Samarkand State Medical University MBBS: Fees, Admission, FMGE Results and the NMC Alert

Samarkand State Medical University at a glance

Samarkand State Medical University (SamSMU) is a state medical university in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, established in 1930 according to its official website. Older records — including NBEMS's FMGE reports and the university's own email address — still use the name Samarkand State Medical Institute, so search under both names when you research it.

Why SamSMU is under scrutiny

SamSMU is one of three Uzbek state universities named in NMC's Alert Note of 1 April 2026. The note relays the Indian Embassy's concerns that students were admitted beyond intake capacity and were not receiving hands-on training because clinical teaching was not in English. NMC warned that deviations in duration, medium of instruction, curriculum, clinical training or internship arrangements "may result in disqualification from obtaining registration in India".

The Embassy's own advisory of 31 October 2025 gave specifics about Samarkand (as reported by Careers360 and Medical Dialogues):

• About 1,400 Indian students were admitted to the first year in the winter intake, which "far exceeds its capacity".
• About 600 Indian students were housed in hotels because there were not enough hostel places.
• The overcrowding affected education quality and led to a lack of clinical exposure.

Students also complained to the Embassy and NMC about sudden fee hikes, an admissions and fee agency issuing no proper receipts, requests for undocumented payments, irregular schedules, teaching from PDFs and pressure to post positive reviews. The Embassy said it had raised the issues with the university and was awaiting a response. The All FMGs Association later asked NMC to consider a one-time transfer option for affected students.

In clarifications reported in August 2026, the Indian Embassy described NMC's alert as precautionary, not a ban, and in October 2026 it held a consular camp at the university to hear student concerns. Full context is on our MBBS in Uzbekistan page.

Fees and costs

Careers360's June 2026 guide lists SamSMU tuition at ₹3.30–3.33 lakh a year — about $3,500. The university's website links to a fee schedule PDF for international students, but it was not accessible when we checked in November 2026.

Pay fees only to the university's own account against an official invoice. Read our agent scams and red flags guide before dealing with any admission agency.

Admission requirements and process

SamSMU admits international students after an interview (oral examination) in Biology and Chemistry, plus the language of instruction. Its published entrance subjects are Biology, Chemistry, English and Russian, and instruction is offered in Russian or English.

Required documents listed by the university:

1. Application to the Rector on the approved template
2. School-leaving certificate with academic transcript
3. Passport copy
4. Medical certificate Form 086/U and a full medical examination certificate
5. Official varicella (chickenpox) vaccination certificate
6. HIV test certificate issued no more than three months before applying
7. One digital photo (10 × 15 cm, at least 300 DPI)
8. Registration on the Study in Uzbekistan portal

Indian applicants also need a qualifying NEET-UG score (valid three years) and apostilled documents. The international department lists the Telegram handle @SamSMU_Admissions and the email international.department@sammu.uz — contact it directly to confirm anything an agent tells you. See our NEET guide.

FMGE results

NBEMS data show SamSMU graduates passing FMGE at 34.3% in 2025 (58 of 169) — 42.6% in June (43 of 101) but only 22.1% in December (15 of 68). In 2024 the rate was 13.0% (7 of 54). Small numbers make these figures volatile, and the large batches admitted since 2023 have not yet sat the exam. For comparison, the all-country rate in 2025 was 21.5%. See our FMGE guide.

Life in Samarkand

Samarkand shares Uzbekistan's continental climate — very hot, dry summers and cold winters. The UK FCDO warns that pickpocketing is common in bazaars and on public transport and that you must carry your passport at all times. Confirm in writing that you will have a hostel place: the 2025 hotel overflow shows that a seat does not guarantee a bed.

Should you apply?

Only with extra safeguards. Ask the university, in writing, for its sanctioned intake for foreign students in 2027, the language used on hospital wards, internship arrangements and your hostel allocation. If those answers are vague, compare Tashkent State Medical University and Bukhara State Medical Institute — though both are also named in the alert — or look at other countries with our how to choose a medical university abroad guide.

Pros and cons of SamSMU

Advantages

• Long-established state university, founded in 1930
• Low published tuition of about ₹3.3 lakh a year
• Clear admission procedure with a subject interview and published document list
• FMGE 2025 pass rate of 34.3%, above the 21.5% all-country average

Drawbacks

• Named in NMC's April 2026 Alert Note on Uzbekistan
• Indian Embassy reported admissions far beyond capacity and about 600 students placed in hotels (October 2025)
• Students complained of sudden fee hikes, payments without proper receipts and irregular classes
• Teaching language can be Russian; clinical patient contact needs Uzbek or Russian
• Small FMGE samples that swing sharply between sessions