Overview:
Currently, Azerbaijan Medical University boasts a diverse student body, with 1,200 international students from 21 different countries. Among them, over 200 Indian students have been pursuing their studies at the university for the past six years. While these numbers may seem modest compared to other popular MBBS destinations for Indian students, alternatives with similar budget considerations, such as MBBS programs in Bangladesh, Egypt, Kazakhstan, etc., are worth exploring.
The MBBS education system in Azerbaijan spans a six-year program, integrating clinical rotations as a core component. Azerbaijan Medical University offers its MBBS program in three languages: English, Russian, and Azerbaijani. Typically, students from Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka opt for the English-taught program, while those from Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan prefer the Russian-taught program. Moreover, local students from Uzbekistan often enroll in the Azerbaijani program. It's worth noting that Azerbaijan does not adhere to the ECTS system employed by countries like Russia and Georgia.
To gain admission to Azerbaijan Medical University's MBBS program, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria, including securing at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in their 10+2 grades, possessing a valid NEET scorecard from 2021-2023, and being at least 17 years of age.
For aspiring students, timing is crucial when applying for MBBS programs in Azerbaijan, particularly at Azerbaijan Medical University. The optimal application period typically falls before July 15th each year, allowing sufficient time for processing admission and invitation letters, as well as visas, which can take up to two months to be issued by the Ministry of Education and the Azerbaijani consulate. Furthermore, students are required to pay full fees to the university before their departure, in accordance with university regulations.
Azerbaijan Medical University comprises 8,000 students across 74 academic departments, led by a faculty of esteemed scientists, physicians, and lecturers. Additionally, the university houses four clinics, including educational-dental, educational-therapeutic, oncologic, and educational-surgical clinics.
The university offers programs in various fields, including general medicine, dental studies, military medicine (since 2000), pharmaceutical studies, and public health.
After completing MBBS at Azerbaijan Medical University, students often contemplate their options for pursuing further specialization, such as Medical PG in India or appearing for the NExT exam.
During their MBBS studies, students come to realize the importance of becoming a specialist in their field. They also become acutely aware of the fierce competition involved in securing an MD/MS seat in a government college. With a success ratio of merely 11% for obtaining a PG seat in a government medical college—meaning only 1 out of 10 applicants succeed—the challenge becomes evident. Moreover, the odds of securing a seat in a clinical specialty stand at 1 out of 20 applicants. Consequently, the journey towards obtaining a PG seat can be exceedingly arduous, unless students possess the financial means to secure a paid seat in a private medical college, which may entail considerable expenses amounting to crores of rupees.