ADVISORY TO INDIAN STUDENTS INTENDING TO STUDY IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
IMPORTANT: It may be noted that the erstwhile Medical Council of India had provided a list of foreign Medical Institutions/Universities for MBBS or equivalent course based upon the information received from the Indian Embassy/High Commission of India concerned. However, it is to state that the 2018 notification to the Screening Test Regulations clearly states that all Indian Citizens/ Overseas Citizen of India who have obtained a primary medical qualification from any Medical Institution outside India have to qualify the prescribed Screening test for purposes of obtaining registration in India in addition to fulfilling other eligibility criteria stated in the regulations. It is to clarify that the National Medical Commission does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/ Universities for MBBS or equivalent course. The public at large is advised that before taking admission in MBBS or its equivalent course in a university outside India, confirmation of the fee structure, details of the course (which should be commensurate with the MBBS courses in India such as content, duration and internship) etc. should be directly obtained from the University/ Institution concerned.
- Screening Test for Indian Citizens/Overseas Citizen of India Who Have obtained Primary Medical Qualification from Foreign Medical Institution:
- An Indian citizen or a person who has been granted Overseas Citizenship of India possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India who is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with the National Medical Commission or any State Medical Council on or after 15.03.2002 shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority for that purpose.
- Eligibility Criteria: No person shall be allowed to appear in the screening test unless:
(1) he/she is a Citizen of India or has been granted Overseas Citizenship of India and possess any primary medical qualification to be a recognized qualification for enrolment as medical practitioner in the country in which the institution awarding the said qualification is situated.
(2) he/ she had obtained ‘Eligibility Certificate’ from the National Medical Commission (or the erstwhile Medical Council of India) as per the ‘Eligibility Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002’. This requirement shall not be necessary in respect of Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India who have acquired the medical qualifications from foreign medical institutions or have obtained admission in foreign medical institution before 15th March 2002.
(3) Indian Citizens/Overseas Citizen of India intending to obtain primary medical qualification from any medical institution outside India, on or after May 2018, shall have to mandatorily qualify the ‘National -Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Admission to MBBS course’. The result of the ‘National- Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Admission to MBBS course’ shall deem to be treated as the Eligibility Certificate for such persons, provided that such persons fulfill the Eligibility Criteria for admission to the MBBS course prescribed in the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997.”
Furthermore, the result of NEET shall be valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of declaration of result, entitling a candidate to pursue MBBS or equivalent medical course including pre-medical/ language course, if any, followed by MBBS or equivalent medical course.
(4) Provided further that a person seeking provisional or permanent registration shall not have to qualify the Screening Test if he/she holds an Undergraduate medical qualification from Australia/ Canada/ New Zealand/ United Kingdom/ United States of America and the holder thereof also been awarded a Post Graduate medical qualification in Australia/ Canada/ New Zealand/ United Kingdom/ United States of America and has been recognized for enrollment as medical practitioner in that country.
- The screening test shall be conducted as per the Schedule of examination announced by the Prescribed Authority. The procedure of conducting the test shall be in accordance with the Scheme announced by the National Medical Commission in this regard.
- The Prescribed Authority shall intimate the result of the Screening Test to the candidates as well as to the National Medical Commission and the State Medical Councils. The unsuccessful candidates shall also be appropriately informed. The candidates who qualify the Screening Test may apply to the National Medical Commission or to any State Medical Council for provisional registration/ permanent registration.
- All Indian students intending to join universities and colleges in the Kyrgyz Republic for higher studies are advised to make necessary inquiries and take note of the following before they apply for admission:
- It is mandatory that all the certificates and mark sheets issued in India are to be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division), New Delhi for seeking admission. For further information, please click on the following link: http://mea.gov.in/ apostille.htm
- Documentation is extremely important and it must be ensured that the relevant papers are in order. It needs to be made sure that any contract signed is in the English language or bilingual and the students are advised to go through it carefully before signing it. A contract, which is only in Russian or in Kyrgyz language and the contents of which are not clear, need not be signed.
- Students should ensure that the medium of instruction of the course is in the English language.
- The website of the concerned university needs to be browsed thoroughly. It is in the interest of aspiring students who wish to study in Kyrgyz universities to do a complete survey and satisfy themselves about the credibility of the courses offered by the universities and also about the “contractors” involved, if any. Some of the self-styled “contractors” of these Universities may be advertising through their own website(s) and/or through electronic and print media and offering admission in these universities. These advertisements do not often present the correct picture and in most of the cases, are exaggerated. Please thoroughly cross-check the authenticity of the information circulated by them.
- Students may obtainfull and accurate details of actual costs involved such as Tuition Fees, Boarding, Lodging and other Expenses. The quotes of the agents may be cross checked and verified.
- Students may check in advance the availability of hostel facilities at the University where they are seeking admission.
- Passport and original testimonials are the property of the concerned student and should not be given to “contractors” or any other authorities for safe custody. It is the personal responsibility of the individual concerned to keep the passport and testimonials safely.
- It needs to be ensured that visa formalities are arranged by respective authorities in the university well in advance to avoid last minute hassles. Before exiting the Kyrgyz Republic for short term vacation or leave, it needs to be ensured that the visa is sufficiently validated to re-enter the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Kyrgyzstan is safe, secure and friendly especially towards Indian nationals. There is a great deal of goodwill for India. However, caution is always advised for foreigners particularly students while spending late night hours in public places and mingling with strangers.
- Temperature across Kyrgyzstan goes down during winters and it becomes extremely cold (with temperature sometimes dipping upto -10 degree Celsius during November-March). The students are advised to equip themselves with sufficient woolen clothing and winter shoes.
- A list of important telephone numbers and copies of passport, visa endorsement, residence permit and University ID Card may be kept handy. Since police authorities on streets sometimes demand these documents for verification.
- Once the course is completed, all the degrees, certificates awarded by Universities in the Kyrgyz Republic are required to be apostilled with the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic. This requirement is mandatory before their submission to Indian organizations such as the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other State Medical Councils for registration purposes.
- In case of emergency, the Embassy of India at Bishkek can be contacted on the following emergency number: +996- 555710041.
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