For many Indian students who qualify NEET but miss out on a government MBBS seat, studying medicine abroad becomes the next option. In recent years, Uzbekistan has been one of the most popular destinations for Indian medical students because of its relatively affordable fees, modern infrastructure, and growing Indian student community.
But the 2026–27 admission cycle has brought an unexpected change.
From NEET Preparation to Uzbekistan
Nidhi, a 19-year-old student from Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, spent almost five years preparing for NEET. After completing Class 12, she appeared for NEET hoping to secure a government MBBS seat.
Although she qualified, her score was not enough to secure the seat she wanted. She prepared for NEET once again, but the second attempt also did not give her the expected result. Like many other students, Nidhi then began looking at MBBS abroad, with Uzbekistan becoming one of her preferred choices.
She was not alone. Around 5,500+ Indian students were expected to join medical universities in Uzbekistan during the 2026–27 academic year, while an estimated 17,000 Indian students were already studying medicine in the country.
Then the situation changed.
Uzbekistan Pauses New Indian Admissions
As students began preparing for the 2026–27 intake, Uzbekistan's medical universities stopped admitting new Indian students. New student visa processing was also affected.
Students waited for admissions to reopen, hoping the situation would be resolved before the academic year began. However, Uzbek medical colleges have not admitted the expected new batch of Indian students for the 2026–27 intake.
The exact reason for the decision has not been officially established. One explanation circulating in the education sector is that Uzbekistan wants to focus on improving the quality of medical education and regulating the rapidly growing number of international students.
The development has left thousands of Indian students who had planned to study in Uzbekistan looking for alternatives such as Georgia, the Philippines, Russia, and other destinations.
Why Was Uzbekistan Popular for MBBS?
Uzbekistan became popular among Indian students because of relatively affordable tuition fees, modern medical infrastructure, English-medium medical programmes, a large and growing Indian student community, convenient travel from India, and a lower overall cost compared with many private medical colleges in India.
The total cost of MBBS can vary by university, but Uzbekistan was generally considered one of the more affordable destinations for Indian students.
What Should Students Planning MBBS in Uzbekistan Do Now?
For the 2026–27 intake, students should not rely on promises of guaranteed admission or visa processing in Uzbekistan unless they have received genuine confirmation directly from the university and the relevant authorities.
Students who are still waiting should consider alternative destinations rather than risk losing another academic year. Before choosing any foreign medical university, check its course duration, clinical training, internship structure, and compliance with the latest NMC requirements.