The story so far: The war in Ukraine has turned the spotlight on something that has been the trend for about three decades now. When students from India studying in Ukraine cried out for help, it became clear that there were a large number of them trapped in a war zone. According to estimates from Ukraine, reported in the media, around 18,000 Indian students are in Ukraine. It may be safe to assume they are pursuing medicine, at least anecdotally, going by interviews with students who have returned. Hundreds of students are still stuck in several regions of Ukraine, while for those who have returned, an uncertain future threatens, unless the Government finds a solution soon.
Which countries do Indian students prefer?
For about three decades now, Indian students have been heading out to Russia, China, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines to pursue a medical degree. The medium of education for these students is English, a language they are comfortable with, and the amount spent on living and the medical degree are far more affordable than paying for an MBBS seat in private medical colleges in the country.
