MD Microbiology

Doctorate of Medicine or MD Microbiology is a 3-year degree course. Students can apply for this course after obtaining an MBBS degree with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks. It is also possible to apply for this course after the completion of any postgraduate degree in medical studies or any other relevant subject. Various microorganisms, their behavior, origin, and how they affect any living organism are the main areas of study in this course.

Those who aspire to study MD Microbiology must complete their high school education in the science stream with physics, chemistry, and biology as the core subjects. INI CET, PGIMER, and NEET-PG are a few popular entrance tests for MD Microbiology.

A professional graduate of MD Microbiology can apply for job posts in both the public and private sectors of the country. Many top-ranked recruiters like Columbia Asia, Siemens Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, and AIIMS hire these graduates of MD Microbiology. Professional graduates of MD Microbiology get an average salary from 2,00,000 to 22,00,000 INR per annum. These professionals can work as Microbiology Research Assistants, Bacteriologists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, etc. Some of the top colleges offering MD Microbiology are AIIMS, Kolkata Medical College, CMC Vellore, and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Medical Education and Research among others.

The important information regarding MD Radiodiagnosis is presented in this table for your convenience

Several reasons make MD Microbiology an ideal stream of study for students who want to pursue doctorate-level studies in the medical field. Some of the prominent reasons for choosing to study MD Microbiology are 

• It is possible to contribute a great deal towards the welfare of human society with the help of the knowledge acquired after the MD Microbiology degree. Various diseases, epidemics, and pandemic studies along with their preventive measures are taught in this course.

• Students are introduced to all the newest technological advancements made in the field of microbiology, after studying MD Microbiology.

• There are a lot of research opportunities associated with this degree course. Both private and government research grants and fellowships are given to students who wish to research several important parts of microbiology.

• After passing an MD Microbiology degree, the professionals can find employment in the top private and government sectors of the country. They can also choose to begin or continue their professional career in foreign countries.

• The scope of MD Microbiology is increasing day by day. Many new medical institutions, both in India and abroad are hiring professionals with this doctorate with high salaries and other associated benefits.

• The job roles of microbiologists are crucial. They play an important role in preventing diseases that sometimes can turn into an epidemic or pandemics. 

It is a mandatory admission requirement for all aspirants of MD Microbiology to clear the entrance test conducted every year nationwide. Some of the most popular entrance tests for admission to MD Microbiology are

INI-CET: This entrance test is conducted twice every year, in January and July by the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS, Delhi). This Computer-based test is conducted from particular exam centers that are assigned to the students depending on their choice of area. All the students get 3 hours to complete the exam. While framing the questions, the entire syllabus of MBBS is covered. Students are asked to solve the following, true or false questions, sequencing, asserting reasons, etc. A total of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are asked. 

PGIMER: This entrance test is conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Institute. This test is also conducted in two sessions every year. Vital subjects that are considered while framing the questions include neurology, pathology, general medicine, forensic medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, neurology, ophthalmology, and radiology. The questions paper covers all the pre-clinical, post-clinical, and clinical areas from the entire MBBS syllabus. Applicants have to answer 250 questions within 3 hours. All the questions are multiple-choice based. There is no negative marking.

IISc: This entrance exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. All the questions are asked from the graduate and postgraduate degree course levels. The main subjects include physics, biology, chemistry, ecological science, etc.

The minimum eligibility criteria for MD Microbiology are

• It is a must to study with the Science stream in higher secondary education. Subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology should be the core subjects. Also, it is essential for students to score 60% aggregate marks in their higher secondary education.

• After completing high school, candidates have to enroll for an MBBS degree for 5 years.

• At the end of the 5th year of MBBS, pupils will have to complete an in-house internship that continues for 1 year.

• For admission to an MD Microbiology degree, almost all the universities in India check the results of entrance exams like NEET-PG, INI CET, etc. before granting admission to the students. For passing these entrance exams, students have to score a minimum of 50%.

• Students need to pass a personal round of interviews conducted by the colleges at the time of admission.

• Almost all foreign universities ask for the IELTS or TOEFL scores of students coming from non-native English-speaking countries during their admission process.

There are several steps involved in the admission process for the MD Microbiology degree course. Some of the vital steps are listed below for your reference:

• Primarily, all applicants must make sure that they present their MBBS degree results with at least 60% aggregate marks.

• Each year, all the top-ranked colleges grant admission to the students after checking the results of entrance tests.

• Students have to sit for entrance exams like PGIMER, NEET-PG, etc. that are held at the national level.

• The students are ranked according to the total marks they obtain in these exams.

• Aspirants of MD Microbiology are then invited for a round of personal counseling where they are asked about their list of preferred colleges.

• Whether they are eligible for admission to their preferred colleges or not, is decided by their marks.

• Before the final admission, all the colleges hold their round of interviews with all the eligible candidates.

• Some colleges also arrange for a round of group discussions for the students to participate in, to test the depth of their knowledge about certain areas.

The average course fee for MD Microbiology differs from one college to another. One will find that the course fee for government colleges and hospitals is significantly lower than their private college counterparts. The average course fee for an MD Microbiology degree in a government college lies between 50,000 to 2,00,000 INR. Students who wish to study in private colleges pay an average course fee of 2,50,000 to 12,00,000 INR. The availability of good laboratory equipment, the strength of the teaching faculty, the infrastructure of the college, seminars, and other such factors are the determinants of the course fee for the students. 

MD Microbiology is a 3-year-long degree course. Evaluation is done semester-wise. Each year, 2-semester exams are conducted, so a total of 6 semesters are held. Alongside the semester exams, students have to participate in project work, laboratory experiments, and other demonstrations. They also have to complete internships and attend regular seminars conducted by the colleges. The semester-wise syllabus for MD Microbiology is presented below for your reference:

The core subjects that are taught under MD Radiodiagnosis are:

Bacteriology: Under this subject, studies are conducted on various bacteria, their identification, and their characteristic features. How bacterias affect several organisms, the diseases caused by them, and their preventive measures, all are taught under Bacteriology. Studies including ecology, morphology, genetics, microbiology, etc. are conducted on this topic. 

Parasitology: As the name suggests, this subject taught under MD Microbiology deals with the nature, characteristics, and origin of parasites around the world. This branch of Microbiology also studies how a parasite reacts with its host and what are the several diseases that parasites cause. 

General Microbiology: Students are introduced to the rudimentary of microbiology under this subject. The core area of study includes studying and reading about the nature, origin, and characteristics of various microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, etc. The nature of these microorganisms, the diseases they cause, and the precautionary measures to stop spreading diseases cases because of these microorganisms, all are taught under this subject.

Mycology: Extensive studies about fungi are conducted on this subject. The genetic and biological characteristics of the fungus, their disease-causing properties, etc. are studied under this subject. This is one of the vital subjects under MD Microbiology since fungus plays a vital role in the decomposition of matter.

Applied Microbiology: Under this subject, the students learn the application of the studies they learn during MD Microbiology coursework. This includes giving laboratory demonstrations to the students. The main application of this subject can be found in the agriculture and food sectors, alongside applications in biotechnology.

There are many books that are available in the market, written by eminent scientists and researchers. Those books are used as reference materials for the MD Microbiology degree course. Some of the most recommended books are listed below:

The salaries of every individual depend on several factors like work experience, competency, highest qualification, etc. The available jobs along with their average salary scale in India are presented below for your reference:

There are several private and public agencies where professional graduates of MD Microbiology are eligible to find employment in various designations. Some of the top recruiting agencies are mentioned below:

• Cipla Ltd.
• Apollo
• Columbia Asia
• Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries
• Dr. Reddy’s
• Procter & Gamble
• Cadbury
• Johnson & Johnson
• Nones
• VMware
• The Himalayan Drug Company
• Serum Institute of India
• Mars
• Lupin
• Manipal Hospitals
• Macleods Pharma
• IPCA Laboratories
• Pfizer
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences
• Indian Council of Medical Research
• Mother Dairy Pvt. Ltd.

Some of the desirable skills that make an individual with an MD Microbiology degree stand out from the others are:

• Should have enough knowledge to conduct seminars, meetings, and training sessions with their juniors whenever the situation demands.

• Individuals should have the drive and passion to contribute towards the development of this field. 

• Graduates must have an eye for minute details as this is a vital trait for their professional work.

• Must be a team player. 

• Professionals need to be calm and composed in case of any emergencies.

• Should be able to tackle any situation intellectually.

• They must have an in-depth knowledge of the core concepts of microbiology.