MBBS in Saint Petersburg, 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

Saint Petersburg has three medical universities on this site: North-Western State Medical University named after Mechnikov, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University and Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University. Tuition runs from about ₹5.0 lakh to ₹7.6 lakh a year, which is mid-range for Russia and well below Moscow. FMGE results of the three universities have been weak, and that matters more than the city's beauty. This page gives the fees, the FMGE numbers, the weather, the route from Kerala and the questions to ask.

Medical universities in Saint Petersburg, Russia

The three universities are very different in price and in what they publish. Fees are converted at the Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026, and FMGE figures come from NBEMS reports for 2022 to December 2025.

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov has a separate English-medium General Medicine programme, six years, with entrance tests in English, chemistry and biology. Its fee page gives 440,000 roubles a year (about ₹5.0 lakh), but the table is labelled 2024/25 and was still the latest in a May 2026 snapshot, so confirm the current fee. The hostel for foreign fee-paying students is listed at 2,900 roubles a month, 34,800 a year (about ₹39,400), in units of 2 to 3 persons per room. The university says it has more than 400 foreign students among 4,500 or so. The FMGE record is the problem: 0 of 79 passed in 2022, 0 of 73 in 2023, 2 of 63 in 2024, 0 of 24 in June 2025 and 1 of 32 in December 2025. Over those sessions 3 of 271 passed, 1.1%.

Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University (founded 1897) lists two routes for 2026/27: an English language-mediator profile at 670,000 roubles a year (about ₹7.6 lakh, 130 contract places) and a Russian-language profile with language adaptation at 590,000 roubles (about ₹6.7 lakh). The university does not say how much of years four to six is taught in English, and the Russian-language route joins Russian students in year four. FMGE numbers are small, with 5 to 16 candidates a session, and 7 of 48 passed in 2022 to 2025 (14.6%).

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University (founded 1925) has a price list approved by its academic council on 28 April 2025, effective 1 August 2025. For foreign citizens on the language-mediator track it gives 497,200 roubles in the first year (about ₹5.6 lakh), then lower prices of 472,300, 399,000 and so on for later years. The list does not name English, and it does not say how much Russian is used later. FMGE: 4 of 58 passed over 2022 to 2025 (6.9%).

None of the three has FMGE results near the Russian average of about 25%. Do not accept a general statement from an agent that "Saint Petersburg is good for medicine". Ask the university for its FMGE passing record for Indian graduates and for the English-medium terms in writing. Compare these numbers with Kazan and Orenburg on the FMGE pass rate page.

Saint Petersburg weather for Kerala students

The January mean at Pulkovo is −5.0 °C and the July mean is 19.2 °C (2011 to 2020). A second station, Voeikovo, gives −5.8 °C and 17.8 °C for 1991 to 2020. The city is on the Baltic coast, so winters are damp and windy rather than extremely cold, and the cold feels sharper than the number suggests. Snow and short days come in November and last until March.

The famous white nights in early summer mean the sky never gets fully dark; if you have trouble sleeping in light, ask about curtains in the hostel room. Pack for a long winter as for any Russian city: a proper down jacket, waterproof boots with grip, thermal layers, gloves and a hat, bought in the city after arrival. See the winter packing list for details.

How to reach Saint Petersburg from Kerala

Pulkovo Airport (LED) is operating, and it is about 1.5 hours by air from Moscow. There is no direct flight from Kerala to Russia, so the usual routes are Kochi (COK), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) or Kozhikode (CCJ) to Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Delhi, and then to Moscow or on to Saint Petersburg. Ask the airline which connection gives you the shorter wait; many students land in Moscow and take the Sapsan, which runs in about 3 h 40 min to 4 h, or a short flight. Saint Petersburg is 630 km from Moscow in a straight line.

Time in Saint Petersburg is the same as in Moscow, 2.5 hours behind India. Russian airports in several cities, not only Moscow, have had temporary restrictions during drone alerts in recent years, so keep a day's buffer on the first trip and avoid non-refundable onward tickets. The Consulate General of India is in Saint Petersburg, which is a help with documents; check its website for current services. The nearest Russian consulate to Kerala, where you apply for the student visa, is in Chennai. See student visa for Indians.

Cost of living in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg costs less than Moscow but more than most student cities. Numbeo, which collects user-submitted prices, showed on 12 October 2026 a one-way public transport ticket at about 88 roubles, a monthly pass at about 4,489 roubles (about ₹5,100) and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant at about 990 roubles (about ₹1,120). A one-bedroom flat outside the centre was about 37,400 roubles a month, with answers from 30,000 to 50,000. These are user estimates, not official statistics, and a student in a hostel does not pay market rent.

The hostel is therefore the biggest saving. Mechnikov's 2,900 roubles a month (about ₹3,300) is cheap compared with a flat. For Pavlov and the Pediatric university we found no published hostel fee, so ask for it in writing and ask whether every foreign first-year student gets a place. Beyond rent, plan for food, a mobile plan, study material, insurance and winter clothing. We have no verified monthly budget; senior Indian students are the best source. See cost of living in Russia.

Indian students and food in Saint Petersburg

No university here publishes a count of Indian students. Mechnikov says it has more than 400 foreign students in total, and its website mentions India-Russia cooperation, but that is not a count of Indians. FMGE reports show 271 Mechnikov graduates sat the exam in 2022 to 2025, so Indian students are a regular group at that university. We could not verify specific Indian restaurants or shops in the city, so ask current students where they buy rice and spices and how the hostel kitchen works. Read more on Indian food in Russia.

The city has a metro that opened in 1955, and the main sights, such as the Hermitage on the Neva and Nevsky Prospect, are in the centre. Students use public transport daily; a monthly pass is cheaper than single tickets.

Is Saint Petersburg safe for Indian students?

Saint Petersburg is not a border region and it is far from the North Caucasus. We know of no published incident involving Indian students at its medical universities. Be as careful as in any large city: avoid isolated places late at night, keep your passport copy and migration card with you, and register with the Indian Embassy in Moscow or the Consulate General after arrival. Check mea.gov.in before each trip, and never accept a job or contract offer connected with the military. The is MBBS in Russia safe guide covers it in full.

When Saint Petersburg makes sense

Saint Petersburg suits a student who wants an old, quiet European-style city, and a family that accepts a lower FMGE record in exchange for the setting. If the aim is to pass FMGE on the first attempt, the numbers above point to other cities. Compare all 43 cities on the cities page, and see Moscow if you want a big city with different fees.

MBBS in Saint Petersburg: Frequently Asked Questions

Which medical colleges in Saint Petersburg take Indian students?

Three are covered on this site: North-Western State Medical University named after Mechnikov, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University and Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University. Each publishes a separate foreign-student fee line. Check the language of instruction for all six years in writing.

What is the MBBS fee in Saint Petersburg in INR?

First-year tuition is about ₹5.0 lakh at Mechnikov (440,000 roubles, labelled 2024/25), about ₹5.6 lakh at the Pediatric university (497,200 roubles for 2025/26) and about ₹7.6 lakh at Pavlov (670,000 roubles for 2026/27). Hostel and living costs are extra. Confirm each fee with the university.

Is Saint Petersburg good for passing FMGE?

The record is weak. Mechnikov graduates passed 3 of 271 in 2022 to 2025, the Pediatric university 4 of 58 and Pavlov 7 of 48, against about 25% for Russia overall. Ask the university what it does to support Indian graduates before FMGE.

How cold is Saint Petersburg in winter?

The January mean is −5.0 °C at Pulkovo and the July mean is 19.2 °C. It is milder than the Urals or Siberia, but damp and windy, with short days from November to March.

How do I travel from Kerala to Saint Petersburg?

There is no direct flight. Fly from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode through a Gulf hub or Delhi to Moscow, then take the Sapsan train (about 3 h 40 min to 4 h) or fly about 1.5 hours to Pulkovo Airport. Keep a buffer for airport restrictions.

Sources: climate and population (2021 census) from Wikipedia and Russian Wikipedia (Pulkovo 2011–2020, Voeikovo 1991–2020); Mechnikov university fee page (archived, labelled 2024/25) and hostel page; Pavlov University admission page for 2026/27 (archived June 2026); Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University price list effective 1 August 2025; Numbeo (user-submitted prices, 12 October 2026); NBEMS FMGE reports 2022–2025; Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026.