A large number of students from India go to Uzbekistan for medical education. It is more affordable to study MBBS in Uzbekistan for Indian students. Cost-effective education saves them money. However, they battle isolation, homesickness, and stress. Studying far from the family takes its toll on their mental health.
However, inadequate resources make psychological well-being an overlooked burden for foreign students in Uzbekistan.
Let’s discuss what stressors foreign medical students face in Uzbekistan
1. Intense Academic Pressure
The rigorous MBBS curriculum, coupled with outdated teaching methods and limited resources, creates unnecessary pressure on students. Medical colleges encourage their students to do well in their studies, but fail to provide even the basic infrastructure. It is especially true for foreign students who face multiple challenges.
2. Cultural & Language Barrier
It is good that Uzbekistan’s medical colleges provide English-medium education. However, they remain strangers outside the campus. Locals use either Uzbek or Russian instead of English, leaving foreign students with no choice other than to learn the local language. Similarly, the cultural differences between Indian and Uzbekistan create barriers for Indian students.
3. Homesickness & Isolation
The cultural and language barrier fuels the feeling of homesickness and isolation among foreign students, who shift to an unfamiliar environment. Their inability to communicate with locals and make friends further isolates them. They remain confined to their hostels and think only about their families in India.
4. Recognition & Infrastructure Issues
Many colleges lose their recognition status due to poor infrastructure. Students remain uncertain whether their MBBS in Uzbekistan will be recognised in their home country. They study under constant fear of their colleges getting de-recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
5. Financial Stress
The high cost of living and annual visa extension fees create financial stress. The other factors compound the financial stress.
Available Support Systems
1. University Counselling
Universities hire dedicated counsellors to help students overcome psychological pressures. The counsellors meet students, listen to their problems, and suggest remedies. However, untrained counsellors can provide little help to students battling homesickness, anxiety, and financial stress.
2. Wellness Workshops
Universities often host wellness workshops, especially for foreign students. These workshops provide students with an opportunity to express their stress triggers and learn to cope with stress. However, irregular wellness workshops become more of a formality than real help for students.
3. Student Communities
Indian students in Uzbekistan live like an extended family. They stay connected through social media. It is a closely knit community in a foreign land. They talk to each other, celebrate birthdays, festivals, and victories. You can say that it is the only help available to Indian students in Uzbekistan.
4. Community Support
The larger Uzbek community can provide both tactical and emotional support to foreign students. Locals can help Indian students assimilate into their society. If it happens, it can make MBBS in Uzbekistan for Indian students a unique experience. It can happen only if the universities host social and cultural programs where Indians can meet locals.
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