If you are planning to pursue MBBS abroad, understanding the curriculum and syllabus is very important. Many Indian students and their parents worry whether foreign medical universities follow the same medical standards as India. The good news is that most universities in countries like Russia, Nepal, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, and Armenia follow a well-structured syllabus similar to the Indian MBBS curriculum recommended by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
This article will give you a clear idea of the MBBS course content in these countries, year-by-year syllabus structure, clinical training, language of instruction, and comparison with the Indian MBBS curriculum.
Though each country may have slight differences, the overall MBBS curriculum abroad typically includes:
Pre-clinical subjects (1st & 2nd year)
Para-clinical subjects (2nd to 4th year)
Clinical subjects (3rd to 6th year)
Internship/Clinical rotation (Final year or after course completion)
The curriculum includes theory classes, practicals, lab work, hospital training, and sometimes research opportunities.
Let’s now explore the MBBS syllabus country-wise.
Russian medical universities follow the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and maintain international education standards.
1st Year
Anatomy
Histology
Biochemistry
Medical Biology
Russian Language
Medical Physics
2nd Year
Physiology
Pathology
Microbiology
Philosophy
Immunology
Russian Language (continued)
3rd Year
Pathophysiology
Pharmacology
Pathology (Advanced)
Clinical Propedeutics
Surgery (Basics)
Diagnostics
4th Year
General Medicine
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Radiology
Neurology
Psychiatry
Public Health
5th Year
Oncology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
ENT
Ophthalmology
Urology
Clinical Practice
6th Year
Internal Medicine (Advanced)
Surgery (Advanced)
Emergency Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Electives
Internship/clinical rotations
Russian MBBS syllabus includes detailed clinical training in government hospitals during later years.
Nepal follows the Indian MBBS model since the education pattern and disease profile are very similar to India.
Phase I (1st Year)
Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Community Medicine (Introduction)
Phase II (2nd Year)
Pharmacology
Microbiology
Pathology
Community Medicine (Advanced)
Phase III (3rd & 4th Year)
Internal Medicine
Surgery
Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
ENT
Ophthalmology
Dermatology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Internship (Final Year)
1 year of compulsory rotating internship in hospitals
MBBS in Nepal closely matches the MCI/NMC syllabus, making it easier for FMGE/NExT preparation.
MBBS in Georgia follows modern teaching methods, including clinical case-based learning, PBL (Problem-Based Learning), and patient interaction from early years.
1st & 2nd Year
Human Anatomy
Histology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Medical Physics
Physiology
Introduction to Clinical Practice
3rd Year
Pathology
Pharmacology
Microbiology
Immunology
Behavioral Science
Diagnostics
4th Year
Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Radiology
Clinical Skills
Infectious Diseases
Family Medicine
5th Year
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Oncology
Neurology
Clinical Practice
6th Year
Electives
Emergency Medicine
Public Health
Internship/Rotation in hospitals
Georgian MBBS includes ECTS credits, research projects, and practical skill labs.
MBBS in Kyrgyzstan includes early clinical exposure and standard medical subjects.
1st Year
Anatomy
Physiology
Chemistry
Biology
Russian/Kyrgyz Language
Bioethics
2nd Year
Biochemistry
Pathology
Microbiology
Histology
Immunology
Clinical Anatomy
3rd Year
Pathophysiology
Pharmacology
Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Diagnostics
Medical Genetics
4th Year
Pediatrics
ENT
Ophthalmology
Dermatology
Psychiatry
Obstetrics and Gynecology
5th & 6th Year
Advanced Internal Medicine
Surgery (Advanced)
Emergency Medicine
Public Health
Hospital Practice
Clinical rotations
Students get hands-on hospital training in the last 2 years with live patient interaction.
Kazakhstan offers a modernized MBBS curriculum integrated with clinical practice.
1st Year
General Anatomy
Medical Chemistry
Biophysics
Latin
Kazakh Language
Basics of Clinical Medicine
2nd Year
Histology
Microbiology
Physiology
Pathology
Biochemistry
Medical Informatics
3rd Year
Pathophysiology
Pharmacology
Public Health
Internal Medicine (Introduction)
Surgery (Basics)
4th & 5th Year
General Surgery
Pediatrics
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Neurology
Cardiology
Endocrinology
Clinical Skills & Simulation Training
6th Year
Hospital-based internships
Emergency medicine
Research Projects
Electives
Kazakhstan universities follow a European-style curriculum aligned with Bologna standards.
MBBS in Bangladesh follows the same curriculum as India, as approved by the Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council (BMDC) and NMC.
Phase I (1st 1.5 years)
Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Phase II (Next 1 year)
Community Medicine
Forensic Medicine
Phase III (1 year)
Pharmacology
Pathology
Microbiology
Phase IV (1.5 years)
Medicine
Surgery
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Pediatrics
Orthopedics
ENT
Ophthalmology
Psychiatry
Internship (1 year)
Rotational clinical practice in medicine, surgery, gynecology, etc.
Bangladesh is one of the few countries with nearly 90% curriculum similarity with India.
Armenian MBBS universities follow a standard European MBBS pattern with a strong clinical foundation.
1st Year
Anatomy
Medical Chemistry
Biology
Armenian Language
Latin
Bioethics
2nd Year
Histology
Physiology
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Medical Informatics
Medical Psychology
3rd Year
Pathology
Pharmacology
Clinical Diagnosis
Internal Medicine (Intro)
Immunology
4th Year
General Surgery
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Dermatology
ENT
5th Year
Neurology
Cardiology
Oncology
Radiology
Infectious Diseases
Clinical Practice
6th Year
Hospital Internship
Emergency Care
Electives
Final assessment
Armenian universities have good simulation labs and early hospital visits from the 3rd year.
| Subject Area | MBBS in India | MBBS Abroad (most countries) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Clinical Subjects | 1st Year | 1st–2nd Year |
| Para-Clinical Subjects | 2nd Year | 2nd–3rd Year |
| Clinical Subjects | 3rd–4th Year | 3rd–6th Year |
| Internship | 1 year (India) | 1 year (In-country or in India) |
| Medium of Instruction | English | English |
| Teaching Methods | Theory + Practical | Theory + Practical + Clinical |
| NMC Approval | Mandatory | Must choose NMC-approved only |
Most MBBS abroad programs now include:
Clinical case discussions
Patient history taking
Hands-on diagnostics
Hospital rotations
Skill labs and simulators
Internship during or after course
Countries like Russia, Georgia, Bangladesh, and Armenia have significantly improved their clinical training infrastructure, especially in government hospitals.
After completing MBBS abroad, students must appear for:
FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Exam) – Mandatory for practice in India
From 2025 onwards, NExT (National Exit Test) will replace FMGE
Foreign universities have started FMGE coaching classes or NExT-oriented preparation modules in the final years.
Understanding the MBBS syllabus abroad helps you choose the right destination that matches your learning goals and future practice plans. Countries like Russia, Nepal, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, and Armenia offer a well-structured, globally accepted MBBS curriculum that includes modern teaching, practical skills, and hospital exposure.
If your goal is to become a globally recognized doctor and return to India after your degree, ensure that the university is NMC-approved and follows a complete clinical curriculum.