Indian medical students attending Samarkand State Medical University (SSMU) in Uzbekistan have reported widespread mismanagement, poor academic standards, and unsafe living conditions. The Indian Embassy in Tashkent issued a critical advisory on October 31, 2025 , confirming these concerns. The embassy stated SSMU’s student enrollment, including 1,400 new Indian admissions for the 2024-25 academic year , “far exceeds its capacity.” This overcapacity has reportedly compromised the quality of education and medical outreach programs for enrolled students.
Student Allegations Detail Systemic Issues
Students formally communicated their extensive concerns in a letter submitted to both the Indian Embassy and the National Medical Commission (NMC). This public letter detailed numerous systemic problems impacting their education and daily lives at SSMU, prompting official intervention.
The core academic grievances include:
- Lack of Transparency: Students reported an absence of clear communication regarding university policies, academic schedules, and financial matters.
- Substandard Academic Quality: This issue stems from inadequate faculty resources and a lack of properly structured curricula.
- Irregular Teaching Schedules: Inconsistent class timings and durations disrupt consistent learning and student preparation.
- Absence of Formal Instruction: Students indicated a lack of structured classes and formal examinations, with academic instruction largely relying on shared PDF documents.
- Unannounced Fee Hikes: Sudden and arbitrary increases in tuition and other fees created financial instability and uncertainty for students.
Admission Agencies Under Scrutiny
Students also highlighted concerning practices by MD House, an agency reportedly managing admissions and fee collection for SSMU. Allegations state MD House fails to provide proper receipts for payments made by students. Furthermore, the agency’s office reportedly lacks CCTV surveillance, raising security and accountability concerns.
Students reported being asked to make “undocumented payments” directly to individuals associated with MD House. These requests increased financial uncertainty and reduced transparency. The Indian Embassy’s advisory also confirmed receiving complaints against Edsmart, another company involved in admitting Indian students to SSMU, indicating broader issues with third-party agents.
Inadequate Living Conditions and Reported Intimidation
Living conditions for Indian students at SSMU were consistently described as inadequate. Campus accommodation is insufficient to house all enrolled international students. Consequently, approximately 600 Indian students currently reside in off-campus hotels due to this severe housing shortage. Food facilities provided by the university were also deemed substandard.
A troubling climate of intimidation was also reported by students attempting to voice their grievances. Students alleged that agents and senior students exerted pressure on them. This pressure included demands to post “fake positive reviews” online, aiming to suppress genuine complaints about the university’s operational deficiencies and student welfare issues.
Embassy Demands Accountability, Advises Students
The Indian Embassy’s official advisory on October 31, 2025 , corroborated many of the detailed student complaints. The advisory specifically noted that SSMU’s significant increase in international student enrollment, particularly the 1,400 Indian students admitted, “far exceeds” the university’s operational capacity. This overcrowding directly impacts the quality of educational delivery and the university’s ability to provide adequate clinical exposure and medical outreach experiences, crucial for medical training.
The embassy has formally engaged with the university administration regarding all reported issues. It is currently awaiting a comprehensive official response from SSMU detailing corrective actions. In its advisory, the embassy strongly urged all prospective and current students to carefully review previous warnings and advisories regarding medical studies in Uzbekistan. These advisories provide crucial information on risks and recommended precautions.
The embassy further committed to continuously updating its public list of institutions that fail to meet established norms and standards for international students. This ongoing monitoring aims to safeguard student welfare and ensure acceptable educational quality for Indian nationals pursuing higher education abroad.