“I just wanted to become a doctor and now I’m just trying to come home safe.” These words from a Kashmiri medical student in Tehran echo the anxiety of hundreds of Indian students currently stranded in Iran, as the country inches dangerously close to a full-blown conflict.
Over the past few years, Iran had quietly emerged as a preferred destination for medical education, especially for students from Jammu & Kashmir. Affordable fees, cultural familiarity, and accessible admissions made it an attractive option. But now, as tensions rise in the region, what once seemed like a promising academic path is quickly turning into a diplomatic and humanitarian concern.
India has begun issuing advisories and preparing evacuation protocols. Students and their families are caught in a storm of uncertainty; not just about their safety, but also about their interrupted education, uncertain future, and the long road ahead if they return.
Why Iran? A Closer Look at the Attraction
1. Affordable and Accessible Education
Compared to Indian private medical colleges where fees can soar up to ₹1 crore, Iran offers MBBS programs at a fraction of the cost, typically under ₹30-40 lakh. This makes it a highly attractive option for middle-class families in Kashmir who cannot afford private medical education in India and often don’t make the cut in fiercely competitive government colleges.
2. Religious and Cultural Compatibility
For Kashmiri Shia Muslims, Iran holds immense religious and cultural significance. The presence of shared linguistic elements (Urdu, Persian influences) and similar dietary customs, combined with Shiite theological centers in cities like Qom and Mashhad, makes Iran feel familiar and welcoming.
3. Easy Visa Process and Government Support
Iran has traditionally maintained friendly diplomatic ties with India, resulting in easier visa issuance and streamlined admission processes for Indian students. Some universities even offer scholarships or subsidized housing to foreign students, including Indians.
Risks and Challenges: Studying Abroad Isn’t Always a Dream
Despite the initial appeal, the journey is not without its shadows. Indian students in Iran often face:
- Language barriers: Persian (Farsi) is the medium of instruction in many institutions. Although some universities offer English-medium programs, practical training in hospitals still demands fluency in Farsi, leading to difficulties in communication and comprehension.
- Academic Recognition: Degrees from Iran are not always recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) without mandatory screening tests like FMGE. Students often return home only to face exam failures and additional licensing delays.
- Limited Post-Graduate Options: Even for students who complete their MBBS, Iran offers limited global mobility, especially for those aspiring to practice in the West.
The Current Crisis: A Turning Point
The ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the West have triggered mass concern among Indian families, especially those with children in Iranian cities like Tehran, Shiraz, or Mashhad. With war clouds looming and reports of escalating violence, many students are now returning to India, uncertain about the future of their degrees and their safety.
The MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has also issued advisories urging Indian nationals in Iran to be cautious and prepare for possible evacuations. The shift has left hundreds of students in limbo, some only partway through their degrees, now reconsidering their academic future.
Re-entry into India: A New Struggle Begins
Returning to India is only the beginning of a new set of challenges. Foreign-trained doctors often face:
- Screening exams like FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination), which have a pass rate of under 20%.
- Internship requirements are not always aligned with their training abroad.
- Bias from Indian medical institutions and regulatory bodies, who often view degrees from countries like Iran, China, or Ukraine with skepticism.
This makes reintegration into the Indian medical system a long, uncertain, and often demoralizing path.
Where Else Are Indian Students Going?
Iran is not the only country witnessing a surge in Indian student enrollment. Popular destinations include:
- Russia and Ukraine (though the war has reversed this trend)
- China, especially for medicine
- Philippines and Bangladesh for English-medium MBBS programs
- Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, emerging as new alternatives
- USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany, for students with stronger academic or financial backing
Each of these destinations brings its own set of advantages and complications, from cost and curriculum to post-study work rights.
Between Aspirations and Anxiety
What began as a journey of hope and economic pragmatism is now tinged with fear and uncertainty. For many Kashmiri students, Iran once symbolized an affordable, culturally comfortable gateway to a medical career. But the tides of war and the rigid Indian licensing structure have cast long shadows on that dream.
As the world becomes increasingly unstable, it’s clear that the decision to study abroad, especially in politically volatile regions, is no longer just academic. It is strategic, emotional, and deeply personal.
For the thousands of Indian students returning from Iran, the question now is not just “Where do we go next?”, but also “Was it worth it?”
