An MBBS degree is an undergraduate course for aspirants who want to fulfil their dream of becoming a doctor. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), is a professional degree in medical science. A person holding the MBBS degree becomes a certified medical practitioner. The duration of MBBS course is five years and six months including one year of rotational internship at hospitals, health centres, and health camps organised by non-profit organisations (NGOs). MBBS course syllabus includes studies on anatomy, pharmacology, pathology as well as community health & medicine, paediatrics, and surgery. The syllabus, prescribed in such a way that MBBS degree holders can choose a specialisation for further majoring and practising medicine. The career specialisations for MBBS students are Nephrology, Cardiology, Gynecology, Anesthesiology, Organ Transplant, Endocrine, and General Surgery, etc.

What are the career options after MBBS?

During one year of the MBBS internship, students can work with hospitals and healthcare centres as consultants, physicians, medical assistants in critical care units, among others. They can also work in health campaigns by the government and help the public with awareness about diseases, medicines, health and fitness through conferences.
On completion of the MBBS internship, the students can get themselves registered as doctors with the Medical Council of India (MCI). They can either apply for a post-graduate degree in medical science i.e. MD/MS or continue working in the health sector as qualified doctors.
While pursuing further education in medical science, an MBBS-degree holder can also associate with pharmaceuticals as research associates. Moreover, the option for taking Combined Medical Services Examination is always open for an MBBS graduate. They can be employed with the central government organisations, including hospitals, defence sector, railways, and with the local/state government.

What are the required skills for MBBS?

Every medical and health sciences practitioner must have the required skills:

Ability to work in a critical and dynamic environment	Professional commitments and medical ethics
Desire for knowledge and learning new research	Scientific research and development skills
Sharp memory and prompt approach	Communication interpersonal skills
Counselling and caring skills	Approachable and empathetic skills
Medical writing skills	Patience and perseverance

Eligibility for MBBS Degree

• Candidates must have passed Class XII/higher secondary/pre-university qualifying examination with Science subjects i.e. Physics, Chemistry and Zoology/Botany. They also must have studied English as the main subject for their qualifying examination.
• Moreover, candidates also need to fulfil the age limit criteria i.e. they must have completed 17 years of age at the time of admissions.
• There are additional eligibility conditions as mentioned by the regulatory authorities for MBBS i.e. Medical Council of India (MCI).

Subjects in MBBS

In MBBS course curriculum, aspiring doctors not only learn about everything in and around medical and healthcare industry, but they also learn the ethical practices, get to intern with hospitals and volunteering projects. Check table below for subjects in MBBS course:

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Syllabus
Anatomy	Dermatology & Venereology
Biochemistry	Medicine
Physiology	Obstetrics & Gynecology
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology	Ophthalmology
Microbiology	Orthopaedics
Pathology	Otorhinolaryngology
Pharmacology	Paediatrics
Anesthesiology	Psychiatry
Community Medicine	Surgery

MBBS Entrance Exams

For admission to MBBS course in India, a student needs to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This is the only entrance test for admission to MBBS course and is accepted by both government and private institutions.

Two other major entrance tests for admission to MBBS course in India were JIPMER MBBS Exam and AIIMS MBBS Exam. However, these examinations were scrapped in 2019 making NEET the most important medical entrance test in India.

MBBS Scope, Top Companies/Employers & Salary

General Physician: MBBS degree holders can start their career as a general physician, who studies, diagnosis, cures illnesses of patients. Commonly, a physician treats illnesses at primary stages, and if after diagnosis the disease is critical then the patient referred to a relevant medical practitioner.

The average salary offered to a general physician is Rs 4-5 lakh per annum*.

Paediatrician: A medical practitioner who specialises in the treatment of illness in children and examine their general growth and development. A paediatrician heals children right from their time of birth to their adolescence and even later. They help in early diagnosis of illnesses in developing children, guide parents on food and allergies to children. The practitioner provides preventive care, helps in the growth and development of children with special needs and monitoring side effects and allergies of medicines.

The starting salary offered to a paediatrician is over Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum.

Medical Assistant (Surgery): Starting a career as a medical assistant in specialisation such as cardiology, dermatology, oncology, nephrology, neurology, gynaecology, ophthalmology is a good option to learn about performing surgeries on patients. Further to study, diagnose and treat patients with modern surgical techniques as per their medical speciality. Over the years, with modern science and technology, there have been medical achievements by renowned surgeons, which means this profession is entirely based on continuous learning and practising.

The average salary offered to a medical assistant is Rs. 3-4 lakh per annum.

*Source: Payscale.com 

MBBS: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the full form of MBBS?

A. The full form of MBBS in India is ‘Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery’. However, MBBS is an abbreviation of Medicinae Baccalaureus Baccalaureus Chirurgiae, which is the term used for this course in Latin.

Q. Is MBBS from a private college worth it?

A. Yes, pursuing MBBS from a private medical college will not affect your career in any way. The only flip side of taking admission to a private medical college is the fees. The tuition fee of a private medical college can be up to 10 times that of a government medical college.

Q. How to know the authenticity of an MBBS course in India?

A. Before taking admission to any medical college, check whether the college is recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Also, check if the college/ university is approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Indian Medical Council (IMC).

Q. Can I do MBBS after 12th?

A. Yes, to join an MBBS course you need to complete 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. You must also secure a minimum aggregate of 50% in the core subjects (PCB).

Q. Can we join MBBS without NEET?

A. No, to join the MBBS course you need to write the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Even if you want to opt for a management quota seat, you have to secure the qualifying percentile in NEET.

Q. Which university is best for MBBS in India?

A. There are a lot of good universities for an MBBS course in India, but the best of the lot is AIIMS Delhi. A few other top institutes for the MBBS course are AFMC, CMC (Vellore), Maulana Azad Medical College and Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Q. What is the fees for MBBS in India?

A. Fees for an MBBS degree course varies for the institutes of different categories. Fee in a government college ranges between Rs 10000 – Rs 50000, whereas that of a private medical college, can start from Rs 2,00,000 and can go up to Rs 22,00,000.

Q. What is the total duration of MBBS degree course?

A. To complete the MBBS degree course, you need to complete two stages: 4.5 years of academics and 1 year of internship. Hence, the total duration of an MBBS degree course is 5.5 years.

Q. Can one use “Dr” after completing MBBS?

A. Yes, once you clear the final examination or qualifying examination of MBBS, you need to complete a compulsory rotatory internship of 1 year from a recognised institution/ hospital. On successful completion of the internship, you can officially add “Dr” to your name.

What is BDS?

BDS is one of the most popular and designated degree of dentists (doctors). The BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the only educational and professional programme of dental surgery in India. It is equivalent to the MBBS and owes the “Dr” domain. In the medical educational field, it is the second choice of the students after the MBBS course.

In this course, the students are taught about the denture, dental problems and surgery. It is also a good job oriented degree programmes and various opportunities  are available in the hospital, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industries.

The BDS degree is awarded on the successful completion of the four-year academic education and the one year mandatory internship programme in dentistry education leading to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree programme. After completing your BDS, you are qualified to practice as a dentist.

The BDS is the degree given to a person who plays the vital role in the treatment of problems related to teeth . The dentist prevents,  diagnoses and cures to all dental and related diseases.

It is very challenging to pursue the BDS course and you should have the enthusiasm, hard-working attitude in the study and have a focused mind for doing the BDS course.

The Dental Council of India is the only accredited body for the dental programmes. This course is now in heavy demand by the students after 12^th in medical field.

Eligibility & Duration

Duration:

The BDS is a 5 year (4 years academic education + 1 year mandatory internship) UG degree programme. This course can be pursued through full time and part time courses.

The BDS is one of the most sought courses after 12^th in medical field. There are many reputed universities in India which are offering the BDS course.

The BDS course contains the basic subjects like human anatomy, physiology & biochemistry, dental material, prosthodontics, microbiology, embryology & histology, general & dental pharmacology and pathology, periodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics and dentistry.

Eligibility:

The students, who have passed the 10+2 examination with science stream and have had Physics, Chemistry and Biology and English in 12^th stream, may go for the BDS course.

It is the course which will be having hands on training in the field of dentistry for the duration of five years. The students will get the chance to interact with the patient and will get the practical knowledge of  the diseases.

The students have to score minimum 50% marks (40% in the case of reserved category) in plus two and have to appear for an entrance examination conducted by the respective authorities.

Admission

How to get admission in BDS course?

Admissions into BDS programmes will be done through entrance test. Students can appear in entrance exam organized at national or university level examinations. NEET 2020 (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is mostly considered for providing admission to BDS courses.

After clearing the entrance exam, students have to participate in the counselling process organized by the respective authority. Seats will be allotted to candidates on the basis of rank, filled choices and availability of seats.

Career & Jobs

After the completion of the BDS course, the dental graduates are entitled to use the term Doctor before his or her name as the prefix “Dr.”.

There are plenty of good jobs & higher study opportunities available after getting the degree in dentistry as a doctor. It is the professional field with 100% job placement.

A BDS graduate may go for the PG degree programmes leading to the Domain MDS (Master of Dental Surgery). MDS is the advanced degree in dentistry field and allows the candidates to specialize in any of its discipline. Interested candidates can also go for research programme by pursuing Doctor of Philosophy.

Teaching career is also open for BDS graduates. Those interested in teaching can acquire teaching jobs in any of the top Dental Colleges. They are eligible to hold positions as professors or even HOD and even get promoted to Dean.

This profession includes the imaging, tissue graft, implants, laser surgery and trauma. After completing this course you will be hired by the medical college, hospitals, nursing home, health corporations, health ministry, and back office medical consultancy.

One can also open his/her own dental clinic or work as dentist in government and private hospitals.

The Job Profiles of the BDS may be the following:

• Dentist
• Dental Surgeon
• Endodontic
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist
• Oral Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pedodontics
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics

Some employment areas for BDS aspirants are:

• Dental Clinics
• Hospitals
• Educational Institutions
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Dental Products Manufactures
• Private Practice

Salary

After pursuing BDS course, how much you will earn?

The initial salary of a dentist may be the Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month. After getting the experience and good hands on in this field, the candidate may get the handsome salary as 4 to 6 lakh per annum.

“Dental field offer rewarding job opportunities to BDS aspirants.”

There are more job opportunities to work in the US and the UK in the medical field with handsome salaries. You can establish your own clinic and earn around Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 per month.