Kazakhstan has emerged as one of the most sought-after destinations for pursuing MBBS abroad, particularly for students from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and African nations. Its affordable tuition fees, English-medium instruction, globally recognized curriculum, and NMC-approved universities make it a prime choice.
One of the unique features of Kazakhstan MBBS is the subject distribution with a credit-based system, aligned with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). This ensures that Kazakhstan medical universities follow international academic standards, making student mobility and degree recognition easier across Europe and other parts of the world.
This article provides a comprehensive year-wise list of subjects with their credit distribution in Kazakhstan MBBS, helping aspiring medical students understand how their education is structured, evaluated, and internationally recognized.
Duration: 6 years (5 years academics + 1 year internship).
System: Semester-based (2 semesters per year).
Language of Instruction: English for international students (some clinical discussions in Kazakh/Russian).
Curriculum: Aligned with Bologna Process and NMC guidelines, ensuring comparability with Indian MBBS.
Assessment: Based on credit hours, internal assessments, practical exams, and final semester exams.
Kazakhstan follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), making it easy for students to transfer or continue studies abroad.
1 ECTS Credit = 25–30 hours of student workload (including lectures, practicals, self-study).
A full academic year typically carries 60 ECTS credits.
Each semester has 30 ECTS credits.
Evaluation is based on GPA (Grade Point Average):
A (Excellent): 4.0
B (Very Good): 3.0–3.9
C (Good): 2.0–2.9
D/E (Pass): 1.0–1.9
F (Fail): Below 1.0
This credit system ensures global recognition of Kazakhstan MBBS degrees and simplifies applications for PG courses abroad.
The first year focuses on building strong fundamentals in basic sciences.
Anatomy – 12 credits
Histology & Embryology – 6 credits
Biochemistry – 8 credits
Physiology – 10 credits
Medical Biology – 4 credits
Medical Chemistry – 4 credits
Introduction to Medicine (Basics of Clinical Orientation) – 4 credits
Latin & Medical Terminology – 2 credits
Behavioral Science & Psychology – 2 credits
Physical Training & Hygiene – 2 credits
Total Credits (Year 1): 50–55 ECTS
In the second year, students dive deeper into pre-clinical subjects.
Pathology (General & Systemic) – 10 credits
Microbiology – 8 credits
Pharmacology – 8 credits
Forensic Medicine – 4 credits
Parasitology – 3 credits
Immunology – 4 credits
Physiology (Advanced) – 6 credits
Anatomy (Neuroanatomy focus) – 4 credits
Public Health & Preventive Medicine – 3 credits
Medical Ethics & Bioethics – 2 credits
Total Credits (Year 2): 50–55 ECTS
The third year bridges the gap between theory and clinical application.
Pathology (Advanced with Clinical Applications) – 8 credits
Pharmacology (Clinical Applications) – 8 credits
Microbiology (Clinical Microbiology) – 6 credits
Community Medicine (Public Health) – 6 credits
Clinical Skills & Diagnostics – 8 credits
Ophthalmology – 4 credits
ENT (Otorhinolaryngology) – 4 credits
Radiology (Basics) – 3 credits
Professional Language Skills (Medical English/Russian/Kazakh) – 2 credits
Total Credits (Year 3): 50–55 ECTS
From year four onwards, students spend more time in hospitals.
General Medicine (Internal Medicine I) – 10 credits
General Surgery I – 10 credits
Pediatrics I – 6 credits
Gynecology & Obstetrics I – 6 credits
Dermatology & Venereology – 3 credits
Psychiatry – 4 credits
Clinical Radiology & Imaging – 4 credits
Clinical Pathophysiology – 3 credits
Elective (Research/Project Work) – 2 credits
Total Credits (Year 4): 55–60 ECTS
Students now study advanced clinical subjects with full hospital exposure.
Internal Medicine II – 12 credits
General Surgery II – 12 credits
Pediatrics II – 8 credits
Gynecology & Obstetrics II – 8 credits
Neurology – 6 credits
Orthopedics & Traumatology – 6 credits
Anesthesiology & Intensive Care – 4 credits
Oncology – 4 credits
Emergency Medicine – 4 credits
Total Credits (Year 5): 60 ECTS
The final year is entirely dedicated to internship rotations in hospitals.
Internal Medicine (Rotations) – 10 credits
Surgery (Rotations) – 10 credits
Pediatrics (Rotations) – 8 credits
Gynecology & Obstetrics (Rotations) – 8 credits
Community Medicine – 6 credits
Electives (Dermatology, Psychiatry, Neurology, etc.) – 8 credits
Total Credits (Year 6): 50–55 ECTS
40–50% of credits are assigned to theory classes.
30–40% credits are assigned to practical/lab sessions.
10–20% credits come from self-study, research, and clinical exposure.
This balance ensures students are not only exam-ready but also patient-ready by the time they graduate.
The subject distribution in Kazakhstan MBBS closely matches the NMC syllabus in India. Key highlights:
Subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology are taught in detail during the first three years.
Clinical subjects (Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OBGY) receive maximum credits in later years, aligning with FMGE/NExT exam weightage.
MCQ-based semester exams help students prepare for FMGE/NExT naturally.
Global Recognition: Students can transfer credits to European/US universities.
Structured Learning: Balanced workload with semester distribution.
Flexibility: Opportunity to repeat or improve credits without losing a full year.
Continuous Assessment: Encourages consistent learning habits.
FMGE/NExT Friendly: MCQ and practical-based assessments prepare students for licensing exams.
The subjects list with credit system in Kazakhstan MBBS reflects a well-structured curriculum aligned with international standards. From the basic sciences in Year 1 to the clinical rotations in Year 6, every subject is assigned specific credits, ensuring equal weightage to both theoretical and practical training.
The adoption of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) not only makes the Kazakhstan MBBS degree globally recognized but also prepares students for postgraduate opportunities worldwide. For Indian students, the credit-based evaluation system matches the requirements of NMC/FMGE/NExT, making Kazakhstan one of the best destinations for medical studies abroad.