Ukraine to allow Indian students to appear for key exam from India

Indian medical students, who returned home from Ukraine following the Russian invasion, will be allowed to take a key examination from India.

The Ukraine government has decided to allow foreign medical students including Indian students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) in their domicile country.

During her visit to New Delhi between April 10 to April 12, the Ukrainian deputy minister of foreign affairs Emine Dzhaparova informed this latest development to Indian External Affairs Ministry.

The USQE exam will include an integrated test exam ‘KROK’, an objective structured practical (clinical) exam, and a professional English language exam for MBBS students.

In March last year, the Ukrainian government reportedly cancelled the KROK exam, which is mandatory to get a medical license, for final-year MBBS students studying in Ukrainian universities in view of the war. Several medical universities had also started online classes and students had been informed that their exams will also be held online. They also allowed their foreign students to gain practical training at hospitals and clinics in their own countries.

Around 19,000 Indian students were studying in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began in February last year. According to estimates, approximately 2,000 Indian students have gone back to Ukraine and they are residing mostly in the western part of the East European country.

Under the initiative of the Ukrainian authorities, the students who are still in India can join online classes and have the option to appear for the Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) in India.

According to the official statement, the decision will allow medical students outside Ukraine to take KROK exam at testing centres recognized by the state non-profit enterprise “Testing Board for Professional Competence Assessment of Higher Education Trainees in Medicine and Pharmacy at the Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine”, in the respective countries of their stay, including India.

“Dzhaparova, during her visit, highlighted Ukraine’s desire to build a stronger and closer relationship with India,” the MEA said.

“Dzhaparova’s visit to India would facilitate cooperation between the two countries,” it said.

(With inputs from PTI)