MD: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees, Duration

A Doctor of Medicine or MD is a three-year speciality medical programme that deals with applying and using medicine and medical care for patients in need. The MD course is one that aspirants take after completing their postgraduate course and provides in-depth learning of theoretical, practical and clinical skills. After completing MD, they can work as Immunologists, Cardiologists, General Physicians, and Neurologists, to name a few.

About MD

There are many specializations that fall under this course. The MD course list is diverse and flexible. Wikipedia explains MD degree as, “Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin Medicinae Doctorate) is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional graduate degree. This generally arose because many in 18th-century medical professions trained in Scotland, which used the M.D. degree nomenclature.” 

Table of Contents

• MD Eligibility Criteria
• MD Admission Process
• Who Should Pursue MD?
• Types of MD
• Popular MD Entrance Exams
• Study MD in India
• Top MD Colleges
• Study MD Abroad
• Fees Structure for MD
• Syllabus and Subjects for MD
• Why Choose a MD?
• Course Comparison
• Preparation Tips for MD
• Scope of Higher Education after MD
• MD Salary
• Career Options After MD
• Skills to Excel

Eligibility Criteria for MD Course

For admission in the course, aspirants must ensure that they are aware of the MD eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria for the MD program include students who must hold an MBBS degree. It is also essential that the students have a rank obtained in any related entrance examinations that form the basis for admission. Some institutions may conduct a personal interview with the candidate. There is no age limit for applying to the course.

How To Get Admission to MD?

The MD course admission is possible for the aspirants if they ensure that they meet all the eligibility criteria. The MD course duration is of three years, and it is a postgraduate course. The applicants also have to fill up the application form and submit it to the administration of the opted college/university prior to the dates mentioned on the website. The applicants must have all Governmental documents for the admission process prior to the counseling process. Mentioned below are the details of the admission process in general:

How to Apply?

To apply for admission in the MD course, students can apply either through online application methods or offline application methods. For the online application method, students need to log in to the official website of the colleges and apply online for admission. The offline application can be done by going to the admission office in person and submitting the paperwork. Additionally, the aspirant has to attend the Entrance Exams conducted by Individual universities/colleges in accordance with the admission procedure of the respective University/college. 

Selection Process

For the selection process of the MD course, students can find out the exact criteria by going to the college or university website. 

The selection for the final list of candidates is primarily based on the marks obtained by the students in the entrance exam and the undergraduate course. A rank list will be published based on it, upon which the students will be called for a counselling session. Based on the overall marks obtained by the students, the eligible candidates are offered admission to the program.

Who Should Pursue an MD?

MD is a Postgraduate course of 2 years which gives a deep knowledge of medicine in detail. This course is especially considered for those medical students who have completed their medical degree programs. Those students are now ready to go through the knowledge of diseases, preventions, treatment, and the most important study of medicine in detail can pursue this course.

When To Do MD?

MD has some basic eligibility criteria for the students who want to be admitted to the course. The student should be an Indian citizen with an MBBS degree certificate. The students must have completed an internship period of a minimum of 1 year.

Types of MD

MD is one of the most important and popular postgraduate courses one can do. As this is not considered a proper course but it can be called a degree program. This course has only a Full-time mode available due to the practical aspects. So, there is no part-time or distance learning available in this course.

Full-Time MD

The full-time MD is a 3 years course program that can be done only after completing an MBBS degree. The fee structure for this MD course ranges from INR 10,000- 15 LPA.

Part-Time MD

Due to the practical nature of the course, this course is not commonly provided as a part-time course. There is laboratory work that the students need to engage in, hence it is vital for the aspirants to attend classes in real-time on a full-time basis.

Distance-Time MD

The distance-time mode is not available for MD due to the practical nature of this program. The MD course is all about laboratory work for the students to engage in, so that's why it is important for the students to attend the regular classes on a full-time basis.

Popular Entrance Exams for MD

There are many entrance exams that are conducted by the colleges for admission in the MD course. The course is a three-year-long postgraduate course, which introduces students to all the essential aspects of the medical field and research in medicine. Entrance exams are a means of the colleges to assess which student should get admitted to the course. Listed below are some of the popular entrance exams for MD: 

• JCECE
• IPU CET
• GITAM GAT
• MP DMAT
• MU OET
• CETPPMC
• CMC Vellore
• JIPMER MBBS
• AIIMS PG
• NEET PG

A Quick Glance at the MD Entrance Exams

When applying for the MD course, it is an important step for the graduate to know the pattern for the entrance exams. Listed below are the general guidelines and pattern of MD course entrance exams:

• The test lasts for 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• The question type will be MCQs.
• The maximum mark for the exam is 800.
• It contains a total of 200 objective questions.
• Correct answers will receive 4 marks.

Study MD in India

Many universities or colleges offer the MD course to the students. The college takes admission only after the students qualify the eligibility criteria and complete the minimum of 1 year internship period. Here are some of the state-wise top MD Colleges given below.

Top 10 MD Colleges in India

The MD duration is of three years. It is a postgraduate course that introduces students to all the essential concepts related to medicine and research. Listed below are the top 10 colleges for MD in India:

Top MD Colleges in India

Sl.No.	Name of the College
1	AIIMS New Delhi
2	Maulana Azad Medical College
3	University College of Medical Sciences
4	B J Medical College
5	Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences
6	Indira Gandhi Medical College
7	Medical College, Vadodara
8	Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences
9	Lady Hardinge Medical College
10	GSVM Medical College

Study MD Abroad

Students can choose to pursue their MD abroad, after completing their MBBS, as they will need an MD to practice as doctors abroad. Furthermore, an MD from abroad brings a lot of job scope and prestige with it. Below are some top Top MD colleges abroad, that students to choose from.

Top MD Colleges in the UK

The UK has some of the best institutions for MD in the world. In the UK, MD is 2 - 3 year research degree. The MD degree from the UK is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Below are the top medical institutions in the UK for MD.

Top MD Colleges in the UK

SI.No	Name of College
1	University of Oxford
2	University College London
3	University of CambridgeKing's
4	Imperial College London
5	University of Manchester

Top MD Colleges in the USA

In the USA, MD is for a period of 4 years. MBBS students are required to write the MCAT examination to be eligible for the 4-year MD degree in the USA. Some of the top MD colleges in the USA are:

Top MD Colleges in the USA

SI.No	Name of the Colleges
1	University of California
2	Harvard University
3	Stanford University
4	Yale University
5	University of California
6	UCLA

MBBS in Canada

The MD degree in canada is for a period of 3 to 4 years. The fees for MD is more affordable in Canada in comparison to the USA. Canada has 17 MBBS Medical Colleges, with 6 colleges open for International students. Some of the best Medical Colleges offering MBBS in Canada are:

Top Medical Colleges in Canada

SI.No	Name of the Colleges
1	Queen's University
2	University of Sherbrooke
3	McGill University
4	University of Toronto
5	McMaster University
6	Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)

Fee Structure for MD

The MD fee is not fixed. The fees for the course can depend on and vary on many different factors. Some of these factors include the facilities, faculty, and location. The fee for the MD government colleges in India will be lower than that of the private colleges. The average fee for the MD colleges in India is around INR 1 - 10 LPA.

Fee Structure for MD in Indian Colleges

Sl. No.	Name of the Institute	Average Annual Fees
1	Christian Medical College	INR 4.73 LPA
2	Madras Medical College	INR 2.78 LPA
3	Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research	INR 13.5 LPA

Syllabus and Subjects for MD

The examination for MD is held at the end of 3 academic years which includes 6 academic terms. MD course is more practical-oriented and research-based as compared to MBBS. The Medical Council of India is the authority that approves and recognizes various Institutes to provide MD Degree Course.

Since the course involves a deeper study of relevant subjects, one needs to be prepared for mind-boggling study. It is amongst the popular courses pursued by medical graduates, primarily because of the high salary package. There are six semesters in the course. Listed below are some of the core subjects in the course:

• Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Pharmacology

Read More: MD Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose MD?

Students often wonder about MD course details before choosing the course. Before deciding on a career, students come across queries like, "What is a MD course?" and "Why choose a MD degree?”. To clearly understand answers to these questions and know more about the MD course, we have framed the following three pointers:

What is MD All About?

MD is a postgraduate medicine course. The MD short form is MD in Medicine. The course is based on gaining an in-depth knowledge of one's chosen field of specialization. MD course is more practical-oriented and research-based as compared to MBBS. 

The Medical Council of India is the authority that approves and recognizes various Institutes to provide MD Degree Course. Since the course involves a deeper study of relevant subjects, one needs to be prepared for mind-boggling study. 

It is amongst the popular courses pursued by medical graduates, primarily because of the high salary package. The applicants must have a degree of MBBS for admission to this course.

What Does a MD Graduate Do?

In the MD course, the study of medicine will deal with the most recent studies in Manufacturing, Accommodating and moving on to further research in the field of the same. The course is a research-based course where the students are exposed to different methods and techniques related to the field of medicine. Some of the popular job roles that the students start with are Chiropodist, Anesthetist or Anaesthesiologist, General Surgeon, Cardiologist, and Bacteriologist.

Researcher: The researcher's primary duties include data collection, analysis of the data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential.

Reasons Why MD Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

A Medical Doctorate degree is a higher postgraduate degree that is representative of one's specialty training. Specialty in one's own field is more beneficial both in terms of money and fame. Students who have cleared their MD course can opt for further sub-specialization in their area of interest by opting for courses called DM or DNB (Diplomate of National Board), or M.Ch. (Master of Chirurgiae/ Surgery) which are of 3 years duration as well. 

Diversity And Relevancy Of The Education: The education that the students gain while pursuing a Doctorate in Medicine is a very relevant and industry appropriate course. The education helps the students to learn about the research techniques and methodologies in detail. Due to the nature of the course, students are able to create a very rewarding career for themselves. 

Read More: MD Jobs

MD Course Comparison

MD stands for MD and is typically catered to students interested in and inclined toward medical sciences. Below is a comparison of the MD course with other courses:

MD vs MS

The table below showcases the differences between MD and B.Tech:

Course Comparison: MD vs MS

Course	Masters	Masters
Full-Form	MD	Master of Surgery
Stream	Medicine	Surgery
Course Duration	3 Years	3 Years
Eligibility	Must complete an MBBS degree with a minimum of 50% marks.	Must complete an MBBS degree with a minimum of 50% marks
Entrance Exams	NEET PG, AIPGET, and INI CET (AIIMS, JIPMER PG, PGIMER, NIMHANS)	AIIMS, CMC, BHU PET, AIPGMEE, DUPGMET, COMEDK PGET, CET.
Top Colleges	AIIMS, Madras Medical College, BJMC	Madras Medical College, UCMS, MS Ramaiah Medical College
Fees	INR 10,000 - 15 LPA	INR 54,000 - 18 LPA

Preparation Tips for MD

When pursuing a MD course, it is an essential requirement for the students to prepare themselves for the course and the exams. Listed below are some of the essential tips that the students should take:

Start Early: An early start to prepare for the course can be an advantage to the candidate to get to know all the concepts and modules in the course.

Knowledge of the Exam Paper: Preparing for the exams with the reference of previous question papers could make it easy for a candidate to prepare during exams.

Time Management: A timetable should be prepared so that the student can prepare in some of the subjects of the course where he/she is lagging behind.

Scope For Higher Education

MD is a research-based postgraduate degree that introduces students to all the important aspects of the medical field. Since the course involves a deeper study of relevant subjects, one needs to be prepared for mind-boggling study. 

The subject also deals with the implementation and the further consequences of non-generic medicines on the human body, which will influence and reduce the causes of human death. Listed below are some of the popular higher education options available for students:

• PhD
• DM
• M.Ch

Salary of a MD Graduate

The MD salary in India is not a very fixed salary and is flexible. The salary for the graduates is variable on multiple factors. Some of these factors are location, education, experience, and designation. A MD's average salary in India is around INR 3 - 5 LPA [Source: PayScale].

Read More: MD Salary

Career Options After MD

Job opportunities for MD graduates have various opportunities to choose from. Job opportunities are available in both the public and private sectors. The most common roles the graduates work in are:

• Pathologist
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist
• Obstetrician
• Meteorologist
• Paediatrician
• Gastroenterologist
• Radiologist
• Physiologist
• Resident Medical Officer

Skills That Make You The Best MD Graduate

There are many skills that MD graduates need to have to ensure that they succeed in their careers. Some of these skills are listed below:

• Flexible Temperament
• Ability to Work Under Pressure
• Time Management Skills
• Quantitative Ability Skills
• Logical Reasoning Skills