Doctor of Medicine

Considered amongst the noblest and most highly responsible professions of all, becoming a doctor is not the simpler of journeys as one needs to pursue intensive study and undertake clinical training to attain the certification of a medical professional. While MBBS is more of an entry-level course to comprehending the world of Medicine and Surgery, the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree is usually pursued by those wanting to become a specialised doctor after completing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery though there is a general form of MD degree offered as well. But before applying for an MD, it is essentially important that you are aware of what this degree has in store for you. Through this blog, we will take a look at what a Doctor of Medicine entails, the eligibility criteria, top universities as well as the career scope it offers.

Particulars	Details
Course Level	Doctorate
Duration	3 years
Eligibility Criteria	MBBS from a recognized university
System of Examination	Annually
Admission	Direct admission or admission on the basis of the entrance.
Average Course Fees	INR 1-2 lakhs
Average Starting Salary	INR 3-6 lakhs

Doctor of Medicine: What is MD?

Doctor of Medicine (MD) is generally a 3-4 year postgraduate degree in Medicine which can either be pursued as a general program or a specialised one. It incorporates both theoretical subjects as well as clinical training to help budding medical professionals understand the intricate details as well as the fast-paced nature it comprises of.

MD Courses

Some of the specialisations in which MD is offered are:

• Neurology
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Cardiology
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Gastroenterology
• Rheumatology
• Nephrology
• Medical Gastroenterology
• Clinical Haematology
• Medical Oncology
• Neonatology
• Cardiology

Skills Required to be an MD

Important factors to work successfully as a Doctor of Medicine is- in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the field. Here are some of the key skills that can helpful smoothly sail through this intensive postgraduate degree:

• Communication Skills
• Leadership and Management Skills
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
• Ability to effectively handle emergency situations.
• Decision-making skills

Doctor of Medicine: Syllabus and Course

An MD course emphasizes seminars, lectures, practical work, thesis work and research along with written examinations, etc. Here is a glance at the subjects included in the curriculum of a Doctor of Medicine degree:

• Applied Basic Knowledge
• Diseases with reference to General Medicine
• Biostatistics and clinical epidemiology
• Monitoring seriously ill patients
• Counselling patients and relatives
• Ward patient management
• OPD patient management

Eligibility Criteria

To pursue a Doctor of Medicine from a leading medical school, applicants must satisfy some major prerequisites which can vary from one university to another. Enlisted below are the eligibility criteria for MD: 

• The candidate must have cleared senior higher secondary education (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) from a recognized board.
• An MBBS degree is compulsory. Prior experience in their chosen medical field is preferred.
• English proficiency test scores such as IELTS and TOEFL are also required.
• Students holding MBBS degrees have to appear for the MCAT exam (for US and Canada Universities) or PLAB exam (for UK Universities) or the CAT MCQ exam (for Australia Universities). Scores obtained from the exam, are required for applying to respective foreign universities for pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD).

Also Read: MBBS in Foreign Countries

Top Universities and Colleges for Doctor of Medicine

There are various MD specialisation courses offered by universities and colleges abroad. According to THE World University Rankings 2021 for Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health subjects, here is the list of leading Universities and Colleges which are renowned for their Doctor of Medicine degrees:

Date of Exam	Location	THE Rankings 2021
University of Oxford	United Kingdom	1
Harvard University	United States	2
University of Cambridge	United States	3
Imperial College London	United Kingdom	4
Stanford University	United States	5
University of Toronto	Canada	6
Yale University	United States	7

Top Doctor of Medicine Institutes in India

Given below are the top-ranked institutes of India which offer MD Medicine or Doctorate of Medicine with their relevant locations & fees structure: 

Institute	City	Fees Structure Per Annum
Lady Hardinge Medical College	New Delhi	13000
Madras Medical College	Chennai	20000
Osmania Medical College	Hyderabad	65000
Government Medical College	Kozhikode	13000
Motilal Nehru Medical College	Allahabad	20000

Doctor of Medicine Entrance Exams

Given below are some of the major entrance exams that are must for pursuing a doctor of medicine in India:

• All India D.M / M.Ch. 
• All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)
• Banaras Hindu University Entrance Exam
• Delhi University Super Speciality Entrance Test (DUMET)
• Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS)

Job Opportunities & Scope

There are diverse job opportunities for students after completing an MD. You can either explore prospects in your chosen field of interest or as a general physician you can find plentiful work opportunities in health centres and organisations:

• Government Agencies
• Nursing Homes
• Private Super Speciality Hospitals
• Biomedical Companies
• Laboratories
• Health Centres 
• Medical Colleges
• Non-Profit Organisations, etc.

After relevant experience and expertise, MD doctors can also carry private practice and set up his clinic and nursing home.

Salary Structure

Some of the popular job avenues open for the post-grad students of doctor of Medicine with their corresponding average annual salary: 

Job Positions	Average Salary Per Annum
General Practicioners	INR 3 – 6 Lakhs
Bacteriologist	INR 2 – 4 Lakhs
Anesthesiologists	INR 2 – 4 Lakhs
Obstetricians	INR 3 – 5 Lakhs

Also Read: Nursing Course

FAQs

Thus, we hope that this blog has helped you understand the essentials of a doctor of medicine (MD) course. If you are planning to study this degree but don’t know which specialisation to opt for, take the help of Leverage Edu’s AI tool to browse through an array of MD degree available in the world and find a suitable combination of course and university that fits your interests and aspirations.