Medical Courses

A career in medicine is one of the most sought-after and respected professions across the world. It is highly rewarding, satisfying, and gives you an opportunity to help others in need. Besides, one of the many reasons why people choose this career path is job security. So if you too are dreaming of a career in the field of nursing, paramedics, or medicine after the 12th Grade, now is the time to find out all about the best medical courses. Here in this article, we have compiled a list of medical courses after 12th for aspiring students. Read on to know all about the various medical field courses, entrance exams, fee structure, admission process and more.  

Medical Courses After 12th

List of best medical courses after 12th and make an informed decision:

• Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
• Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
• Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS)
• Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS)
• Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS)
• Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS)
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
• Bachelor of Nursing (BSc Nursing)
• Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)
• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory & Technology (BMLT)
• Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences (BNYS)
• Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH)

Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

An MBBS tops the list of medical courses in India after 12th as it is one of the most desired UG programs among aspiring doctors. It is a 5-year and 6-month long Undergraduate degree that covers a wide range of Clinical, Pre-clinical and Para-clinical subjects during the course. Candidates with a background in science can appear for the national-level NEET exam after the 12th to get admission to MBBS colleges in India. The minimum age criteria for applicants is 17 years.

The fee for MBBS in Government colleges ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 7.5Lakhs. For private colleges, this may be INR 20Lakhs or more. 

Course Overview

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)

A BDS is a 5-year UG program that includes 4 years of classroom education and a year-long compulsory rotating internship. It is the only professional dental course approved in India. A Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery is mandatory for students aspiring to work as dentists at private or government hospitals. The degree primarily focuses on introducing the students to and training them on dental surgeries and sciences. Like an MBBS, a BDS also requires candidates to have turned 17 years and qualified with the three main Science subjects. Admission is done based on NEET Cut-off. The average course fee ranges between INR 1Lakh and INR 6Lakhs. 

Course Overview

Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS)

BAMS is a 5.5-year undergraduate program designed to make students familiar with the concepts of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Medicine. In the final year of the course, students are required to pursue a compulsory internship for 12 months. BAMS comes under the list of Ayush courses offered in India. The eligibility criteria is the same as for an MBBS or BDS degree.  To get admission, one has to clear NEET/KEAM/OJEE entrance exams. The average course fee ranges from INR 25,000 to INR 3.2Lakhs.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS)

Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery or BHMS is an Undergraduate program that focuses on the basic concepts of Homeopathy and Homoeopathic Medicine. It is a 5 ½ year course including a compulsory 12-month internship program. After the completion of the course, students with a BHMS degree are considered eligible to practice Homeopathy in India. The eligibility criteria is the same as for MBBS/BDS/BAMS. The various entrance exams conducted for admission to BHMS include NEET. The average course fee for BHMS varies between INR 20,000 and INR 1Lakh.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS)

A degree in Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery takes 5 years and 5 months. This includes 4.5 years of classroom education and a year of internship that is mandatory for all students. Candidates must be at least 17 years of age and have passed Grade 12 with 50% aggregate. Admission for BUMS is done based on NEET Score Card.  The average course fee for the degree is INR 6.5Lakhs.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS)

Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS) is a 5-year undergraduate degree program that enables the student to learn about scientific knowledge of Siddha. Over the years the demand for the BSMS course is continuously increasing with the growing interest in AYUSH courses. Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery is handled by the Ministry of AYUSH under the Government of India, so the course is structured and designed by the experts in the Ministry. Admission to BSMS is carried out based on the entrance exam scores like NEET Exam and merit. The average course fee in Government colleges may range between INR 5,000 and INR 30, 000.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)

A 4-year BPharm course is the desired degree course for students who want to join the pharmaceutical sector. Following this, students can practice as a Pharmacist or work in a Pharmaceutical company. The eligibility criteria remain the same as for other courses, like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS and BHMS. Various entrance exams are conducted at the state level for admission to BPharm courses.  The most common ones are AP EAMCET/AP EAPCET/EAMCET/WBJEE/MHT CET/OJEE/BITSAT/KCET/UPCET/GUCET/IPU CET. The average course fee is around INR 6.32Lakhs.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Nursing (BSc Nursing)

A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing is a 4-year program focusing on detailed knowledge in general nursing, midwifery and professional training. It is one of the commonly pursued medical courses after 12th without NEET. BSc Nursing admission is done through different state-level entrance exams. One of the most important entrance exams is the WB JENPAS for candidates in West Bengal. Candidates over age 17 and having 50% aggregate in Grade 12 are eligible for the entrance. The average annual course fee can range from INR 8,500 to INR 1.3Lakhs. 

Course Overview

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

BPT is a 4-year UG program that deals with the science of physical movement. Following the completion of the course, candidates can go on to become certified Physiotherapists and Sports Injury Physicians. A minimum aggregate of 50% is required to seek admission to BPT colleges in India. This again is one of the few medical courses after 12th without NEET. However, some of the prominent entrance exams conducted for BPT admission are JIPMER All-India Entrance Test, CET, Guru Govind Indraprastha University Physiotherapy Entrance Exam, and others.

 Course Overview

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)

A Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy is a 4½ year Undergraduate program that deals with the practice of prevention and cure along with rehabilitation of mentally, emotionally and physically challenged people. There are a whole lot of job opportunities for candidates with a BOT degree, some of the most notable ones including Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant, Speech and Language Therapist etc. In most colleges, admission is done based on merit. However, some may require candidates to crack BOT entrance exams. 

 Course Overview

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory & Technology (BMLT)

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory & Technology (BMLT) is a 3-year degree program that enables you to get expertise in using laboratory equipment and laboratory diagnostic admission procedures. With the enhancement in the healthcare sector, the demand for BMLT courses and qualified professionals is continuously growing. One who needs to pursue career in this field must focus on the practical and laboratory related knowledge during their secondary classes. CBSE 12th Date Sheet 2023 will soon be released, which also indicates the dates of the practical examinations. 

BMLT allows you to get practical and technical expertise in diagnosis. Upon completion of BMLT, one can plan a career in government or private hospitals, clinics, research laboratories, medical laboratories and more. Admission is based on the entrance exam/merit. The average course fee for BMLT colleges in India varies from INR 20,000 to INR 2 Lakhs.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences (BNYS)

Bachelors of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences (BNYS) is a 5.5 years (4.5-year +1-year internship) long program that enables you to build a career in Ayurvedic or homoeopathy. Admission to BNYS is carried out based on the marks scored in the UP CPAT/NEET. Apart from that candidates also need to provide 10+2 certificates in chemistry, physics & biology from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% aggregate. The average fees for BNYS is between INR 1.5 Lakhs to INR 2 Lakhs and the fees vary depending on the type of college you select.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH)

For students who are concerned about the welfare of animals, this is an ideal degree course. The duration of the BVSc & AH program is 5 years and 5 months, following which candidates can go on to become a Veterinary Physician, Animal Research Scientist, Livestock Development Officer or Lecturer. Admission is done through NEET and other state-level entrance exams.

 Course Overview

Types of Medicine Courses

With the ever-increasing demand for doctors, paramedics and nurses, the competition among students is very high, as lakhs of them appear for the entrance exams every year. Admission to most of the esteemed medical institutions is done either through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) or based on 12th merit keeping in mind the availability of limited seats.

NEET is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Authority (NTA). Through this exam, candidates can get admission to MBBS seats in various government medical colleges, and central and deemed universities. Admission to some of the most prestigious institutes, like JIPMER, AIIMS, BHU, AMU, MAMC and others is done through NEET. To be able to sit for the entrance exams and pursue a career in the medical field, students are required to have studied Physics, Biology and Chemistry in the 12th Grade. 

There are numerous Government and private colleges/institutions offering the top medical courses. However, the fee structure for the entire course duration may vary among private, public and deemed universities. For instance, private colleges charge higher fees as compared to Government or public colleges.

Diploma Courses in India After 12th

Apart from a Bachelor’s degree, students can also opt for a diploma course after the 12th Grade. A diploma course can also open up a promising career path in the field of medicine. Here is a list of diploma courses and total duration for your reference:

Top Medical Colleges in India  

As per the ranking by National Institutional Ranking Framework, here is a list of the top 10 medical colleges in India offering UG/Diploma courses based on the cut-off:

Pursuing a career in medicine requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Cracking the entrance exams is certainly not easy, but once you get there you can rest assured that there are ample job opportunities in India and abroad. Now that you know about the list of medical courses in India after 12th, start preparing for entrance exams, like NEET 2022 and WB JENPAS.