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First Post
10 hours ago
- Health
- First Post
Why do thousands of Indian students choose Iran to study medicine?
As Israel pounds Israel, over 1,000 Indian students studying medicine in the Islamic Republic find themselves in a precarious situation. The Ministry of External Affairs is relocating them and trying to bring them home safely. But why do so many aspiring doctors choose Tehran for their education? read more Smoke billows from an explosion in southwest Tehran. Iran's state broadcaster was briefly knocked off the air by an Israeli strike and explosions rang out across Tehran on the fifth day of an escalating air war. AFP 'We are just here to study. And now we are a part of a war between two countries we don't even belong to.' As the skies in Tehran turn orange and trails of smoke emerge as Israel continues to fire missiles as part of Operation Rising Lion , Indian students, mostly studying medicine, are now cowering in fear and praying that India can arrange for their evacuation from the war-torn country. Notably, this isn't the first time that India is making plans to evacuate Indian students studying medicine abroad. In 2022, India safely evacuated thousands of Indians studying MBBS in Ukraine amid the war with Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This raises the question: Why do many Indians travel abroad to pursue medicine? Indian students trapped in Iran As Israel launched deadly attacks on Iran beginning last Friday, thousands of Indian students, who have gone there to realise their medical dreams, are growing anxious and concerned about being caught in the crossfire. As Fatima Khakhi, a third-year MBBS student at Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, was quoted telling the Economic Times, 'We are living in fear, with sleepless nights and growing anxiety. Our families back home are equally distressed.' According to data available, around 1,500 students from India are currently pursuing their medical degrees in Iran, namely from institutes like Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, and Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Speaking of the ongoing tensions, one Indian student at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences told Indian Express, 'I don't even know exactly what's happening. But we've been awake for four nights now. Today, they bombed a place near our university. It was really bad.' Another one studying at Shahid Beheshti University also echoed similar fears. 'It's like living in a war movie, but we're in it. We panicked for a day because we heard that Iran's defence system was down.' People walk past closed shops in Tehran's Grand Bazaar as fighting between Israel and Iran entered a fifth day on June 17. AFP Faizan Nabi, a first-year MBBS student at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, also expressed his anxiety as hostilities keep rising between the two countries. 'I've been getting 10 calls a day from my parents. The internet is so slow that I can't even send a WhatsApp message quickly. We came here to become doctors. Now we're just trying to stay alive.' Now, these students and their families are urging the Centre to evacuate them from Iran just as they did during Operation Ganga when students were rescued from Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Responding to this, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that in 'some cases, students are being relocated with the embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran'. It added in its statement, 'Other feasible options are also under examination.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Monday (June 16), some news reports stated that the Indian Embassy in Iran sent communications to the Arak University of Medical Sciences and Shiraz University of Medical Sciences asking them to 'facilitate the evacuation' of Indian students. 'We have made arrangements for their evacuation. They may be permitted to leave the university, as being facilitated by the Embassy of India, Tehran. The Embassy of India, Tehran, takes responsibility for this planned movement and security of Indian students,' it said. However, it is not yet clear if such communications were sent to other universities as well. Choosing Iran for their MBBS dreams But why is it that so many aspiring doctors in India choose to pursue their education in Iran? According to data made available by the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian students, especially those from Jammu and Kashmir, opt for Iran to study medicine. According to the MEA's estimated data of Indian students studying abroad, in 2022, about 2,050 students were enrolled in Iran, mostly for medical studies, at institutions like the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University and Islamic Azad University. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to India's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi approximately 1,595 Indian students, including 140 medical students at Tehran University, are currently stuck in Iran. Experts note that these students choose Iran for their medical education owing to a number of reasons. First and foremost is the intense competition for limited medical seats within India. In India, nearly 23 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG exam. Consider this number to the 1.1 lakh MBBS seats across India. This drives many aspirants to look for better opportunities elsewhere in the world. Moreover, there are only 55,000 seats in government medical colleges, where tuition remains within reach for the average household. The fees for the remaining seats in private institutions are exorbitant, which most families can't afford. Iranians who were injured in a reported Israeli strike on Keshavarz Boulevard in downtown Tehran. Israel and Iran traded heavy fire for a fifth straight day on June 17. AFP Another reason why many Indians choose Iran over other countries is the affordability of courses there. Tuition fees at universities like Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences are significantly lower compared to those in Europe or the United States. Living expenses in Iran are also affordable, which is especially beneficial for students from middle-income families. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, some educational experts note that several Indians, who initially chose Bangladesh for their MBBS degree, are now opting for Iran owing to the cost of living and the programme itself. Aadil Shaikh, managing director of Education Zone, was quoted as telling the Economic Times, 'Tuition and living expenses, factoring in scholarships, can cost as little as Rs 14-15 lakh for a five-year MBBS course, compared to Rs 40 lakh in Bangladesh.' The fact that Iran offers many scholarships also helps lure Indian students to the country. Besides costs and accessibility, Iranian medical universities are attracting Indian students with modern infrastructure, integrated curricula, and early clinical exposure. Moreover, medical universities in Iran are recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India, ensuring that Indian students who graduate from these institutions are eligible to practice medicine in India after clearing the FMGE (NEXT) exam. Additionally, many Iranian universities are also listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), further bolstering their international recognition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vehicles await in traffic as people get out of Tehran through an artery in the city's west. AFP Iran not the only option for Indian doctors to-be Notably, Iran isn't the only choice for Indian students. Ukraine is another popular destination for Indians — in 2022, nearly 20,000 students were enrolled at some 30-odd Ukrainian universities offering courses in medicine. In fact, educationists note that Ukraine has been a preferred destination for Indians to study medicine, dentistry, and nursing for over three decades due to the availability of cheap courses and reasonably good education. The prices are a big lure. For instance, for a six-year MBBS course, Indians pay around $35,000 in Ukraine while in India, the same course would cost them at least four times that amount. In addition to the low fees, the absence of gruelling medical entrance exams makes it a viable option. Also, experts note that the medical degrees earned in Ukraine are recognised across the world, including by the World Health Organisation, European Council, and other global bodies. Further, there are chances of permanent residence and settlement in Europe after completing your studies in Ukraine. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Iran-Israel tensions: Indian students trapped as conflict shuts airspace
New Delhi|Bengaluru: As missiles hit and alerts blare, Fatima Khakhi, a third-year MBBS student at Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, is thankful to the Indian Embassy for relocating her to a safer location, but safety feels tenuous, and the anxiety is unrelenting. 'We are living in fear, with sleepless nights and growing anxiety,' she said. 'Our families back home are equally distressed.' As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, over 2,500 Indian students—roughly 1,500–2,000 in Iran and 1,200–1,500 in Israel—are caught in the crossfire, experts say. With airspace over both nations closed, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has begun relocating students and activated advisories and check-ins. 'We've suspended all new Iran applications and are redirecting students to alternative destinations until the situation stabilises,' said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits. 'Our partners are helping students register with embassy forms, and our 24/7 emergency helpline ensures they have updated passports and documentation ready in case of evacuation.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Indian students typically choose these destinations for affordability and ease of admission. According to Narayanan Ramaswamy, national leader (education and skill development) at KPMG India, these students are 'reasonably good in academics' but sometimes unable to secure seats in India's top colleges. 'They look to Israel, Iran, and nearby countries like Georgia and Ukraine, where admissions are easier and expenses are reasonable,' he said. Live Events In Israel, institutions like Tel Aviv University , Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Israel Institute of Technology are among the top choices. Iran, on the other hand, has emerged in recent years as a strong draw for students from Jammu & Kashmir, says Lambodar Rout, director of education consulting firm Edunom. 'Many students who earlier went to Bangladesh are now choosing Iran because it's nearly half the cost,' he notes. Aadil Shaikh, managing director of Education Zone—which has sent over 600 Indian students to Iran since 2018—says tuition and living expenses, factoring in scholarships, can cost as little as ?14-15 lakh for a five-year MBBS course, compared to ?40 lakh in Bangladesh. Institutions like Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, ?Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, ?Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, and Kerman University of Medical Sciences are popular among Indian students. 'Iran offers a lot of scholarships. The education and infrastructure offered are also good. In the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), the rate of passing for students who've studied in Iran is high,' said Shaikh. Yet, the war has brought all of this to a halt. 'They're (students) deeply worried—not just about their education, but their safety, timely evacuation, and whether their degrees will hold value amid rising instability,' said Shaikh. Under current NMC guidelines, students cannot transfer to another university mid-course unless a special exception is granted, like in the Ukraine case. The crisis is already reshaping student sentiment, say consultants. According to Sanjay Laul, founder, MSM Group, new applicants who are beginning to explore international education are also concerned. 'Even when a destination is not involved, the mood among families changes. Students become more cautious, and parents start asking different questions. It raises issues like insurance, emergency protocols, and academic flexibility.' 'Once concerns about a country's stability surface, rebuilding student confidence is not easy. It can take several years before the perception improves, and students feel safe enough to consider those destinations again,' Laul added. The current conflict, much like the war in Ukraine, could have a lasting impact on the appeal of the Caspian and Gulf regions for Indian students, education experts warn.
