South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) MBBS Fees & Admission

South Kazakhstan Medical Academy at a glance

• Location: Shymkent, Kazakhstan
• Established: 1979
• University Type: Public / Government
• Popular Course: MBBS / General Medicine
• Course Duration: 5 years bachelor + 2 years internship (academy FAQ)
• Medium: English (separate English-medium tariff)
• Intake: Tuition due by 25 August; confirm dates with the academy
• Tuition 2025-26: 1,708,000 tenge / year (English medium)
• Entrance Exam: Academy interview / testing; NEET needed for India

About South Kazakhstan Medical Academy

South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (JSC “South Kazakhstan Medical Academy”, skma.edu.kz) is a medical academy in Shymkent and one of the Kazakh institutions Indian students look at for an English-medium medical degree. This page sets out the verified basics: the academy's own tariff order sets General Medicine at 1,708,000 tenge a year for foreign citizens studying in English for the 2025-2026 academic year — the latest foreign-student tariff it has published — against 1,300,000 tenge for study in Kazakh or Russian. The academy's FAQ describes General Medicine as five years of bachelor study followed by a two-year internship, with tuition payable in tenge by 25 August. Indian applicants also need NEET to register in India later.

Established in 1979 in the city of Shymkent, South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) offers a broad spectrum of medical programs across undergraduate, diploma, and postgraduate levels.

The academy's main programme for international students is General Medicine, which its own FAQ describes as five years of full-time bachelor study followed by a two-year internship, with an English-medium track priced separately in its tariff order.

Supported by high-caliber academic faculty, modern diagnostic laboratories, and robust clinical training bases, SKMA collaborates with global educational partners across Europe, Asia, and the USA to ensure high standards of medical training.

Why choose South Kazakhstan Medical Academy?

South Kazakhstan Medical Academy offers an optimal blend of academic excellence and enriching campus life. Standout highlights include:

• Recognized Government Institution: Founded in 1979 as a premier public medical academy known for high teaching standards and clinical bases.
• Worldwide Degree Validity: Course structure, recognition and admission requirements are set by the university and by the regulator in its own country, and should be confirmed in writing for your intake year before you apply.
• Admission by Interview or Testing: The academy's FAQ states that foreign students are admitted by the admissions committee through an interview or test — ask in writing what form it takes and whether an English certificate is needed for your intake.
• English-Medium Curriculum: Coursework, clinical training, and examinations are completely delivered in English for foreign students.
• A Published Tariff You Can Check: The academy publishes a signed rector's order with the tariffs for foreign citizens, so you can see the English-medium General Medicine rate of 1,708,000 tenge for 2025-2026 rather than take an agent's word for it.
• Indian Food & Dedicated Housing: Offers well-furnished hostels with 24/7 security and dedicated campus mess services providing Indian food options.

MBBS course overview

The Faculty of General Medicine at SKMA provides a comprehensive 6-year Doctor of Medicine / MBBS degree (5 years academic instruction + 1 year mandatory rotational internship).

The academic framework focuses on combining core foundational medical sciences with hands-on clinical clerkships at regional medical centers.

• Degree: General Medicine (Общая медицина / Жалпы медицина)
• Duration: 5 years bachelor + 2 years internship, per the academy's own FAQ
• Medium of instruction: English (the tariff order lists a separate English-medium rate)
• Intake: Confirm with the academy; tuition is due by 25 August, or in halves by 25 August and 1 February

Year-wise curriculum

• 1st Year: Human Anatomy, Histology, Biochemistry, Medical Physics, Medical Biology, Cytology
• 2nd Year: Human Physiology, Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Pathology, General Pharmacology
• 3rd Year: Pathomorphology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Introduction to Surgery, Preventive Medicine
• 4th Year: Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Community Medicine, Pediatrics, Diagnostic Radiology
• 5th Year: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Dermatology & Venereology, Psychiatry
• 6th-7th Year (Internship): Compulsory Rotational Clinical Internship in Emergency Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and OB-GYN

Courses offered

• General Medicine — 5 years bachelor + 2 years internship
• Paediatrics — Confirm with the academy
• Dentistry — Confirm with the academy
• Pharmacy — Confirm with the academy
• Public Health, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Production Technology — Confirm with the academy

South Kazakhstan Medical Academy fee structure

The academy publishes its tariffs for foreign citizens in tenge, in a signed rector's order. These are the rates in the latest published order:

Source: Annex 1 to the order of the Rector of JSC “South Kazakhstan Medical Academy” No. 101-v of 18 June 2025, “Tariffs for paid educational services in higher, postgraduate, technical and vocational education for foreign citizens for the 2025-2026 academic year”, published at skma.edu.kz on the academy's page for applicants from India and Pakistan. General Medicine, Paediatrics, Dentistry, Public Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Production Technology all carry the same bachelor rate. This is the newest foreign-student tariff the academy had published as at 26 September 2026; no 2026-2027 foreign tariff was on the site, so treat 1,708,000 tenge as the last confirmed figure and ask the academy in writing for the tariff that will apply to your intake before you pay. The annex prices bachelor study and postgraduate programmes; it does not separately price the two internship years, so confirm what those cost. The tariff excludes hostel, mess, medical checks, insurance, visa and migration costs, notarised translations and travel. The academy's FAQ states that tuition is paid in tenge, in two equal instalments by 25 August and 1 February or in one payment by 25 August. There is no official rupee price.

• Bachelor year (English medium), 2025-26 tariff: 1,708,000 tenge
• Bachelor year (Kazakh or Russian medium), 2025-26: 1,300,000 tenge
• Residency (postgraduate), 2025-26: 1,770,000 tenge
• Master's degree, 2025-26: 1,755,000 tenge
• Doctorate, 2025-26: 2,015,600 tenge

Eligibility criteria

International applicants seeking admission to the MBBS program at SKMA must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Academic Qualification: Minimum 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 / Senior Secondary with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
• NEET Requirement: NMC rules require Indian students to have qualified in NEET-UG before starting a medical course abroad if they intend to register in India
• Minimum Age: Must be at least 17 years old on or before December 31st of the entry year
• Qualifying Board: Successful completion of 12th grade from CBSE, ICSE, or any state-recognized secondary education board
• Selection: The academy's FAQ states that foreign applicants are admitted by the admissions committee through an interview or test; confirm the current format and whether an English certificate is required
• Documents: Documents in a foreign language must carry an officially certified translation into Kazakh and/or Russian, and a foreign school certificate must be recognised as equivalent in Kazakhstan

Admission process 2026

The admission workflow for foreign scholars applying to SKMA involves standard sequential steps:

• Contact the academy directly, or — if you are applying from India — its stated official representative, CIS Global Medical Education LLP, which the academy names on its own India and Pakistan page as its exclusive representative in the Republic of India.
• Submit your application with the original school-leaving certificate or an equivalent foreign document, each accompanied by an officially certified translation into Kazakh and/or Russian.
• Sit the admissions committee's interview or test.
• Receive the academy's invitation / admission letter.
• Pay tuition in tenge (in full by 25 August, or in two equal instalments by 25 August and 1 February) and apply for the Kazakh student visa.
• Travel to Shymkent and complete enrolment on campus.

Documents required

Mandatory documents required to finalize the registration process at SKMA:

• Original state-recognised secondary education document, or an equivalent foreign document, with an officially certified translation into Kazakh and/or Russian
• 10th and 12th class marksheets and certificates
• Valid passport with a certified translation
• NEET-UG scorecard (needed for registration in India later)
• Recent passport-sized colour photographs
• Birth certificate
• Medical fitness certificate and HIV screening report
• Ask the academy for its current full checklist — the list published on skma.edu.kz is written for all foreign applicants and some items depend on your country

Hostel & accommodation

SKMA offers well-appointed and safe residential facilities designed for foreign students:

• Cost: Not verified. The academy runs dormitories and lists “payment for tuition and accommodation” on its applicant pages, but the current hostel rate is not published in a document we could read — ask for it in writing.
• Room Arrangements: Furnished shared rooms
• Dining Services: On-campus canteens; confirm whether Indian meals are available for your intake
• Study Facilities: Library, reading halls and computer rooms
• Recreation & Sports: Sports facilities and student areas on campus

Clinical training

Practical clinical experience is fully incorporated into the degree program at SKMA:

• Clinical clerkships conducted across multi-specialty municipal hospitals and specialized healthcare centers in Shymkent.
• Direct bed-side training and practical diagnostics supervised by senior clinical professors.
• Rotational training across major fields such as General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and OB-GYN.
• Includes 1 full year of compulsory hospital internship to ensure clinical independence.

Recognition & accreditation

The National Medical Commission states that it "does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/ Universities for MBBS or equivalent course", so no foreign medical university is "NMC approved". What decides your eligibility to register in India is the course you take. Verify the following directly with the university, in writing:

• Recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan
• Degree valid for global licensing examinations including NEXT/FMGE, USMLE, and PLAB
• Check the course against the NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 — at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution, and English as the medium of instruction throughout.
• Confirm the university is registered with the body competent to grant a licence to practise medicine in its own country, on the same terms as that country's own graduates.
• Look the university up yourself in the World Directory of Medical Schools (wdoms.org). A listing records that a school exists — it is not an accreditation, a recognition or an endorsement.

Career opportunities

Graduates from SKMA benefit from global professional opportunities:

• Eligible to take the FMGE / NEXT licensing exam to practice medicine in India.
• Qualified to sit for international licensing exams including USMLE (USA), PLAB (UK), and AMC (Australia).
• Opportunities to pursue postgraduate residency and clinical specializations globally.

Student life

Students at SKMA experience an active, diverse, and engaging university lifestyle in Shymkent:

• Dynamic multicultural environment hosting students from multiple foreign nations.
• Student-led clubs organizing academic seminars, cultural festivals, and scientific conferences.
• Access to comprehensive sports complexes including swimming pools, football fields, and gyms.
• Active international student offices assisting with visa extensions, housing, and personal welfare.

South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) — frequently asked questions

Is South Kazakhstan Medical Academy recognized by the NMC?

No foreign medical university holds "NMC approved" status — the National Medical Commission states that it "does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/ Universities for MBBS or equivalent course". What decides whether you can register to practise in India is whether your course meets the NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021 — at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution and English as the medium of instruction — followed by the screening examination and a further 12 months of supervised internship in India. Confirm the current position with the university in writing before you apply.

What is the tuition fee at South Kazakhstan Medical Academy?

Under the rector's order No. 101-v of 18 June 2025, the tariff for foreign citizens for the 2025-2026 academic year is 1,708,000 tenge a year for bachelor study in English, including General Medicine, and 1,300,000 tenge for study in Kazakh or Russian. That was the newest foreign-student tariff published on skma.edu.kz as at 26 September 2026, so ask the academy for the tariff that will apply to your intake before you pay.

What does the tuition fee not cover?

The annex prices bachelor study, master's, residency and doctorate. It does not separately price the two internship years, and it excludes hostel and mess, medical checks and insurance, visa and migration costs, notarised translations and recognition of your school certificate, and travel.

How long is the General Medicine course at SKMA?

The academy's own FAQ states that General Medicine is full-time only, with no shortened or distance form, and runs as five years of bachelor study followed by a two-year internship (residency is a further two to three years). That FAQ entry is dated, so confirm the current structure in writing.

Is the course taught in English?

The academy's tariff order lists separate rates for foreign students studying in English and for those studying in Kazakh or Russian, so an English-medium track exists. Confirm in writing that the whole course, including the clinical years and internship, is taught in English.

Is NEET mandatory for Indian students at SKMA?

NMC rules require Indian students to have qualified in NEET-UG before starting a medical course abroad if they want to register in India afterwards. Ask the academy separately whether it requires the NEET scorecard as part of its own application pack.

What is the admission process at SKMA?

Apply to the academy (or, from India, through the representative it names on its own site), submit the school certificate and passport with certified Kazakh or Russian translations, sit the admissions committee's interview or test, receive the invitation, pay tuition in tenge and apply for the student visa, then complete enrolment in Shymkent.

What documents are required?

The original state-recognised secondary education document, or an equivalent foreign document, with an officially certified translation into Kazakh and/or Russian; your passport with a certified translation; 10th and 12th marksheets; your NEET scorecard; photographs; a birth certificate; and a medical fitness certificate with HIV screening. Ask the academy for its current full checklist.

When must the fees be paid?

The academy's FAQ states that tuition is paid into the institution's account in tenge, in two equal instalments no later than 25 August and 1 February, or in a single payment no later than 25 August.

How much does the hostel cost at SKMA?

The academy runs dormitories and lists tuition and accommodation payment on its applicant pages, but it does not publish a current hostel rate in a readable document, so we do not quote one. Ask for the hostel tariff in writing before you accept an offer.

Who is SKMA's official representative in India?

On its own India and Pakistan page the academy asks all applicants, parents and consultants to deal only with its official representative in the Republic of India, CIS Global Medical Education LLP. Verify any other agent's status with the academy directly.