Indian students attracted to Russian medical colleges

Panaji, May 1 (UNI) There has been a growing demand among Indian students to study medicine in Russia because of adequate facilities, English-speaking faculty and a nominal fee structure.

Speaking to reporters here today, Stavropol State Medical Academy representative Dr Najeerul Ameen said 1000 seats have been allocated for Indian students this year. The academy is one of the twelve Russian medical universities recognised by the Medical Council of India.

''This is a boon for middle-class students who have secured good marks but have been unable to secure a merit seat in India or are unable to pay capitation fee,'' he said while pointing out that Russian universities offer the seats without taking any donation or holding entrance exminations.

Dr Ameen is director of the Chennai-based A J Trust Educational Consultancy, which is the sole representative in India for the Russian Academy and authorised to enrol students from even Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Phillippines, Bangladesh, UAE and Saudi Arabia besides India.

The demand for study in the Academy has risen to 50,000 from India. As many as 51,000 students, who completed studies in Russia, had been working in India since 1956, he said.

The Stavropol Academy was adjudged the best for the year 2007 in Russia for providing the best medical education, Academy dean Stoyana V Znamenskaya informed.

Students from as many as 71 countries are enrolled every year in the Academy which has 70 chairs, 84 doctors of science and 362 highly qualified professors, including 23 members of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

UNI