Updated on Dec 4, 2024 11:18 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaSenior Executive Content

BDS course is an undergraduate degree programme. Candidates who want to make a career in Dentistry can pursue a BDS course. The course duration is 5-year including one year mandatory internship. BDS is one of the most sought after courses after MBBS. Due to rising dental issues, these professionals are in great demand in both private and government sectors. After finishing BDS course, candidates can easily get jobs in Dental clinics, government hospitals, Pharmaceutical companies etc. They can also start private practice after finishing a course in BDS.

Also Read: NEET Prep Questions with Solutions 2023: Free PDF Download

BDS Course Highlights

Particulars

Details

Course name

Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Knows as

BDS

Course level

Undergraduate

Course type

Degree programme

Course duration

5-year

Minimum qualification

10+2

Admission process

Entrance Exam (NEET)

Average course fee

INR 1-6 lakh

Average salary

INR 4-6 lakh

Top recruiters

Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Educational Institutes, Dental Product Manufacturers etc.

BDS Course Admission Process

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is the single exam which enables candidates to get admission to BDS courses. Institutes providing courses in BDS only accept NEET scores. Candidates will have to apply online for admission. The whole admission process involves online registration, application form submission, release of the admit card, appearing for offline entrance exam, result declaration and counselling for seat allocation. Candidates have to apply for the entrance test in the given deadline provided by the exam conducting body. Candidates should check their eligibility before applying for admission in the BDS course. After submission of application form, candidates get admit card and appear for the offline test. Those who score the minimum cutoff marks are declared qualified for the exam and they are eligible for counselling process for seat allotment in BDS course.

BDS Course: Top College and Fee Structure

There are a number of colleges offering BDS courses, including both government and private BDS colleges. While choosing college for the admission to the Bachelor programme in Dentistry, candidates consider a number of factors including the fee structure and the placement opportunities they provide. The government colleges generally charge a lesser fee than that of the private colleges. The table given below enlists some of the top colleges for BDS courses and the average course fee.

Name of the College

Average Course Fee

Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS BHU, Varanasi

Around INR 1 lakh

Maulana Azad Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

INR 1 to 1.5 lakh

Faculty of Dental Sciences King George's Medical University, Lucknow

INR 1.5 to 2 lakh

Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai

INR 2 to 2.5 lakh

Dr R Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata

Around INR 1 lakh

Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mengaluru

INR 25 to 30 lakh

Also Read: Are you preparing for NEET? Click here for Class 11 & 12 NCERT Solutions 

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BDS Course Syllabus

Candidates have to study a number of subjects in 4-year BDS course (excluding internship). The course curriculum has been designed to make candidates learn all aspects of Dentistry. From Human Anatomy, Physiology to Oral surgery and pathology, all important facets are covered in the BDS syllabus. The table given below highlights a year-wise subject list for BDS courses.

First Year

 

Semester I

Semester II

General Human Anatomy including Embryology and Histology

Dental Materials

General Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics

Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge

Dental Anatomy, embryology, and Oral Histology

 

Second Year

 

Semester III

Semester IV

General Pathology and Microbiology

Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge

General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology

Preclinical Conservative Dentistry

 

Third Year

 

Semester V

Semester VI

General Medicine

Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery

General Surgery

Oral Medicine And Radiology

Oral Pathology & Microbiology

Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics

Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry

Fourth Year

 

Semester VII

Semester VIII

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral Medicine and Radiology

Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge

Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry

Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics

Periodontology

Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics

Popular Specialisations After BDS

  • Dental Mechanic
  • Prosthodontics
  • Periodontics
  • Conservative
  • Dentistry Surgery

Postgraduate Courses After BDS

Candidates have options to do a Master's course in different specialisations in dentistry after BDS. Some of the Master's courses after BDS are as follows:

  • Masters in Dental Surgery
  • Master of Dental Surgery in Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry
  • Master of Dental Surgery in Pediatric Dentistry
  • Master of Dental Surgery in Radiology and  Oral Medicine
  • Master of Dental Surgery in Pedodontia and Preventative Dentistry
  • Master of Dental Surgery in Preventive Community

Upcoming Trends in BDS

BDS is one of the evolving fields where technology and innovative practices have played a key role to provide better care to people. Computer-aided design and 3D Printer have given diagnosis and whole treatment aspect a giant leap. Some of teh upcoming trends have been enlisted below:

  • Structural implantations
  • Dental Aligners
  • 3D printing and scan
  • CAD, CAM machining systems

 

BDS Courses: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. How many subjects are taught in a BDS course?

A. Students of BDS have to study a range of subjects covering various aspects of Dentistry. They have to study around 15 subjects as part of the BDS course curriculum.

Q How many semesters are there in a 5-year BDS course?

A. The BDS is a 5-year bachelor course. A total of eight semesters are there in the BDS syllabus where different aspects of Dental issues and oral surgery are covered.

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for admission to a BDS course?

A. Candidates should have completed class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Candidates have to appear for the NEET exam conducted by NTA and score the minimum cutoff score.

Q. Is BDS a good career move?

A. Yes, BDS is one of the most sought after courses after MBBS in the medical stream. After completing BDS course, candidates get employed easily at dental clinics, dental departments in the government hospitals. They can also do private practice.

Q. What are the career options after finishing a BDS course?

A. Candidates can work on different profiles after finishing the bachelor course in Dentistry. They can work as dental surgeons, dental assistants, and oral pathologist. They can also opt for teaching jobs in medical college.

Q. Is BDS equivalent to MBBS?

A. Yes. BDS is undergraduate degree programme in dental field while MBBS is undergraduate degree programme in medicine field. There are some common subjects which are taught in both MBBS and BDS courses.

Q Can BDS graduate do surgery?

A. Yes, BDS graduates can perform only dental surgery. 

Q. Is NEET requited for BDS?

A. Yes, candidates need to qualify NEET exam to get admission to BDS course.

Q. Is BDS undergraduate degree course?

A. Yes, BDS is an undergraduate degree course in Dentistry. The course duration is 5 years.

Q. How many marks are required in NEET for BDS admission?

A. The cutoff marks depends upon a number of factors such as difficulty level of teh exam, number of applicants, category etc. The cutoff for BDS varies from one year to another. Candidates have to score at least 450 marks in NEET exam for BDS admission.

Q. What is the average salary of BDS graduate?

A. The average salary of BDS graduates is INR 4 to 6 lakh. The salary goes up with the experience and job responsibilities. 

Popular BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India. Learn more about these BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 K - 6.08 K
12 - 24 LPA

#1 NIRF

300 - 2.67 L
4.34 - 12.09 LPA

#3 NIRF

111 Courses
7.11 K - 19.5 L
7.53 - 18 LPA

#2 NIRF

650 - 2 L
12.2 - 24.1 LPA

#14 NIRF

130 - 46.58 K
6 - 24 LPA

#5 NIRF

65 Courses
1.5 L - 79.5 L
9.2 - 15.8 LPA

#9 NIRF

Popular Private BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India

2.2 L - 10.08 L
3.15 LPA

Top 15 in Bangalore

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

25 K - 4 L
3.7
4.8 L - 6.4 L
2 L - 16.11 L
4.5 LPA

Top 25 in India

1.68 L - 7.92 L
3.6 - 4 LPA
10 Courses
1.82 L - 60 L
12.9 LPA
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

There is no such system going on currently.

If you have to do mbbs, attend the NEET exam again and do the councelling procedure.

a

abhay krishna tr

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

No, candidates cannot join Nair Hospital Dental College Mumbai without NEET for BDS. To get admission, candidates are required to apply and appear for NEET UG. Further, candidates are required to fill out the basic eligiblity i.e pass Class 10 and Class 12 or equivalent with 50% aggregate from a rec

...more

R

Raushan Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a week ago

Doing post-graduate Diploma in dermatology after Bachelor of Dental Surgery can be a very promising career move.

Particularly if you are interested in diverse skill sets in dermatology, skin care, and aesthetics, this is the right step toward diversification. Dermatology is a very large field with in

...more

R

Rayamkula Harish

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

No, candidates cannot join Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital without NEET for BDS. As the institute is entirely government and there is no direct admission or donation type admission so, you have to clear NEET-UG and clear the required cutoff to apply for counselling process.

A

Aarushi Anand

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital is a known college for dental sciences, Admission to BDS is solely on the basis of marks acquired in NEET UG exam, folllowed by NEET counselling session. Thus, candidates can get into Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital for BDS by cracking NEET wit

...more

R

Raushan Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

To be eligible for admission to BDS courses at Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital, candidates are required to pay NEET UG application fee for admission.The application fee can be paid in an online mode via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI.  The category-wise application fees are

...more

P

Pragati Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

The tuition fees for BDS in government colleges in India typically range from 15,000 to 1,00,000 per year, depending on the institution and its location. For instance, government dental colleges like those in Goa, Gujarat, and Karnataka charge between 20,000 and 53,650 annually, while other colleges

...more

53984379
Amit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, NIOS students are eligible to appear for the NEET exam, provided they fulfill the NEET eligibility criteria. They must have passed their 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology as core subjects from a recognised board, including NIOS. The eligibility criteria for N

...more

60231159
Amit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program at Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), affiliated with Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in Delhi, you must meet the following criteria:

 

1. Educational Qualifications:

 

Age Requirement: You should be at least 17 years ol

...more

T

Tamanna Rao

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, it is worth pursuing BDS at Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital as it is a private college and was formed by the SNR Sons Charitable Trust, established in 1970. At present, the college has a total of 91 faculty members and more than 15,000 students enrolled in its various programmes. Sr

...more

M

Mamona Mishra

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital is a good college for BDS programme as it has a total of 91 faculty members and more than 15,000 students enrolled in its various programmes. The college is recognised by the Dental Council of India and offers courses in affiliation with the MGR Unive

...more

N

Nupur Shukla

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 3 weeks ago

To secure a seat in top dental colleges in India, candidates typically need a NEET score of at least 450. For NEET 2024, the BDS cutoff for the general category is around the 50th percentile, with scores ranging from 720 to 164. Keep in mind that the cutoff can vary across colleges, and specific det

...more

S

Shiv Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

The expected NEET 2024 cutoff for BDS admission at National Dental College for the General category is around 718-137. For OBC, SC, and ST categories, the cutoff is approximately 135-107.

A

Abhay KUMAR

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 3 weeks ago

I'm glad to hear you've qualified the NEET exam! However, for BDS admissions in Karnataka, attending the counselling process is generally mandatory. The counselling process helps allocate seats based on your NEET rank, preferences, and availability of seats in various colleges.

A

Abhay KUMAR

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 4 weeks ago

According to the Dental Council of India DCI there are 28,088 BDS seats in Karnataka for the year 2024. Numerous private colleges like A.B. Shetty Memorial, Bapuji, JSS, KLE Vishwanath Katti, Manipal, and Yenepoya offer 100 seats each. Govt. colleges like ESIC Gulbarga (62 seats) and Govt. Dental Co

...more

A

Anchal Shukla

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 weeks ago

Yes, candidates belonging to SC and ST AI category can easily get admission at Government Dental College and Research Institute, Banglore with 100000 rank via NEET UG. However, EWS AI category candidates won't be able to get into the Insititute with this rank. It is due to the Government Dental Coll

...more

Y

Yatendra Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

  • To secure your admission to BDS program, you need to qualify National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. 
  • You also need to fulfill all necessary requirements set by the concerned authority/body.
  • You will also have to participate in the counseling process conducted by the West Bengal Medical Counselling Co

...more

55114923
SACHIN SINGH

Guide-Level 13

Answered a month ago

The NEET cut-off percentile for the SC/ST/OBC category for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program at S.C.B. Dental College and Hospital in Cuttack is 40th. The corresponding cut-off scores are 163–129. 
The National Testing Agency (NTA) announces the NEET cut-off marks for BDS along with the ex

...more

66923163
Manish Jaiswal

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Yes. On this Score in NEET Exam you can get admission in BDS. However it will be really difficult to secure a government dental college at 222 score fir a general category student, you can get private BDS college.

78196864
Yash Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

I think it's a bit difficult to get into a good government college on this rank Although, there are several factors that play when counseling starts such as the category you belong to, the number of students applying for that particular college, etc.

Please note that there is some NRI quota in colleg

...more

67857783
SACHIN SINGH

Guide-Level 13

Answered a month ago

Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research cutoff 2023 was 734299 for General category candidates in All India quota for BDS - Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research admission 2025 to BDS course is based on NEET scores followed by NEET Counselling conducte

...more

63158629
Jiya Tyagi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College and Hospital BDS course offers admission based on entrance. Candidates must secure a minimum aggregate of 50% in Class 12 with mandatory subjects such as  Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. It is mandatory for candidates to appear for NEET UG to secure admissi

...more

A

Aashi Rastogi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

To fill out the application for admission to BDS at Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research candidates are required to keep some documents handy. Candidates without original certificates/ documents shall not be allowed to take admission. Given below are the documents required at the time of

...more

63158629
Jiya Tyagi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research is a known college for dental sciences, Admission to BDS at Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research is solely on the basis of marks acquired in NEET UG exam, folllowed by NEET counselling session. Thus, you can get into Haldia Institute of De

...more

63158629
Jiya Tyagi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Achieving a BDS seat in top dental colleges in India typically requires a minimum score of 450. Minimum aggregate marks: 50% for general category, 40% for SC/ST/OBC and 45% for general-PH. Domicile: For state quota seats, students should fulfil the NEET domicile criteria of state Telangana. Entrance

...more

A

Anchal Shukla

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a month ago

As per Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences NIRF report 2024, the number of students placed over the past three years during BDS placements is presented below:

Particulars

BDS Placement Statistics (2021)

BDS Placement Statistics (2022)

BDS Placement Statistics (2023)

Total students

20

33

32

Students placed

12

15

12

Students opted for higher studies

8

13

0

K

Krishnendu Chatterjee

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

As per Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences NIRF report 2024, the median package offered during BDS placements over the past three years are presented below:

Courses

Median Package (2021)

Median Package (2022)

Median Package (2023)

BDS

INR 11.88 LPA

INR 14.15 LPA

INR 12 LPA

K

Krishnendu Chatterjee

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

As per Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences NIRF report 2024, the number of students placed during UG and PG placements over the past three years are presented below:

Particulars

BDS Placement Statistics (2021)

BDS Placement Statistics (2022)

BDS Placement Statistics (2023)

Total students

20

33

32

Students placed

12

15

12

Students opted for higher studies

8

13

0

Particulars

MDS / MD Placement Statistics (2021)

MDS / MD Placement Statistics (2022)

MDS / MD Placement Statistics (2023)

Total students

16

18

20

Students placed

15

16

19

Students opted for higher studies

1

2

1

K

Krishnendu Chatterjee

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

As per the NIRF report 2024, the median package offered to the 2023 passing-out BDS batch was INR 8.50 LPA. Earlier, the median package for 2021 and 2022 drives was the same and the amount stood at INR 8 LPA. Check the table below to know the KGMU placement package trends for BDS:

CourseMedian Package (2021)Median Package (2022)Median Package (2023)
BDSINR 8 LPAINR 8 LPAINR 8.50 LPA

A

Aarushi Kalra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The University has a good placement record for BDS. During 2023 placements, 86% of the BDS batch was placed, the highest percentage recorded in the past three years. The following table depicts the King George's Medical University BDS placement trends from 2021 to 2023:

CoursePlacement Rate (2021)Placement Rate (2022)Placement Rate (2023)
BDS85%69%86%

NOTE: The above details are f

...more

A

Aarushi Kalra

Contributor-Level 10

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