Rostov State Medical University: MBBS Fees, Hostel, NEET Cut-Off and Admission for Indian Students
Rostov State Medical University (RostSMU) lists English-medium General Medicine at 373,900 roubles for the first year of 2026-27, about ₹4.2 lakh. Two facts need an honest look before you apply: Rostov-on-Don is in a border region whose airport has been closed since February 2022, and the university's FMGE pass rate was 14.5% in 2022–2025, though December 2025 reached 34.0%.
In short: Rostov State Medical University is a public university in Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, with roots in 1915. Its international page lists General Medicine (English Medium) at 373,900 roubles for the first year of 2026-27, about ₹4.2 lakh. Its graduates passed FMGE at a combined 14.5% of 427 candidates in 2022–2025, rank 21 of 24 in our list and well below the Russian average of about 25%, although December 2025 was 34.0%. Rostov airport has been closed since 24 February 2022, so you reach the city by train or bus from Krasnodar or Mineralnye Vody.
Rostov State Medical University at a glance
| Founded | 1915 |
|---|---|
| City | Rostov-on-Don |
| Language of the programme | English groups exist; ask whether all six years are in English |
| Duration | 6 years |
| Tuition, first year | 373,900 ₽ per year ≈ ₹4.2 lakh (university price list) |
| Hostel | 28,709 ₽ per year |
| FMGE pass rate (NBEMS) | 34.0% (36/106, December 2025) |
| Official website | rostgmu.ru |
Rostov State Medical University (RostSMU, in Russian RostGMU) is a federal state budgetary institution of higher education under the Russian Ministry of Health, so it is a public university. Sources disagree on its founding year: Russian Wikipedia gives 1915, when the medical faculty of Warsaw University was evacuated to Rostov, and the English Wikipedia infobox gives 1918. It became the Rostov State Medical Institute in 1930 and was renamed Rostov Medical University in 1994, according to English Wikipedia. The university has about 7,000 students in total, Russian and foreign together, plus about 650 postgraduates (English Wikipedia). It has not published a count of its Indian students that we could find.
The address is Nakhichevansky lane 29, Rostov-on-Don 344022. The university's main website is rostgmu.ru and the international section is rostgmu.ru/international. We could not open the site directly from our side and read it through search excerpts, so check the fee page on the official website before paying. If you are looking for photos of the university and campus, use the official site, or ask the international office for a video tour; we do not publish photos we cannot verify.
Get the Rostov State Medical University fee structure
We send the current fee list, hostel details and the admission timeline for your intake.
Rostov State Medical University fees for Indian students
The Rostov State Medical University tuition fees are set in roubles. The international applicants page lists, for 2026-27: General Medicine (English Medium) at 373,900 roubles for the first year, Russian-medium General Medicine at 257,900 roubles and the Preparatory Faculty at 212,300 roubles. The page does not say whether the English fee stays flat for six years, and we did not find the 2025-26 figure, so we cannot show how much the price changed. Agents quote 359,500 roubles a year, "the same for each of 6 years", and 375,000 roubles; these are unverified agent figures, and the official 373,900 is the one to use.
Rostov State Medical University fee structure 2026-27
| Six years at today's fee (fees usually rise each year) | INR |
|---|---|
| Tuition, 6 years | ₹25.4 lakh |
| Hostel, 6 years | ₹1.9 lakh |
| Tuition and hostel, 6 years | ₹27.3 lakh |
At today's exchange rate 373,900 roubles is about ₹4.2 lakh a year, which would be about ₹25 lakh over six years if the fee never rose. Russian universities usually raise prices, so keep a reserve of 10–20% for increases and for the rouble-rupee rate. This is the Rostov State Medical University fees structure as far as the sources allow: one tuition line per language of study, with no published path for years 2–6. Ask for the price order and the contract wording on annual increases.
| Cost item | What we know for Rostov State Medical University |
|---|---|
| Tuition, first year, English Medium | 373,900 RUB (international page, 2026-27) |
| Tuition, first year, Russian-medium | 257,900 RUB (international page, 2026-27) |
| Hostel | 28,709 RUB a year in dormitory No. 5 for contract students (2026/27, stated for the Preparatory Faculty); confirm for degree students |
| Medical insurance | Compulsory for foreign students; usually arranged through the university |
| Food | Most students cook in hostel kitchens; Rostov is cheaper than Moscow |
| Travel | Rostov airport is closed; see the travel section for the route by Krasnodar or Mineralnye Vody |
Compare RostSMU with other universities on the MBBS in Russia fees page. At about ₹4.2 lakh it is in the lower third of our list. For a Kerala family the benchmark is the self-financing MBBS seat in Kerala at about ₹8.1 lakh a year, so the tuition is about half; but the saving is only real if the graduate clears FMGE, and this is where RostSMU's record is weak. See MBBS fees in Kerala vs Russia.
Living cost in Rostov-on-Don
Beyond tuition and hostel, a student's monthly budget in Rostov-on-Don is made of food (mostly cooked in the hostel kitchen), a mobile plan and internet, local transport, study material and warm clothing for the winter. With about 1.14 million people, the city is cheaper to live in than Moscow or Saint Petersburg. Travel is dearer than for other cities because of the closed airport: a train or bus leg from Krasnodar or Mineralnye Vody, or a long train from Moscow, adds time and cost to every trip home. We have no verified monthly figure, so ask senior Indian students for their real spend.
Hostel and hostel fees at Rostov State Medical University
The university pages list dormitory No. 5 at 28,709 roubles a year (about ₹32,500) for contract students and 12,238 roubles for 12 months for quota students, for 2026/27. The page states this for Preparatory Faculty students, and the rate for degree students is not separately confirmed. An agent quotes 22,000 roubles a year and another snippet 35,000 roubles for the first year; do not rely on these. Ask the international office which dormitory is allocated to first-year foreign students, how many share a room, the fee, the deposit and whether a place is kept for six years.
Families often ask about the girls hostel at Rostov State Medical University and its fees. Russian dormitories are usually separated by rooms or floors with a pass system at the entrance. Ask how female students are placed, who is on duty at the entrance and how far the dormitory is from the teaching buildings and hospitals.
NEET cut-off and eligibility for Rostov State Medical University
We found no NEET cut-off of the university's own above the national qualifying score. What you need is the NEET-UG qualifying score for your category, because without it an Indian graduate cannot sit FMGE:
- NEET-UG: qualified, result valid for three years. In NEET-UG 2026 the qualifying score was 213 out of 720 for general and EWS, 194 for general PwBD and 177 for SC, ST and OBC (the 3 May exam was cancelled after a paper leak and re-held on 21 June 2026; the result came on 16 July 2026). In 2025 it was 144, 127 and 113.
- Class 12: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, with at least 50% in PCB (40% for reserved categories).
- Age: 17 by 31 December of the admission year.
Ask the international office whether an entrance test or interview is held for foreign applicants and in which subjects. There is no published acceptance rate. In practice, students who meet the criteria and apply on time are usually admitted; the real filter is FMGE six years later. Given RostSMU's FMGE history, a student with a low NEET score should weigh this choice with particular care. See the full eligibility and documents list.
Check your eligibility for Rostov State Medical University
Send your NEET score and Class 12 marks; we tell you if you can apply this year.
Admission process at Rostov State Medical University
Apply online
Send scans of your passport, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and NEET score card to the international office, directly or through us. Say that you want General Medicine (English Medium).
Admission letter and contract
The university checks the documents and issues an admission letter. Read the contract for the fee, the language of instruction and the internship.
Invitation and visa
The university applies for your study invitation from the Russian migration authorities. With it you apply for the student visa; the nearest Russian consulate to Kerala is in Chennai.
Travel to Rostov-on-Don
Fly to Moscow through a Gulf hub or Delhi, or to a working southern airport (see below), then continue by train or bus. The university completes your migration registration after arrival.
English-medium groups at Russian universities usually start between September and November. Apply soon after NEET results, because the invitation and visa take several weeks. The general admission process page explains documents, apostille through NORKA Roots and the visa in detail.
Rostov State Medical University ranking and recognition
Families often search for the Rostov State Medical University ranking, "Rostov medical university ranking" and the world ranking. We did not find a verified ranking position for the university, so we do not quote one. A ranking says little about what matters most for an Indian student. Three things matter more:
- NMC rules. The degree is valid in India only if the course meets the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021: at least 54 months of study in English, a 12-month internship at the same university, and eligibility for a licence to practise in Russia. The NMC keeps no list of approved universities, so ask RostSMU for written confirmation of each point. See NMC rules.
- World Directory of Medical Schools. A search of the WDOMS directory did not show the Rostov record. It probably exists but we could not confirm it, so check it yourself; an Indian graduate needs a degree from a recognised medical school.
- FMGE results, below, which show how its Indian graduates actually do.
On language: the international page lists "General Medicine (English Medium)" as a separate six-year contract programme next to the Russian-medium one, but it does not say whether all years are in English. Agent pages say English throughout, and agents are not a source. Ask for a written statement for each year, especially the clinical years.
FMGE passing percentage of Rostov State Medical University
NBEMS publishes FMGE results for every foreign university. RostSMU's results were below the Russian average in every report until December 2025. In 2022, 5 of 96 passed (5.2%) against a Russian average of 26.0%. In 2023, 5 of 89 passed (5.6%) against 19.4%. In 2024, 11 of 87 passed (12.6%) against 29.5%. In June 2025, 5 of 49 passed (10.2%) against 18.1%. Then in December 2025, 36 of 106 passed (34.0%) against 30.9%. Earlier, 7.4% passed in 2020 and 5.1% in 2021.
| Session | Appeared | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | 106 | 36 | 34.0% |
| June 2025 | 49 | 5 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 87 | 11 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 89 | 5 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 96 | 5 | 5.2% |
| 2021 | 117 | 6 | 5.1% |
| 2020 | 135 | 10 | 7.4% |
Over 2022–2025 combined, RostSMU passed 14.5% of 427 candidates, rank 21 of the 24 Russian universities with at least 300 candidates in our ranking by FMGE results, about ten points below the Russian combined figure of about 25%. The December 2025 jump is large, but it is one report. We cannot tell from the numbers whether the university changed something or whether it was a strong batch, so ask the university what changed in teaching or exam preparation, and look at the next reports before you treat it as a trend. The older "MCI passing ratio" is the same exam. Compare every university on the FMGE pass rate page.
Safety in Rostov-on-Don: border region, closed airport
Read this before you decide. Rostov-on-Don is the capital of the Rostov region, in southern Russia, which borders the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Rostov (Platov) airport has been closed to all civil flights since 24 February 2022, and Rosaviatsia denied reports of reopening in October 2025; it was still closed in August–September 2026 according to the sources we checked. The Indian Embassy in Moscow advised in August 2024 that Indians in the Bryansk, Belgorod and Kursk regions take precautions and relocate temporarily. Rostov was not named in that advisory, but families should check the current position at mea.gov.in before every trip.
We found no published report of an incident involving Indian students of RostSMU, and we cannot say what the situation will be when you start. What we can say is that a student in a border-area city should plan for disruption: flights that are cancelled, longer road and rail legs, and sudden changes in advisories. A parent should ask these questions before paying a deposit:
- What is the university's plan for foreign students if the advisory changes? Is there a written policy on transfer, deferral or refund?
- How do first-year students travel in? Does the university arrange pick-up from Krasnodar or Mineralnye Vody?
- Does the contract allow a refund of tuition if the student leaves because of a government advisory?
- Register with the Indian Embassy in Moscow after arrival and save its emergency numbers.
- Check the current advisory at mea.gov.in before you travel; it can change.
- Ask the university about security at the dormitory and the entrance control.
- Never accept a job or "contract" offer that involves the Russian military.
A family that wants a low-risk choice can compare the same fee level in the Volga region, for example Penza State University, which is far from the border and has a much better FMGE record.
Get the Rostov State Medical University fee structure
We send the current fee list, hostel details and the admission timeline for your intake.
Life in Rostov-on-Don for Kerala students
Rostov-on-Don is a city of about 1.14 million people (2021 census) on the Don river in the south. It has the mildest winter among the Russian cities in our list: the January mean is −3.0 °C and the July mean 24.0 °C by Wikipedia's climate tables, so summers are hot and winter clothing is lighter than in the north. You will still need a proper winter jacket and boots from the first year.
Kerala students and Indian food
We found no official count of Indian students at RostSMU, and no verified number for Kerala students, so ask the international office to connect you with current students before you pay. Students from India in cities of this size typically cook in the dormitory kitchen and buy rice, lentils, spices and tea at supermarkets or order them online. We have no verified list of Indian restaurants in Rostov-on-Don. Cooking in a group keeps the monthly cost low. See our guide to Indian food in Russia.
Where Rostov State Medical University is: distance to Moscow and how to get there from Kerala
Rostov State Medical University is in Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia. The distance from Rostov-on-Don to Moscow is about 960 km in a straight line, and the train takes about 15 hours. The nearest airport is Platov International Airport (ROV), but it is closed: all civil flights have been suspended since 24 February 2022. The nearest working airports are Krasnodar (KRR), about 250 km in a straight line, which reopened on 11 September 2025 with daytime-only limits and frequent restrictions, and Mineralnye Vody (MRV), about 430 km, which is open. The time zone is Moscow time, 2.5 hours behind India.
From Kerala there is no direct flight to Russia. The usual route is Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode to Moscow through Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Delhi, then the train of about 15 hours to Rostov-on-Don. The alternative is to fly on to Krasnodar or Mineralnye Vody and continue by road or rail, but Krasnodar flights are restricted, and Mineralnye Vody is in the Stavropol region, near the North Caucasus, so check current conditions. Read more on the universities page and the map of all cities.
Scholarships, syllabus and courses
We found no RostSMU scholarship that cuts tuition for Indian students as a rule. The university pages show a lower dormitory rate for quota students, which are students on Russian government scholarships. The Russian government offers a limited number of state-funded places to foreign citizens each year through its quota programme, applied for on the official education-in-russia.com portal; competition is high and places in medicine are few. Indian families should plan to pay the full fee.
The General Medicine syllabus follows the Russian federal standard for specialty 31.05.01. A typical six-year plan looks like this; ask the university for its own curriculum before you sign:
| Years | Main subjects |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry, biology, Latin, Russian language |
| 3 | Pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, propaedeutics of internal diseases, general surgery |
| 4–5 | Internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics, neurology, infectious diseases, psychiatry |
| 6 | Clinical rotations in hospitals and the state final examinations |
The first years cover the basic sciences, then clinical subjects follow, with hospital practice in the senior years. Clinical training means talking to Russian-speaking patients, so students who learn basic Russian in the first two years cope much better. Besides General Medicine, the international page lists a Preparatory Faculty for foreign citizens.
Rostov State Medical University compared with similar universities
Families shortlisting RostSMU usually compare it with universities at a similar fee. The table uses first-year tuition and the combined FMGE pass rate for 2022–2025 from the NBEMS reports.
| University | City | Tuition per year | FMGE 2022–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rostov State Medical University | Rostov-on-Don | ₹4.2 lakh | 14.5% (rank 21) |
| Penza State University | Penza | ₹4.4 lakh | 30.2% (rank 6) |
| North Ossetian State Medical Academy | Vladikavkaz | ₹4.1 lakh (price order not specific to foreigners) | 22.4% (rank 15) |
| Dagestan State Medical University | Makhachkala | ₹4.8 lakh (English, price order) | 11.7% (rank 24) |
At a similar fee, Penza has had twice the FMGE pass rate of Rostov and is far from any border, while North Ossetian also has a better record. Only Dagestan, in the North Caucasus, is lower, and it is also a region that needs extra care. Rostov's advantages are the mild climate and a large city; its drawbacks are the FMGE history and the closed airport. See the full ranking by FMGE results.
After graduation: FMGE, internship and registration in Kerala
RostSMU awards the Russian specialist diploma in General Medicine after six years. To practise in India, a graduate then needs to:
- Pass FMGE, held by NBEMS three times a year since 2026 (the NMC plans to replace it with NExT, with no date yet).
- Complete a 12-month supervised internship in India, as the NMC requires for foreign graduates.
- Register with the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council to practise in Kerala.
After registration, graduates can take NEET-PG for postgraduate seats in India like any other doctor. Practising in Russia is also possible but needs Russian accreditation and fluent Russian. Plan for a year or more between the diploma and the first salary in India. Our after MBBS in Russia guide explains each step.
Pros and cons for a student from Kerala
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Official English Medium fee of about ₹4.2 lakh a year, in the lower third of our list | Rostov airport closed since 24 February 2022; long train or bus legs |
| Public university with a medical history from 1915, about 7,000 students | Border region of Russia; check the MEA advisory before every trip |
| December 2025 FMGE result of 34.0%, above the Russian average | FMGE 14.5% over 2022–2025, rank 21 of 24; six of seven reports below average |
| Mildest winter in our list of cities (January mean −3.0 °C) | WDOMS listing not confirmed; all six years in English not stated |
| Hostel rate listed at 28,709 RUB (about ₹32,500) a year | Hostel rate stated for the Preparatory Faculty; no verified count of Indian or Kerala students |
Talk to us about Rostov State Medical University
We tell you honestly whether RostSMU fits your NEET score, budget and risk tolerance.
Rostov State Medical University: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MBBS fee at Rostov State Medical University for Indian students?
The university's international page lists General Medicine (English Medium) at 373,900 roubles for the first year of 2026-27, about ₹4.2 lakh at the Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026. Russian-medium General Medicine is 257,900 roubles. Hostel, food, insurance and travel are extra.
What are the hostel facilities and hostel fees at Rostov State Medical University?
The university pages list dormitory No. 5 at 28,709 roubles a year for contract students in 2026/27, stated for Preparatory Faculty students. Confirm the rate for degree students, the room sharing, the deposit and the arrangements for female students.
What NEET score is required for admission to Rostov State Medical University?
You need the NEET-UG qualifying score for your category: for the 2026 intake that is 213 out of 720 for general and EWS candidates and 177 for SC, ST and OBC (in 2025 it was 144 and 113; the marks rose in 2026 after the exam was re-held). We found no higher cut-off of the university's own; ask whether an entrance test or interview is held.
Does MBBS at Rostov State Medical University meet NMC rules and is it taught in English?
The university lists General Medicine (English Medium) as a separate six-year contract programme but does not say whether all years are in English. The NMC requires at least 54 months in English and a 12-month internship at the same university, and the NMC keeps no list of approved universities. Ask for written confirmation of each condition.
Are there students from Kerala at Rostov State Medical University, and is Indian food available in Rostov-on-Don?
The university has not published a count of Indian students and we found no figure for Kerala students, so ask the international office to connect you with current students. Indian students in a city of 1.1 million usually cook in the dormitory kitchen with ingredients from supermarkets; ask seniors where they buy them.
Sources: Rostov State Medical University international pages (rostgmu.ru/international: information for international applicants, Preparatory Faculty page with dormitory rates), read through search excerpts; English and Russian Wikipedia (founding, former names, student numbers); NBEMS FMGE reports 2020–2025; NMC FMGL Regulations 2021; Indian Embassy in Moscow advisory of August 2024; Wikipedia (Platov International Airport) for the airport status; Dagestan State Medical University order No. 75-K of 2 April 2026; Central Bank of Russia rate of 15 October 2026.