Medicine and dentistry
MBBS, BDS and AYUSH degrees in India are open only through NEET-UG. After the result, seats are allotted through MCC counselling (All India Quota, deemed and central institutes) and state counselling (state quota and private colleges). No legal admission route skips NEET.
The usual admission route
- Class 12 with PCB
- NEET-UG
- MCC or state counselling
- Seat allotment and reporting
Be careful with “direct admission” offers
Every MBBS and BDS seat in India — government, private, deemed, management or NRI quota — is filled through NEET-UG and official counselling. Anyone selling a “direct” MBBS seat without NEET is not offering a legal admission.
Courses and how long they take
| Course | Level | Duration | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS | Undergraduate | 5.5 years including a one-year internship | Class 12 with PCB, plus NEET-UG |
| BDS | Undergraduate | 5 years including a one-year internship | Class 12 with PCB, plus NEET-UG |
| BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS (AYUSH) | Undergraduate | 5.5 years including internship | Class 12 with PCB, plus NEET-UG |
| MD / MS | Postgraduate | 3 years | MBBS, through NEET-PG |
| MDS | Postgraduate | 3 years | BDS, through NEET-MDS |
Entrance exams
- NEET-UGMBBS, BDS and AYUSH courses everywhere in India
Eligibility
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology (or Biotechnology) and English.
- At least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year.
- A qualifying NEET-UG score; the percentile cut-off is set each year.
Where it can lead
- Clinical practice
- Specialisation through MD or MS
- Public health and government service
- Medical research
- Hospital administration
Medical colleges in our directory
13 institutions offer medical programmes.
AIIMS New Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1956
- Main entrance
- NEET-UG
- Medical
- Allied health
IP University (GGSIPU)
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1998
- Main entrance
- Depends on the programme
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Computer applications
- +3 more
SRM IST
SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- Location
- Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Type
- Private, est. 1985
- Main entrance
- SRMJEEE
- Engineering
- Medical
- Management
- Science
MAHE Manipal
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- Location
- Manipal, Karnataka
- Type
- Private, est. 1953
- Main entrance
- MET (NEET-UG for MBBS and BDS)
- Engineering
- Medical
- Pharmacy
- Allied health
- +3 more
KIIT
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
- Location
- Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Type
- Private, est. 1992
- Main entrance
- KIITEE
- Engineering
- Medical
- Law
- Management
- +1 more
CMC Vellore
Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Location
- Vellore, Tamil Nadu
- Type
- Private, est. 1900
- Main entrance
- NEET-UG
- Medical
- Allied health
AFMC Pune
Armed Forces Medical College
- Location
- Pune, Maharashtra
- Type
- Government, est. 1948
- Main entrance
- NEET-UG
- Medical
- Allied health
JIPMER Puducherry
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research
- Location
- Puducherry
- Type
- Government
- Main entrance
- NEET-UG
- Medical
- Allied health
KGMU Lucknow
King George's Medical University
- Location
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Government, est. 1905
- Main entrance
- NEET-UG
- Medical
- Allied health
BHU
Banaras Hindu University
- Location
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Government, est. 1916
- Main entrance
- CUET-UG
- Arts
- Science
- Commerce
- Medical
- +1 more
AMU
Aligarh Muslim University
- Location
- Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Government, est. 1920
- Main entrance
- AMU entrance test
- Arts
- Science
- Commerce
- Engineering
- +2 more
- Location
- Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Private, est. 2009
- Main entrance
- University's own process
- Engineering
- Medical
- Management
- Law
- +3 more
Medical: common questions
Is NEET compulsory for MBBS in private colleges?
Yes. Every MBBS and BDS seat, including management and NRI quota seats in private and deemed colleges, is filled on NEET-UG merit through official counselling.
What is the All India Quota?
15% of MBBS and BDS seats in government medical colleges are filled through MCC counselling, open to students from any state. The other 85% go through each state's own counselling.
Is there a limit on NEET attempts?
There is currently no cap on the number of attempts, as long as you meet the age and eligibility rules in that year's information bulletin.
Last reviewed October 2026. Admission rules, dates and eligibility change every year, so confirm them on the official website before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.