Curriculum prescribed by the State Educational Board on High Professional Education, Russian Federation Ministry of Health
Course: Doctor of Medicine (MD Russia)
Duration: 6 years
The medium of teaching: English/bilingual/Russian

The academic year

Consists: 2 semesters
Autumn term: starts on the 1st of September
- Winter vacation lasts for around 2 weeks
The winter term: starts on the 2nd of February.
- Summer vacation lasts for around 2 months.

Russian Medical syllabus/Curriculum

Emphasis on the CIS curricula/syllabi: It’s wise to emphasize that this Curriculum/syllabus is tentative & the subject’s distribution or teaching hours or exams might vary in different universities and CIS. All the curricula & syllabi in CIS are derivative of the original one from the USSR however the various universities and CIS use their own modified versions of the curricula/syllabi.
- Subjects distribution: the distribution of the subjects differ as per the version of the university or CIS.
  1. Subjects to be taught per academic year might vary: Anatomic Pathology is taught in 3rd academic year in Russia however can be taught in 2nd year in other CIS.
  2. Subjects to be stacked & separated: FM is a separate subject in Russia however FM & Pathology might be stacked together in other CIS. Endocrinology or Neurology are separate subjects in Russia however they might be part of Internal medicine (Therapy).
- Teaching hours: teaching hours also differ as per the version of the university or CIS.
- Exams: the pattern, distribution & weightage of the exams differ as per the version of the university or CIS.
Semester 1 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Latin language		36	36		/2
2	Chemistry	10	18	18		/1,3
3	Biology, basics of ecology	22	72	14		/3
4	Anatomy	8	54	46		/3
5	History	6	54	48		Credits/3
6	Economics	8	36	28		Credits/2
7	Culturology		36	36		Credits/2
8	Physics, maths	10	54	44		Credit/3
9	Life safety	10	36	26		/2
10	Physical culture and sport		72			Credits/2
11	Basics of scientific work in medicine		36	72		Credit/3

Semester 2 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Foreign language		72	36		Credit/3
2	Latin language		36			Credit/1
3	Nursing process	10	36	62		Credit/3
4	Philosophy	28	36	44		/3
5	Chemistry		36	26		Credit/1,7
6	Biology, basics of ecology	14	54	40	1	Exam/4
7	Anatomy	16	108	20		/4
8	Histology, embryology, cytology	18	54			/2
9	Medical informatics	10	54	44		Credit/3
10	Life safety		18	18		Credit/1
11	Health and a healthy lifestyle in the preventive work of a doctor	6	36	30		Credits/2

Semester 3 in Russian medical university

NO	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Histology, embryology, cytology	18	54	72	1	Exam/5
2	Anatomy	12	54	78	1	Exam/5
3	Philosophy		36	36	1	Exam/3
4	Psychology, pedagogics	12	36	24		/2
5	Biological chemistry	34	54	56		/4
6	Normal physiology	30	54	60		/4
7	Foreign language as a means of professional communication of a doctor		36			/1
8	Jurisprudence	10	36	26		/2
9	Elective courses on physical culture and sport		36	46		/

Semester 4 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Immunology	12	54	42		Credit/3
2	Bioethics	10	36	62		Credit/3
3	Psychology, pedagogics		18	18		Credit/1
4	Biological chemistry	14	54	40	1	Exam/4
5	Normal physiology	18	54	36	1	Exam/4
6	Foreign language as a means of professional communication of a doctor		36			Credit/1
7	History of medicine	10	18	80		Credit/3
8	Jurisprudence		18	18		Credit/1
9	Microbiology, virology	18	54	72		/4
10	Hygiene	16	54	38		/3
11	Elective courses on physical culture and sport		36	46		Credit/
12	Micronutrients in medicine		24	48		Credit/2

Semester 5 in Russian medical university

NO	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1.	Microbiology, virology	18	54	36	1	Exam/4
2.	Pharmacology	18	54	72		/4
3.	Pathological anatomy	18	54	36		/3
4.	Pathological physiology	18	54	36		/3
5.	Propaedeutic of internal diseases	36	72	72		/5
6.	General surgery	18	54	108		/5
7.	Hygiene	12	54	42	1	Exam/4
8.	Elective courses on physical culture and sport		36	46		/

Semester 6 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Radiodiagnostics	12	48	48		Credit/3
2	Pharmacology	18	51	39	1	Exam/4
3	Pathological anatomy	18	51	39	1	Exam/4
4	Pathological physiology	18	51	39	1	Exam/4
5	Propaedeutic of internal diseases	18	68	94	1	Exam/6
6	General surgery	18	51	75	1	Exam/5
7	Topographic anatomy and operative surgery	12	34	26		/2
8	Elective courses on physical culture and sport		34	46		Credit/

Semester 7 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Topographic anatomy and operative surgery	12	42	18	1	Exam /3
2	Public health and healthcare, health economics	14	48	10		/2
3	Urology	12	36	24		Сredit/2
4	Medical rehabilitation	8	42	22		/2
5	Dermatovenerology	10	48	14	1	Exam/3
6	Neurology	10	24	38		/2
7	Obstetrics	18	72	18		/3
8	Faculty therapy	18	60	30		/3
9	Faculty surgery	14	48	10		/2
10	Tropical pathology		18	18		/1

Semester 8 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1.	Neurology	8	24	4	1	Exam/2
2.	Public health and healthcare, health economics	14	36	22	1	Exam/3
3.	Medical rehabilitation		22	14		Credit/1
4.	Faculty therapy	18	60	30	1	Exam/4
5.	Otolaryngology	6	24	6		/1
	Ophthalmology	6	24	6		/1
6.	Endocrinology	4	24	80		Credit/3
7.	Faculty surgery	14	24	34	1	Exam/3
8.	Obstetrics	16	24	68	1	Exam/4
	Phthisiology	16	36	20		/2
9.	Pediatrics	14	36	58		/3
12.	Tropical pathology		18	18		Credit/1

Semester 9 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ total number of credit units
1	Otolaryngology	10	24	38		Credit/2
2	Phthisiology		24	48	1	Exam/3
3	Psychiatry, medical psychology	16	48	44		Exam /4
4	Ophthalmology	8	24	40		Credit/2
5	Outpatient therapy	16	36	2		/1,5
6	Hospital therapy	18	48	6		/2
7	Genetics, medical ecology	10	36	26		/2
8	Hospital surgery	18	36	18		/2
9	Traumatology, orthopedics	18	48	42		/3
10	Gynecology	18	48	42		/3
11	Pediatrics	14	36	22		/2
12	Physiotherapy	4	24	8		Credit/1

Semester 10 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ total number of credit units
1	Clinical pharmacology	10	24	2		/1
2	Psychiatry, medical psychology	10	24	2		Credit /1
3	Outpatient therapy	14	36	4	1	Exam /2,5
4	Hospital therapy	18	48	6	1	Exam /3
5	Genetics, medical ecology		20	16		Credit /1
6	Hospital surgery	18	36	18		/2
7	Traumatology, orthopedics	10	36	26	1	Exam /3
8	Gynecology	18	48	42	1	Exam /4
9	Pediatrics		48	60	1	Exam /4
10	Infectious diseases	18	60	30		/3
11	Tropical diseases	18	36	18		Credit /2

Semester 11 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	General medical practice		16	56		/2
2	Oncology, radiation therapy	18	60	66	1	Exam/5
3	Dentistry	8	24	40		Credit/2
4	Clinical pharmacology		36	27		Credit/1,75
5	Infectious diseases	22	132	17	1	Exam/5,75
6	Hospital therapy. Occupational diseases	24	72	84		/5
7	Clinical immunology	12	48	48		Credit/3
8	Hospital surgery		48	42	1	Exam/3,5
9	Anesthesiology, reanimation, intensive therapy	16	48	80		/4
10	Actual issues of internal diseases		18	9		/0,75

Semester 12 in Russian medical university

No	Discipline	Lectures (hours)	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Number of credits units per exam	Form of control/ number of credit units
1	Clinical pathological anatomy		16	20		Credit/1
2	Epidemiology		16	38		Credit/1,5
3	Hospital therapy. Occupational diseases		48	24		Credit/2
4	General medical practice		48	24		Credit/2
5	Practical training course on basic manipulation techniques		24	30		Credit/1,5
6	Obstetric and gynecological care		36			Credit/1
7	Clinical endocrinology	8	36	19		Credit/1,75
8	Neurosurgery	8	16	48		Credit/2
9	Anesthesiology, reanimation, intensive therapy		36	18		Credit/1,5
10	Medical ecology		20	52		Credit/2
11	Forensic medicine	12	48	48		Credit/3
12	Children surgery	8	36	64		Credit/3
13	Actual issues of internal diseases		24	48		Credit/2

Clinical Practice in Russian medical university

No	Practice	Practical sessions (hours)	Individual work (hours)	Form of control/number of credit units	Semester
1	Educational practice in obtaining primary professional skills in general patient care, including primary research skills.	36	72	Exam/3	2
2	Educational clinical practice “Care for patients of therapeutic and surgical profile. First aid”	36	72	Exam/3	2
3	Work practice in obtaining professional skills and experience in professional activity “Assistant ward and procedural nurse”	120	60	Exam/5	4
4	Work clinical practice “General clinical practice of a physician”	96	48	Exam/4	6
5	Work practice in obtaining professional skills and experience in professional activity “Assistant physician. Therapy”	72	36	Exam/3	8
6	Work practice in obtaining professional skills and experience in professional activity “Assistant physician. Surgery”	72	36	Exam/3	8
7	Work practice in obtaining professional skills and experience in professional activity “Assistant physician. Obstetrics”	72	36	Exam/3	8
8	1. Work clinical practice “Assistant physician of the intensive care unit” 2. Research work	144	72	Exam/6	10

NB: There are minor inter-university differences in the distribution or sequence of the subjects, teaching hours, credits & reference textbooks.

Exam in Russian medical university

Testing theoretical proficiency: Viva/Cases/MCQs & written (in some universities)

Testing practical proficiency: spotters & skills in the appropriate lab setup

Testing Clinical proficiency:
- Clinical skills at the patient’s bedside
- Procedures in the appropriate setup in manikins or simulated models or real patients.

Scores

The score ranges from 5 to 1:
- 5 is “excellent” → Otlichno
- 4 is “good” → Khorosho
- 3 is “satisfactory” → Udovletvoritel’no
- 2 is “unsatisfactory” → Neudovletvoritel’no

Indian vs Russian medical syllabus/curriculum

Russian Curriculum	Indian Curriculum
6 academic years	4.5 Academic years + 1 year of internship (Competency-based curriculum)
Year 1	2 semesters
Systemic anatomy Histology & Embryology Bioorganic & inorganic chemistry Biophysics Biology Latin language Medical Economics Medical informatics Basics of scientific work in medicine First Aids & life safety Nursing therapy	Anatomy Histology & Embryology Genetics Biochemistry Physiology
Year 2 & 3	3 semesters
Systemic anatomy (Neuroanatomy) Histology & Embryology Biochemistry Physiology Microbiology & Immunology Pathology (Anatomic Pathology) Pathophysiology Pharmacology Topographic Anatomy & Operative surgery Hygiene Clinical Epidemiology Propaedeutics of IM including Laboratory & Instrumental Dx FMT & legal medicine Psychology Clinical genetics General surgery History of medicine Micronutrients Philosophy Ethics	PSM Forensic Medicine Pathology Pharmacology Microbiology Clinical postings inwards & OPDs
Year 4-6	4 semesters
Dermatology & STD Ophthalmology ENT Radiology Anesthesia & EM Orthopedics Psychiatry Surgery & Pediatric surgery Urology O&G Pediatrics Internal medicine Neurology & Neurosurgery Clinical Pharmacology Infectious diseases, Pediatric infection & Phthisiology PSM Clinical immunology Oncology & radiation therapy Dentistry Occupational diseases Tropical diseases Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation	IM & Pulmonary medicine Surgery PSM Psychiatry Dermatology Radio Dx & Radiotherapy OBG Pediatrics Anesthesiology ENT Ophthalmology Orthopedics Rehabilitation Dentistry Clinical postings

Indian vs Russian medical education in a nutshell

	Russia	India
Duration	6 years MD	4.5 years MBBS (Competency-based curriculum)
Medium of teaching	English/bilingual/Russian	English
Discipline/strictness	Moderate	High (Govt colleges)
Textbooks	Only in few universities provide at their libraries	Students should purchase as per the recommendation
Proficiency of faculties	Higher	Higher
Language barrier	Many students have	Some students have in the states with different spoken languages
Exam	Mainly viva +/- computerized tests in few universities	Written (MCQs + short & long questions) + Viva
Patient flow	Low	High
Clinical exposure	Medium	High
Hands-on clinical training	Medium	High
Internship	Not approved in India	+
Research exposure	Low	Low
Tuition fee	Cheaper	Very expensive