MBBS

MBBS full form Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is a 5 years 6 months undergraduate program in the medical field. This is a professional course for students who want to become doctors, detect diseases, prescribe medication and conduct surgery. To study MBBS, candidates need to appear for an entrance exam- NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). For the exam, students must be at least 17 years of age and study Physics, Chemistry and Biology as their compulsory subjects for the 10+2 exam. MBBS Syllabus provides a clear understanding of the important subjects required to study during the course duration.

In India, there are approximately more than 1800 MBBS colleges which constitute a mix of government and private medical colleges teaching MBBS. MBBS fees are completely dependent on the kind of institution- typically a private MBBS college is more expensive in comparison to government colleges. Some of the top Medical Colleges in India are AIIMS New Delhi, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, etc. 

MBBS fees range can be anywhere from INR 5,00,000 to INR 50, 00,000. Once students successfully complete their course, they can opt for different specialisations such as MS or MD degree,  M.P.H., DNB, international education, CMS, choose to work as a doctor in the Indian Defence sector, work in private and government hospitals, choose to study MBA in Medical Field, carry on with clinical research or start their own clinic. 

 An MBBS graduate during the first few years of their practice has the prospect of earning anywhere between INR 40,000 - INR 60,000. With further education and experience, the salary of doctors increases manifolds. 

Here are the course highlights for MBBS so that students can understand the course program better:

Students choose MBBS for a variety of reasons from personal calling to reaching financial stability. While everyone has their own reason and motivation for choosing to study medicine, here are some practical reasons why MBBS is a viable and desirable career choice:

• You will get to serve society and get a lot of respect in return. Doctors in general are considered to be one of the noblest professions. Hence, studying medicine will help you to serve society better and earn respect in the process. There is also a sense of satisfaction that is derived from being able to serve society in a meaningful way.
• Financial stability is another important reason for many people to choose medicine as it is one of those professions which are hard hit in cases of any worldwide financial crisis. Although the gains might not always compare to other professions, the inherent stability makes up for it. 
• The field of medicine is extremely diverse and vast and hence one can never cease to learn new things. MBBS is just the gateway or the initial stage of gaining knowledge for a bright future in medicine.
• There are immense options to choose from and specialise in after the completion of the MBBS degree. One can move forward with medicine or choose other specialisations like surgery, dermatology, neurology, nephrology, psychiatry, etc. 
• Once you complete your MBBS degree, you will also have the option of looking for a career in medical research or you can choose to be a medical scientist. 
• There are options to set up a consultancy for health targeted programs. Postgraduate programs like a Master of Public Health are also another option to choose from for students who complete their MBBS degree. 
• The field of medicine and MBBS is also for those people who like to be challenged on a daily basis and possess strong decision-making skills. One needs to think very clearly and employ knowledge to save people’s lives. Compassion and having a strong belief system to help bring positive changes in society are also a part of the world of medicine.
• With perseverance and dedication to the job, one can also reach the global stage since good doctors are required everywhere. Donning a white coat comes with the major responsibility of improving the lives of people. Only doctors with an MBBS degree can understand the importance of bringing people back from the clutches of death from life-threatening diseases. If you discover an antidote, you will be able to save millions of lives around the world. The joy derived from such work is truly incomparable.

The MBBS course is a single course in itself which is divided into semesters. There are a number of MBBS subjects taught throughout the course. The MBBS course semesters can be divided into three stages preclinical, para-clinical and clinical stages.

It is a professional course for doctors and after the completion of this course, students can choose a specialisation. Here is a list of specialities that one can choose from after completing his or her MBBS degree:

• Orthopaedics

• Internal Medicine

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology

• Dermatology

• Paediatrics

• Radiology

• General surgery

• Ophthalmology

• Family Medicine

• Chest Medicine

• Anaesthesia

• Pathology

• ENT

There is only one entrance exam for MBBS which is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET conducted by NTA. Here are the important details for the MBBS entrance exam: 

• This entrance exam is held every year to allow students admission to 542 medical colleges, 313 dental, 47 BVSc and AH colleges, and 914 AYUSH colleges.
• NEET is conducted in various languages- Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
• The exam is conducted in offline mode and there are a total of 158002 seats available. 1257 colleges are participating in the NEET exam 2022. 
• A candidate should also be at least 17 years of age when registering for the NEET exam. Recently the upper age limit for appearing in the exam has been removed. 
• Students must also have PCB or PCMB in their class 12 exam in order to appear for NEET.

In order to study the MBBS course, students must appear for the NEET or National Eligibility cum Entrance Test conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency). Based on the rankings received in the entrance examination, candidates will be able to gain admission to various government and private MBBS colleges in India. 

Here are the eligibility criteria for obtaining MBBS admission:

• The applicant should also be at least 17 years of age in order to be eligible for admission to an MBBS course.

• While the minimum marks criteria for admission may vary, at least 50% of marks from candidates will be considered to be eligible for MBBS admission.

• Passing the entrance examination i.e. NEET with the best possible scores increases the chances of getting placed in the top MBBS colleges in the country. 

• NEET applicants should also have Physics, Chemistry and Biology as their 10+2 exam subjects.

• For candidates belonging to the reserved category, 40% is the minimum percentage for eligibility. 

Students wishing to pursue a course in MBBS after completing their 10+2, can do so in various ways. The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery courses offer admission to eligible candidates through two ways, entrance exams and merit-based admissions. 

• Entrance exams: Candidates can get admission to MBBS Courses by appearing for entrance exams conducted by various institutes across India. Upon qualifying the same, aspiring candidates will be eligible to earn a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery degree. Based on the results secured in the examination, candidates are allotted their desired colleges to pursue their MBBS. Candidates can appear for NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) which is conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency), conducted once a year for MBBS admission.
   
• Merit-based: Candidates can also be granted admission to MBBS at colleges and universities, which offer admission to MBBS Courses based on the marks secured in 10+2 or equivalent examination. Candidates are then selected based on the prescribed cut-off required for the admission process. 

There are various points of difference between an MBBS degree and an MD degree but the point of difference is the former is an undergraduate course and the latter, is a postgraduate program. One can pursue an MD degree only after completing the MBBS course. Let’s take a look at the difference between an MBBS and BDS degree

Similarly, for MBBS vs BAMS

There are several MBBS colleges in India- both government and private that provide an excellent and top-notch education for their students. Check the list of top MBBS colleges in India here:

While deciding to study MBBS abroad, there are a few things that need to be kept in mind

Eligibility and requirements

Although each country has its own criteria and list of rules for international students who are willing to pursue MBBS abroad, here are some general guidelines for top countries across the world:

Age

The student has to be at least 17 years of age on December 31 of the particular year of application for admission to study MBBS abroad.

Academic requirements

All candidates willing to pursue an MBBS degree abroad have to meet up to these requirements:

• Candidate must complete his or her 10+2 from a recognised board. An aggregate percentage of 50% must be achieved in Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with English as a compulsory subject in their 10+2 exam.
• Candidates are also required to qualify for the NEET exam even if they are planning to study MBBS abroad. The NEET score for each candidate will be valid for a period of three years.
• Students must also produce an Eligibility Certificate from the Medical Council of India during the time of admission to any foreign medical university.
• Based on the English requirements of the university or college, students could also be required to appear for English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or OET. 
• Students cannot suffer from any contagious diseases at the time of admission and need to submit a medical certificate for the same.

Willing candidates would be interested in knowing more about MBBS abroad at top colleges and universities. Here is the list of top medical universities to pursue MBBS for Indian students:

MBBS Course in USA, UK, and Sweden

Candidates can refer to these institutes to pursue MBBS courses in UK, Sweden, and USA.

MBBS Course in Russia

Candidates can refer to these institutes to pursue MBBS course in Russia.

MBBS Course in Philippines

Candidates can refer to these colleges to study MBBS course in Philippines.

MBBS Course in Canada

Students can refer to these institutes to pursue MBBS programme in Canada.

MBBS Course in Georgia

Students can refer to these colleges to study MBBS course in Georgia.

Check out the list of top MBBS Colleges by state

Maharashtra

Tamil Nadu

Uttar Pradesh 

Karnataka

Delhi

Kerala

Odisha

Madhya Pradesh 

West Bengal

Punjab

Rajasthan

Telangana 

Jammu and Kashmir

Andhra Pradesh

Pondicherry

Gujarat 

Uttarakhand

Chandigarh

Haryana 

Manipur

Meghalaya

Bihar

Himachal Pradesh

Government and private institutions have lined up several scholarship programmes for students. However, it can be availed after candidates fulfill certain eligibility criteria. Check them in the section below.

Before enrolling on an MBBS college, it is crucial for students to have a clear understanding of the MBBS fee structure. Here is a comprehensive view of the MBBS course fee structure for some of the top MBBS institutions in India:

MBBS Fees in private institutions and deemed colleges are comparatively higher and they can lie anywhere in the range of INR 2,00, 000 to 40,00,000 per annum. 

The MBBS syllabus is extremely vast and covers all the core concepts of medicine and surgery. The course has been designed by keeping in mind that students must be equipped with all medical-related topics and develop skills which are relevant to the industry. 

As we have stated above, the MBBS course curriculum is divided into three stages pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical stages, here we will discuss in detail the various MBBS subjects that are taught in the various stages of the MBBS syllabus:

• Pre-clinical- The first two semesters of an MBBS course are dedicated to pre-clinical studies and include subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, biophysics, physiology, etc. It is an introductory phase where students get a headstart with intensive learning. They cover all majority concepts in their basic and fundamental form. It is compulsory to qualify in the first phase of the pre-clinical phase of the MBBS degree in order to move on to the next stage.
• Para- Clinical- the second phase of the MBBS degree program which runs for three semesters. Some of the subjects that are taught at this level are forensic medicine, pathology, community medicine, pharmacology, microbiology, OPDs, clinical postings, etc.
• Clinical- this is the final academic stage in the whole MBBS course and it comprises the clinical phase. It stretches from semester 5 to 9 where the course focus remains on the study of specialisations in medicine and surgery. Subjects taught in the clinical phase are psychiatry, dermatology, obstetrics, gynaecology, and paediatrics. It also includes subjects such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ENT, anaesthesiology, surgery and its allied subjects. 

MBBS Subjects and Topics Covered

It is important for students to have an idea of the MBBS syllabus and we have prepared a tabular form for the MBBS syllabus pdf format: 

Check out the course curriculum for the MBBS course below:

Aspirants can study the MBBS syllabus by referring to the right set of books. Some of the important ones are given below.

MBBS Books

There are various options available after MBBS along with clinical practice and teaching. Some of the best options include MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Surgery), Masters in Hospital Administration, MS in Clinical Pathology, Masters in Public Health, MTech in Biomedical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Diploma courses in Sports Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychology, Occupational Health, etc. Some more alternative career options would be Clinical Forensics, Medical Researcher, and Academic Medicine. 

Here is a comprehensive list of career options for students after the MBBS course:

After the completion of the MBBS degree, students have a lot of scope in India. Many choose to go for postgraduate studies such as MD and MS degrees. Some candidates like to begin practising medicine by opening private clinics. The scope of taking up various paramedical courses and jobs in administration are also common options.

Best Companies for MBBS Graduates :-

Here are some of the topmost organizations offering lucrative packages to fresh graduates.

• Fortis Health care
• Max Health Care
• Columbia Asia
• Apollo Hospitals
• Medanta
• Wockhardt Hospitals
• Global Hospitals
• Dr. Lal Path Labs, and
• Care Hospitals

MBBS salary depends on a number of factors such as the college or institute from which one has completed their MBBS degree. For example, MBBS graduates from AIIMS who opt for PG studies are offered the position of junior residents for a period of three years and receive a stipend of INR 64,000.  Again the average internship money falls within a range of INR 15,000 to INR 21,000. Students who choose government bodies for job posting such as the army and railways get paid anywhere between INR 9.4 LPA to INR 11 LPA.

The path to becoming a doctor is one of the most daunting and challenging ones. And without a certain number of skills, students cannot successfully complete their MBBS course and become good doctors. Hence, here is the list of required skillsets for MBBS students:

Academic competence

This skill perhaps goes without saying. Any student without academic competence will not be able to survive in the field of medicine and medical science. Any practising doctor requires to have a strong and sound knowledge base which will be helpful for providing the best care to patients. For this same reason, medical students have to spend a huge chunk of their time studying where they learn about aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment for various diseases in medical colleges. 

Communication skills

Possessing good communication skills is considered to be a huge asset for medical students and doctors as it helps them to identify the problems of patients and provide them with proper remedies. Moreover, medical professionals rarely work in isolation. Hence when working in teams, it is absolutely essential to possess good communication skills. 

Leadership skills

In the field of medicine and medical science, doctors will be required to make important decisions within a short span of time and the outcome will affect someone’s health. Again, effective leadership skills are not limited to patient-related decisions, doctors are also often involved in administrative tasks where they make decisions for positive outcomes. Thus possessing effective leadership skills where one can take the role of a leader and guide a team of doctors and other professionals is crucial. 

Teamwork

Doctors need to work in teams, and when working in a group, it is important to understand that each and every team member has their own unique personality as well as perspectives. But with differences, frictions can arise. Hence, they need to be managed effectively. 

Empathy

Doctors need to be empathetic towards their patients. In their years of clinical practice, instances may occur when they might only see the disease and not the person. Therefore, empathising with patients and their family members is a crucial part of the healthcare industry.