Overview
Samarkand State Medical University (SamSMU) is one of the oldest medical schools in Central Asia. It opened in 1930 as the Uzbek State Medical Institute and became a university in April 2022. Its main building stands on Amir Temur Street in the centre of Samarkand.
International students join its International Faculty of Medical Education and study General Medicine in English or Russian. The university says it admits foreign students after an interview in Biology, Chemistry and the teaching language. Its own multidisciplinary clinic, with about 400 beds, is used for clinical teaching.
Families should know that the university is one of three named in the NMC advisory of 1 April 2026. The NMC raised admissions beyond approved intake and teaching that is not in English. The Embassy of India later called the advisory precautionary, not a ban. Check the latest NMC notices before you pay any fee.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1930; renamed Samarkand State Medical University in April 2022 |
| Type | Public (state) medical university; Samarkand, Uzbekistan |
| Degree awarded | Bachelor's degree in General Medicine (called MD or 'MBBS equivalent' by agents) |
| Duration | 6 years; a '5+1' structure applies from 2027/28 under Decree UP-191 |
| Medium | English or Russian for international students (chosen at admission); patients speak Uzbek or Russian |
| Intake | One main intake, September–October |
| NEET-UG | Not asked by the university, but compulsory for Indian students under NMC rules |
| WDOMS listing | Not confirmed by us: the WDOMS search could not be run from our network, so check search.wdoms.org |
| Tuition per year | About USD 3,850 (secondary sources; the university's own fee PDF could not be opened) |
| Hostel per year | About USD 600 (Careers360; not published by the university in a form we could open) |
| Ranking | THE Impact (Sustainability Impact Ratings) 2026: 301–400 overall; not in THE or QS world rankings |
| NMC position | Named in the NMC advisory of 1 April 2026 (not a ban) |
Address: 18 Amir Temur Street, Samarkand 140100, Uzbekistan
Highlights
- State university founded in 1930, with almost a century of medical teaching
- English-medium and Russian-medium General Medicine groups for international students
- Own 400-bed multidisciplinary clinic and a paediatric surgical clinic
- ECAQA institutional accreditation (to February 2030) and ECAQA accreditation of English-medium General Medicine (to May 2029)
- Three hostels for international students with about 1,100 places in total
- Named in the NMC advisory of 1 April 2026, so check the current NMC position
Courses offered
- General Medicine (English or Russian medium for international students)
- Pediatrics
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- Traditional Medicine
- Nursing (higher education)
- Medical Pedagogy
- Postgraduate training: master's, clinical residency and doctoral programmes
For Indian students the main programme is the General Medicine (MD), taught in English over 6 years.
Facilities
Multidisciplinary clinic
The university's own clinic opened in 1929 as the Republic Hospital and joined the institute in 1930. It has about 400 beds across cardiology, neurology, surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, ENT, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and intensive care.
Paediatric surgical clinic
A second university clinic for children's surgery, used for paediatric and surgical teaching.
Research institutes
The university lists four research institutes and centres, covering rehabilitation and sports medicine, infectious and parasitic diseases, neurosurgery, and immunology and genomics.
Teaching rooms
The university reports about 1,190 classrooms and 75 multimedia classrooms across its buildings.
Library and information centre
An Information Resource Centre supports study, and each international hostel has a library branch with more than 3,000 books.
Hostels
Three dormitories for foreign students on Dahbed Street and G'iyosiddin Jamshid Street, with furnished rooms, hot water, heating and Wi-Fi.
Why choose Samarkand State Medical University?
- It is a long-established state university, not a private college or a branch campus.
- International students can choose English or Russian as the teaching language.
- Clinical teaching starts in the university's own hospital, which has a wide range of departments.
- The English-medium General Medicine programme holds ECAQA accreditation, which is listed on the European DEQAR database.
- Samarkand is a calm, historic city that is cheaper to live in than Tashkent.
- Many Indian students already study in Samarkand, so seniors can help newcomers settle.
- Tuition is low compared with a private MBBS seat in India.
Eligibility criteria
- Qualify NEET-UG before admission. The university does not ask for it, but the NMC does, and you cannot register in India without it.
- Pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, with at least 50% in PCB (40% for SC/ST/OBC, 45% for PwD).
- Be at least 17 years old by 31 December of the year of admission.
- Pass the university's interview in Biology, Chemistry and the chosen teaching language (English or Russian).
- Provide a medical certificate (Form 086/U), a varicella vaccination record and an HIV test issued within the last three months.
Admission process
- Read the NMC advisory of 1 April 2026 and any later NMC or Embassy notices about Samarkand.
- Register on the Study in Uzbekistan portal (studyin-uzbekistan.uz), which the university lists as a requirement.
- Send your application and scanned documents to the university's international department.
- Attend the interview in Biology, Chemistry and English or Russian.
- Ask for the full six-year fee schedule and the teaching language for each year in writing, including clinical years.
- Sign the contract and pay the fee only into the university's official bank account.
- Receive the visa invitation through the university and apply for the A-1 study visa at the Embassy of Uzbekistan.
- Travel, register your stay through the university and register with the Embassy of India in Tashkent.
Fee structure
| Tuition (USD) | Hostel (USD) | Approx. in rupees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each year (Years 1–6)Careers360, June 2026; first year adds about USD 950 for documents, visa, registration and insurance | US$3,850 | US$600 | ≈ ₹4.1 lakh |
| Estimated total (6 years) | US$26,700 | ≈ ₹24.6 lakh | |
The university publishes a PDF titled 'Amount of payment for international students', but its site blocked our access, so the figures above are from secondary sources, not the university. Careers360 (June 2026) gives USD 3,850 a year plus about USD 950 of first-year charges and USD 600 for the hostel. The QS profile says international tuition starts from USD 3,400. Expect roughly USD 3,400–3,850 a year for tuition and about USD 600 for the hostel, and get the official fee letter before you pay. Pay only into the university's own 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 Samarkand State Medical University and a budget in rupees.
Recognition and accreditation
- World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Not confirmed by us. We could not run a WDOMS search from our network, so check the entry for Samarkand State Medical University (formerly Samarkand State Medical Institute) at search.wdoms.org before you apply.
- Ministry of Health / Ministry of Higher Education, UzbekistanA state medical university of Uzbekistan, renamed from Samarkand State Medical Institute in April 2022.
- ECAQA (Eurasian Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance)Institutional accreditation, positive decision 20 February 2025, valid to 19 February 2030. General Medicine (English medium) accredited 15 May 2024 to 15 May 2029. Both listed on DEQAR.
- National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve foreign universities. This university is named in the NMC advisory of 1 April 2026, which raised admissions beyond intake capacity and teaching not in English. The Embassy of India has said the advisory is precautionary, not a ban. Each student must still meet every condition of the FMGL Regulations, 2021.
NMC eligibility depends on you, not only the university
Teaching hospitals
- SamSMU Multidisciplinary Clinic, 18 Amir Temur Street (about 400 beds)
- SamSMU Paediatric Surgical Clinic
- City and regional hospitals in Samarkand used as clinical bases (ask the university for the current list for your year)
Hostel and campus life
Most international students live in the university's three foreign-student hostels, which together have about 1,100 places. Rooms are furnished, with hot water, heating, TVs on each floor and Wi-Fi-connected study computers. The page on hostels does not mention a canteen, so ask who runs the mess and what it costs; many Indian students also cook for themselves. Indian festivals are usually celebrated together by the student community. The old city and the Registan are a short ride from the main building, so weekends are easy to fill.
Cost of living in Samarkand
| Per month | In USD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel room (shared)Indicative; ask the university for the current hostel charge | US$40–60per month | ≈ ₹3,680 – ₹5,520 |
| Food (mess or self-cooking) | US$100–160per month | ≈ ₹9,200 – ₹14,720 |
| Local transportNumbeo lists a monthly pass at about 40,000 som (about USD 3) | US$3–10per month | ≈ ₹276 – ₹920 |
| Mobile and internet | US$5–15per month | ≈ ₹460 – ₹1,380 |
| Books, printing and personal items | US$20–50per month | ≈ ₹1,840 – ₹4,600 |
| One-bedroom flat outside the centre (if not in hostel)Numbeo, October 2026, about 1.98 million som; few contributors | US$150–170per month | ≈ ₹13,800 – ₹15,640 |
| Rough monthly total | US$318–465 | ≈ ₹29,256 – ₹42,780 |
About Samarkand
Samarkand is Uzbekistan's second-best-known city and one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. It is famous for the Registan, the Gur-e Amir mausoleum and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. High-speed Afrosiyob trains link it with Tashkent. Summers are hot and dry and winters are cool, with occasional frost. Living costs are lower than in Tashkent.
Ranking
Samarkand State Medical University is not ranked in the QS World University Rankings or the THE World University Rankings. It appears in THE's Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 in the 301–400 band overall, with 82nd place for Good Health and Wellbeing. QS lists a profile for the university but no published rank. These ratings measure social impact, not teaching quality.
Scholarships
Self-funded international students study on a paid contract and do not receive state stipends. The university does not publish merit scholarships for foreign medical students. Treat any 'scholarship' offered by an agent with care; it is often a discount on an inflated package. Ask the international department directly.
Documents required
- Valid passport (at least 18 months' validity is sensible)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard
- Birth certificate
- Application to the Rector on the university's template
- Medical certificate, Form 086/U
- Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination certificate
- HIV test issued within the last three months
- Electronic photograph (10 × 15 cm, JPG, at least 300 DPI) and passport-size photographs
- Apostilled or legalised academic documents, with translations if asked
- Registration on the Study in Uzbekistan portal
- Signed contract and fee receipt from the university's official account
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 Uzbekistan
| University | City | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| Tashkent State Medical University | Tashkent | US$3,500 |
| Bukhara State Medical Institute named after Abu Ali ibn Sino | Bukhara | US$3,200 |
| Andijan State Medical Institute | Andijan | US$4,000 |
FAQs
Has the NMC banned Samarkand State Medical University?
No. The NMC's advisory of 1 April 2026 named the university and raised concerns about intake numbers and teaching not in English. It is an advisory, not a ban, and the Embassy of India has called it precautionary. Check nmc.org.in for any newer notice before you apply.
Can I study in English?
Yes. The university teaches international groups in English or Russian. Patients speak Uzbek or Russian, so ask in writing which language is used in clinical postings, and learn basic Uzbek or Russian early.
What is the FMGE record of Samarkand graduates?
Summaries of the NBEMS 2025 report give 34.3% (58 of 169) for this university across both 2025 sessions. These are secondary figures, so check NBEMS's own institute-wise report.
How much does it cost?
Secondary sources put tuition at about USD 3,400–3,850 a year and the hostel at about USD 600 a year, with extra first-year charges. Over six years, tuition alone is roughly USD 20,000–23,000. Ask the university for its official fee letter.
Is there an entrance exam?
There is an interview in Biology, Chemistry and the teaching language. NEET-UG is not part of the university's process, but Indian students must qualify it to practise in India.
Where do students live?
In one of three foreign-student hostels with about 1,100 places in total. Ask what the hostel fee includes and whether your place is kept for all six years.
Sources
- Samarkand State Medical University: about the university (opens in a new tab)
- Samarkand State Medical University: admission procedure for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Samarkand State Medical University: residence of foreign students (opens in a new tab)
- Samarkand State Medical University: multidisciplinary clinic (opens in a new tab)
- DEQAR (EQAR): accreditation records for Samarkand State Medical University (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education: Samarkand State Medical University profile (opens in a new tab)
- NMC alert note of 1 April 2026 on Uzbekistan (copy hosted by Medical Dialogues) (opens in a new tab)
- Medical Dialogues, 10 August 2026: Embassy of India and HMC say the advisory is not a ban (opens in a new tab)
- QS TopUniversities: Samarkand State Medical University profile (opens in a new tab)
- Careers360, updated June 2026: MBBS fees in Uzbekistan (secondary) (opens in a new tab)
- RussianMBBS compilation of NBEMS FMGE reports (secondary) (opens in a new tab)
- Numbeo: cost of living in Samarkand (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.sammu.uz (opens in a new tab)
Fees and rules change