DM Course

The full form of DM course is a Doctorate of Medicine (DM) which is a super speciality programme that is pursued by students who want to complete their research or doctorate degree in medical studies. The total duration of the DM course is 3 years. Completing a DM course enables candidates to gain theoretical knowledge along with clinical and practical skills. Aspirants develop the correct approach and attitude for communicating correct medicinal information while being trained for research methodology. In order to apply for a DM course, applicants must finish their postgraduate degree in a relevant subject. The admission process for the DM course includes passing entrance examinations like AIIMS SS, PGIMER, NEET SS, JIPMER, etc. Interested candidates are advised to take a quick glance at the DM syllabus to understand the gist of the course structure. Some of the popular specializations taken up by students of DM degree courses are Medical Oncology, Cardiology, Immunology, and Neurology. 

The course cannot be pursued online or via distance learning, therefore, aspirants have to study in a classroom setup to complete the programme successfully. Usually, candidates who make it to the top government DM colleges are eligible for a higher amount of stipend from the government.  Top colleges such as CMC Vellore, Bangalore, St Johns Medical College, AIIMS New Delhi, MS Ramaiah Medical College, KMC Manipal, Bangalore, AFMC Pune, New Delhi, IMS BHU, Maulana Azad Medical College, Grant Medical College, Mumbai, etc. grant admission to the DM course. The course fee ranges between INR 20,000 to INR 15 LPA. All the candidates completing the Doctorate of Medicine can create a bright career as a Clinical pharmacologists. Immunologist, Endocrinologist, Cardiologist, Gastroenterologist, Clinical Hematologist, Neuro-radiologist, Oncologist, Physician, Neonatologist, Nephrologist, Geneticist, etc.

A Doctorate of Medicine course is one of the most competitive courses in terms of the eligibility criteria required to be fulfilled by candidates. Here is a quick look at the highlights of the Doctorate of Medicine program:

Mentioned below are some of the important points that indicate why a student should pursue a Doctorate of Medicine course:

• DM course graduates acquire a profound knowledge of the theoretical, clinical and practical aspects of the field, as well as earn a positive communication attitude, and well research methodological training through the course program. 
• The aim of the course is to provide a detailed insight of the how's and what's for preparing candidates to diagnose and handle any situation of their specialty with ease. 
• Doctorate of Medicine is a super specialization course that can be pursued by students who are interested in digging deeper into the field of Medicine. 
• Some of the important specialties of the same include Cardiology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Paediatrics, Cardiology, etc.
• After successfully completing a course in Doctorate of Medicine, a student may opt for a career opportunity in the Medical Schools, Hospitals or Nursing Homes, etc.
• All students who have completed their basic education (Undergraduate) in Medicine can pursue a postgraduate degree in Doctorate of Medicine. The duration of the course is 3 years.

There are various popular Doctorate of Medicine courses depending on the DM subjects. Take a look here:

There are two types of Doctorate of Medicine courses:

Full time Doctorate of Medicine Courses - 

A full time DM degree is continued for a period of 3 years. Here we have accumulated all the crucial features of the degree:

• A full time DM degree is provided by the Faculty of Medicine in India.
• Candidates can also choose to get admission to full-time DM courses in foreign countries.
• The course curriculum of a full time DM course includes offline classes, attending seminars, conferences, and practical classes.
• In some cases, a full time DM course may take 4 years to complete.
• Full time DM courses are taken up by students who can devote their entire time in studies.

Part Time Doctorate of Medicine Courses - 

• A part time DM course is usually taken up by working professionals who want to upskill their careers and knowledge.
• The course curriculum of a part time DM course is usually flexible compared to a full time DM degree course.
• A part time DM course is currently not yet introduced in India but is available in foreign countries.
• The syllabus of a part time DM course is similar to a full time DM degree but the duration of the classes are less.
• The total duration of part time DM course is 4 years.

The DM degree is one of the most ambitious degrees and is only awarded to the most deserving and meritorious candidates. Here are the eligibility criteria for a Doctorate of Medicine:

• Doctors who are MDs are eligible to apply for the course and the academic merit of students is considered to be the most important criteria for Doctorate of Medicine admission.
• Marks scored by candidates in the competitive exams (general candidates a minimum of 50% and SC/ST/OBC a minimum of 40%) conducted by the state government or similar conducting bodies appointed by the state government. Universities also appoint a body for conducting exams.
• Centralised competitive tests at the National level
• Candidates who have completed from the same university can be allowed Doctorate of Medicine  admission on the basis of the first two along with the MBBS exam performance
• Non-government institutes have the option of filling half of their seats and the other half is filled by the management. But this is also done on the basis of merit.

Who Should Pursue Doctorate of Medicine?

Students who wish to specialize in practical training along with advanced Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and laboratory methods should pursue a Doctorate in Medicine. The specialization requires knowledge pertaining to it, however, while in some cases specificity is not required for MD/MS in a specific subject (DM in Medical Genetics), prerequisite DM in the related subject is required in some specializations. It is usually advised for students who are diligent about their specific choice of branch to specialize in, to pursue a career in Doctorate in Medicine to ensure a brighter future ahead.

Skill-sets Required for Doctorate of Medicine 

In order to gain a Doctorate in Medicine degree, candidates need some particular skill sets. Take a look at the skills required to successfully earn a DM degree and have an amazing career:

Doctorate of Medicine is a course that is only ideal for highly meritorious students. The candidate needs to have an MD degree and pass entrance exams. The process of admission is strictly based on academic merit and various entrance exams like NEET SS, AIIMS SS, JIPMER exam, and PGIMER exam.

• The DM Course admission process across several institutes is primarily based on the merit secured at their individual entrance exams. 
• While some institutes consider ranks secured in State/National level entrance exams, candidates are further provided with options to choose their desired institution in the counseling process.
• Candidates need to check the details of the entrance exam in which they’re interested to apply for the registration process.
• After that, they’ll receive the exam dates, syllabus, etc. on their registered e-mail/ contact no. Post the successful completion of the entrance exam, candidates who qualify with the required cutoff/rank will be deemed eligible to apply to the college of their choice.
• Counseling Processes are then initiated by the authorities to carry forward the seat-allotment in the institution.

As part of the DM admission process, students have to sit for the entrance test that is conducted both at the national and state levels. 

The Doctorate of Medicine and Doctor of Medicine degrees are often confused with each other but there are some major differences between them.

Here is the list of the top Doctorate of Medicine colleges in India course:

The duration of a Doctorate of Medicine is three years and below is the list of Doctorate of Medicine fees for various specialisations:

Here is a comprehensive view of some of the core subjects that are covered under the DM degree programme:

The syllabus of the DM course varies depending on the specialization that is opted for by the candidates. However, we have presented the syllabus of the DM course that is followed in the case of every specialization:

After successfully completing the Doctorate of Medicine candidates can work in these areas:

• Hospitals
• Laboratories
• Medical colleges
• Biomedical companies
• Polyclinics
• Non-profit organisations
• Health centres
• Private practice
• Nursing homes
• Research institutes
• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological companies

Candidates after the completion of the Doctorate of Medicine degree have a lot of prospects and opportunities to choose from:

Doctorate of Medicine Salary 

The average salary for a Doctorate of Medicine specialisation depends on some important factors like experience and specialisation. The choice of career path in terms of a government and private hospital and a government hospital along with a private clinic also dictates the salary of doctors with a DM degree. But on average, the salary range lies between INR 1.5 LPA to 30 LPA.