# MBBS in Iran for Indian Students (2026–27): Fees, Safety Risk, Sanctions and NMC Rules

URL: https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-iran/
Last checked: 2026-11-14
Publisher: 4MBBS (https://4mbbs.com) — independent, source-cited guide to MBBS abroad

**Quick answer:** MBBS in Iran is offered in English at public medical universities such as Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan, with reported tuition of about $4,000–$10,000 a year (≈ ₹3.8–9.4 lakh). Their graduates have done well in FMGE (about 35–53% in 2024–2025). But on 19 July 2026 the Embassy of India in Tehran told Indians to postpone travel to Iran and those there to consider leaving, and in October 2026 Iran was at war with the US and Israel under tightening sanctions. New admissions for 2027 are high-risk.

Key facts:
- Duration: Reported 66 months (5.5 years) for TUMS's English Medicine programme; confirm internship structure
- Tuition per year: $4,000–$10,000
- Living cost per month: $200–$400
- Total course (tuition + hostel): $22,000–$60,000 (≈ ₹21–56 lakh at ₹94/$)
- Medium: English programmes at some universities (e.g. TUMS); Persian needed for patients
- Admission: Direct application to university international offices; NEET-UG qualification required for Indian citizens
- Intake: September and February (reported for TUMS)
- NMC FMGL 2021 fit: poor — Iranian graduates have done well in FMGE, but an active war, an Indian embassy advice to postpone travel and leave, and sanctions that block normal fee payments make it uncertain that a new student can finish the whole course and internship at one university, as FMGL 2021 requires.
- FMGE pass rate: ≈ 35% (Dec 2025 session: 16 of 46); 51.3% June 2025; 53.3% in 2024 (NBEMS, small samples)

Key takeaways:
- Embassy of India, Tehran (19 July 2026): Indians should postpone travel to Iran, and those already there should consider temporarily leaving.
- India evacuated thousands of nationals from Iran in Operation Sindhu (18–27 June 2025); an estimated 1,500–2,000 Indian students were in Iran.
- Reported tuition is about $4,000–$7,500 a year (Careers360, 2025), with Tehran University of Medical Sciences listed at $10,000 a year for its English programme.
- Sanctions severely restrict Iran's access to the global financial system, and the rial lost over 55% of its value against the dollar in the year to October 2026.
- NBEMS FMGE results for Iranian graduates: 53.3% in 2024, 51.3% in June 2025 and 34.8% in December 2025 — small cohorts, mostly Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan.
- FMGL fit is poor while the war, travel advisory and payment barriers make completing a course at one university uncertain.

## What is the current situation for MBBS in Iran?

**As of November 2026, Iran is a high-risk destination: India's embassy has told Indians to postpone travel there, and the country is at war under heavy sanctions.** On 19 July 2026 the Embassy of India in Tehran issued a revised advisory after "an increase in levels of instability and conflict in Iran". It said:

- Indian nationals intending to travel to Iran for any purpose should **postpone travel** until the security environment improves;
- Indians already in Iran should **consider temporarily exiting** using available flights;
- those who remain should take the highest possible caution and avoid areas of military activity, such as the southern coast;
- anyone not yet registered with the embassy should register immediately.

That advisory followed others dated 8 April, 23 April, 8 June and 24 June 2026, an MEA travel advisory for Iran in January 2026, and an advisory on the suspension of Iran's visa-waiver facility for Indians in November 2025. In October 2026, Al Jazeera reported from Tehran on "the current US-Israeli war on Iran", a US naval blockade and the risk of further escalation.

Students have been caught up repeatedly. In June 2025 India ran Operation Sindhu (18–27 June) to evacuate nationals from Iran, when an estimated 1,500–2,000 Indian students were in the country. In January 2026 Outlook reported parents unable to reach children for days during internet restrictions amid protests, and in February 2026 students with March exams told reporters they feared losing an academic year if they left.

## How much does MBBS in Iran cost?

**Official fee schedules are hard to reach from outside Iran, so the figures below are reported, not confirmed: roughly $4,000–$10,000 a year in tuition.**

| Source | Reported figure | ≈ Rupees (₹94/$) |
|---|---|---|
| Careers360 (2025) | MBBS tuition $4,000–$7,500 a year | ₹3.8–7.1 lakh a year |
| Bachelorsportal listing for Tehran University of Medical Sciences | Medicine and Surgery (English), $10,000 a year, 66 months | ₹9.4 lakh a year |
| Outlook (January 2026) | Whole MBBS ₹20–30 lakh including tuition, hostel and living | — |

On those figures, tuition for a 5.5–6-year course comes to roughly $22,000–$60,000 (≈ ₹21–56 lakh). Living costs are low on paper: Numbeo (November 2026) puts a single person's monthly costs at about $343 excluding rent in Tehran, a one-bedroom flat outside the centre at about $244, and a cheap meal at $3.50. 4MBBS uses $200–$400 a month for planning.

**But the real cost risk is currency and payments, not the sticker price.** Al Jazeera reported in October 2026 that the rial had lost over 55% of its value against the dollar in a year and nearly 90% in five years, and that decades of sanctions have severely restricted Iran's access to the global financial system. Payments often move through exchange houses, intermediary firms or private arrangements, which add fees, delays and the risk of losing money. Ask the university exactly how foreign students pay, and ask your Indian bank in advance.

## Which universities teach medicine in English?

**Indian students in Iran are concentrated at the big public universities of medical sciences — Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan appear in FMGE results.**

| University | City | Founded | FMGE Dec 2025 (passed/appeared) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) | Tehran | Roots in 1851 (Dar ol-Fonoon) | 6/16 |
| Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) | Shiraz | 1946 | 5/18 |
| Isfahan University of Medical Sciences | Isfahan | — | 5/11 |
| Golestan University of Medical Sciences | — | — | 0/1 |

Outlook reported that TUMS offers English-medium programmes and named Shahid Beheshti University and Islamic Azad University among others where Indian students study. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences says it offers international degree programmes, including MD and MBBS, to international students. Patients speak Persian, so plan to learn it for clinical years.

## Is MBBS from Iran valid in India? (FMGL fit)

**Iranian degrees have produced strong FMGE results, but 4MBBS rates Iran's fit "poor" for new students because completion is uncertain.** NMC's FMGL 2021 regulations require:

1. At least 54 months of study in English.
2. A 12-month internship in the **same** foreign institution.
3. The whole course at one institution — no transfers.
4. Eligibility for a licence to practise in Iran, on par with Iranian citizens.
5. FMGE (until NExT) and a 12-month internship in India.

A war, an embassy recommendation to leave and blocked payments all threaten point 3: if you are evacuated mid-course, there is no standing NMC rule that lets you finish elsewhere — the relief given to Ukraine students in 2022–23 was explicitly one-time. Points 2 and 4 also need written answers from the university, because English-programme details and licence rules for foreign graduates are not published in an accessible form. NMC publishes no list of approved universities; see our [FMGL rules guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/nmc-fmgl-rules-mbbs-abroad/) and our [Ukraine status page](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-ukraine/) for how the 2022 displacement played out.

## FMGE pass rate for Iranian graduates

**Iranian graduates have some of the best FMGE results of any country, from small cohorts.**

| FMGE session | Appeared | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (both sessions) | 105 | 56 | 53.3% |
| June 2025 | 39 | 20 | 51.3% |
| December 2025 | 46 | 16 | 34.8% |

For comparison, the all-country rate was 18.6% in June 2025, 23.9% in December 2025, about 12–13% in June 2026 and about 23% in October 2026. Good past results do not reduce the risk of a course being interrupted. See our [FMGE exam guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/fmge-exam/).

## Eligibility and admission process

**Indian applicants need NEET-UG and Class 12 PCB; Iranian universities run their own international admissions.**

1. **Qualify NEET-UG** — mandatory for Indian citizens; valid for three years. See [NEET for MBBS abroad](https://4mbbs.com/guides/neet-for-mbbs-abroad/).
2. **Class 12** with at least 50% in PCB (40% SC/ST/OBC), English, age 17 by 31 December.
3. **Apply to the university's international office.** Bachelorsportal lists TUMS start dates in September 2027 and February 2028 with application deadlines of 30 June and 31 October 2027.
4. **Check the advisory first.** While the July 2026 advisory to postpone travel stands, any admission decision carries the risk that you cannot travel or stay.
5. **Register with the embassy** — Indian students in Iran are asked to register on the MEA's MADAD portal and to follow MEA advisories.

## Who is studying in Iran, and why?

**Mostly students from Jammu and Kashmir.** Outlook reported in January 2026 that the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association estimates more than 2,000 Kashmiri students in Iran, about 95% of them in medical courses. Reasons it cited: a total cost of ₹20–30 lakh against much higher private-college fees at home, cultural and religious ties, public universities with regulated fees, and a perception of safety for women students. The same report noted families recalling the 2022 Ukraine evacuation and warned that sanctions can change "overnight".

## If you are already studying in Iran

**Your priorities are safety first, then protecting your eligibility under FMGL 2021.**

1. **Follow the embassy.** The July 2026 advisory recommends considering a temporary exit while flights are available; register with the embassy if you have not.
2. **Document everything.** Keep transcripts, attendance records, internship logbooks and fee receipts — paper and cloud copies. If a future relief scheme appears, you will need proof of what you completed and where.
3. **Do not rely on informal transfers.** FMGL 2021 requires the whole course, training and internship at one institution. NMC's 2022 academic-mobility no-objection and the 2023 Supreme Court exam route were tied to students displaced from Ukraine (and, for the exam route, China and the Philippines), and were described as one-time.
4. **Talk to your university** about exams, online teaching and whether leave of absence keeps your place.
5. **Use official channels.** The All India Medical Students Association has written to the Prime Minister on behalf of students in Iran; individual grievances can go through the MEA's MADAD portal.

## What would a six-year budget look like?

**On reported figures, roughly ₹36–83 lakh — but currency swings and payment costs make any Iranian budget unreliable.**

| Cost item (6 years) | Low (reported) | High (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | ≈ $24,000 ($4,000/yr) | ≈ $60,000 ($10,000/yr) |
| Living costs ($200–$400/month) | ≈ $14,400 | ≈ $28,800 |
| Approximate total before accommodation and travel | ≈ $38,400 (≈ ₹36 lakh) | ≈ $88,800 (≈ ₹83 lakh) |

Outlook's January 2026 figure of ₹20–30 lakh for the whole course sits below this range, which shows how widely reported costs vary. Add the fees charged by exchange houses or intermediaries, and keep an emergency fund for an evacuation flight. Compare with the published fees in our [MBBS abroad fees table](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-abroad-fees/).

## What are the alternatives for students who wanted Iran?

**Students drawn to Iran by low cost and strong FMGE results can look for the same features in countries without an active travel advisory.** Compare published fees, FMGE results by university and FMGL fit on our [country hubs](https://4mbbs.com/countries/), use the [country finder](https://4mbbs.com/tools/country-finder/), and read [MBBS in Egypt](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-egypt/) for another English-medium public-university option in the region.

## Life, language and climate

**Daily life for foreign students depends heavily on the security situation, internet access and the exchange rate.** Persian is the language of patients and daily life. Much of Iran has hot, dry summers, and Tehran has cold winters. Keep cash reserves in more than one form, save the embassy's emergency numbers (listed on its advisory), and keep digital and paper copies of all academic records. Our guide to [life as an Indian medical student abroad](https://4mbbs.com/guides/life-as-indian-medical-student-abroad/) has a first-month checklist.

## Red flags

- An agent saying "the situation is normal" while the embassy advises postponing travel.
- Fees to be paid through informal channels or an agent's personal account — sanctions make these riskier, not safer.
- Promises that NMC will let you "transfer" if you are evacuated.
- "NMC-approved Iranian university" lists — NMC publishes none.

Read our [agent scams guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/mbbs-abroad-agent-scams-red-flags/) and compare safer alternatives in [is MBBS abroad worth it](https://4mbbs.com/guides/is-mbbs-abroad-worth-it/) and [MBBS in Egypt](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-egypt/).

## FAQ

**Is it safe to study MBBS in Iran in 2026–27?**
Not by India's own guidance. On 19 July 2026 the Embassy of India in Tehran advised Indian nationals to postpone travel to Iran until the security environment improves, and told those already there to consider temporarily leaving and to avoid areas of military activity such as the southern coast. In October 2026 Al Jazeera described a US-Israeli war on Iran. Check the embassy website before any decision.

**What is the fee for MBBS in Iran?**
Fees are reported rather than officially published in an accessible form. Careers360 (2025) reported MBBS tuition of about $4,000–$7,500 a year; Bachelorsportal lists Tehran University of Medical Sciences' English Medicine and Surgery programme at $10,000 a year; Outlook (January 2026) reported a total cost of ₹20–30 lakh including hostel and living. Confirm with the university's international office.

**Is MBBS from Iran valid in India?**
Only if the course meets NMC's FMGL 2021 rules: at least 54 months of English-medium study, a 12-month internship at the same institution, and licence eligibility in Iran on par with citizens, followed by FMGE and an internship in India. A war-time interruption that forces you to move would break the same-institution rule. NMC publishes no approved list — read our [FMGL guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/nmc-fmgl-rules-mbbs-abroad/).

**What is the FMGE pass rate for Iranian graduates?**
NBEMS reports show 56 of 105 passing in 2024 (53.3%), 20 of 39 in June 2025 (51.3%) and 16 of 46 in December 2025 (34.8%). Most candidates came from Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan universities of medical sciences. These are among the higher country rates, but the cohorts are small. See our [FMGE guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/fmge-exam/).

**How do Indian students pay fees in Iran under sanctions?**
With difficulty. Al Jazeera reported in October 2026 that decades of sanctions have severely restricted Iran's access to the global financial system, so cross-border payments often go through exchange houses or intermediaries, adding fees, delays and risk. Ask the university exactly how foreign students pay, keep every receipt, and ask your Indian bank in advance whether it will process the transfer.

**Why do many Kashmiri students study medicine in Iran?**
Outlook reported in January 2026 that the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association estimates more than 2,000 Kashmiri students in Iran, about 95% in medical courses. Reasons cited include lower total cost than Indian private colleges or Bangladesh, cultural and religious ties, and public universities with regulated fees. The same report described parents unable to reach children during internet restrictions.

**What should Indian students already in Iran do?**
Follow the Embassy of India in Tehran: register with the embassy if you have not, monitor its website and social media, follow local authorities' instructions, and consider temporarily leaving while flights are available, as its July 2026 advisory recommends. Keep copies of transcripts and attendance records in case you need them later. Register grievances through the MEA's MADAD portal.

## Sources

- Advisory, 19 July 2026 (Embassy of India, Tehran): https://www.indianembassytehran.gov.in/public_files/assets/pdf/advisory-july.pdf
- Embassy of India, Tehran — advisories and student information (Embassy of India, Tehran): https://www.indianembassytehran.gov.in/eoithr_pages/MTM5
- How do Iranians move money abroad to avoid US sanctions? (14 Oct 2026) (Al Jazeera): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/14/how-do-iranians-move-money-abroad-to-avoid-us-sanctions
- Doctor dreams in 'Little Iran': why it draws Kashmir's MBBS aspirants (Jan 2026) (Outlook India): https://www.outlookindia.com/national/doctor-dreams-in-little-iran-why-it-draws-kashmirs-mbbs-aspirants
- Why do Indian students go to Iran for studies (Careers360): https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/why-do-indian-students-go-iran-for-studies
- Medicine and Surgery — Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Bachelorsportal): https://www.bachelorsportal.com/studies/334188/medicine-and-surgery.html
- Operation Sindhu (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sindhu
- Indian students in Iran seek help as March exams prevent return amid tensions (Feb 2026) (The Tribune / ANI): https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/indian-students-in-iran-seek-help-as-march-exams-prevent-return-amid-tensions/
- FMGE performance reports 2024 and 2025 (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences): https://natboard.edu.in/stats
- Cost of living in Tehran (November 2026) (Numbeo): https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tehran

Quote with attribution to 4MBBS: https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-iran/