McValue meal cost over there? Will I have to learn Russian? How much does the whole course cost?

In this article, we will answer all these pressing questions that you have circling around in your head and explain all the top institutions, ranging from Medical schools to Aviation, available for you in Russia! So do read on, have all your questions finally answered and let your concerns about studying in a foreign country loose.

Institutions

According to the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), the following four institutions are accredited in Malaysia:

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

Founded in 1906, the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, is one of the largest medical institutions in the country and the first university to allow women to acquire a medical degree. It is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for their medical courses. The institution is fully accredited and recognized by Russia’s Ministry of Education and Science but also, under the authority of the Ministry of Health and Social Development. Over the years the university has made many changes internally and externally for the benefit of the students to ensure the high quality of training for medical students and doctors in the main academic disciplines.

The university is currently offering a Medicine Degree (M.D.) 

Moscow State Medical University

Moscow State Medical University is the oldest and largest national medical higher educational institution in Russia, being established for more than 250 years. Previously known as I.M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, the institution has played a leading role in the development of medical science and training of medical and scientific personnel. The school has over 20 buildings, classrooms, lecture halls, a clinical centre, 17 clinics for 3000 patients, a research centre, the main library, publishing sections, a video-photo department, laboratory, garden and hostels for the students. These state-of-the-art facilities have helped many aspiring doctors in the institutions to achieve their dreams.

This university is currently offering a Medicine Degree (M.D.) 

Kursk State Medical University

In the current top 10 best Russian medical university ranking, Kursk State Medical University

(KSMU) takes its place. It is the first university to offer students a full medical training program in the English language. The institution has a research institute of Ecological Medicine as well as a consulting diagnostic polyclinic and medical institute, which has helped train 25,000 medical professionals in over 14 facilities and 67 departments. KSMU has been recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the General Medical Council (GMC) in most European countries. It has also received an international ranking for its academics from the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The university is currently offering a Medicine Degree (M.D.) 

Moscow Aviation Institute

While most of the universities mentioned before are medical universities, this next one is a completely different area of study. The Moscow Aviation Institute, established in 1930, is recognised worldwide for its Aviation and Aerospace programs. The faculties and graduate programmes in Aerospace Engineering at the university will provide practical and theoretical training using the most current techniques and tools made available for engineers.

The university is currently offering a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Most of the institutions listed above offer their courses in English, which is helpful for international students wishing to study in Russia. Also, the universities are located in the heart of Moscow City, which is helpful in terms of transportation and finding food. For the Malaysians and Muslims planning to study in Russia, don’t worry, because the city has all kinds of food, including halal food!

Cost of Living

Below, we’ve put together a neat infographic that paints a clearer picture of what it would cost to stay in Russia, as well as the three most popular universities there and their respective fees:

While fees are one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a university, cost of living should never be overlooked as it can contribute to a significant amount that university students never anticipate for. As for cost of living in Russia, here are some comparisons of prices of a range of products and services. All prices are in Ringgit Malaysia (RM): 

*It should be noted that the above is only an estimate, and the cost of living will vary based on the lifestyle individual students lead, as well as their location.

Fees

Medical courses continue to top the list of expensive courses for any student. However, the fees in Russia are on the reasonable end of the scale, one of the many reasons it continues to draw hordes of Malaysians over. The fees vary based on which university you choose to attend. Below you will find the fees per year of each institution, as per their latest release:

Minimum Requirements

Most of the institutions listed above require the following pre-university courses in order for you to enrol in their degrees. The courses required are listed in the following: Foundation in

Science, STPM, Diploma, South Australian Matriculation, Canadian Pre-U, UEC, A-levels and other qualifications. The programs and the grades required in order to apply for the universities are listed in the table provided below:

Language

While, the institutions provide English courses for the new students, the bad news is you will need to learn Russian. The good news though, is that students will conveniently receive Russian language lessons once they begin their tertiary education in the country. Before all that comes into play though, please note that it is also mandatory to get an IELTS certification with minimum of 6.5. However, students with scores less than 6.5 and higher than 5.0, may appeal to their university of choice. Admission is often assessed based on individual cases. 

Weather

Unlike Malaysia, where the country suffers from heat and sun all year round, Russia experiences the four seasons as commonly seen in movies. Russia lies in a moderate climate zone and is quite a comfortable place to live in. Many Western countries have problems with providing central heating, but no worries! Russia provides central heating in all houses and public buildings during the winter season, so you won’t have to worry about the cold. Heaters also work in public transport during the winter months. When you are in your dormitory room or a classroom, it's not likely that you'll get cold because the heat will usually be on blast. But it’s always best to invest in a nice sweater just in case of central heating breakdowns!

How to Apply

In an effort to simplify what would otherwise be an awfully complicated list filled with way too many words, the infographic below should explain everything you need to know:

Studying medicine may seem daunting, what more pursuing it in a foreign country you’ve never set foot in. But knowledge is indeed power, and hopefully the information you’ve gone through leaves you with a clearer picture as to whether Russia as the place you’d like to call home for the entirety of your medical school life.

Interested?

Medic Ed is the first medical and professional consultant service centre that helps students and their facilities to choose the right medical pathway. It was founded by a group of doctors led by Doctor Lau Haw Ming in 2002 and is registered under the ministry of higher education in Malaysia.

The goals of the service centre is to create future doctors in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary and aviation. One of the most popular service provided by the company would be the Medic Ed 360 coverage plan. Medic Ed 360 provides the following: consultancy services for students planning to study in Russia, an environment assimilation program which provides language and cultural classes, financial assistance (RM500k loans with interest fees) and finally, a career assurance where students are ensured of a job offered by Medic Ed and partner after graduation.

If you are interested in studying Russia, click on the link below for more information on the services provided by Medic Ed. The counsellors at Medic Ed will guide you through your medical journey starting here with your applications to the universities and obtaining your letter of offer, and all the way to Russia till you have successfully received your Bachelor’s Degree.

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