MD (Doctor of Medicine) Comparison with other courses

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-
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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 |
||
|
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
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 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.
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Course Syllabus
Check out the syllabus overview of the semester-wise MD and MBBS courses in India-
|
Semesters |
MBBS |
MD |
|---|---|---|
|
Semester 1 |
|
|
|
Semester 2 |
|
|
|
Semester 3 |
|
|
|
Semester 4 |
|
|
|
Semester 5 |
|
|
|
Semester 6 |
|
|
|
Semester 7 |
|
- |
|
Semester 8 |
|
- |
|
Semester 9 |
|
- |
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) |
|---|---|
|
6,100 |
|
|
13,500 |
|
|
44 Lakh |
|
|
44 Lakh |
|
|
2.5 Lakh |
|
|
1.1 Crore |
|
|
30 Lakh |
|
|
7,300 |
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
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) |
|---|---|
|
2,100 - 2,500 |
|
|
1,200 |
|
|
10.9 Lakh - 63.2 Lakh |
|
|
10.9 Lakh - 63.2 Lakh |
|
|
1.6 Lakh |
|
|
19.5 Lakh |
|
|
13.5 Lakh - 81 Lakh |
|
|
6 Lakh - 36.5 Lakh |
|
|
46,600 |
|
|
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 |
|
3.6 LPA |
Note: The average salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.
Suggested Reading for MBBS vs MD:
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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 |
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News & Updates
Student Forum
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
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