All you ever wanted was to be a doctor and now, you have the opportunity to study MBBS. There are many universities offering MBBS programs but quality differs from one university to another. China, Ukraine and Russia all have good universities. You may be confused about which country to study in. Read on to find out about each of these countries and what it is like to study there.

CHINA

China is famous for practising traditional medicine which is quite effective. Over the years, Chinese traditional medicine has been combined with western medicine to make treatment more effective. Some of the treatment methods include acupuncture, food remedies and traditional Chinese medical massage among others. The major staple food in China is rice. Other popular foods include tofu, noodles, a variety of meats and a variety of vegetables.

There are approximately 2879 universities in China. China hosts around 210,000 foreign students taking up different programs.

Tuition Fee

The cost of studying MBBS in China is quite cheap compared to the U.S. Universities are classified into grade A, B and C. Grade B and C universities are usually much cheaper. The cost of studying MBBS in china ranges between RMB 30,000 and RMB 60,000 per year which amounts to RMB 180,000 and RMB 360,000 for 6 years. One of the good universities is Shantou University Medical College which is located in Shantou and charges RMB 52,000 per year as tuition fee. Guangzhou university is located in Guangzhou and charges RMB 30,000 per year as tuition fee.

Advantages of Studying in China

Availability of Financial Aid

To attract foreign students to come study in China, the Chinese government has subsidized the cost of studying in universities. There are various scholarships available to international students. They can either be partial scholarships or full scholarships. Of course, there are requirements to meet before you can qualify for a scholarship. The requirements are different for each type of scholarship. The different types of scholarships include:

• CGS: Chinese Government Scholarship.
• ES: Enterprise Scholarship.
• US: University Scholarships.
• CLGS: Chinese Local Government Scholarship.

Affordable

Compared to universities in the U.S and parts of Europe, China has lower tuition fees for an MBBS program. The cost is more than 50 percent cheaper. Aside from affordable education, the cost of food and housing is also affordable. Whether you have a low budget or a high budget, you will always find something suitable for you. The average cost of living in China is RMB 12,000 annually.

Good Internship Opportunities

Once you finish your MBBS studies, you can do your internship in China. There are many medical facilities, affiliated with the universities, that you can do your internship in. The university helps you choose a good hospital that you cab intern in under the supervision of doctors.

Friendly People

The Chinese locals are quite friendly to foreigners. Juncheng Zhuo, who studied at the University of Northern CHina says, “As long as you don’t commit crimes and violate the dignity of China, as long as you get used to it, you will feel very happy. Most of the Chinese people are very friendly, but there are exceptions.”

Disadvantages Of Studying in China

Language Barrier

You are not required to know Chinese when you enrol for an MBBS program in China. Hence, most international students know little it know Chinese at all. The language barrier can make it hard to converse with the locals and get around the country.

Culture Shock

Chinese food and their way of doing things can be quite different from what you are used to. Getting used to this can be hard at the beginning of your stay in China. Ruth Mariam, an MBBS student in China says, “…you will get exposed to the world’s largest civilization and society , you will grow mentally and psychologically strong due to the huge culture choc you will encounter”.

RUSSIA

The medical industry in Russia was not so good until the Soviet era. After that Russia really improved in the medical industry. Technology is also one of Russia’s stronghold. Incorporating technology in the medical industry has resulted in great improvements in the medical industry in the country.

Foods commonly eaten by Russians include blinis (similar to pancakes), a variety of soups, salads and chocolates. The food is much easier to adjust to compared to some foods in China.

There are approximately 1,215 universities in Russia and the country hosts more than 240,000 foreign students. The high number is due to the high quality education they offer. The cost of living in Russia is not very high. The average cost is USD 2700 per year. This includes food, shelter and clothing.

Tuition Fee

Tuition fee is quite cheap in Russia. Annually, the average cost is USD 3,500 and USD 5 000 per year. The cost is almost similar to the tuition fee in China. The reason why tuition fee is cheap compared to the U.S or some other European countries is that the government has subsidized the cost. One of the universities in Russia offering MBBS is I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. The tuition fee per year is USD 57, 600 for 6 years. Another university offering MBBS is Tver State Medical University which charges USD 42,000 for 6 years.

Advantages of Studying MBBS in Russia

• There are no entrance exams required
• The MBBS degree is internationally recognized
• Tuition fee is affordable due to government subsidy
• Russia has maintained high quality education for a longer time compared to Ukraine and China
• The classes are made up of few people hence students are given the attention they require

Disadvantages of Studying in Russia

Universities Not Recognized in Some Countries

Some universities in China are not recognized in some countries. Hence, even if you graduate, you may not be able to practise medicine in some countries such as India. It is advisable to find out beforehand whether the university you want to study in is recognized in your country or not.

Harsh Weather

Russia can experience very harsh weather especially during the winter. It can be a bit hard to adjust to it during your early stay in the country. Ainkareswar Pilkai, a former student in one of Russia’s universities, comments, “In some cities of Russia, the weather gets too bad during winter reaching -40 degree centigrade which makes living unbearable.”

UKRAINE

Ukraine as gained popularity due to its high quality education offered in many of its government universities. Students who enrol to an MBBS program and graduate are able to work anywhere in the world. There are more than 800 universities in Ukraine, hosting approximately 64,000 foreign students.

Foods eaten in Ukraine are almost similar to those eaten in Russia. Some of the common foods include chicken, cabbage, cornbread, cakes and eggs both boiled and fried.

Tuition fee

Tuition fee is quite cheap compared to universities in the U.S. The tuition fee ranges from USD 29,000 to USD 50,000 for the 6-year duration of the course. The Sumy State University is one of the good universities in Ukraine offering the MBBS program. The tuition fee for 6 years amounts to USD 42,000. Kiev Medical University is also another good university that offers high quality education at a cheaper price. The fee for 6 years at this institution is USD 28,500.

Advantages of Studying MBBS in Ukraine

World-Class Education

The quality of education offered at Ukraine’s top universities is of high quality. Students who graduate with a medical degree from such institutions an practise medicine almost anywhere in the world.

Easy Admission Process

The admission process in Ukraine’s universities is very simple. There are no entrance exams given before you are accepted into the program.

Exposure

Students are given the opportunity to take part in seminars, projects and symposia in many parts of Europe thus increasing the value of education.

Security

The rate of crime in Ukraine is very low as security is very good in the country. If you will stay at the hostels, you can be assured of very high security as universities seriously consider the welfare of their students.

Low Cost of Living

The cost of living in Ukraine is low. Food, housing and public transportation are easily available and affordable. Kaushal Barot, an international student, said, “Public transportation in Ukraine is great. Yes it varies from city to city, for example if you are in big cities you have many options like Shuttle buses, trams, trolley buses and even metro in Kiev and Kharkov but even in the smaller cities you can use it on daily bases to get around”. The average cost of living in Ukraine is around USD 2,400 per year.

Disadvantages of Studying in Ukraine

Extreme Weather

Depending on which par of the world you come from, it may be hard to adjust to the weather in Ukraine. The cold weather can be very uncomfortable to some who are not used to it.

Non-Exposure to Technology

If the university you choose to study in is in a tier 3 or tier 4 city, then you may not be exposed to the latest technology used in the medical industry. Even when you graduate from such institutions, it may not be easy to get a job due to the competition from other graduates who are familiar with the medical technologies.

Distractions

There are a lot of entertaining things to do in Ukraine. If you are not careful, recreation may take up most of your time.

If you would like more information or you need help to choose where to study for the MBBS program, you can register your interest and we will contact you to offer help.