Lakh of science students dream of becoming doctors each year and the first question they would ask is what’s the full form of MBBS? MBBS is a degree program in Medicine and Surgery. It is the most important undergraduate degree for the practice of medicine as a doctor.
In this guide, you’ll find all the information you need about the course, who it’s for, how long it takes, the cost, and what happens when you complete it, written in simple terms so you’ll know exactly what you’re signing up for before applying.
MBBS Overview
MBBS is a full-time undergraduate medicine course which teaches the students to diagnose, treat and manage a patient’s health. Being one of the most competitive and reputed courses in India, it is a part of a stable, meaningful and well-paid career in the healthcare industry.
Generally this course takes five and a half years including classroom education and clinical training, internship is compulsory for the last one year of the course. In this period students gain knowledge on general and specialized surgery, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, forensic medicine, and community medicine.
By the end of the internship program, the student has had supervised experience with patients, experience in actual medical scenarios and a solid foundation for their preparation for an entry point into practice or a specialization.
The programme is intentionally challenging as it provides students with the appropriate level of responsibility. Because a minor misdiagnosis or mis-treatment can have a negative impact on a student’s health, the curriculum is designed over several years to develop solid theory and gradual and consistent skills, not to throw students into practice too quickly.
MBBS Full Form and What It Really Means
As already stated MBBS is the full form of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. “Bachelor” is used twice because it’s a combination of two bachelor’s degrees. Medicine comprises diagnosing and non-surgical treatment, and surgery comprises surgical procedures. The two provide a comprehensive picture to a graduate of treating nearly any type of medical condition, whether it requires a drug or an operation.
The MBBS system is different from some countries, where a medical degree is obtained immediately after completing undergraduate studies, which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine.
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MBBS Eligibility Criteria
Students should determine if they have the basic requirements for application prior to submitting their application:
- Eligibility: Passed class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry & Biology as core subjects.
- The minimum marks required: In most colleges for general category the minimum is 50% in aggregate of PCB and it is usually relaxed in the reserved category.
- Age: The age of the candidates should not be less than 17 years at the time of admission. There is also an age limit (which varies from institute to institute) for some institutes.
- Entrance exam: To get admission in MBBS courses in India it is mandatory to qualify NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) whether the college is government or private.
Students who meet these criteria are not guaranteed seats, but are only eligible to apply and compete for a seat in the program.
MBBS Entrance Exams
In India,NEET-UG is the only entrance exam that is accepted by nearly all medical colleges for admission to MBBS courses.In India, NEET-UG is the exam accepted at almost all medical colleges, both government and private, for MBBS admissions. It took over a number of state-level and college-level tests, and introduced a unified testing system.
This is not the case outside India. The MCAT is used for medical school admission by the United States, the UCAT is used by the United Kingdom and the GAMSAT is used by Australia. These tests test a varying level of scientific knowledge, reasoning, and aptitude, so students intending to go abroad should verify the exam needed in their desired country at least in advance.
MBBS Admission Process
The admission procedure for MBBS in India is approximately as follows, and may differ slightly from college to college:
- Take the NEET-UG Entrance Exam (required).
- Check the result and rank after declaration of NEET scores.
- Take part in the counselling done by Central and State Counselling authorities based on NEET rank.
- Select college/courses in counselling round based on rank, seat availability.
- Allotment of seat: Student’s seat allocated to the college on the basis of preference and merit.
- Document Verification (Academic records, ID proof, NEET Admit card).
- Payments and confirmation of admission to reserve a seat.
MBBS Course Fee in India
The fees of MBBS are different in different colleges whether government or private.
- In government medical colleges: The fees range from approximately ₹10,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per year, depending on the state and college.
- Private medical colleges: The fees are much more expensive from ₹15 lakh to ₹1 crore or more, depending on the reputation of the college, location etc.
- Deemed universities: Generally charge high fee and also there may be certain other charges for hostel, mess, etc.
It is always advisable for the students to refer to the current fee from the website or admission brochure of the college as fees may vary from one year to another.
Career Options After MBBS
After doing MBBS, one can pursue a variety of paths other than becoming a GP.
- Clinical practice: A large number of graduates enter into direct clinical practice in hospitals, clinics or private practice.
- Specialization after graduation: After their graduation, others study under a cardiologist, under a surgeon, or take a diploma in some particular branch like cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics etc.
- Research and academics: A few graduates go on to medical research or teaching at medical colleges.
- Public health and administration: MBBS graduates may also work in the administration of public health programs, NGOs or hospital management.
- Other career pathways: There are other career paths such as health-tech, pharmaceutical companies, or medical writing, where they use medical knowledge with other skills.
MBBS vs MD: What’s the Difference
Although the two programs (MBBS and MD) are sometimes mixed up, they are part of different steps in a medical career. MBBS is a degree obtained by a student after three years of study to allow him or her to work as a general physician.
After doing MBBS, MD is a post-graduate course which can be taken by a doctor to specialize in a specific field of medicine, such as internal medicine, dermatology or psychiatric medicine. To summarize: MBBS is the base and MD is the expertise.
Final Word
With all of this information about the MBBS degree, it is now easier to understand why it is one of the most popular science degree options available. It requires years of effort, but will also give you a good career with opportunities to specialise further. All students who are thinking of taking up this course should begin preparing themselves early for the NEET exam, have all necessary documents on hand, and do thorough research on the colleges they wish to apply for.
FAQs
1. What is the complete name of MBBS?
Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Surgery, abbreviated as MBBS. Undergraduate medical degree that enables a person to work as a general doctor after completion of the coursework and internship.
2. What is the duration of MBBS?
The duration of MBBS is usually five and a half years, which consists of four and a half years of academic studies and an obligatory 1-year internship for hands-on experience.
3. Eligibility for MBBS Admission in India?
The candidates must have class 12 with physics, chemistry, and biology and obtain a minimum aggregate marks (usually 50% for general category) in NEET-UG entrance exam.
4. What is the difference between MBBS and MD courses?
Undergraduates who have completed the course in MBBS are eligible to be called a general doctor. MD is a graduate degree followed up after for specialization in a particular medical field.
5. What is the entrance exam needed to study MBBS in India?
NEET-UG is an obligatory test to take for getting admission in MBBS course in India, which is applicable to all Government and Private Medical Colleges in every part of India.
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