Dentist Course Names in India: Dental Degree & Diploma List
Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At…
In India, the primary undergraduate course to become a dentist is the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), which spans 5 years including a 1-year compulsory internship. Dental graduates can further pursue advanced specialization through the 3-year Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degree.
Below is a detailed breakdown of dental degree course names, postgraduate specialisations, eligibility criteria, fee structures, leading colleges, and admission steps across India.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Undergraduate Degree | Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) |
| Primary Postgraduate Degree | Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) |
| BDS Course Duration | 5 Years (including 1-year compulsory internship) |
| MDS Course Duration | 3 Years |
| UG Entrance Exam | NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) |
| PG Entrance Exams | NEET MDS, AIIMS PG, COMEDK PGET |
| Required Class 12 Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) |
List of BDS and MDS Specialisations
While BDS provides generalized training across all aspects of dental care, postgraduate studies allow dentists to specialize in focused clinical areas. MDS specialisations cover diagnostic, surgical, restorative, and preventive branches of oral healthcare.
| Specialisation Name | Clinical Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Surgery of the mouth, jaws, and face |
| Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics | Treating tooth decay and performing root canals |
| Prosthodontics & Crown & Bridge | Replacing missing teeth with dentures, crowns, or bridges |
| Periodontology | Prevention and treatment of gum diseases |
| Oral Pathology & Microbiology | Diagnosing diseases inside the mouth |
| Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics | Fixing crooked teeth and jaw alignment |
| Pediatric Dentistry | Dental care specially for children |
| Public Health Dentistry | Promoting oral health and preventing dental problems in communities |
| Oral Medicine & Radiology | Diagnosing mouth diseases using X-rays and other scans |
| Year | Subject Area | Curriculum Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | Applied Basic Sciences & Research Methodology | Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Biostatistics, and Introduction to Specialisation |
| 2nd Year | Advanced Specialisation & Clinical Practice | In-depth specialisation topics, hands-on clinical training, patient management, seminars, and workshops |
| 3rd Year | Clinical Training & Thesis | Advanced clinical procedures, surgeries, treatment planning, dissertation/thesis submission, and final exams |
Eligibility and Duration
BDS is a 5-year program (including a compulsory 1-year rotatory internship) requiring Class 12 PCB and NEET qualification. MDS is a 3-year postgraduate degree requiring a DCI-recognized BDS degree with 50% marks, internship, council registration, and minimum age of 20.
Fees
At least 417 colleges offer BDS programs in India, including 63 government institutions and 192 private colleges. State distribution shows strong concentration across regions: Karnataka has 58 colleges, Tamil Nadu has 42, Kerala has 40, Uttar Pradesh has 39, Maharashtra has 36, and Rajasthan has 24.
Fee structures vary widely based on institution ownership. Government colleges offer affordable tuition, with a median total course fee of ₹94,580 and the middle half ranging between ₹80,900 and ₹3.96 lakh (based on data from 60 government colleges). Private dental colleges reflect higher expenses, featuring a median total course fee of ₹12.15 lakh, with the middle half positioned between ₹8.00 lakh and ₹15.70 lakh (based on data from 171 private colleges).
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Chennai | — | ₹42.50 lakh | 2 (Dental, 2025) |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | Delhi | Government | ₹17,000 | 3 (Dental, 2025) |
| Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth | Pune | — | ₹48.69 lakh | 4 (Dental, 2025) |
| A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences | Mangalore | University | ₹20.34 lakh | 6 (Dental, 2025) |
| SRM Dental College | Chennai | — | ₹22.00 lakh | 8 (Dental, 2025) |
| Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University | Bhubaneswar | — | ₹30.38 lakh | 9 (Dental, 2025) |
| JSS Dental College and Hospital | Mysore | Private | ₹22.04 lakh | 10 (Dental, 2025) |
| SRM Institute of Technology | Kanchipuram | Private | ₹15.70 lakh | 11 (Overall, 2025) |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Dental College | Guwahati | Government | ₹10,000 |
| Regional Institute of Medical Sciences | Imphal | Government | ₹12,000 |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | Delhi | Government | ₹17,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹30,957 |
| The North Bengal Dental College | Darjeeling | Government | ₹31,200 |
| Government Dental College Srinagar | Srinagar | Government | ₹34,720 |
| Government Dental College & Hospital Nalanda | Nalanda | Government | ₹38,000 |
| Burdwan Dental College & Hospital | Bardhaman | Government | ₹48,200 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences | Imphal | Government | ₹50,800 |
| Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences | Ranchi | Government | ₹51,000 |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnavati University | Gandhi Nagar | Private | ₹16.20 lakh |
| Lenora Institute of Dental Sciences | Rajanagaram | Private | ₹17.76 lakh |
| Christian Medical College Ludhiana | Ludhiana | Private | ₹10.21 lakh |
| Pacific University | Udaipur | Private | ₹22.00 lakh |
| Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre | Bangalore | Private | ₹3.84 lakh |
| Surendra Group of Institutions | Ganganagar | Private | ₹7.00 lakh |
| ITS Dental College | Greater Noida | Private | ₹18.02 lakh |
| SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital Sattur | Dharwad | Private | ₹20.00 lakh |
| Hitkarini Dental College and Hospital | Jabalpur | Private | ₹8.86 lakh |
| Terna Dental College | Navi Mumbai | Private | ₹18.72 lakh |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 22 | ₹2.68 lakh – ₹23.25 lakh | Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences |
| Chennai | 22 | ₹60,365 – ₹45.50 lakh | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research |
| Jaipur | 10 | ₹6.00 lakh – ₹21.19 lakh | Nirwan University, Government Dental College and Hospital |
| Bhopal | 9 | ₹5.40 lakh – ₹13.28 lakh | Bhabha University, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan University |
| Indore | 8 | ₹4.14 lakh – ₹12.15 lakh | Malwanchal University, College of Dental Science & Hospital |
| Mangalore | 8 | ₹3.81 lakh – ₹25.52 lakh | Nitte University, Yenepoya University Mangalore |
| Udaipur | 7 | ₹8.00 lakh – ₹22.00 lakh | Pacific University, Geetanjali University |
| Lucknow | 7 | ₹9.00 lakh – ₹24.60 lakh | King George’s Medical University, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University |
How to Choose
- DCI Recognition: Ensure the course is offered by a DCI-recognized college, which is required for registration with a State Dental Council or DCI.
- Total Expenses: Consider total costs, as government colleges have a median total course fee of ₹94,580 compared to ₹12.15 lakh for private colleges.
- State Availability: Check options across states, such as Karnataka (58 colleges), Tamil Nadu (42), Kerala (40), Uttar Pradesh (39), Maharashtra (36), and Rajasthan (24).
- Placement Statistics: Review salary benchmarks, where the median average placement package across 5 colleges is 3.38 LPA.
Prospective dental students should evaluate degree recognition, location, and course fees before making a decision. Comparing private and government college fees helps align career goals with financial expectations.
How to Apply for BDS Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Select Science Stream: Choose Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) in the Science stream after Class 10.
- Qualify NEET Entrance Exam: Appear for and qualify NEET, which is mandatory for admission to recognized BDS degree programs in India.
- Enroll in BDS Course: Secure admission to an undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree program.
- Complete BDS Program: Finish the 5-year BDS degree course, which includes a compulsory 1-year rotatory internship.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | BDS colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
Qualifying NEET is mandatory for securing admission to any recognized BDS program in India. Completing the 5-year degree along with the 1-year compulsory rotatory internship grants the primary qualification needed to practice dentistry.
FAQs
What is BDS in medical?
BDS stands for Bachelor of Dental Surgery. It is a 5-year undergraduate degree course in India (including a 1-year compulsory rotatory internship) required to practice as a licensed dentist.
Can I join BDS without NEET?
No. Qualifying the NEET exam is mandatory for securing admission into recognized Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree programs across all government and private dental institutions in India.
What are the different types of dentists by specialization?
Dentists can specialize through a 3-year Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) program in fields such as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Public Health Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Oral Medicine & Radiology.
What is the eligibility criteria for MDS in India?
Candidates must hold a DCI-recognized BDS degree with at least 50% aggregate marks, complete a 1-year compulsory rotatory internship, be registered with a State Dental Council (SDC) or Dental Council of India (DCI), be at least 20 years old, and qualify NEET MDS.
What is the duration of MDS dental course?
The Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) is a 3-year postgraduate degree program pursued after completing the 5-year BDS degree. It involves advanced basic sciences, intensive clinical training, and dissertation work.
