What is the Difference between DNB and MD/MS?

Vandana Thakur

Updated On: February 27, 2025 05:35 PM Published On: February 27, 2025 05:35 PM

DNB courses are for those young medical professionals who want to practice abroad but MD/MS is for those MBBS students who want to practice in the country while conducting academic research. Check details here!
Difference between DNB and MD/MS

What is the Difference between DNB and MD/MS- DNB stands for Diplomate in National Board while the MD/MS stands for Masters in Medicine & Masters in Surgery. DNB course is a verified postgraduate degree which is awarded by the National Board of Examination (NBE) authorities. On the other hand, MD/MS is a postgraduate degree program that is offered by various medical colleges and universities in India. DNB degree is offered to specialised doctors after they complete three years of residency overseas and the course duration varies from three to six years based on specializations. In contrast, the MD Course /MS Course is a post-graduate degree available in numerous specializations and it focuses on providing specialised training in various medical fields.
The eligibility criteria for a DNB degree is that students must have an MBBS degree from a recognized university with 50% marks, MCI certification and 1 year of internship experience. However, the eligibility criteria for an MD/MS degree is that the students must complete an MBBS from an MCI-recognized college with 50% marks in a general category and 45% marks in the reserved category. In this article, learn in detail about the difference between DNB & MD/MS eligibility criteria, syllabus, top colleges, career prospects and more.

Key Differences Between DNB and MD/MS

There are some key differences between the DNB & MD/MS courses that make them stand out. Students can find out the key points for DNB vs MD/MS below.

Particulars

DNB Course

MD/MS Course

Full form

  • Diplomat of National Board (DNB)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Entrance Exams Accepted

Course Fee

  • Rs. 1.1 L
  • Rs. 10 L- 15 L

Specializations Offered

  • Anaesthesiology
  • Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy
  • Psychiatry
  • Radio Diagnosis
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Haematology
  • Pharmacology
  • Endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Oncology

Career Opportunities

  • Nephrologists
  • Paediatric
  • Ophthalmologists
  • Geriatricians
  • Cardiologists
  • Pathologist
  • Nutritionist
  • Dermatologist
  • Paediatrician
  • Orthopaedist

Recruiting Industries

  • Intelligence Bureau (IB)
  • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
  • Hospitals
  • Forensic Science Labs
  • Law Firms
  • Government Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • Private Super Speciality Hospitals
  • Bio-medical Companies
  • Laboratories
  • Research Institutes

Average Annual Salary

  • INR 10,00,000 to 35,00,000
  • INR 10,00,000

Difference in Eligibility Criteria of DNB and MD/MS

The eligibility criteria for DNB & MD/MS courses vary based on several factors. To be eligible for the DNB degree course, students must pass MBBS with 50% or more. In contrast, to be eligible for MD/MS eligibility criteria students must complete a certified MBBS degree with 50% marks from a recognized university. Check the table below for a better understanding of the DNB & MD/MS course.

Particulars

DNB Eligibility Criteria

MD/MS Eligibility Criteria

Degree Requirement

  • MBBS or equivalent degree from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.

  • Students must have completed their last qualification from an MCI-recognised university.

Students must have completed an MBBS degree with 50% from a recognised institution.

Internship Requirement

Students must have a mandatory 1-year internship experience to study DNB courses.

Students must have completed one year of mandatory internship to qualify for the MD/MS program.

Entrance Exam

Students must have completed NEET PG, and DNB CET exams to qualify for DNB courses. They must also complete the NBE admission test to qualify for the DNB courses.

Students to qualify for MD/MS courses must crack the NEET PG and INI CET exams. They will also have to crack personal interviews based on individual institute requirements.

Difference Between Syllabus of DNB and MD/MS

The syllabi of DNB and MD/MS courses are different from one another. Students can find the difference between DNB & MD/MS courses given below.

DNB Course Syllabus

DNB course syllabus consists of topics like Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, SPM, Statistics & Biomedical Research and more. It also consists of case studies, presentations, workshops, research projects, seminars thesis projects etc. Students can find the DNB syllabus topics given below.

Semesters

Topics

Semester 1

Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology

Semester 2

Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology

Semester 3

Forensic Medicine, ENT, Ophthalmology

Semester 4

SPM, Statistics & Biomedical Research, General Medicine, Psychiatry

Semester 5

Orthopedics, Radiology, Anaesthesiology

Semester 6

Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Pharmacology, Pediatrics

Masters of Medicine Course Syllabus

Masters of Medicine is a two-year postgraduate degree program that consists of 4 semesters. During the MD studies, students get to learn about medicine but also learn about seminars, research and thesis work, oral exams, group discussions, lectures, practical work and more. Students can find the master's of medicine course syllabus given below.

Semesters

Topics

Semester 1

Applied basic science knowledge, Diseases concerning General Medicine

Semester 2

Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Diagnostic investigation and procedures

Semester 3

Monitoring seriously ill patients, Counselling patients and relatives

Semester 4

Ability to carry out research, Ward patient management

Masters of Surgery Course Syllabus

Masters of Surgery has been split by the MCI authorities into 5 semesters. Students will have to appear for assessment or internal examination only once during their course of study. Students can find the Masters of Surgery course syllabus given below.

Semesters

Topics

Semester 1

General Surgery, Radiology and Radiotherapy, Ortho and Traumatology, Anesthesia

Semester 2

General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Pediatric Surgery

Semester 3

General Surgery, Intensive Coaching

Semester 4

Ortho, Traumatology

Semester 5

Research Project

Semester 6

Research Project

After students complete their Master of Surgery course they must take both written and practical exams. Students must also present the thesis under the supervision of a faculty member with a topic of their choice to get a degree.

Top Colleges Offering DNB and MD/MS Courses

Various colleges offer DNB and MD/MS courses IN India. Some of the colleges offering DNB courses are NIO Aundh, ILBS, VMMC and more. On the other hand, some colleges offering MD/MS courses are AIIMS Delhi, UCMS, BMCRI, MS Ramia Medical College, Dr. DY Patil Medical College and so on. Students can find the top colleges offering DNB and MD/MS courses given in detail below.

Top 10 Colleges in India offering DNB Courses

Students can find the top 10 colleges in India offering DNB courses given below.

Colleges

Average Fees

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Memorial Medical College

Rs. 28,900

KJSMC

Rs. 1,05,000

NIO Aundh

Rs. 2,00,000

National Institute of Pathology

Rs. 50,000

Thrissur Govt. Medical College

Rs. 34,000

GMERS

Rs. 1,25,000

NDMC Medical College

Rs. 34,000

ILBS

Rs. 60,000

VMMC

Rs. 41,000

BPS Government Medical College, Sonepat

Rs. 1,05,000

Top 10 Colleges in India offering MD/MS Courses

Students can find the top 10 colleges offering MD/MS courses given below.

Colleges

Average Fees

AIIMS, Delhi

Rs. 21,000

AFMC Pune

Rs. 1,28,000

BJMC

Rs. 90,000

Madras Medical College

Rs. 36,000

Grant Medical College

Rs, 3,43,000

Dr DY Patil Medical College, Pune

Rs. 49,00,000

UCMS New Delhi

Rs, 1,23,000

BMCRI

Rs. 3,41,000

MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore

Rs. 22,70,000

Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai

Rs. 40,00,000

Difference of Career Prospects between DNB and MD/MS

The career in DNB & MD/MS courses is very rewarding and students can get a good entry-level salary. Students after completing their DNB courses can work as anaesthesiologists, nephrologists, paediatricians and more. In contrast, students who complete MD/MS courses can work as researchers, neonatal surgeons, gynaecologists etc. Students can find the career prospects for both the courses given below.

DNB Course Career Prospects

There are various profiles students can work on after completing their DNB courses such as Nephrologist, Anaesthesiologist, Geriatrician etc. The average entry-level salary after completing the DNB course is Rs. 12 L to Rs. 35 L per year.

Job Profile

Job Description

Average Salary

Anaesthesiologist

Monitoring, and managing the correct amount of anaesthesia after comprehending the patient’s history during key operations.

Rs. 10 L to Rs. 11.5 L

Ophthalmologist

Diagnosing and treating illnesses related to eyes and eye illness.

Rs. 10 L to Rs, 12 L

Paediatrician

Diagnose & treat disabilities, and illnesses related to infants and kids.

Rs. 20 L to Rs. 35 L

Geriatrician

Diagnosis & treatment of illnesses for treating immobilisation problems in aged adults.

Rs. 12 L to Rs, 16 L

Nephrologist

Specialising in diseases related to kidneys, curing and diagnosing the alignment of problems.

Rs. 16 L to Rs. 21 L

Cardiologist

Diagnosing & treating cardiovascular ailments and endorsing heart health consciousness.

Rs. 12 L to Rs. 16 L

MD/MS Course Career Prospects

Students after completing MD/MS can work as a neonatal surgeon, plastic surgeons, physiologists and more. Their average entry-level salary will range from Rs. 2.94 L to Rs. 15 L respectively. Students can find the career prospects after completing the MD/MS course given below.

Job Profile

Job Description

Average Salary

Neonatal Surgeon

Neonatal Surgeons are responsible for operating on infants and fixing defects that require surgery.

Rs.10 L to Rs. 15 L

Vascular Surgeon

Vascular Surgeons are responsible for determining which instruments and methods of surgery might attain a successful result.

Rs. 10 L to Rs. 12 L

Plastic Surgeon

Plastic Surgeons perform medical procedures to enhance the patient’s look, fix deformities, and mend injured tissues.

Rs 12 L to Rs. 14 L

Researcher

Researchers are responsible for interacting with team managers. They usually confirm that all projects and tasks are on track and aligned with the agenda.

Rs. 5 L to Rs, 6 L

Bacteriologist

A Bacteriologist is in charge of observing & researching various kinds of microorganisms in stages of change &  advancement.

Rs. 1.28 L to Rs. 8.61 L

Physiologist

Physiologists work in social insurance offices & doctor's facilities in clinics. These professionals monitor human physiological organs & frameworks to treat as well as analyse chronic diseases & physiological clutters.

Rs. 3.71 L to Rs. 12.89 L

Gynaecologist

Gynaecologists give restorative treatment to women before, during, and after pregnancy period. They also guide patients about anti-conception medication & its related diseases.

Rs. 2.94 L to Rs. 12.41 L

These were some key differences between DNB & MD/MS courses and students must be wise while choosing between the courses. If they are looking to be specialised doctors then must surely go for DNB courses. In contrast, if students are looking for a non-specialised master's degree then they can choose MD and MS courses. The major key difference between MD/MS and DNB courses is that after completion of the DNB course, students are NBE-certified specialised doctors. DNB is an advanced level degree which is equivalent to postgraduate programs in comparison to MD/MS courses.

Therefore, For any queries regarding the differences between DNB & MD/MS log on to our CollegeDekho QnA Zone or contact our toll-free helpline number 18005729877.

Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?

Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!

news_cta

FAQs

Is the DNB course inferior to the MD/MS course?

The DNB course is a government-approved course which is equivalent to post postgraduate course with various specializations. In contrast, the MD/MS courses are just postgraduate degree courses offered by colleges and are only limited to medicine & surgery.

What is the difference between DNB and MD/MS courses?

One of the key differences between DNB and MD/MS courses is that the former is an advanced level course for students wanting to practice abroad while the latter is for students wanting to practice in India. DNB courses focus on clinical research while MD/MS course focuses more on academic research.

 

Which one is better in between DNB & MD/MS courses?

Among DNB and MD/MS courses, DNB courses technically focus on clinical research & private practice overseas. On the other hand, MD/MS courses focus on providing career opportunities in the academic & research fields.

/articles/difference-between-dnb-and-md-ms/
View All Questions

Related Questions

When is counseling enna course at Government Chengalpattu Medical College?

-PrajalakshmiUpdated on May 15, 2025 10:20 AM
  • 1 Answer
Sanjukta Deka, Content Team

The counseling for the MBBS course at Government Chengalpattu Medical College, Tamil Nadu will be conducted by the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU) in September- October 2023. The exact dates of the counseling will be announced on the TNMGRMU website.To be eligible for the counseling, candidates must have qualified in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) - NEET UG 2023 examination. The counseling will be conducted based on the merit rank of the candidates in the NEET UG 2023 examination. The counseling will be conducted in multiple rounds. In each round, candidates will be allotted seats based …

READ MORE...

I have uploaded the wrong thumbprint in INI CET may application. But, the edit window has been closed and I raised an INI CET application query. They are telling it cannot be edited so what is the solution. Can I go and write the exam without worrying now, or should I give?

-Hemanth kumarUpdated on April 28, 2025 03:18 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student,

In INI CET, thumb impression along with photograph and a signature are critical identification documents. If AIIMS has already replied saying "it cannot be edited," it means the application details are locked in and cannot be edited now.

However, you can still sit for the INI CET 2025 Exam and explain the situation to the authorities. The final decision will be of the AIIMS authorities.

Thank You

READ MORE...

PG Medical courses at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem.

-v kaviyaUpdated on May 17, 2025 02:03 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student,

The PG medical courses at Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem are MD, MS, MCh etc. Here is the full list of GMKMC Salem Courses.

Thank You

READ MORE...

Do you have a question? Ask us.

  • Typical response between 24-48 hours

  • Get personalized response

  • Free of Cost

  • Access to community

Subscribe to CollegeDekho News

By proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the CollegeDekho terms of use and privacy policy

Top 10 Medical Colleges in India

View All