New Delhi: Russian universities have stepped up their engagement with Indian students seeking overseas medical education, with more than 25 government medical universities participating in the latest edition of the Russian Education Fair (REF) 2026 held in the national capital.
The fair, organised by Rus Education in collaboration with the Russian Centre, attracted over 500 students and their parents, who interacted directly with university representatives to explore MBBS admissions, eligibility criteria, academic programmes and student support services.
Senior academic leaders, including deputy directors, deans and international office representatives from participating universities, counselled students on pursuing medical education in Russia. Among those present were Dr Trifonova Elena Valentinovna, Deputy Director, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology, Pskov State University, and Dr Zaburdaeva Tatiana Ivanovna, Deputy Director, Medical Institute, Mari State University.
The organisers said several students completed admission formalities and secured provisional admissions during the event after one-on-one interactions with university officials.
Addressing the gathering, university representatives highlighted the importance of direct engagement with students and parents to provide authentic information on academic programmes, clinical training, campus life and career opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal (Dr) Pawan Kapoor (Retd.), Technical Advisor to Rus Education, said educational cooperation continues to be an important pillar of India-Russia relations and that the fair offers students an opportunity to make informed choices about studying medicine abroad.
Elena Barman, President of the Indian Association of Russian Compatriots, said Russia continues to attract a large number of Indian students owing to its established medical education ecosystem and long-standing academic ties with India.
The Delhi event marks the beginning of a nationwide outreach programme that will travel to Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Guwahati and Patna before concluding on July 26.
Russia remains one of the preferred destinations for Indian students pursuing MBBS overseas, driven by the presence of government medical universities, comparatively affordable tuition fees and internationally recognised medical programmes. With competition for medical seats in India remaining intense, education fairs have increasingly become a platform for universities to engage directly with prospective students and address queries on admissions, academic quality and licensing requirements
