MBBS Subjects Breakdown Every Medical Student Should Know

The MBBS subjects and their syllabus often feel overwhelming for students, not because they are impossible, but because nobody explains them properly. One Google search throws endless lists with zero clarity. Students enter medical college knowing they cracked NEET but not knowing what they will actually study for the next five and a half years. 

MBBS subjects are not random chapters. They follow a clear learning flow with a purpose that builds you into a doctor step by step. This blog breaks down MBBS subjects year-wise, so you stop guessing and start understanding the course you signed up for.

19 Core MBBS Subjects Every Student Studies in India

MBBS follows a fixed academic structure set by the National Medical Commission(NMC) for Indian medical colleges. Every student studies the same core MBBS Subjects, divided across pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical phases. 

These subjects slowly move you from basic human structure to patient care. Understanding this list early helps you know what the MBBS course subject journey actually looks like, instead of guessing year by year. Here is the complete and officially followed list of subjects every MBBS student in India studies.

Phase	MBBS Subjects
Pre-Clinical	Anatomy
Pre-Clinical	Physiology
Pre-Clinical	Biochemistry
Para-Clinical	Pathology
Para-Clinical	Pharmacology
Para-Clinical	Microbiology
Para-Clinical	Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Para-Clinical	Community Medicine
Clinical	General Medicine
Clinical	General Surgery
Clinical	Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Clinical	Paediatrics
Clinical	Orthopaedics
Clinical	Ophthalmology
Clinical	Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
Clinical	Dermatology
Clinical	Psychiatry
Clinical	Anaesthesiology
Clinical	Radiodiagnosis

MBBS Subjects Year-Wise Syllabus: From 1st to Final Year

The MBBS Subjects have a clear academic purpose. You first understand how the human body works, then how diseases affect it, and finally how doctors diagnose and treat real patients. 

This year-wise syllabus helps students move from theory to practice in a controlled and logical way. Here is the exact breakdown of Subjects year-wise, starting from the foundation year.

MBBS Subjects in 1st Year (Foundation Phase)

The first year  MBBS syllabus focuses on understanding the normal human body and builds the foundation for all future medical learning. 

These 1st year MBBS subjects are also concept-heavy and require regular revision. Here is the subject-wise breakdown of the first year MBBS subjects.

• Anatomy: Study of the structure of the human body. It includes gross anatomy, histology, and embryology. Students learn organs, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels through theory and dissection.
• Physiology: Explains how different organs and systems function normally. Topics include the heart, lungs, nerves, blood, digestion and hormones.
• Biochemistry: Focuses on chemical processes inside the body. It covers metabolism, enzymes, proteins, and molecular biology that explain how cells survive and function.

These first-year MBBS subjects form the academic base of the MBBS course subject structure. Once this foundation is clear, students move toward understanding diseases.

MBBS Subjects in 2nd Year (Para-Clinical Phase)

The second year of MBBS shifts from normal body function to disease processes and treatment basics. The 2-year MBBS subjects connect theory with real medical conditions and medicines. 

Here is the structured list of 2nd year MBBS subjects.

• Pathology: Study of diseases and how they affect organs and tissues. Students learn about inflammation, tumors, blood disorders, and organ damage.
• Pharmacology: Study of medicines used to treat diseases. It includes drug actions, uses, side effects and safe dosage principles.
• Microbiology: Focuses on microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Students learn how infections spread and how they are diagnosed.
• Forensic Medicine and Toxicology: Covers medical laws, injury examination, poisoning and legal responsibilities of doctors.
• Community Medicine: Introduces public health, epidemiology, nutrition, sanitation and national health programs in India.

This year teaches students how illnesses develop and how doctors respond to them. The learning now starts becoming more clinical.

3rd Year MBBS Subjects (Clinical Exposure Phase)

The third year subjects of MBBS mark the transition into hospital-based learning. The subjects in this phase focus on patient interaction and applied medicine. 

Here is what students study during the 3rd year MBBS subjects.

• Community Medicine (Clinical Application): Focus on preventive medicine, field visits, health surveys and public health management.
• Clinical Postings Introduction: Early exposure to hospital wards where students learn history taking, physical examination and patient communication under supervision.

This year helps students gain confidence inside hospitals. It prepares them mentally and practically for full clinical responsibility.

Final Year MBBS Subjects (Clinical Phase)

The final year is the most intensive and clinically focused phase of the MBBS course subject structure. The final year subjects deal directly with patient diagnosis and treatment.

Here is the complete list of final year MBBS subjects.

• General Medicine: Diagnosis and management of adult diseases related to the heart, lungs, kidneys and endocrine system.
• General Surgery: Surgical management of diseases, including pre operative and post operative care.
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Care related to pregnancy, childbirth and female reproductive health.
• Paediatrics: Medical care of infants, children and adolescents.
• Orthopaedics: Treatment of bone, joint and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Ophthalmology: Study of eye diseases and vision care.
• Otorhinolaryngology (ENT): Treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders.
• Dermatology: Study of skin, hair and nail diseases.
• Psychiatry: Understanding mental health disorders and behavioral medicine.
• Anaesthesiology: Pain management and anaesthesia during surgeries.
• Radiodiagnosis: Use of imaging techniques like X rays, CT scans and MRI for diagnosis.

This year prepares students for internship and independent medical practice. After this phase, students are ready to apply theory in real hospital settings.

Read or Regret: Cheapest MBBS Colleges in the World for Indian Students

List of Core and Elective MBBS Subjects

Not all MBBS Subjects play the same role in medical training. Some subjects are compulsory and form the backbone of the course, while others give students limited flexibility to explore specific areas of interest. 

This division helps balance standard medical education with early exposure to chosen fields. Here is a clear breakdown of core and elective MBBS course subject categories and how they differ.

Core MBBS Subjects

Core subjects are mandatory for every student. These MBBS Subjects are evaluated in professional exams and are essential for becoming a licensed medical doctor in India. They are taught across different years and form the foundation of clinical practice.

List of Core MBBS Subjects:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology
• Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
• Community Medicine
• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Orthopaedics
• Ophthalmology
• Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
• Dermatology
• Psychiatry
• Anaesthesiology
• Radiodiagnosis

Elective MBBS Subjects

Elective subjects are short-term learning modules introduced under the competency-based medical education system. They allow students to explore specific areas without adding exam pressure. Electives do not replace core MBBS Subjects and are not tested in final professional exams.

Common Elective MBBS Subject Areas:

• Medical ethics and professionalism
• Clinical research basics
• Public health practice
• Emergency care basics
• Medical education and teaching skills
• Digital health and medical informatics

Electives are designed to improve practical exposure and soft skills. They help students understand real-world medical roles beyond textbooks.

Read This Before You Forget: MBBS in Austria for Indian Students: Benefits, Admission Process, Universities, Fees, and Salary

MBBS Projects and Practical Work You Should Know About

Along with core MBBS Subjects, students are trained through practical work and academic projects that build real medical skills. These projects are aligned with the competency-based medical education system followed in India. 

Here is a table showing the major MBBS projects and practical work students are exposed to during the course.

MBBS Phase	Project or Practical Work	What Students Learn
1st Year	Anatomy Dissection and Histology	Human body structure, organ identification, tissue analysis
1st Year	Physiology Practical Records	Normal body functions, experiments, data interpretation
1st Year	Biochemistry Lab Work	Metabolism tests, enzyme studies, biochemical analysis
2nd Year	Pathology Practical Files	Disease diagnosis using slides, specimens, and reports
2nd Year	Pharmacology Projects	Drug charts, rational drug use, prescription writing
2nd Year	Microbiology Lab Work	Sample testing, culture methods, infection diagnosis
2nd Year	Community Medicine Field Projects	Health surveys, family studies, public health data
3rd Year	Clinical Case Records	Patient history taking, examination, case summaries
3rd Year	Community Health Projects	National health programs, field visits, health education
Final Year	Clinical Case Presentations	Diagnosis, treatment planning, patient management
Final Year	Integrated Clinical Practical Work	Applying multiple MBBS Subjects to real cases
Internship	Departmental Logbooks	Hands-on patient care, procedures, clinical responsibility

MBBS Internship Subjects and Hospital Experience

The internship is the final and most critical stage of the MBBS course subject journey in India. After completing all academic years, students spend 12 months rotating through different hospital departments.

Here is a table showing the MBBS Internship Subjects and the key learning focus in each department.

Department / Rotation	Duration	Learning Focus
General Medicine	2 months	Diagnosis and management of common adult medical conditions, patient monitoring
General Surgery	2 months	Preoperative and postoperative care, minor procedures, surgical decision-making
Obstetrics & Gynaecology	2 months	Pregnancy care, deliveries, gynecological procedures, maternal health
Paediatrics	1 month	Child health, vaccination, growth monitoring, pediatric emergencies
Orthopaedics	1 month	Bone fractures, joint disorders, minor surgeries, casting techniques
Ophthalmology	2 weeks	Eye examination, basic ophthalmic procedures, vision care
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)	2 weeks	Ear, nose and throat examination, minor ENT procedures
Dermatology	2 weeks	Skin, hair and nail disorders, outpatient management
Psychiatry	2 weeks	Mental health evaluation, counseling, behavioral disorders
Anaesthesiology	2 weeks	Basics of anesthesia, pain management, preoperative preparation
Community Medicine / Public Health	1 month	Health surveys, immunization programs, health education campaigns
Emergency Medicine	Included in rotations	Managing emergencies, first aid, trauma care, resuscitation skills

Too Good to Skip: Top Medical Universities in Georgia for MBBS Students

Top 5 Recommended Books for MBBS Subjects

Choosing the right books for MBBS Subjects is essential for understanding concepts clearly and scoring well in exams. The following top 5 books are widely trusted by Indian medical students in 2026 and cover the most important topics across all years.

• Gray’s Anatomy for Students is an excellent book for learning human anatomy with clear visuals and explanations.
• Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology explains core physiology concepts in a simple and understandable way.
• Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease is a comprehensive guide for understanding pathology.
• Tripathi’s Essentials of Medical Pharmacology makes pharmacology easy to learn with clear examples.
• Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics provides complete coverage of child health and pediatric care.

FAQs

Relatable Reads Picked Just for You

Why is NEET Important for MBBS?	How Many Marks are Required in NEET for MBBS?
Short-Term Course After MBBS	How to Study MBBS for Free in Abroad Countries?
MBBS in South Korea for Indian Students in 2026	Advantages of Studying MBBS in Russia for Indian Students

This was everything you needed to understand MBBS subjects without confusion. You now know how the subjects are structured, what each year focuses on and how the MBBS course slowly shapes you into a medical professional. Keep learning and stay connected with the School Education page on Leverage Edu for more helpful and student friendly blogs. And if this helped you, do not forget to share, rate and drop a comment. Your support helps more students find the good stuff.