MBBS in Tomsk, Russia: Universities, Cost of Living and Life for Indian Students
Tomsk is a Siberian university city of 556,478 people, and its Siberian State Medical University is the one that teaches medicine in English to foreign students. The university's 2025/26 price order gives 385,600 roubles for the first year (about ₹4.4 lakh), and its graduates passed FMGE at a combined 30.4% in 2022–2025, above the Russian average of about 25%. This page covers the fee, the winter, the route from Kerala and the points to confirm.
In short: Tomsk, Russia, has one medical university for foreign students, Siberian State Medical University (SibSMU), founded in 1888 as the medical faculty of Imperial Tomsk University. Its 2025/26 price order gives 385,600 roubles for course one, about ₹4.4 lakh, under a "bilingual" programme that the university's own page calls entirely in English. Over 2022–2025, 207 graduates sat FMGE and 30.4% passed, above the Russian average of about 25%. The January mean in Tomsk is −17.5 °C, and the trip from Moscow is about 4 hours by air.
Medical universities in Tomsk, Russia
Siberian State Medical University (SibSMU, also called SibMed or Tomsk Medical University) is at Moskovsky trakt 2. It is a state university under the Russian Ministry of Health. Its roots go to the medical faculty of Imperial Tomsk University; it ran as the Tomsk Medical Institute from 1930 to 1992. WDOMS gives 1888 as the founding date, while English Wikipedia mentions a decree of 1878. Wikipedia also reports more than 6,500 students from 39 countries, which is the whole student body, not Indian students. WDOMS lists the university.
Fee. Order No. 174 of 16 April 2025, Annex 7, covers the "bilingual programme" for foreign students, which is the name SibSMU uses for its English-medium General Medicine line. It lists 385,600 roubles for courses one and two, 371,400 for courses three to five and 349,800 for course six, as the prices of 2025/26. At the Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026 the first year is about ₹4.4 lakh. These are prices for each course in 2025/26 and not a fixed path, so do not add them into a six-year total. A second column in the annex, for a three-party contract with a legal or physical person, shows lower figures of 327,760 for the first two courses. The official Study in Russia portal lists 385,000 roubles for General Medicine, and an admissions page shows 320,000 roubles "for 2026" without saying whether it is for foreigners. A 2026/27 order (No. 203 of 30 April 2026) exists, but its annexes could not be read. Ask for the price that applies to you and for the fixed or yearly-indexed terms.
Language. SibSMU's programme page says General Medicine for students from distant countries is taught entirely in English, with optional Russian lessons, and that English teaching began in 2015. The price order says the foreign programme follows an "adapted trajectory" with additional study of Russian. Both statements can be true, but the NMC needs at least 54 months in English, so ask which hospital subjects, if any, are taught in Russian.
FMGE. The results are the best argument for Tomsk. In 2022, 4 of 14 passed (28.6%); in 2023, 13 of 48 (27.1%); in 2024, 20 of 67 (29.9%); in June 2025, 4 of 26 (15.4%); and in December 2025, 22 of 52 (42.3%). That beats the Russian average in four of five sessions; June 2025 was below the 18.1% average. Combined, 63 of 207 passed, 30.4%. With fewer than 300 candidates, SibSMU is outside our ranking by FMGE results, so the sample is small. About seven in ten still fail in a typical session, so a pass is never automatic. See FMGE pass rate for all universities.
Tomsk is also known for Tomsk State University and Tomsk Polytechnic University, which many Indian searches mention. They are not medical universities, and this site covers only SibSMU for medicine in Tomsk. If an agent offers MBBS at another Tomsk university, ask for the programme code 31.05.01 and the licence.
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Tomsk weather for Kerala students
Tomsk is one of the colder cities in our list. The January mean is −17.5 °C and the July mean is 18.8 °C (1991–2020 normals), and winter cold snaps are well below the mean. The time zone is Moscow plus 4 hours, 1.5 hours ahead of India. Waterproof boots matter as much as the coat.
- Outer layer: a down jacket for deep cold, a hat, scarf and gloves.
- Boots: insulated and waterproof, with grip for ice.
- Base layer: thermal underwear and wool socks.
Buy the heavy items in Tomsk with the help of senior students, who know the shops. Our winter packing list has the details.
How to reach Tomsk from Kerala
Tomsk Bogashevo Airport (TOF) is operating. From Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode you fly to Moscow through a Gulf hub or Delhi, since there is no direct flight, then take a domestic flight of about 4 hours to Tomsk. Ask the university how it meets first-year students at the airport. A direct Moscow–Tomsk train takes about 56 hours and runs on odd-numbered days only, according to Tomsk State University's guide. The city is 2,880 km from Moscow in a straight line.
See the admission process for the invitation, visa and apostille steps, and NORKA attestation for Kerala documents.
Cost of living in Tomsk
SibSMU's hostel charge is set by the university's order No. 50 of 4 February 2026, which we could not read. An agent lists the hostel at about 70,000 roubles a year (about ₹79,000), and another agent range is USD 600–1,000 a year; treat both as unverified. We found no official monthly figure for food and other costs in Tomsk. Plan for tuition, hostel, medical insurance, a phone plan, transport and winter clothing, and ask three senior students for their real monthly spend. Keep a reserve of 10–20% for fee increases and the rouble–rupee rate (₹1.132 per rouble on 15 October 2026). Compare with other cities on the fees page.
Indian students and food in Tomsk
We found no official count of Indian students at SibSMU and no verified source on Indian shops or restaurants in Tomsk. The FMGE reports show that 207 graduates sat the exam in 2022–2025, so Indian students are a regular part of the university, but that is not a headcount. Students cook in hostel kitchens, and senior students tell newcomers where to buy rice, spices and vegetables. Ask SibSMU or us to connect you with current students from Kerala. See student life for Malayalis.
Is Tomsk safe for Indian students?
Tomsk lies in Siberia, nearly 3,000 km from Moscow, and is 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 Tomsk. The daily risks are ice and cold. Check mea.gov.in before each trip, register with the Indian Embassy after arrival, and decline any job offer that involves the military. Read is MBBS in Russia safe.
Pros and cons of Tomsk for a Kerala student
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Medical school with roots in the 19th century, listed in WDOMS | Programme is called "bilingual" in the price order; English for every year must be confirmed |
| Published price order with course-by-course fees | The 2026/27 order could not be read; fees may have risen |
| FMGE 30.4% over 2022–2025, above the Russian average | Only 207 candidates, and June 2025 was weak at 15.4% |
| Small university city with a clear single option for medicine | January mean of −17.5 °C; the route needs a domestic flight or transfer |
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MBBS in Tomsk, Russia: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MBBS fee at Siberian State Medical University?
The 2025/26 price order No. 174 gives 385,600 roubles for the first course of the bilingual programme, about ₹4.4 lakh at the rate of 15 October 2026. A 2026/27 order exists but could not be read, so confirm the figure for your intake.
Is the Siberian State Medical University programme in English?
The university's page says General Medicine for distant countries is taught entirely in English. The price order calls it a bilingual programme with extra Russian study. Ask which clinical subjects use Russian, because NMC needs 54 months in English.
What is the FMGE pass rate of Siberian State Medical University?
Over 2022–2025, 63 of 207 graduates passed, 30.4%, against about 25% for Russia. December 2025 was 42.3% and June 2025 15.4%, so results vary by session.
How cold is Tomsk and what should I wear?
The January mean is −17.5 °C and July is 18.8 °C. Wear a down jacket, insulated waterproof boots, a hat and gloves from the first winter, and layer thermal underwear.
How do I reach Tomsk from Kerala?
There is no direct flight. Fly via a Gulf hub or Delhi to Moscow, then about 4 hours to Tomsk Bogashevo Airport. A direct train from Moscow takes about 56 hours on odd-numbered days only.
Sources: Siberian State Medical University price order No. 174 of 16.04.2025 (ssmu.ru) and programme page; WDOMS record F0000087; Study in Russia portal; Wikipedia for Tomsk and the university; Tomsk State University travel guide (en.tsu.ru) for the train; NBEMS FMGE reports 2022–2025; Indian Embassy in Moscow advisory of August 2024; NMC FMGL Regulations 2021; Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026.