BDS: Course Fees, Admission 2025, Syllabus, Top Colleges, Career Scope

One of the most desired and recognised degrees for dentists (doctors) is BDS. The sole academic and professional dental surgery programme in India is the BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery). It shares the "Dr" domain with the MBBS and is equal.

An oral health care professional who diagnoses and treats conditions is a Dentist. Candidates can lower your risk for other critical health disorders like heart disease and stroke by taking proper care of your teeth and gums. For regular examinations and cleanings, you should visit the Dentist frequently.

If you are passionate about oral health and enjoy direct patient care, BDS might be a better fit. On the other hand, if you are interested in pharmaceuticals, research, and a broader spectrum of healthcare, B Pharmacy may be more suitable.

Candidates can look at the table below to see the comparison between the two courses.

Yes, candidates can pursue BDS course right after Class 12, given that he/she has done their schooling from Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects and have a minimum passing marks as suggested by the colleges they are applying for.

Candidates must also appear for NEET after Class 12 if they wish to apply for BDS course.

No, MBBS is not compulsory for pursuing a BDS. 

BDS is a distinct undergraduate programme specifically focused on Dental education and training, whereas MBBS is centred on medical education with a broader focus on general medicine and surgery. Both are separate professional degrees with different curricula and career paths. 

To pursue BDS, candidates need to have their higher secondary education with PCB and also pass the entrance exams, such as NEET, specific to dental studies.

No, getting BDS with 80 marks in NEET is very hard, no matter what category you are.

In India, BDS admission is very competitive, and students need high marks in NEET to get a seat.

No, BDS require NEET. If candidates do not have NEET eligibility, they cannot enrol in BDS. Although states were permitted to host their own entrances using an ordinance in 2016, NEET has been made mandatory going forward.

Candidates still need to pass NEET even if they wish to study BDS abroad. NEET is essentially a qualification exam for future healthcare professionals in India. Nothing is possible without NEET.

In India, there is just one entrance exam for admission to the MBBS and BDS programmes: the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The exam lasts three hours and 20 minutes and is given once a year in offline mode. The medical entrance test for enrollment in MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BAMS, Veterinary, and other medical/paramedical courses in India is administered by the4 National Testing Agency (NTA). 

The major subjects in BDS inculdes:

1. General human anatomy including embryology and histology.
2. General human physiology.
3. Dental materials.
4. Pre-clinical prosthodontics.
5. Oral pathology and microbiology.
6. General medicine and many more.

An individual who plays a crucial part in the treatment of dental issues is awarded a BDS degree. All dental and related disorders are prevented, diagnosed, and treated by dentists. The BDS course is really difficult, so you need to be enthusiastic, have a diligent study attitude, and be mentally focused to be successful. The only organisation that has Dental programmes recognised is the Dental Council of India. Students after Class 12 in the Medical area are presently in high demand for this course.

The BDS is a five-year undergraduate degree curriculum (4 years of academic study plus 1 year of required internship). Both full-time and part-time courses are available for this programme. One of the most sought-after courses in the Medical industry after 12th grade is the BDS. In India, numerous reputable universities provide the BDS programme.

Yes, it can be observed that pursuing BDS in India can be considered expensive as most of the BDS colleges in India have an average tuition fee of more than 5 lakh:

Hi, Give below are the top BDS colleges in India with NIRF ranking over the past three years from 2023 to 2025 -

Source: Official site and may vary.

Yes, dentists who graduate with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree have been trained to perform a whole lot of dental surgeries within the scope of dentistry. Dental surgery is one principal aspect of the dental profession itself, where dentists are qualified to pursue many surgical procedures regarding their respective parts concerning the oral and maxillofacial regions.

It must be considered here that the level of surgical interventions in dentistry, the dentist has been acquired according to post-graduate training, experiences in this field, and any certifications from specialisation courses that he may have acquired. They consider oral and maxillofacial surgeons for all complicated cases, the ones who ordinarily have more comprehensive training in the field of surgery in head, neck, and jaw involvement.

The BDS salary in India can vary based on several factors, including experience, location, type of employment, and the specific organisation or clinic. Here is a general idea of the salary range for BDS graduates in India:

• Entry-Level: INR 2 - 5 LPA
• Mid-Level: INR 5 - 8 LPA
• Senior-Level: INR 8 - 20 LPA

Students can study Medical courses in India at various levels, you can refer below for the popular ones:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the institute/exam.

Hope this helps!

No, it can be obserbved that studying from top Medical colleges in India can be considered quite affordable as most of the colleges have an average tuition fee of less than INR 1 lakh. You can refer below for some of them:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website.

Hope this answered your question!