I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
- Founded
- 1758
- Location
- Moscow, Russia
- Students
- 27,000+ students, 6,500+ international from 114 countries
- Taught in
- English, Russian
- Study levels
- Degree
- Intakes
- September (2026 main round: documents 20 June to 18 August)
Programmes Offered
- Medicine (MD / General Medicine)
Recognition in Malaysia
Medicine is recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC). The university appears in the Second Schedule of the Medical Act 1971 as Sechenov University, with:
- “General Medicine – Doctor of Medicine”, recognised since 3 May 2001
- “General Practitioner”, recognised since 3 May 2001
What this means in practice:
- Recognition applies to the qualification named above. Before you enrol, we check the exact degree title for your intake against the current MMC list.
- A recognised degree lets you apply for registration in Malaysia. It is not automatic permission to practise: housemanship and the other MMC registration requirements still apply.
- You must also meet the MMC minimum entry qualifications for a medical programme. Being accepted by the university does not prove that on its own.
If a medical qualification is not on the list, the graduate must pass the MMC Examination for Provisional Registration (EPR) before registering.
Global Recognition
- Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), school ID F0001018, with an ECFMG sponsor note for graduates from 1953 onwards.
- The General Medicine programme holds Russian accreditation from the National Centre for Public Accreditation (NCPA), valid until 23 December 2026. NCPA is not on the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) list of recognised agencies.
- Since 2024, graduates who want to sit the US licensing exams (USMLE) through ECFMG need a medical school accredited by a WFME-recognised agency. If the US is part of your plan, ask us to check Sechenov’s status for your graduation year.
Programmes
General Medicine (Medical Doctor)
- 6 years, full-time. Taught in English or Russian; you choose the language when you apply.
- Optional preparatory course before year 1: 12 months for students with no Russian, or 7 months for those who already speak Russian.
- Clinical training runs through the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine.
The university does not say on its pages how much Russian is used with patients in the clinical years. We ask for this in writing for your intake.
Entry Requirements
- Computer-based entrance tests in Chemistry and Russian language, minimum 55 points each. It is not clear from the university’s page whether the Russian test also applies to the English track; we confirm this for your intake.
- Passport and school-leaving certificate, legalised or apostilled, with notarised Russian translations, plus a certificate recognising your foreign education.
- No IELTS is required.
Teaching Hospitals and Facilities
- 21 clinical bases and 49 departments for General Medicine.
- University Hospitals with more than 3,000 beds, including da Vinci robotic surgery.
- A clinical simulation centre for practical skills.
Student Life
- Moscow has about 13 million people. Average temperatures are −6 °C in January and 20 °C in July.
- The university has 5 dormitories plus partner housing, and offers places to international students.
- Malaysia is one of the university’s largest sources of international students, so you will not be the only Malaysian.
Notable Alumni
Getting There
There is no direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Moscow at the moment. The usual route is one stop via Istanbul, Doha or Abu Dhabi.
Facts checked on 2 November 2026. Fees, rankings and requirements change every year; we confirm the latest details with you before you apply.
Sources: MMC list of recognised medical qualifications; Sechenov University, General Medicine; Sechenov University, admission; Sechenov fee order 2026/27 (PDF); Sechenov University, about; WDOMS entry; DEQAR accreditation record; RUDN guidance on sending money to Russia