MBBS in Novosibirsk, Russia: Universities, Cost of Living and Life for Indian Students

Prepared by the Edumapple admissions team, Kakkanad, Kerala· Updated 15 October 2026· How we check facts

Novosibirsk is the largest city east of the Urals, with 1,633,595 people in the 2021 census, and it has two universities that teach medicine: Novosibirsk State Medical University and Novosibirsk State University. We found no official fee list for either, only agent figures of 6–7 lakh rupees a year, and no FMGE results under their names, so this page shows what is known, what is not, and what to ask.

Medical universities in Novosibirsk, Russia

Novosibirsk State Medical University (NSMU). This is the city's medical university, on Krasny Prospekt 52, the main avenue. It was founded on 17 August 1935 as the Novosibirsk Medical Institute, became an academy in 1999 and a university in 2005. It is a state university under the Ministry of Health. Searches such as "Novosibirsk State Medical University fees" and "ranking" are common, and the honest answer is that we found no official fee page and no ranking we can verify. One consultancy lists 650,000 roubles a year (about ₹7.4 lakh) and hostel at 18,000 roubles a year, but the same page gives USD 25,000–30,000 for the whole course in its FAQ, so its own numbers disagree. Treat both as unconfirmed. The same agent says the whole programme is in English with some Russian for clinical work; the university has not confirmed an English-medium General Medicine programme for foreigners in anything we could read.

Novosibirsk State University (NSU). NSU is a research university founded in 1958, with its main buildings on Pirogova Street in Akademgorodok, the science district roughly 20 km south of the city centre by coordinates. Medicine is taught in its Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies. It is not a medical university in the way NSMU is. One agent page lists an average of 591,500 roubles a year (range 533,000 to 650,000, about ₹6.0–7.4 lakh) and a hostel of about ₹70,000 a year, and says the medium is English. We could not confirm the programme, the language or the price from an official source. Wikipedia lists NSU at 461 in the QS World University Rankings 2026; that is a university-wide rank and says nothing about the medical course for Indian students.

FMGE. NBEMS reports for 2020–2025 show no rows under either name. That does not mean the courses are bad; it may mean very few Indian graduates have sat the exam. It does mean that there is no result to compare with the Russian average of about 25%. See the FMGE pass rate page for universities that do have results.

For a family comparing prices, this matters: at about ₹6–7 lakh a year, Novosibirsk is priced above the official 2025/26 prices we read in Tomsk (385,600 roubles) and Omsk (330,000 roubles), with less public information. Ask each university for its signed fee list, the language of instruction for each year, the 31.05.01 programme code, and a list of current Indian students.

Novosibirsk weather for Kerala students

Novosibirsk has a continental climate with a long, dry winter. The 1991–2020 normals give a January mean of −17.0 °C and a July mean of 19.5 °C. A monthly mean hides the cold snaps, which can be far below it. The time zone is Moscow plus 4 hours, so the city is 1.5 hours ahead of India, which makes calling home in the evening easy.

For the first winter you need:

• a down jacket rated for deep cold and a hat that covers the ears;
• insulated boots with grip, wool socks and warm gloves;
• thermal underwear for the walk between buildings.

Ask senior students which shop sells the right grade at a fair price. Our winter packing list gives the full list. Buildings and trams are heated, so the cold is felt on the street.

How to reach Novosibirsk from Kerala

Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport (OVB) is operating. There is no direct flight from Kerala to Russia: the usual route is Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode to Moscow through Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Delhi, then a domestic flight of about 4.5 hours to Novosibirsk. The Moscow–Novosibirsk train takes about 43–50 hours (sources differ), which is a back-up, not a plan. The city is 2,810 km from Moscow in a straight line. Whether any airline connects Novosibirsk to the Gulf or Delhi is something we have not checked; ask the university which route its pickup is planned around.

Keep the admission letter, visa and apostilled documents in hand luggage. The admission process and NORKA attestation pages explain the paperwork.

Cost of living in Novosibirsk

We found no verified monthly cost for Novosibirsk, so we give none. It is the largest Siberian city, with a metro that opened in 1985, so prices are likely higher than in a small city, but that is a guess, not a number. The items to budget for are tuition, hostel (the agent figures above vary from about ₹20,000 to ₹70,000 a year), medical insurance, food, a phone plan, transport and winter clothes. Ask three senior students for their real monthly spend. Compare the totals with MBBS fees in Russia for other cities, and keep a reserve of 10–20% for fee increases and the rouble–rupee rate (₹1.132 per rouble on 15 October 2026).

Indian students and food in Novosibirsk

We found no published count of Indian students at either university and no verified source on Indian restaurants. As a large city, Novosibirsk has big supermarkets and markets, and rice, lentils and spices are normally available there, but check with current students. In practice students cook in hostel kitchens. Searches for "life in Novosibirsk" and "things to do in Novosibirsk" return the zoo, ballet and museums, but a medical student's week is mostly lectures, practicals and self-study. Ask for contacts of Kerala students on the course. See Indian food in Russia.

Is Novosibirsk safe for Indian students?

Novosibirsk is in Siberia, about 2,800 km from Moscow, and not in a border region or the North Caucasus. The Indian Embassy's August 2024 advice named Bryansk, Belgorod and Kursk. We know of no published incident involving Indian students in Novosibirsk. Everyday risks are ice, cold and the need to follow local rules. Check mea.gov.in before each trip, register with the embassy after arrival, and refuse any work offer connected with the military. See is MBBS in Russia safe.

Should a Kerala student choose Novosibirsk?

If you still like Novosibirsk, get the programme code, the fee for your intake and the language of each year in the contract. Otherwise compare the cities on the cities page.

MBBS in Novosibirsk, Russia: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fee at Novosibirsk State Medical University for Indian students?

We found no official price list. One agent lists 650,000 roubles a year (about ₹7.4 lakh at the rate of 15 October 2026) and hostel at 18,000 roubles, but the same page contradicts itself elsewhere. Ask the university for a signed fee list for your intake.

Does Novosibirsk State University offer MBBS for Indian students?

Medicine is taught in its Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies. An agent page says the course is in English at about 591,500 roubles a year, but we could not confirm this from the university. Ask in writing for the programme code, language and fee.

How cold is Novosibirsk in winter?

The January mean is −17.0 °C and the July mean is 19.5 °C. Cold snaps are well below the mean. You need a down jacket, insulated boots, a hat and gloves from the first winter.

How do I get from Kerala to Novosibirsk?

No direct flight exists. Fly to Moscow via a Gulf hub or Delhi, then take a domestic flight of about 4.5 hours to Tolmachevo (OVB). The train from Moscow takes about 43–50 hours.

Is Novosibirsk good for Indian medical students?

The city is large and well connected, but we cannot yet recommend either university on evidence: no official fees, no confirmed English-medium programme and no FMGE results. Compare the options on our medical colleges

Sources: Novosibirsk city climate, population, airport and rail data from Wikipedia and trainstracking.com; NSMU and NSU details from Wikipedia and the university sites; agent fee tables of rmcedu.com and selectyouruniversity.com, marked as agent figures; NBEMS FMGE reports 2020–2025; Indian Embassy in Moscow advisory of August 2024; Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026.