# Mari State University MBBS: Fees, FMGE Results and Admission for Indian Students

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

**Quick answer:** Mari State University in Yoshkar-Ola is a Russian state university, founded in 1972, whose Medical Faculty has one of the largest Indian cohorts in Russia. For 2026-27 it charges foreign students 380,000 roubles for the first year of General Medicine taught in English, about $4,650 (₹4.4 lakh). Students already in years 2–6 pay 248,500–312,000 roubles. Its graduates made 1,004 FMGE appearances in 2025, more than any other Russian university, and passed at 28.7% (NBEMS).

Key facts:
- Location: Yoshkar-Ola, Russia
- Type: public
- Tuition per year: $3,000–$4,650
- Duration: 6 years (General Medicine, Specialist)
- Medium: English (separate fee order for foreigners taught in English or French)
- Intake: September
- Recognition: Federal state university under Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education, founded in 1972; Medical Faculty graduates listed in NBEMS FMGE institute-wise reports for 2024 and 2025
- Official website: https://marsu.ru/

Key takeaways:
- Mari State's order of 25 May 2026 sets 380,000 roubles (about $4,650) for first-year General Medicine for foreign students taught in English or French.
- For students already enrolled, 2026-27 fees fall from 312,000 roubles in year 2 to 254,800 roubles in years 5–6.
- Its graduates made 1,004 FMGE appearances in 2025, the most of any Russian university, with 288 passes (28.7%).
- In 2024 its graduates passed FMGE at 31.4% (292 of 930), slightly above the Russia average of 29.5%.
- The university has 11 dormitories with 1,481 rooms for out-of-town students, according to its official disclosure page.

## Mari State University at a glance

Mari State University (MarSU) is a multi-subject state university in Yoshkar-Ola, the capital of the Mari El Republic in the Volga region, under Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Its official disclosure page gives its founding date as 1 January 1972. Medicine is taught in its Medical Faculty, the name used in India's FMGE records.

By FMGE numbers, it has the largest Indian cohort of any Russian university. NBEMS data shows its graduates made **1,004 FMGE appearances in 2025**, more than any other Russian institution in both the June and December sessions, and 930 in 2024 (second only to Perm State Medical University). You will study with a very large group of Indian seniors and batchmates.

## How much does MBBS at Mari State cost?

For foreign students from non-CIS countries starting in 2026-27, Mari State charges **380,000 roubles for the first year of General Medicine**, about **$4,650 (₹4.4 lakh)**. A separate order sets 2026-27 fees for English-medium students already in years 2–6.

| General Medicine, foreign students (2026-27 orders) | Roubles | Approx. USD | Approx. ₹ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (2026 entrants, English or French) | 380,000 | $4,650 | ₹4.4 lakh |
| Year 2 (current students) | 312,000 | $3,800 | ₹3.6 lakh |
| Year 3 (current students) | 293,200 | $3,550 | ₹3.3 lakh |
| Year 4 (current students) | 248,500 | $3,000 | ₹2.8 lakh |
| Years 5–6 (current students) | 254,800 | $3,100 | ₹2.9 lakh |

Converted at about 82 roubles per US$ (Bank of Russia, 14 November 2026) and US$1 ≈ ₹94. Source: Mari State orders No. 669-A (25 May 2026) and No. 653-A (26 May 2026).

What will six years cost you? The orders do not fix your future fees, so here are two reference points:

- If your fee stayed at the year-1 price: 2,280,000 roubles, about **$27,750 (₹26.1 lakh)**.
- If your later years cost what current students pay in 2026-27: 1,743,300 roubles, about **$21,200 (₹19.9 lakh)**.

Ask the international office how the contract fee changes from year to year. Hostel prices for foreign students are not clearly published online; the university's disclosure page lists 11 dormitories with 1,481 rooms for out-of-town students. For living costs, Russia's Study in Russia portal estimates 24,300–32,400 roubles a month for a foreign student (about $300–$400). Use our [cost calculator](https://4mbbs.com/tools/mbbs-abroad-cost-calculator/) to compare.

## Language of instruction

Mari State's first-year fee order is titled for foreign citizens taught in English and French, and its order for years 2–6 is for foreign students taught in English. Choose the English track: India's FMGL Regulations 2021 require English as the medium of instruction for the whole course.

Patients in Yoshkar-Ola speak Russian, so learn the language from the first semester. Ask the faculty to confirm in writing that all six years, including clinical rotations, are taught in English and that the diploma supplement will state it.

## FMGE results of Mari State graduates

| Year | Appeared | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 930 | 292 | 31.4% |
| 2025, June session | 365 | 72 | 19.7% |
| 2025, December session | 639 | 216 | 33.8% |
| 2025 total | 1,004 | 288 | 28.7% |

Source: NBEMS institute-wise FMGE reports. Russia-trained candidates overall passed at 29.5% in 2024 and 25.8% in 2025. With so many candidates, Mari State's results are statistically more reliable than those of small cohorts, and they sit close to or slightly above the national average. See our [FMGE exam guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/fmge-exam/).

## Admission and eligibility

Indian applicants need a qualifying NEET-UG score (valid for three years), Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, at least 50% in PCB (40% for SC/ST/OBC), and must be 17 by 31 December of the admission year. See [NEET for MBBS abroad](https://4mbbs.com/guides/neet-for-mbbs-abroad/).

Typical steps for a Russian state university:

1. Apply with your passport, Class 12 documents and NEET result, with notarised Russian translations as required.
2. Receive the admission decision and sign the education contract.
3. Pay the first fee by bank transfer in roubles; Indian Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Russia.
4. Get the study invitation and apply for a Russian student visa (see our [student visa guide](https://4mbbs.com/guides/student-visa-for-mbbs-abroad/)).
5. Arrive for the September start and complete migration registration.

Check Mari State's admissions pages for the 2027 dates, and read our [MBBS in Russia guide](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-russia/) for payment routes under sanctions.

## FMGL checklist: questions to ask

Use the NMC's [FMGL Regulations 2021](https://4mbbs.com/guides/nmc-fmgl-rules-mbbs-abroad/):

- Is every year of General Medicine taught in English?
- How is the 12-month internship or clerkship organised? The NMC's FAQ treats it as separate from the clinical postings within the 54-month course.
- How do international graduates show licence eligibility in Russia on par with Russian citizens?
- Under what exact name (university and faculty) is it listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and does that match the diploma?

## Should you choose Mari State?

Mari State is a lower-cost option with the biggest Indian community in Russia and FMGE results around the national average. It suits students who value a large peer group and a moderate budget. If you want stronger FMGE results at a similar first-year fee, compare [Orenburg State Medical University](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-russia/orenburg-state-medical-university/); for the lowest first-year fee in our list, see [Stavropol State Medical University](https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-russia/stavropol-state-medical-university/), keeping its weaker FMGE record in mind.

## FAQ

**What is the MBBS fee at Mari State University for 2026-27?**
Mari State University's order of 25 May 2026 sets 380,000 roubles for the first year of General Medicine for foreign students from non-CIS countries taught in English or French. That is about $4,650 or ₹4.4 lakh at November 2026 rates. Students already in years 2–6 pay 248,500–312,000 roubles in 2026-27 under a separate order.

**How many Indian students study at Mari State University?**
The university does not publish a count by nationality, but NBEMS data shows how large the cohort is: its Medical Faculty graduates made 930 FMGE appearances in 2024 and 1,004 in 2025, more than any other Russian university in 2025. That points to several hundred Indian graduates sitting the exam each year.

**What is the FMGE pass rate of Mari State University?**
NBEMS reports show Mari State graduates passed FMGE at 31.4% in 2024 (292 of 930) and 28.7% in 2025 (288 of 1,004 appearances across June and December). The 2025 figure combines a weak June session (19.7%) and a stronger December session (33.8%). The Russia averages were 29.5% and 25.8%.

**Is Mari State University a medical university?**
No. Mari State University is a multi-subject state university under Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and medicine is taught in its Medical Faculty. That is not a problem in itself for FMGL 2021, which looks at the course, internship, language and licence eligibility, but check that your diploma names the institution exactly as it appears in WDOMS.

## Sources

- Cost of education 2026/2027 (including Order No. 669-A of 25.05.2026 for foreign students) (Mari State University): https://marsu.ru/upload/iblock/a1c/c8edm90bvwo6fpl2piqos4nvuart0agz/Stoimost-obucheniya-2026_2027-MARGU.pdf
- Paid educational services (Mari State University): https://marsu.ru/sveden/paid_edu/
- Basic information (date of founding) (Mari State University): https://marsu.ru/sveden/common/
- Scholarships and student support (dormitories) (Mari State University): https://marsu.ru/sveden/grants/
- FMGE Performance Report – 2025 (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences): https://natboard.edu.in/viewUpload?xyz=WGFid2M2R252YlMzblhsemdCYWF5QT09
- Country/Institute Wise Performance in FMGE – 2024 (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences): https://natboard.edu.in/viewUpload?xyz=VEJVVnlqNVhIWVNCWXJoL1k5TXBnUT09
- Official exchange rates on 14.11.2026 (Bank of Russia): https://www.cbr.ru/eng/currency_base/daily/

Quote with attribution to 4MBBS: https://4mbbs.com/mbbs-in-russia/mari-state-university/