Tambov State Medical University (Derzhavin University Medical Institute): Fees, FMGE, Language and Life in Tambov
There is no university called Tambov State Medical University. The medical programme is run by the Medical Institute of Derzhavin Tambov State University, in a city of about 262,000 people 420 km south-east of Moscow. Its graduates passed FMGE at 27.4% in 2022–2025, 11th of 24 ranked universities, and its price order gives 190,000 roubles a year, but the language of instruction needs checking.
In short: Tambov State Medical University, as people search for it, is the Medical Institute of Derzhavin Tambov State University. Order No. 279 of 3 June 2025 sets General Medicine at 190,000 roubles for the first course of 2025-26, about ₹2.2 lakh, but the order does not separate foreign students or English. Agents quote 4,200 US dollars (about ₹4.0 lakh). The Study in Russia portal lists the programme as taught in Russian at 335,000 roubles. FMGE: 259 of 945 passed (27.4%) in 2022–2025, above the Russian average.
Medical universities in Tambov, Russia
Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin is a classical university under the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, not under the Ministry of Health. Its Medical Institute teaches General Medicine, Paediatrics, Dentistry and Pharmacy. The institute's address is Internatsionalnaya Street 33, Tambov 392036. Russian Wikipedia says the university was created by decree of 29 December 1994, and the World Directory of Medical Schools lists the Medical Institute, with teaching dated from 2007. NBEMS lists its FMGE candidates under the institute's name, and some reports say simply Tambov State University. The Medical Institute reports foreign students from 57 countries; it has no Indian count that we could find.
Fee. The university's order No. 279 of 3 June 2025 (Academic Council protocol No. 9 of 19 May 2025) lists General Medicine 31.05.01 at 190,000 roubles for the first course of 2025-26, Paediatrics at 180,000, Dentistry at 220,000 and Pharmacy at 170,000. At the Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026 190,000 roubles is about ₹2.2 lakh. This is a low figure, but it is a general list, not split by citizenship or by language of instruction, and we found no separate price for foreigners or for an English track. A companion order for courses 2 to 6 exists and was not read. The university's 2026-27 order was not yet on its site when we looked in April 2026.
The agent figure is 4,200 US dollars a year (about ₹4.0 lakh) with a hostel at 550 dollars (about ₹52,000). The official Study in Russia portal lists General Medicine at 335,000 roubles a year (about ₹3.8 lakh) and marks it as taught in Russian. These three numbers differ by almost a factor of two between the lowest and the highest. Do not pay a deposit until the university confirms in writing which price applies to an Indian student and what it includes.
Language, the key question. We found no official English-medium page. Agents say the course is in English with Russian lessons for patient contact. The portal lists a Russian-language programme and the WDOMS record leaves language blank. If the course is taught in Russian, a student must learn Russian first, and the NMC requirement of at least 54 months in English would not be met. Read the NMC rules and ask the Medical Institute for a written statement of the language of every subject in all six years and in the internship.
FMGE. NBEMS reports show 68 of 206 passing in 2022 (33.0%), 47 of 237 in 2023 (19.8%), 72 of 257 in 2024 (28.0%), 20 of 100 in June 2025 (20.0%) and 52 of 145 in December 2025 (35.9%). Together 259 of 945, or 27.4%, passed in 2022–2025, 11th of 24 universities in our FMGE ranking and above the Russian average of about 25%. In 2020 and 2021 the rate was about 34%. These graduates were mostly admitted years ago and may have studied under different language arrangements, so they do not prove the position for a 2026 entrant.
Ask about MBBS in Tambov
We ask the university which fee and which language of instruction apply to Indian students.
Tambov weather for Kerala students
Tambov has a continental climate. The mean temperature is −7.5 °C in January and 20.7 °C in July (1991–2020, Wikipedia). Winter brings months of frost and snow, and summer is pleasantly warm.
- Winter clothing: a long insulated coat, thermal underwear, waterproof boots with grip, gloves and a hat. Buy after arrival with seniors' advice, not before.
- Documents: keep photocopies of your passport, visa and migration card in a plastic folder.
- Time: Moscow time, 2.5 hours behind India.
The winter packing list sets out what to bring.
How to reach Tambov from Kerala
There is no direct flight from Kerala to Russia. Fly from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode to Moscow via a Gulf hub or Delhi. Tambov Donskoye Airport (TBW) has RusLine flights to Moscow Vnukovo, taking about 1.1 hours. It was briefly suspended in October 2025 during drone-related closures, so the schedule can change. A direct train from Moscow takes about 7.8 hours. Tambov is about 420 km from Moscow in a straight line.
If your flight lands at Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo, the transfer to Vnukovo adds hours and cost, and the train from a Moscow station may be simpler. Ask the university what the group does and who meets it.
Cost of living in Tambov
We found no verified monthly cost figure. Tambov is a small city; living costs are probably lower than in Moscow, but that is an inference.
| Item | What we found |
|---|---|
| Tuition, General Medicine, first course 2025-26 | 190,000 RUB, about ₹2.2 lakh (order No. 279, not split by foreigners or language) |
| Tuition, agent | 4,200 USD a year, about ₹4.0 lakh |
| Tuition, portal (Russian-taught listing) | 335,000 RUB a year, about ₹3.8 lakh |
| Hostel | Agent: 550 USD a year, about ₹52,000; no official price found |
| Food, phone, transport | No verified figure; ask seniors |
Compare all universities on the fees page.
Indian students and food in Tambov
We found no published count of Indian students in Tambov and no verified Indian shops. The 945 FMGE candidates in 2022–2025 show that the Medical Institute has produced a sizeable group of Indian graduates, which means seniors are available to guide you. Ask the Medical Institute to connect you with two or three Indian students, preferably Malayalis, and ask them what they cook, where they shop and how the Russian language lessons work. See Indian food in Russia.
Is Tambov safe for Indian students?
Tambov is in central Russia, not in the North Caucasus, and it is not named in the Indian Embassy's August 2024 precaution notice for Bryansk, Belgorod and Kursk. We found no published attack on Indian students in Tambov. The airport's October 2025 suspension shows that drone-related restrictions reach this region. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia and warns of drone attacks, airspace closures and detentions. India's Ministry of External Affairs asks Indians not to accept offers that lead to service in the Russian armed forces.
In February 2026 a teenager injured four Indian students in a hostel at Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa. Racist attacks are rare, but a few habits protect you: ask about hostel entry control, avoid walking alone late at night, carry copies of your passport and registration, and register with the Embassy of India in Moscow. See Is MBBS in Russia safe?.
Settle the Tambov language question first
We ask the Medical Institute in writing which fee and which language apply to an Indian student.
MBBS in Tambov: Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Tambov State Medical University?
No. The medical programme is run by the Medical Institute of Derzhavin Tambov State University. Searches for Tambov State Medical University or Tambov Medical University lead to it. Your admission documents should name Tambov State University.
What is the MBBS fee at Tambov State University?
Order No. 279 of 3 June 2025 lists General Medicine at 190,000 roubles for the first course of 2025-26, about ₹2.2 lakh, without a separate foreigners' or English line. Agents quote 4,200 US dollars a year, and the Study in Russia portal 335,000 roubles. Ask for a written fee for your intake.
Is MBBS at Tambov taught in English?
We found no official English-medium page. Agents say English with Russian lessons, while the portal lists the programme in Russian. The NMC needs 54 months in English, so get the language of each year in writing.
What is the FMGE pass rate of Tambov State University?
259 of 945 graduates passed in 2022–2025, which is 27.4%, 11th among 24 ranked universities and above the Russian average of about 25%. December 2025 was 35.9%.
How do I reach Tambov from Kochi?
Fly to Moscow through a Gulf hub or Delhi, then take a direct train of about 7.8 hours or the RusLine flight from Vnukovo of about 1.1 hours. The airport was briefly suspended in October 2025.
Sources: Wikipedia (Tambov, climate 1991–2020; Tambov Donskoye Airport; 2021 census) and rome2rio for the train; tsutmb.ru order No. 279 of 3 June 2025 (Internet Archive copy); Study in Russia portal; matchtocollege.com (agent figures); World Directory of Medical Schools; NBEMS FMGE reports 2020–2025; 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.