MCh Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is amongst the sought-after and challenging specialisation under Medicine and Surgery and demands extensive expertise. The prospect of getting a chance to take on some of the most difficult and challenging surgical operations often attracts some of the best medical students to opt for an MCh degree in Neurosurgery which is considered as the highest medical degree in this field. So, if you are a medical student interested in Neurosurgery, this blog brings you a comprehensive guide on MCh Neurosurgery, its course offerings, top universities and admission criteria.

M.Ch Neurosurgery Curriculum

Course Overview

Neurosurgery is a branch of medicine which deals with the surgical treatment of the brain, spinal cord and the nerves. MCh Neurosurgery or Master of Chirurgiae in Neurosurgery is a postgraduate degree program undertaken by medical students to achieve expertise in this particular area. The duration of the course varies between 3-6 years depending on whether the aspirant has completed MBBS or an MS in medicine or related specialisation. The curriculum for MCh Neurosurgery aims to equip the future neurosurgeons with all the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to function as an independent specialist of the field. The system of training is based on the pattern of a residency program, in which they receive extensive surgical training on work. To complete the course and attain the degree successfully, the student has to submit a project or research paper on the conclusion of the course.

Eligibility and Admission Procedure

The minimum eligibility for applying for M.Ch. Neurosurgery is an MBBS degree. One can either take admission into a 6-year MCh Neurosurgery course directly after MBBS or opt for a 3-year general surgery (MS) program and then study a 3-year M.Ch. Neurosurgery course. Along with this, many universities in India have their own medical entrance exams for offering admissions into MCh degree such as AIIMS, JIPMER, University of Delhi Entrance Exam SET, SCTIMST exam, etc. Further, universities also preferably require students to have 12 months of professional experience working as a medical professional.

If you are planning to pursue MCh Neurosurgery abroad, here are the general eligibility requirements: 

• International universities can have their own specific requirements ranging from International Training Fellowships to taking the specific medical council exam in the country.
• For general prerequisites, you will have to provide English language proficiency scores of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. along with an SOP and LORs.

Note: The aforementioned requirements only indicate general prerequisites and can vary from one university to another.

Subjects Covered

Studying MCh Neurosurgery, you will get to know about treating different neurological diseases and carrying neurosurgical procedures along with adhering to the professional obligations as specified in the principles of National Health Policy. Let’s take a look at the major subjects covered during this course:

• Neurology
• Neuropathology
• Neuroradiology
• Neuroanatomy
• Neurophysiology
• Neuropharmacology
• Infection
• General Critical Care
• Fluid, Electrolytes and Nutrition
• Practice Management, Legal and Socioeconomic Issues
• Spinal Surgery
• Pain Management
• Neurosurgical Oncology
• Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Cerebrovascular Surgery
• Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
• Surgery of the Peripheral Nervous System
• Neurotrauma and Neurosurgical Critical Care

Top Universities offering MCh Neurosurgery in India & Abroad

There are numerous medical schools and universities around the world offering MCh degrees in different specializations. Below we have enlisted some of the major universities offering MCh degrees abroad:

• Edge Hill University
• Canterbury Christ Church University
• The University of New South Wales
• The University of Melbourne
• Flinders University
• Monash University 

Along with these, here are the top institutes offering MCh Neurosurgery in India:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
• Christian Medical College, Vellore
• Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
• JIPMER College, Puducherry
• Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi

MCh Neurosurgery After MBBS

There are two ways to opt for MCh. One is after graduating with an MBBS degree and the second is opting for an integrated course. You can apply at various universities and appear for different entrance exams as well.

Job Profiles & Salary

Getting a degree in M.Ch. Neurosurgery trains you to become a specialist neurosurgeon. There are various job profiles that can be pursued after an MCh Neurosurgery degree. Here is a list of some of the popular job profiles & salary:

• Professor
• Researcher
• Neurosurgeon
• Consultant Neurosurgeon
• Senior Consultant
• Senior Resident in Neurosurgery

FAQs

Hope this blog was able to address all your queries regarding MCh Neurosurgery degree. If you are interested in pursuing an MCh degree abroad but are unsure about the procedure, worry not! Our expert mentors at Leverage Edu are here to help you with the admission process along with drafting admission documents like SOP and LORs and ensure that you send a winning application and get successfully shortlisted! Sign up for a free career counselling session!