Overview
The Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after I.K. Akhunbaev (KSMA) is the country's oldest and main state medical school. It opened in Frunze, now Bishkek, on 1 September 1939 with 200 students. It is run by the Ministry of Health, and since the 2025–26 reforms it is the 'system-forming' institution for medical education: other medical universities must work under an agreement with it.
Foreign students study General Medicine in English at KSMA's faculties for international students. One of them, the Faculty of General Medicine in English No. 2, says it has 1,637 students from 17 countries, including India, and three dormitories at its Tash-Dobo campus. KSMA was exempt from the 2026 state accreditation, according to the Embassy of India's advisory of 8 June 2026.
The big question for Indian families is the course length. KSMA lists its English-medium course as five years for applicants with 12 years of schooling, and WDOMS shows the same. India's NMC rules need at least 54 months of study and then a 12-month internship at the same university, 66 months in all. A five-year (60-month) course cannot fit both unless KSMA adds a full internship after the five years. Ask KSMA in writing whether a 12-month internship at KSMA is provided after the course, and how it will appear on your transcript, before you pay.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1939, as the Kirghiz State Medical Institute |
| Type | Public, under the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic |
| City | Bishkek |
| Degree awarded | Diploma in General Medicine, qualification 'Physician' (marketed as MD) |
| Duration | 5 years in English (for 12-year schooling); 6 years in Russian |
| Medium | English for the international General Medicine faculties; Russian and Kyrgyz taught as subjects |
| Intake | English programme: documents 1 July to 1 October; entrance exam 1 September to 15 October; enrolment until 15 October |
| NEET-UG | Must qualify NEET-UG to practise in India later |
| WDOMS and 2026 accreditation | WDOMS: Yes, I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, F0000072. State accreditation 2026: Exempt; KSMA is the lead state institution for medical education |
| Tuition per year | At least USD 3,500 (Kyrgyz Ministry of Health minimum for KSMA, April 2026) |
| Hostel per year | Not published; about USD 800 in our records (estimate) |
| Ranking | Not in the QS World University Rankings 2026 |
Address: 92 Akhunbaev Street, Bishkek 720020, Kyrgyzstan (main building)
Highlights
- The country's leading state medical academy, founded in 1939 and run by the Ministry of Health.
- Exempt from the 2026 state accreditation and named as the lead institution for Kyrgyz medical education.
- Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (F0000072). Its programmes were accredited by AAEPO, a WFME-recognised Kyrgyz agency, on 15 May 2023.
- Trains students at national hospitals and centres in Bishkek, including the National Hospital and the National Centre for Cardiology and Therapy.
- Kyrgyz Ministry of Health minimum fee for KSMA: USD 3,500 a year (April 2026).
- Written entrance exam in chemistry and biology for the English programme.
Courses offered
- General Medicine in English (5 years, for applicants with 12 years of schooling)
- General Medicine in Russian (6 years)
- Pediatrics (6 years, Russian)
- Medical and Preventive Care (5 or 6 years, Russian)
- Dentistry (5 years, Russian)
- Pharmacy (5 years, Russian)
- Higher Nursing (Russian)
- Biomedical Engineering
For Indian students the main programme is the General Medicine (MD), taught in English over 5 years.
Facilities
Main campus
The main building on Akhunbaev Street houses the administration, the admissions committee, the dean's offices and the visa office for foreign students.
Tash-Dobo campus
A campus in the village of Tash-Dobo, near Bishkek, set up for the five-year English programme, with three dormitories.
National hospitals and centres
Clinical teaching runs at national centres and city hospitals in Bishkek, which take the country's most complex cases.
Academy clinics
KSMA runs its own clinics; Academic Clinic No. 7 hosted a gastroenterology and endoscopy event in April 2026.
Clinical skills centre
The Centre for the Development of Clinical Skills and Knowledge Testing opened in July 2024, with simulator mannequins and equipment for practising surgical procedures before ward work.
Teaching departments
Foreign students are taught across 50 KSMA departments. The curriculum uses an integrated training system developed with WHO experts, according to the academy.
Why choose Kyrgyz State Medical Academy?
- It is the main state medical academy, with more than 85 years of history.
- It was exempt from the 2026 state accreditation and leads the new state system for medical education.
- Students train at the national referral hospitals in Bishkek.
- The Ministry of Health has set KSMA's minimum fee at USD 3,500 a year and said fees would not rise (April 2026).
- WDOMS lists the school with notes for ECFMG (US) eligibility and Intealth's recognised accreditation policy.
- Bishkek has the Indian Embassy, the international airport and a large Indian community.
Eligibility criteria
- 12 years of schooling (Indian Class 12) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English; the five-year English course is based on 12-year schooling.
- At least 50% in PCB for general category (40% for SC/ST/OBC, 45% for general PwD), as the NMC requires for students who want to practise in India.
- A qualifying NEET-UG score, valid for three years for study abroad under NMC rules.
- At least 17 years old by 31 December of the year of admission.
- Pass KSMA's written entrance exam in chemistry and biology, with at least 90 marks in each.
- Know the language of instruction before you start, as KSMA requires.
Admission process
- Check the latest Embassy of India advisory and KSMA's international applicants page before you apply.
- KSMA says it accepts English-programme applications only through the one official representative named on that page. Verify the representative directly with KSMA, and with the state International Students Admission Centre, before sending documents or money.
- Ask KSMA in writing how a 12-month internship at KSMA follows the five-year course, and for the year-by-year fee schedule.
- Submit your documents between 1 July and 1 October, with notarised Russian translations of your school certificates.
- Get the KSMA visa invitation (it can take two to three weeks) and apply for the category S study visa.
- Travel to Bishkek and take the written entrance exam in chemistry and biology (1 September to 15 October). Results come out the next morning.
- Enrol by 15 October: show your original school certificate and pay 50% of the first year's tuition.
- Register your stay within 5 days of arrival through the KSMA visa office, and register with the Embassy of India on MADAD.
Fee structure
| Tuition (USD) | Hostel (USD) | Approx. in rupees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each year (5 years)Tuition is the Ministry of Health minimum for KSMA. The hostel figure is our estimate; KSMA does not publish it. | US$3,500 | US$800 | ≈ ₹4 lakh |
| Estimated total (5 years) | US$21,500 | ≈ ₹19.8 lakh | |
KSMA does not publish a fee table for its English programme. Its tuition-fee page says the official representative agrees fees for English-language training with students. In April 2026 the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health said the minimum fee for foreign students would be USD 3,000 a year, or USD 3,500 at KSMA, and that tuition would not rise (Embassy of India advisory, 29 April 2026). At enrolment you pay 50% of one year's tuition. Hostel charges are not published; USD 800 a year is the indicative figure in our records. Ask for a signed year-by-year fee schedule from KSMA itself, including any internship year, and pay only into the academy's account. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want the official fee letter?Our counsellor will share the current fee schedule for Kyrgyz State Medical Academy and a budget in rupees.
Recognition and accreditation
- Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic (state accreditation, 2026)Exempt from state accreditation (Embassy of India advisory, 8 June 2026). KSMA is the system-forming institution that other medical universities must partner with.
- World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Listed as I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, F0000072, public, instruction since 1939. General Medicine in English shown as 5 years; General Medicine and Pediatrics in Russian as 6 years.
- Agency for Accreditation of Educational Programs and Organizations (AAEPO), KyrgyzstanProgrammes accredited on 15 May 2023 (per WDOMS). AAEPO is recognised by the WFME.
- ECFMG / Intealth (United States)WDOMS sponsor note: graduates from 1953 onwards may apply for ECFMG certification, subject to other rules; at least one programme meets Intealth's recognised accreditation policy.
- National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve foreign universities. Registration in India depends on your own course meeting the FMGL Regulations 2021, including 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship at KSMA, and on passing the licensing exam. No NMC advisory naming KSMA was found as of October 2026.
NMC eligibility depends on you, not only the university
Teaching hospitals
- National Hospital of the Ministry of Health
- National Centre for Cardiology and Therapy
- National Centre for Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery
- National Surgical Centre
- National Centre of Oncology and Radiology
- City Clinical Hospital No. 1 and the City Perinatal Centre, Bishkek
Hostel and campus life
Students on the five-year English programme are based at the Tash-Dobo campus outside Bishkek, which has three dormitories: one for women and two for men. Clinical years bring more travel into the city for hospital work. KSMA has rules of residence for its hostels, so ask for a copy and for the current room charge. Many senior students move into shared flats in Bishkek. Indian messes and groceries are easy to find in the city. Russian and Kyrgyz are taught from the first year, together with Latin, and you will need everyday Russian on the wards.
Cost of living in Bishkek
| Per month | In USD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Food (mess or self-cooking) | US$100–180per month | ≈ ₹9,200 – ₹16,560 |
| Shared flat outside the hostelPer person; a one-bedroom flat in Bishkek costs far more. | US$150–300per month | ≈ ₹13,800 – ₹27,600 |
| Local transportHigher if you travel from Tash-Dobo to city hospitals. | US$10–25per month | ≈ ₹920 – ₹2,300 |
| Mobile and internet | US$6–15per month | ≈ ₹552 – ₹1,380 |
| Books and study materials | US$10–25per month | ≈ ₹920 – ₹2,300 |
| Personal expenses | US$30–60per month | ≈ ₹2,760 – ₹5,520 |
| Rough monthly total | US$306–605 | ≈ ₹28,152 – ₹55,660 |
About Bishkek
Bishkek is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. It lies at the foot of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range of the Tian Shan mountains, with wide tree-lined streets, parks and Soviet-era buildings. Summers are hot and dry; winters are cold and snowy, and winter air pollution can be bad. Russian is widely spoken, alongside Kyrgyz. The city has the country's national hospitals, the Embassy of India and Manas International Airport, with direct and connecting flights to Delhi. Weekend trips to Ala-Archa National Park and Lake Issyk-Kul are popular.
Ranking
KSMA is not in the major global rankings. It is not among the five Kyrgyz universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (24.kg, 19 June 2025), and we found no THE ranking for it. Its standing comes from its role as the national state medical academy rather than from global league tables.
Scholarships
KSMA does not publish scholarships for international students on its English programme. Kyrgyz state grants are mainly for Kyrgyz citizens. Treat any 'scholarship' offered by an agent as a discount and ask for it in writing on KSMA letterhead. Some Indian state governments and charitable trusts support students from low-income families; check with your state's welfare department.
Documents required
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificates (originals needed at enrolment)
- Notarised Russian translation of those certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard
- Passport, valid for at least one year, and a copy of your Kyrgyz visa
- Photographs: two at 4x6 cm and four at 3x4 cm
- Birth certificate
- MEA apostille on Indian educational documents
- Medical certificate with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C and malaria results
- Copy of a compulsory health insurance policy
- Receipt for the document-submission fee
- Signed study contract in English or English and Russian
- Receipt for 50% of the first year's tuition
Ready to apply?Our counsellor will check your documents and NEET score and guide you through the admission letter and visa.
Other medical universities in Kyrgyzstan
| University | City | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| Osh State University | Osh | US$3,700 |
| International Higher School of Medicine | Bishkek | US$6,000 |
| Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after B.N. Yeltsin | Bishkek | US$5,000 |
FAQs
Is KSMA accredited after the 2026 reforms?
KSMA was exempt from the 2026 state accreditation, according to the Embassy of India's advisory of 8 June 2026. It is the lead state institution for medical education, and other medical universities must work under an agreement with it.
KSMA's English course is five years. Is that a problem for India?
It can be. The NMC needs at least 54 months of study and then a 12-month internship at the same university, which is 66 months. A five-year course is 60 months. Ask KSMA in writing whether a full 12-month internship at KSMA follows the five years, and keep that letter. We found no NMC notice ruling on Kyrgyz five-year courses as of October 2026.
What does KSMA cost?
KSMA does not publish an English-programme fee table. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health set the minimum at USD 3,500 a year for KSMA in April 2026. Ask KSMA directly for a signed year-by-year schedule.
How do I apply to KSMA?
KSMA says applications to its English programme go only through the one official representative named on its international applicants page, and warns that forged documents have circulated. Confirm the representative with KSMA itself before you pay anything.
How have KSMA graduates done in the FMGE?
Secondary reports of NBEMS data show 87 of 450 KSMA candidates passed in June 2025, about 19.3%. Plan for steady self-study from the first year.
Is KSMA 'NMC approved'?
The NMC does not approve foreign universities. A KSMA graduate can register in India only if their own course meets the FMGL Regulations 2021 and they pass the licensing exam.
Sources
- KSMA: Information for international applicants (programmes, deadlines, exam, documents) (opens in a new tab)
- KSMA: Faculty of General Medicine in English No. 2 (opens in a new tab)
- KSMA: Faculty of General Medicine (history and clinical bases) (opens in a new tab)
- KSMA: Tuition fee page (opens in a new tab)
- KSMA: News (academy clinics) (opens in a new tab)
- WDOMS: I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (F0000072) (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Bishkek: Advisory on reforms and minimum fees, 29 April 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Bishkek: State accreditation results, 8 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Bishkek: International Students Admission Centre, 23 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- 24.kg: Clinical skills and knowledge-testing centre opens at KSMA, 3 July 2024 (opens in a new tab)
- 24.kg: Five Kyrgyz universities in QS World University Rankings 2026, 19 June 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- CareerMarg (NBEMS 2025 report): FMGE 2025 university-wise results (secondary reporting) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: kgma.kg (opens in a new tab)
Fees and rules change