MBBS in Penza, Russia: Penza State University, Fees, FMGE, Weather and Travel for Indian Students
Penza is a Volga-region city of about 500,000 people, 560 km south-east of Moscow in a straight line. Its medical programme sits in the Medical Institute of Penza State University, which people also search as Penza State Medical University. This page gives the fee on the university's price page, its FMGE record, weather, the route from Kochi and a realistic view of safety.
In short: Penza has one university for Indian MBBS students, Penza State University (Medical Institute). Its official international price page shows two General Medicine fees under an order of 4 May 2026, 390,000 and 327,600 roubles a year (about ₹4.4 lakh and ₹3.7 lakh), without saying which one is the English track. Its graduates passed FMGE at 30.2% in 2022–2025, sixth of the 24 universities with at least 300 candidates and above the Russian average of about 25%. The airport is open, and the Moscow flight takes about 1.3 hours.
Medical universities in Penza, Russia
There is no separate "Penza State Medical University". Searches for that name, for Penza State University fees or for Penza Medical University all lead to the Medical Institute of Penza State University (PenzSU), a public university under the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, not the Ministry of Health. The university began in 1943 and its address is Krasnaya Street 40, Penza 440026. The World Directory of Medical Schools lists it, with the medical school dated 1999, but its older record shows Russian only as the language, so ask the university to confirm how its English programme appears there now.
Fee. The university's international page for the specialist degree lists 31.05.01 General Medicine twice under an order dated 4 May 2026: 390,000 roubles in one block and 327,600 in another. At the Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026 that is about ₹4.4 lakh and ₹3.7 lakh a year. The page excerpt we could read does not label which figure is for the English track, so we cannot tell you the fee for an Indian student. Ask for a written statement of the tuition per year, the language of instruction and whether the fee is fixed for six years. Compare it with the other cities on the MBBS in Russia fees page.
Language and course length. The official page says the language of instruction is English, for 6 years (12 semesters) plus one year of clinical internship. The university makes this statement itself, and it says nothing about Russian in the clinical years. The NMC rules need at least 54 months in English and a 12-month internship at the same university. Ask Penza to confirm both in the contract, and read the NMC rules yourself.
FMGE. NBEMS reports show 73 of 236 Penza graduates passing in 2022 (30.9%), 48 of 238 in 2023 (20.2%), 101 of 277 in 2024 (36.5%), 27 of 97 in June 2025 (27.8%) and 58 of 169 in December 2025 (34.3%). The total is 307 of 1,017, or 30.2%, in 2022–2025. That is above the Russian average of the same session in all five reports, though in 2023 only by under a point. About 70% of candidates still failed, so a good ranking does not remove the need for FMGE preparation. See the full table on the FMGE pass rate page.
Ask about MBBS in Penza
We send the fee options, the admission dates and the questions to ask Penza State University.
Penza weather for Kerala students
Penza has a cold continental climate. The mean temperature is −8.6 °C in January and 20.7 °C in July (1991–2020, Wikipedia). Winter is the main adjustment: months of frost and snow, short days and icy pavements.
- Clothing: a long winter coat, thermal underwear, waterproof boots with grip and gloves. Buy them in Penza after you land, with a senior student, so that the size and quality match the local winter.
- Indoors: Russian buildings are heated, and rooms are warm even in January. Light layers matter more than one heavy sweater.
- Time: Penza keeps Moscow time, which is 2.5 hours behind India.
Our winter packing list sets out what to carry and what to leave.
How to reach Penza from Kerala
There is no direct flight between Kerala and Russia. Fly from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode to Moscow via Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Delhi. Penza Vissarion Belinsky Airport (PEZ) is open, and a flight from Moscow takes about 1.3 hours. The alternative is an overnight train from Moscow of about 11–13 hours. If the university arranges a group pickup, take the same flight as the group.
Penza is about 560 km from Moscow in a straight line. Bad weather and drone-related airspace closures can delay flights anywhere in Russia, so keep a buffer day.
Cost of living in Penza
We found no verified monthly budget for Penza and will not guess. These are the items we can document:
| Item | What we found |
|---|---|
| Tuition, General Medicine | 390,000 or 327,600 RUB a year, about ₹4.4 or ₹3.7 lakh (order of 4 May 2026, English track not labelled) |
| Hostel | Three residence halls, 2–3 students per room; the fee is a separate payment and we could not read the amount |
| Food, phone, transport | No verified figure; ask seniors |
| Flights | Kerala to Moscow, then about 1.3 h by air or 11–13 h by overnight train |
An agent page quotes the hostel at about ₹28,000, without saying whether that is for one year; treat it as an agent figure. Keep a reserve of 10–20% for fee changes and for the rouble rate.
Indian students and food in Penza
We found no published figure for Indian or Malayali students at Penza State University, and no verified list of Indian shops in Penza. The university's campus page describes residence halls where students share rooms of two or three. Ask whether each floor has a kitchen with hobs and a fridge, and where senior students buy rice, spices and vegetables. For general advice see Indian food in Russia. Penza is a mid-sized city, so expect fewer Indian restaurants than in Moscow; planning to cook is the safe approach.
Is Penza safe for Indian students?
Penza is in the Volga region, far from the Ukrainian border and outside the North Caucasus. We found no published incident involving Indian students in Penza. That does not make it risk-free. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia and notes that drone attacks cause sudden closures of airspace and airports across the country. The Indian Embassy's August 2024 precaution notice named only Bryansk, Belgorod and Kursk regions. India's Ministry of External Affairs also warns Indians not to accept offers that lead to service in the Russian military.
Attacks on foreign students are rare but real: in February 2026 a teenager injured four Indian students in a hostel at Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa. Ask Penza what security the hostel has, avoid walking alone late at night, carry a copy of your passport and registration, and save the Embassy of India in Moscow's contact details in your phone. More in Is MBBS in Russia safe?.
Is Penza right for your NEET score?
Send your NEET score and Class 12 marks; we check the eligibility and tell you which fee applies.
MBBS in Penza: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MBBS fee at Penza State University?
The university's international page lists General Medicine at 390,000 and at 327,600 roubles a year under an order of 4 May 2026, about ₹4.4 lakh and ₹3.7 lakh. It does not label the English track in the part we could read. Ask the university which fee applies to you.
Is there a Penza State Medical University?
No. The medicine programme is run by the Medical Institute of Penza State University. People search for it as Penza State Medical University or Penza Medical University, but your admission letter and contract should name Penza State University.
What is the FMGE result of Penza State University?
Penza graduates passed FMGE at 30.2% over 2022–2025 (307 of 1,017), above the Russian average of about 25%. In June 2025 the rate was 27.8% and in December 2025 it was 34.3%. Most candidates still fail in any given session.
How do I reach Penza from Kerala?
Fly from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode to Moscow through a Gulf hub or Delhi. From Moscow, a flight takes about 1.3 hours or an overnight train 11–13 hours. Penza airport is open.
Is Penza cold, and is it safe?
January averages −8.6 °C and July 20.7 °C. Penza is far from the border and not in the North Caucasus, and we found no incident involving Indian students there. Still check mea.gov.in before travel and keep to normal precautions.
Sources: Wikipedia (Penza, climate 1991–2020, 2021 census; Penza Airport); tickets.kz for train time; international.pnzgu.ru (Penza State University, price page, campus page and programme page, via search excerpts); World Directory of Medical Schools; NBEMS FMGE reports 2022–2025; NMC FMGL Regulations 2021; gov.uk Foreign Office travel advice for Russia; Embassy of India Moscow advisory of 14 August 2024; Wikipedia, Bashkir State Medical University attack; Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026.