Updated on May 22, 2025 04:12 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager

MD means Doctor of Medicine and MBBS means Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. Both are medical degrees, but represent different stages of medical education and training. It will take you 5.5 years to complete an MBBS but only 3 years to complete the MD degree.

MBBS is the base medical course in India, after which you are eligible to practice as a general physician. And MD is a specialised PG course that allows doctors to gain expertise in a particular medical field. Many doctors pursue MD to become specialists in a specific area of medicine and offer advanced healthcare services to patients. 

Continue reading further for MD vs MBBS comparison, the differences, eligibility criteria, admission process, job profiles, career scope, average salary, etc.

Helpful Links for MBBS vs MD Preparation-

Top Medical Colleges in India: Ranking, Admission, Placement, Fees, Cutoff

MD vs MBBS: Highlights

Candidates who wish to know the difference between MD and MBBS can look at the table below to know the key highlights of both the courses such as course level, duration, average fees, entrance exams, admission process, job profiles, average salary, etc.

Parameters

MBBS

MD

Course Level

UG

PG

Course Duration

5.5 years

3 years

Course Fee

Government Colleges - INR 6,100 to INR 1.1 Crore

Private Colleges - INR 14,000 to INR 1 crore

Government Colleges - INR 2,000 to INR 2 Lakh

Private Colleges - INR 1,000 to 81 Lakh

Admission Process

Entrance-based

Entrance-based

Entrance Exam

NEET 

NEET PG, INI CET

Popular Colleges

AIIMS Delhi, Christian Medical College Vellore, Banaras Hindu University, JIPMER Puducherry, etc.

AIIMS Jodhpur, AIIMS Delhi, Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research, JIPMER Puducherry

Job Profiles

Medical Surgeon, Medical officers, Paediatrician, General Physician, Medical Assistant (Surgery), etc.

Dermatologist, Nutritionist, Pediatrician, Pathologist, etc.

Average Salary

INR 6 LPA

INR 8.6 LPA

Top Recruiters

Medicine, General Surgery, Cardiology, Paediatrics, Oncology, Nephrology, etc.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Medanta- The Medicity, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, etc.

Note - This information is taken from the official site and may vary.

MBBS vs MD Useful Links:

Top Medical Colleges in India for Best Placements: NIRF - MHRD Rankings

MD vs MBBS: Eligibility

Every college sets a criterion that candidates need to fulfil to get admission to their desired course. Check the table below to learn the eligibility criteria for MD and MBBS courses.

Parameters

MBBS

MD

Education

Class 12 in Science stream with PCB (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) subjects.

MBBS

Minimum Aggregate Percentage

50%

50%

Age Limit

17

NA

Entrance Exam

NEET

NEET PG

Note - This information is taken from the official site and may vary.

MBBS vs MD Links you may be interested in:

Top Private Medical Colleges in India

Top Medical Colleges in India 

Entrance Exams 

Look at the table below to learn about the major differences between these two entrance exams needed for MD and MBBS admission.

Particulars

MBBS

MD

Entrance Exam

NEET 

NEET PG

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency

National Board of Examinations

 Mode of exam

Offline

Online

Exam Syllabus 

The NEET syllabus includes Physics, Chemistry and Biology topics from Class 11 and 12

The NEET PG syllabus includes pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects. 

Note - This information is taken from the official site and may vary.

Students also liked these MBBS vs MD links: 

NEET PG vs INI CET Exam Comparison: An Overview

Course Syllabus

Check out the syllabus overview of the semester-wise MD and MBBS courses in India-

Semesters

MBBS

MD

Semester 1

  • Introduction to Embryology and Histology
  • Introduction to Molecular Medicine
  • Applied basic science knowledge
  • Diseases concerning General Medicine

Semester 2

  • Neuroscience I (Peripheral System)
  • Respiratory System
  • Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology
  • Diagnostic investigation and procedures

Semester 3

  • General Pathology
  • Environment Pathology
  • Monitoring seriously ill patients
  • Counselling patients and relatives

Semester 4

  • Systematic Pathology
  • Alimentary System 
  • Ability to carry out research
  • Ward patient management 

Semester 5

  • Special Pathology 
  • Growth Disturbance and Neoplasia 
  • Long and short topic presentations
  • Ward rounds, case presentations and discussions

Semester 6

  • Epidemiology of communicable diseases 
  • Reproductive and child health
  • Journal conferences
  • PG case presentation skills

Semester 7

  • Infectious Diseases 
  • Diseases of the immune system

-

Semester 8

  • Endocrine Disease
  • Brain Death

-

Semester 9

  • Nervous System
  • Environmental Disorders

-

Check MBBS Syllabus

Check MD Syllabus

Relevant Links for MBBS vs MD:

How to prepare for NEET PG in 2 months

NCERT books for NEET Preparation

MD vs MBBS: Top Colleges

Check out some of the top colleges for both MD and MBBS given in the table below along with their total fees.

Top MBBS Colleges

AIIMS Delhi, Christian Medical College, Kasturba Medical College, and KGMU are some top colleges that offer MBBS in India. Candidates can check the top MBBS colleges given in the table below along with their total fees. 

College Name

MBBS Fees (in INR)

AIIMS Delhi

6,100

Christian Medical College

13,500

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore

44 Lakh

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

44 Lakh

KGMU

2.5 Lakh

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

1.1 Crore

St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences

30 Lakh

JIPMER Puducherry

7,300 

Madras Medical College

68,000

AIIMS Rishikesh

51,500

Note - This information is taken from the official site and may vary.

Top MD Colleges

AIIMS Delhi, Christian Medical College, Kasturba Medical College, and KGMU are some top colleges that offer MBBS in India. Candidates can check the top MD colleges given in the table below along with their total fees. 

College Name

MD Fees (in INR)

AIIMS Delhi

2,100 - 2,500

Christian Medical College

1,200

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore

10.9 Lakh - 63.2 Lakh

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

10.9 Lakh - 63.2 Lakh

KGMU

1.6 Lakh

PGIMER

19.5 Lakh

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

13.5 Lakh - 81 Lakh

St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences

6 Lakh - 36.5 Lakh

JIPMER Puducherry

46,600

Madras Medical College

1.5 Lakh

Note - This information is taken from the official site and may vary.

Useful Links for MBBS vs MD:

NEET Chapter Wise Weightage PDF by NTA: Physics, Chemistry & Biology

MD vs MBBS: Jobs and Salary

Check the table below to know which job profiles are widely chosen among MD and MBBS graduates and how much they earn on an average basis.

MBBS Salary in India 

After completing an MBBS degree in India, there are several job profiles and career opportunities available in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Here are some common job profiles for MBBS graduates in India:

Job Profiles

Average Annual Salary (in INR)

Medical Surgeons

16.4 LPA

Medical Officers

6.6 LPA

Paediatricians

14.5 LPA

General Physicians

7.5 LPA

Medical Assistants (Surgery)

4 LPA

Note: The average salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Recommended Links for MBBS vs MD:

Career After MBBS: Know Job Opportunities, Scopes and Salary

MD Salary in India 

MD graduates have the opportunity to work in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical job profiles, so their salaries also differ.

Here are some common MD job profiles in India:

Job Profiles

Average Salary (in INR)

Pathologists

9.4 LPA

Orthopaedists

14.8 LPA

Paediatricians

14.5 LPA

Dermatologists

9.6 LPA

Nutritionists

3.6 LPA

Note: The average salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Suggested Reading for MBBS vs MD:

Careers to Pursue after NEET 2023

MD vs MBBS FAQs 

Q. Who earns more MBBS or MD?

A: An MD's salary is generally higher than an MBBS doctor's salary because MD is a PG . An MBBS doctor earn an average of ₹6–10 LPA, however, an MD doctor earns with average of ₹10–25 LPA. Factors affecting salary is experience, education, location, etc.

 

Q. Can MD doctors do surgery?

A. In India, doctors with MD course cannot perform surgery. For that, they must pursue surgical practice. After completing the MBBS degree, Indian doctors have the option to pursue PG training in various medical specialities. They can choose to do an MD or MS program, which are equivalent to PG medical degrees. MS is particularly focused on surgical specialities. Alternatively, doctors can opt for the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) program in their chosen speciality.

Q. Is MD compulsory after MBBS?

A. No, an MD (Master of Medicine) is not compulsory after MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery); an MBBS degree is sufficient to practice medicine as a general physician or to pursue further specialization in a chosen field, with MD being a postgraduate degree for specialization. 

Q. What is the salary difference between MBBS and MD?

A. The salary difference between an MBBS and an MD can vary much based on many of the factors also the country in which the student practices, specialization, level of experience, and the specific healthcare facility or organization. 

It is very much important to note that MBBS is an UG medical degree, while an MD is a PG degree that comes after completing the MBBS. MD programs often has more specialised training and may lead to higher paying Jobs but this can vary by country and speciality.

The average MBBS salary is INR 6 LPA, while, the average MD salary can go up to INR 8.6 LPA.

Q. Is MBBS done from India equivalent to MD in USA?

A. Yes, MBBS done from India is equivalent to MD in USA. Since India belongs to one of the Commonwealth Nations, Indian MBBS can be considered equal to MD in USA.

Some of the top colleges for MD study abroad are mentioned in the table below.

College Name Total Fees (in INR)
McGill University 36.7 Lakh
The University of Melbourne 51.1 Lakh
The University of Sydney 47.1 Lakh
Cornell University 50.8 Lakh
Monash University 46.3 Lakh

 

Table of content
  • Popular MD (Doctor of Medicine) Colleges in India
  • Popular Private MD (Doctor of Medicine) Colleges in India
  • Popular MD (Doctor of Medicine) Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses

Popular MD (Doctor of Medicine) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular MD (Doctor of Medicine) Colleges in India. Learn more about these MD (Doctor of Medicine) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
19 Courses
2.11 K - 2.49 K
22 LPA
21 Courses
3.6 K
12.09 LPA
19 Courses
1.64 L
15 LPA
29 Courses
45 K - 1.08 L
21 LPA
22 Courses
2.11 K
24.1 LPA
19 Courses
13.5 L - 96 L
4.5

Popular Private MD (Doctor of Medicine) Colleges in India

12 Courses
4.05 L - 14.25 L
5.0
9 Courses
24 L - 1.16 Cr
6.6 L
10 Courses
5.71 L - 21.42 L
4.05 L

Popular MD (Doctor of Medicine) Specializations

Following are the most popular MD (Doctor of Medicine) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

    qna

    Student Forum

    chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
    Write here...

    Answered 2 months ago

    The total number of seats available for MD in Microbiology at AIIMS Hyderabad is 02. Usually, AIIMS provides a very limited number of seats for MD courses. Additionally, AIIMS Bibinagar offers one to two seats for MD courses. Check out the names of the specialsiations with their seat intake in the f

    ...Read more

    K

    Kartik Sharma

    Contributor-Level 10

    Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else

    On Shiksha, get access to

    • 65k Colleges
    • 1k Exams
    • 682k Reviews
    • 1800k Answers