
About Mari State University
The Mari State Medical University was founded in 1972 and is located in "Yoshkar Ola" {Capital of Mari El Republic}, Russia. Currently, 8,000 students are pursuing their MD or MBBS at the university. It is a non-profit institute in Russia. The Mari State University Russia comprises seven faculties and four schools: MD or MBBS.
- Physics and Mathematics.
- History and philology.
- Agriculture and biology.
- Chemistry.
In the year 1974, the university further established three more departments:
- Botany department.
- Human and animal anatomy.
- Physiology department.
Quick Facts
Year of Establishment | 1972 |
Type of University | Government university |
Medium of Teaching | Russian/English |
Minimum Percentage for MBBS in Mari State University | 50% in PCB & NEET Qualified |
NEET Requirement | Yes |
IELTS / TOEFL | Not Required |
Processing Time | 45-60 Days |
Tuition Fees | 4000 USD/ Month |
Hostel Cost | Direct |
Food Cost | 120 USD/ Month |
Duration | 6 Years |
Recognition | NMC and WHO Approved |
Indian Students | 1,500 students |
Session Starts | September |
Faculties of Mari State University, Russia
Mari University Russia offers various programs. The university has 6 Faculties, and the Faculty of Medicine is one of the most popular programs among Indian students. The Mari University in Russia offers various faculties such as:
- Faculty of Medical Science
- Faculty of Physics and Mathematics
- Faculty of Foreign Languages
- Faculty of History and Philology
- Faculty of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering
- Faculty of Law

Yoshkar-Ola City in Russia
Mari el Republic is the capital of Yoshkar-Ola. Yoshkar-Ola is called the red city in Mari. Before 1919, the city was well known as "Tsaryovokokshaysk". Between 1919 and 1927, the city was termed "Krasnokokshaysk”. The city was named after the Malaya Kokshaga River, which flows through the city.
The city has a temperate continental climate. It is one of the ancient cities in Russia. Several bus and railway routes connect Yoshkar-Ola with different cities and towns. The winter can be frigid. The lowest recorded temperature is -48 oC. It remains between -10 and -15 oC. It is an excellent challenge for natives to survive. The airport lies 9 kilometres north of the city of Yoshkar-Ola. There are regular flights to and from Moscow—Yoshkar—Ola.
Department in Mari State Medical University
Mari State University has 12 departments for different study fields, as follows:
Ranking and Recognition of Mari State Medical University
The Mari University Russia is listed in the directories of the Medical Council of India (MCI), the European Medical Council, and UNESCO (the world's major health organizations).
The University stands on different rankings given below:
Country | Ranking |
---|---|
World Rank | 5208 |
Country Rank | 143 |
Europe Ranking | 1473 |
Why study at Mari Medical University?
When choosing any university for higher studies, you should search for reasons to study there. Below are some points you can look at before selecting the university:
• No entrance exams are required and no donations are to be paid.
• The cost of residing and studying in Mari is comparatively low.
• Medical education provided by the universities in Russia is recognized by MCI and WHO.
Despite these, certain areas are of heavy concern, like low MCI ratios.
The problem at Mari State University
While Mari State University in Russia may seem like a desirable option, there are some specific challenges that students may face. These include:
- Limited Clinical Exposure: Mari State University is in a small city called Yoshkar-Ola. Clinical exposure is limited due to low patient inflow.
- Limited funding for the University: Mari State faced many challenges in the past for Federal funding due to certain corruption charges in the administration, which severely impacted the Academic study of the students at the university
- Low MCI or NExT Passing Ratio: The MCI passing ratio remains low for Mari Medical University, Russia. A low MCI ratio would mean a lot of problems for an Indian student getting a license to practice in India. If you are planning to join Mari, then prepare for the NExT preparation course in the first year itself.
- Mari State University Fee Scam: Indian students are being scammed by agents who charge them an extra 9 lakhs over six years for MBBS admission. The university does not issue fee receipts, and agents instead provide receipts from Russian companies.
- One-time packages: Most agents who offer one-shot payment for Mari State University are scammers. They ask students to deposit the fee in a Russian agent account, which is not an official Mari State University account. Students who fall for this scam end up paying much more than the actual tuition fees and other expenses.
None of the universities in Russia offer one-time packages. If any agent asks you to pay a one-time amount for Mari State University, report it to the Indian Embassy immediately.
Make an informed decision while considering Mari as one of the choices for MBBS admission in Russia.
Cost of studying MBBS at Mari State University
The cost of studying MBBS at Mari State University is lower than that of Indian Private Medical Colleges. The Mari State Medical University Russia fees details are as follows:
Cost(Ruble) | Year-1 | Year-2 | Year-3 | Year-4 | Year-5 | Year-6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tuition Fee | 1,68,000 | 1,68,000 | 1,68,000 | 1,68,000 | 1,68,000 | 1,68,000 |
Universities with a similar budget to Mari State Medical University
Those who are looking for Mari State University in Russia as one of their choices are advised to consider the below Universities in Russia with similar budget
- Orel State Medical University
- Bashkir State Medical University
- Kabardino-Balkarian State University
- Astrakhan State Medical Academy
Hostel and Accommodation Service
Are you planning to study abroad? Of course, you will be worried about your stay in a new country! The Mari State University hostel provides all services to international students coming to study for their MBBS degree. The university has constructed seven buildings, of which 2 are hostel buildings. The university provides standard hostels for boys and girls. The Kitchens and washrooms are allotted on a shared basis. Rooms can be shared by 3-4 students, with no extra charges for the kitchen.
The cost of a Hostel in Mari State is approx. 250-300 USD for a year. Charges informed by the agents are usually for non-renovated rooms. The condition of the rooms may disappoint you. A Private Apartment in Mari usually costs 400-500 USD on a shared basis.
Admission Deadline for Mari State Medical University Russia
It is essential to understand that the complete process takes around 3 Months from Application to Arrival at the University. Students applying at the last moment may need help finding seats available, or they may need help to complete the process in a shorter span. If this happens, students might arrive at the university with a loss in academics.
Stages | Time Lines |
---|---|
Application to University | Mar-July |
Issuance of Admission Letter | 3-4 weeks |
Invitation Letter by the Ministry of Education, Russia | 4-6 weeks |
Visa Stamping | 3 weeks |
Travel to the University | 2/3 Week Sept |
Commencement of the Classes | 1st Oct-2025 |
Eligibility for Mari State Medical University
To apply to Mari State Medical University Russia, students need to meet the below eligibility criteria
Syllabus of MBBS in Mari State Medical University
Year | Sem | Subjects |
---|---|---|
1st Year | 1st | Anatomy |
2nd | Anatomy and Histology | |
2nd Year | 3rd | Histology, Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology cell biology, Microbiology, General pathology |
4th | Biochemistry, Micro-Biology, Physiology | |
3rd Year | 5th | Pathology, Pharmacology, Micro-Biology, Path Physiology |
6th | Pathology, Path Physiology and Pharmacology, Genetics | |
4th-6th Year | 7th-12th | General Surgery, Neurology, Primary Care medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal medicine, Neurology and Psychiatry, Psychology, ENT, Emergency Medicine, and Cardiology |
PG Option after MBBS in Mari State University
NEET PG or NEXT
success ratio to get Clinical PG Seat in Govt Medical College which is 9% only, broadly we can say that only 1 out of 10 will get Govt Seat, even after paying 1.5-2 Cr in Pvt Medical college your chances are just 1 out of 6.
NEXT Exam is applicable from 2024 batch onward, replacing NEET-PG and FMGE. NEXT aims to assess knowledge in Pre, Para, and Clinical subjects nationally.
Step | Eligibility | Result | Opportunity |
---|---|---|---|
NEXT-1 | After 4th Year | Pass | Entry to Internship |
Merit | PG seat is Secured | ||
NEXT-2 | After Internship | Pass | License to Practice |
Medical PG in USA (USMLE)
USMLE is a 3 step Exam. One can appear in USMLE Step 1 after 2nd Year, USMLE Step 2 CK during an internship, and Step-3 during your residency (Medical PG). The USMLE is an online exam and can be taken at the PROMETRIC centres present across India any time.
USMLE Exam passing ratio is 60% which is 6 time the NEET-PG Exam. NEXT Exam designed on USMLE pattern, refer the table below
Criteria | USMLE | NExT |
---|---|---|
Purpose | PG & Practice in US | PG & Practice in India |
Phases | 3 Steps | 2 Steps |
Eligibility | From 2nd Yr onward | After 4th Yr |
Qus Format | Clinical Application / Patient Centered | Clinical Application / Patient Centered |
Attempt | 4 Attempt | Practically 4 Years to attempt |
Validity | 7 Years | 3 Years |
Practice | All countries Incl India | Only in India |

Medical PG IN UK (MRCP)
There are Two ways to Start your Medical Career in UK either by MRCP/MRCS. You can complete all steps in India , your refer the table below
Criteria | PLAB | MRCP/MRCS |
---|---|---|
Purpose | Internship in UK hospitals | PG & Practice in UK |
Phases | 2 Steps | 3 Steps |
Eligibility | After Graduation | 2 Yr Work Exp required |
Qus Format | MCQ , Clinical Qus | MCQ , Clinical Qus |
Salary | Low | High |
