# Samara State Medical University

> Samara State Medical University (SamSMU, est. 1919/1918 per WDOMS instruction-start record) is one of Russia's largest medical universities, WDOMS-listed under FAIMER School ID F0001549 (qualification 'Vrach'), holding an indefinite Russian education license (No. Л035-00115-63/00119925, issued 12 August 2016) and state accreditation (No. А007-00115-63/01134147, issued 1 November 2017). It is notable for a distinctive 'IT-Medicine' digital surgery cluster not commonly found at other Russian medical universities. Annual tuition is approximately $5,500 (₹4.5–4.8 lakh/year at 2024–25 rates) with a well-established English-medium programme — mid-range cost for a large, century-old public university in a major Volga region city. SamSMU does not appear in QS or Times subject rankings but is indexed in Webometrics and Scimago.

- Canonical page: https://www.studentstraffic.com/university/samara-state-medical-university
- Last reviewed: 2026-07-08
- Publisher: Students Traffic (https://www.studentstraffic.com/)

## Key facts

- Location: Samara, [Russia](https://www.studentstraffic.com/countries/russia)
- Type: Public/State
- Established: 1919
- Official website: https://samsmu.ru/en/
- Published programmes on Students Traffic: 1

## Recognition and approvals

- WDOMS Listed (FAIMER School ID F0001549)
- Rosobrnadzor Education License No. Л035-00115-63/00119925 (issued 12 Aug 2016, indefinite)
- Rosobrnadzor State Accreditation No. А007-00115-63/01134147 (issued 1 Nov 2017)
- Verify: [WDOMS School Detail — Samara State Medical University](https://search.wdoms.org/home/GetSchoolDetail/F0001549)
- Verify: [University licensing and accreditation documents page](https://samsmu.ru/sveden/document/)
- Verify: [Official university website (English)](https://samsmu.ru/en/)

## Programmes

| Programme | Course | Duration | Medium | Tuition per year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Doctor of Medicine (Equivalent to MBBS in India)](https://www.studentstraffic.com/mbbs-in-samara-state-medical-university) | MBBS | 6 years | English | $4,200 (official: RUB 3,75,000) |

## Why students choose it

- Own multidisciplinary University Clinic with 1,000+ beds for hands-on clinical training
- Leader in Innovative IT-Medicine and Digital Surgery among Russian medical universities
- Indefinite Rosobrnadzor education license and 2017 state accreditation, both independently verifiable

## Things to consider

- Rigorous academic schedule with a strong emphasis on digital/IT literacy as part of the IT-Medicine track.
- Public transport is required to reach some specialised clinical sites across the city.
- Samara is a large city (population over 1 million); initial urban navigation and orientation take some adjustment time.

## Best fit for

- Technologically-inclined students
- Serious clinical learners
- Budget-conscious families seeking high clinical volume

## Campus and city

A dynamic urban campus integrated into Samara's historic and modern quarters, along the Volga River. Students have access to specialised research institutes, a large medical library, and professional sports facilities. The university is known for high-tech simulation centres where students practice digital-surgery techniques as part of its IT-Medicine programme — a differentiator not commonly offered at other Russian regional medical universities. Samara itself is a major Volga-region city (population over 1 million) offering more urban infrastructure than smaller university towns while remaining considerably cheaper than Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Samara is a major industrial and cultural hub on the Volga River. 2026 Index: Affordable and safe. Milk (~72 RUB), 1kg Chicken (~320 RUB), Metro pass (~2,400 RUB/month). Monthly living budget is approx. $150-$180 USD.

SamSMU operates its own multidisciplinary University Clinic with over 1,000 beds, giving students an unusually large in-house clinical base. Students rotate through specialised departments including cardiology, orthopaedics, and the university's IT-Medicine centre, which focuses on digital surgical planning and simulation. High patient volume supports diverse clinical case exposure from the third year onward.


## Hostel, food and safety

Multiple student hostels are available, with sections for international students. Rooms are shared by 2–3 students with centralised heating, internet, and shared kitchen/study areas; security operates 24/7. Combined with Samara's moderate regional cost of living, hostel and living expenses are meaningfully lower than at Moscow or St. Petersburg institutions.

Indian student groups organise community mess arrangements, and local hypermarkets such as Auchan and Lenta provide access to lentils, spices, and Basmati rice for self-cooking — a practical combination given Samara's status as a major regional retail centre compared to smaller Russian university cities.

Samara is a regionally secure, student-friendly city. The university provides safety briefings and 24/7 security in residential blocks, with a dedicated international student affairs office handling legal and safety coordination for enrolled students.

SamSMU places emphasis on academic adaptation support, offering tutorial assistance for complex medical subjects and regular NExT licensing-exam simulation sessions aimed at Indian senior students, reflecting an established Indian-student cohort with accumulated institutional experience supporting that pathway.


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Samara State Medical University a public or private institution?

It is a public (state) medical university under Russia's Ministry of Health, holding an indefinite Russian education license (No. Л035-00115-63/00119925, issued 12 August 2016) and state accreditation (No. А007-00115-63/01134147, issued 1 November 2017), plus WDOMS listing under FAIMER School ID F0001549.

### Is the medium of instruction English?

Yes, the full 6-year General Medicine programme is offered in English for international students, with Russian-language elements for clinical-year ward communication.

### Can Indian students get direct admission after Class 12 with NEET?

Yes, direct entry after Class 12 with a qualifying NEET score follows the standard route used across NMC-linked Russian MBBS programmes.

### What is the total cost breakdown for the 6-year programme in rupees?

Annual tuition is approximately $5,500 (₹4.5–4.8 lakh/year at 2024–25 rates), giving total 6-year tuition of approximately $33,000 (₹27–29 lakh). Adding campus logistics and living expenses in Samara, the all-in 6-year cost is approximately ₹38–48 lakh — mid-range among NMC-linked Russian options.

### How do I apply?

Applications are routed through the university's international admissions office or an authorised recruitment partner, submitting Class 10/12 certificates, NEET scorecard, and passport for an offer letter used in visa processing. No separate university entrance exam is required for the standard track.

### Do I need an English-language test score to apply?

No IELTS/TOEFL is typically required for the English-medium programme since instruction is delivered in English from year one; confirm current-year requirements with admissions.

### Is there a stipend or work-while-studying option?

No meaningful stipend or paid-work provision exists for international students; Russian student visa terms restrict work rights, so students should plan on fully self-funding tuition and living costs.

### When does the academic year start and when should I apply?

The main intake follows Russia's standard September academic start; document submission and visa processing should begin several months ahead. Confirm current-year deadlines with the admissions office.

### Do I need any special certificate or pre-approval to study in Russia?

No APS-style certificate is required. Indian students need a valid NEET qualification, a Russian student visa, and post-arrival migration registration, coordinated through the university's international student office.

### What does SamSMU's accreditation status mean for practicing medicine in India?

SamSMU holds a currently valid Rosobrnadzor education license and 2017 state accreditation, plus WDOMS listing, which NMC checks for FMGE/NExT eligibility. Graduates are eligible for FMGE/NExT through NMC recognition; students should still request current pass-rate data directly from the university, and independently verify SamSMU's current status on the NMC's own approved list before applying, since our review found no consistently published FMGE pass-rate figure specific to SamSMU in public sources.

### What accommodation options are available and what do they cost?

Multiple campus logistics offer shared rooms (2–3 students) with heating, internet, and shared kitchens, at costs meaningfully lower than Moscow or St. Petersburg given Samara's regional cost base.

### How does SamSMU compare to other mid-tier Russian medical universities like Ryazan?

Both are established, WDOMS-listed public medical universities with broadly similar tuition (SamSMU roughly $5,500/year vs. Ryazan $5,000–5,500/year) and comparable regional-city cost of living. SamSMU's distinguishing feature is its IT-Medicine digital-surgery programme and its own 1,000+ bed clinic; Ryazan's is its closer Moscow proximity (180 km vs. Samara's roughly 1,000 km from Moscow). Students should weigh proximity to Moscow against interest in digital-medicine specialisation when choosing between the two.


## Free counselling

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- Contact: https://www.studentstraffic.com/contact
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