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Russia is another popular destinations for Malaysians to pursue their medical degree programs.
There are about 4,000 Malaysian living and studying in Russia.
Malaysian authorities recognize the diplomas of the five major Russian medical universities :
1- 1st MGMU
2- Russian State Medical University (RSMU)
3- Volgograd State Medical University (VSMU)
4- Kursk State Medical University (KSMU)
5- Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy (NNMA)

The diplomas of Russian Higher Educational Institutions are valued in the fields of science and technology, as well as in arts and design. Many Russian professionals in those fields are currently employed in Malaysian and international companies in Malaysia.

Russia possesses highly-developed teaching and scientific research infrastructure, which offers Russian and foreign students a wide range of programmes of higher professional education, as well as fundamental and applied research courses.

Educational System
The Russian educational system has gained profound theoretical and practical experience in training foreign specialists. Foreign students have been studying in Russian Universities since 1865. As reported, nowadays among the 60,000 students from more than 100 countries of the world there are well over 2000 Malaysian students studying medicine, aerospace, marine technologies and other subjects in various Russian varsities.

Cost of Living in Russia
Cost of living differs greatly from city to city and depends on the student's lifestyle. Moscow, being the capital, can suit different lifestyles and living expenses in smaller cities in Russia are more affordable.
It is recommended that students coming to Russia have at least RM500 to RM600 per month for living expenses, and RM500 to RM760 especially for those living in Moscow.

Insurance / Health Care
Foreign students have to obtain medical insurance in the Russian Federation, which includes all medical aid and services, except chronic diseases and orthodontics. Students enjoying RF State scholarships will receive a significant premium reduction.

Accommodation
Practically every Russian higher education institution has hostels available for students. Indeed, institutions have an obligation to provide students with places in such hostels. Accommodation is in rooms shared with one or two other students. Some foreign students prefer to rent shared apartments.

Tuition Fees at Russian Universities
Tuition fees vary from one institution to the other and from one discipline to another, but usually are between the range of US$ 2,500 and US$7,000 per year. For Preparatory / foundation courses, the fees are from US$2500 to US$7000.

For medical courses, the tuition fee varies from university to university. On average, it may amount from US$29 to over 40 thousand for 6 years of study.
Duration of study for a medical degree is 6 years (which includes clinical experience) and 1 year of preparatory course for SPM holders.

Upon successful completion of the 6 years of study, the Doctor should sit for State Final Examination which will qualify them to be awarded the MBBS or equivalent.

• Candidates for admission into Russian higher educational institutions are required to have the educational level equivalent to that of completed secondary education in Russia. Their results on basic subjects are expected to be not less than 80 per cent of the highest marks level. As for the other subjects, candidates are required to also have good marks.

• Malaysian Students:
For Malaysians who wish to pursue a medical degree in an approved medical university in Russia, the minimum academic requirement set by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia is:
- Those SPM holders who wish to pursue the medical degree Foundation program / pre-medical in Russia. He / she needs to possess at least 5 Credits in related subjects and at least Grade B for 4 Science and Maths subjects.
- Those STPM holders who wish to pursue Year 1 Medical Degree needs to score at least 3 subjects at Principle B level or CGPA of 3.00 and above.

• The gap between the time of graduating from school, college or technical college and the time of entering any of the higher educational institutions of Russia should not exceed three years. It is preferable that the age of candidates for admission doesn't exceed 27 years.

• All candidates are to undergo medical examination, including the HIV Blood Test and a certificate indicating that their health permits them to stay in Russia.

• The medium of instruction for medical degree programs in several universities is English, but the medical students need to be able to speak Russian by their fourth year in order for them to communicate with the patients and clinical staff.

Since 1992, Russia started integrating into the world system of education with Russian government introducing a multi-level structure higher education system. Russian Higher education today confers the following certificates, diplomas and degrees:

Level 1
Level 1 - is first two years of study in the given specialty. After this, students may either continue their studies or leave the particular institution with an intermediate • Certificate.

Level 2
Level 2 - is continuation of studies for a minimum of another two years. This level leads to the pursuit of a four-year Bachelor degree. Bachelor degree programs cover all disciplines except for the field of medicine. The • Bachelor Degree would usually equip students with an academically-oriented education rather than a professionally-oriented one.

Level 3
Level 3 - is the level of education which leads to the Specialist Diploma and Master Diploma.

• Specialist Diploma

• Master Diploma

The Specialist Diploma is a traditional degree which opens access to professional practice (such as engineers and teachers). This qualification is also a traditional prerequisite for admission to post graduate and doctoral studies. This Diploma is awarded after studies lasting five to six years in all fields of study (specialties) have been successfully completed. State final attestation for the Specialist Diploma requires presentation of a project or thesis as well as sitting for the State final examination.

The Master Diploma is a minimum two-year course programme focused more towards research activities as compared to the Specialist Diploma. The Master Diploma is opened to the holders of Bachelors degree. Master studies are finalized by a State Attestation, including presentation and defense of a dissertation and sitting for the State final Examination.

Advanced Degrees - Doctoral Degrees
Graduates of higher educational institutions with disposition for research work may pursue their education as postgraduates, by attending educational programmes of postgraduate professional education. The hierarchy of advanced degrees in Russia traditionally includes a two-stage system of doctoral degrees: the lower is being the Candidate of Science (PhD) and the higher being the Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Degree).

• Ph Degree

• Doctoral of Science (DSc. Degree)

The main route leading to the Ph Degree is postgraduate studies, which is aimed at preparing training scientific and teaching staff through the mastery of means and methods of scientific study so that they will be able to carry out independent scientific research and educational work with utmost skill. The requirements for admission to postgraduate studies are:
- Completion of a full course of study at University-level higher educational institution and award of the Specialist Diploma or Master Degree
- Proof of creative thinking in practical work or studies
- Age not exceeding 35 years for full time, and 45 for part-time doctoral students

The second and the highest academic degree is the Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc). The qualifying requirements for doctoral programmes are higher than those required for Ph.D papers. The D.Sc. paper should be advanced work that deals with an important scientific problem and resolves it - or should present scientifically based technical, economic or technological ideas, implementation of which will make considerable contributions to scientific and technological progress. Doctoral programmes consist of only research.

Levels of Education Programs
In Russia, all educational programs are categorized into two types: general education and professional education.

General education	Professional education
General Education consists of pre-school education, primary general education, basic general education, and secondary (complete) general education.	Professional education covers vocational education, non-university level higher education, university level higher education, and postgraduate education, including doctoral study programs.

Higher Education in Russia

The Russian higher education system currently involves about 6 million people, which include teaching, training and technical staff, students, and postgraduate holders. There are 580 state higher educational institutions with 486 field and affiliated branches, and more than 300 non-state higher education institutions where 87 of which have been accredited.
About 60.000 students from all over the world study in Russia on fee-paying basis and almost 4,000 foreign citizens enjoy different kind of scholarships from the Russian Government.

The higher education here offers a wide range of study and research programmes designated to meet every possible academic need of students and scholars.

These include:
• Preparatory / foundation course which provide foreign students with intensive Russian language training as well as refresher courses in the chosen academic subjects (science, medicine, engineering, arts and humanities, and social studies)
• Intermediate diploma course
• Full Bachelor's degree programs (B.A. or B.Sc)
• Full Master's degree programs (M.A. or M.Sc.)
• Master's degree programs for graduates already holding a Bachelor's degree
• Special full-time course for visiting students who commence and / or will complete their degree at a foreign higher educational institution
Doctoral programs (Ph.D. and D.Sc.)