The BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a 5 year specialized program in dental surgery. Available seats for the BDS program in 2025 are 27,868. Admission is based on the national level entrance test NEET. State level entrance tests like the KEAM or MHT – CET may also be required for admission to the BDS program. Fees for BDS programs range from 40,000 to 10,00,000 per annum at top BDS medical institutions.
The BDS program is the popular medical course in India which is offering students an opportunity to build their successful career in the healthcare, dental surgery and other related specializations. The demand for skilled dentist professionals are increasing in both private as well as government sectors. After completing this course the graduates can either be licensed or practice dentists. The BDS program not only opens doors to a medical profession but along with that provides multiple employment also in the sectors like academics, dental clinics, research as well as hospitals.
For BDS program admissions, the Medical Counselling Committee will hold 4 rounds after announcement of the NEET UG results. NEET results will be released by June 14th, 2025 for admission to the BDS program. Students having completed their classes 10th and 12th studies with 50% marks in PCB with English are eligible to apply for the BDS program at government and private colleges across India.
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BDS Program Highlights
BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a dental studies program which spans 5 years. 1 year is dedicated to internship which is a compulsory part of the course curriculum. Medical aspirants interested in dental programs such as BDS may refer to the table below for BDS program quick highlights.
| BDS Program Quick Highlights | |
| Particulars | Details |
| BDS Full Name | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| BDS Program Duration | 5 Years including 1 year of internship |
| Internship | Compulsory 1 year of rotatory internship |
| BDS Program Seats | 27,868 |
| BDS Syllabus Approving Authority | Dental Council of India |
| Entrance Test | NEET |
| Counselling Authority | Medical Counselling Committee |
| Top BDS Colleges | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Manipal College of Dental Sciences and Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences |
BDS Program Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility criteria for the BDS program is completion of 10+2 with minimum 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. Students interested in taking admissions in the BDS program must know that the BDS course eligibility criteria differs from country to country and institution to institution.
Generally, the common BDS eligibility criteria requires the candidate to complete 10+2 with PCB at 50% aggregate marks. In addition, students must also qualify the NEET exam to be eligible for BDS program admissions. Here is the eligibility criteria for Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences and other top colleges.
| BDS Program Eligibility Criteria College Wise | |
| Name of the College | BDS Eligibility Criteria |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | 10+2 with 50% + NEET |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences | 10+2 with 50% in PBC or Biotechnology + NEET |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | 10+2 with 50% (40% for reserved) |
| King George’s Medical University | 10+2 with 50% marks |
| JIPMER, Puducherry | 10+2 with PCB and English with |
BDS Program Admission Process
- Qualify for the NEET UG exam
- Register for the Counselling Rounds
- Participate in the Counselling Process
- Document Verification
- Required Fee Payment
- Securing a BDS seat at a Central/State medical college
Accepted Entrance Exams for BDS
The BDS program requires an entrance test for admissions. Generally, students must clear the NEET UG exam for admission to the BDS program at government or private medical colleges in India. In some cases, State level entrance exams like the MHT-CET may be required for admission to the BDS course.
| Accepted Entrance Exams for BDS | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Entrance Exam Requirement for BDS | NEET UG |
| State Level Entrance Exams | May be required depending on the State |
| Kerala BDS Entrance Exam | KEAM |
| Maharashtra BDS Entrance Exam | MHT-CET |
BDS Program Fees
Annual fee for the BDS program in India may range from 40,000 to 10,00,000 or higher. While some colleges such as Jamia Millia Islamia charge minimal tuition fees of 41,775 per year for its BDS program, the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences annual BDS tuition fees is 9,10,000 for Indian students. Check the BDS program fees for top 7 BDs colleges in India in the table given below.
| Top 7 BDS Colleges in India Fee Structure | |
| Name of the College | Tuition Fee |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | 9,10,000 (Indian Candidates) 15,000 (Foreign Nationals/ NRIs) |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences | 415,000 |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | Approximately 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 |
| King George’s Medical University | 54,900 |
| A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences | 20,00,000 (total) |
| SRM Dental College | 3,90,000 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 41,775 |
Career Opportunities After BDS Program
After completing the entire BDS program, graduates can pursue different career paths such as government jobs, dental practice as well as higher studies like teaching and research. There are many opportunities in public health dentistry and after clearing licensing exams more departments are providing amazing opportunities. Here is a table mentioned below that provides you with the amazing career profiles after your BDS program.
| Career Opportunities After BDS Program |
| Private Dental Practice |
| Government Jobs (Dentist in Govt. Hospitals/PSUs) |
| Higher Studies (MDS – Master of Dental Surgery) |
| Teaching & Academics |
| Research & Clinical Trials |
| Corporate Dentistry Chains |
| Overseas Practice |
| Public Health Dentistry |
| Forensic Dentistry (Odontology) |
| Hospital Administration & Healthcare Management |
BDS Program vs MBBS Program
| Particulars | BDS Program | MBBS Program |
| Full Form | Bachelor of Dental Surgery | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
| Duration | 5 Years (including 1-year internship) | 5.5 Years (including 1-year internship) |
| Core Focus | Oral health Dental surgery, teeth and gum treatment | General medicine, surgery, overall human health |
| Entrance Exam | NEET UG (mandatory) | NEET UG (mandatory) |
| Seats (Approx.) | 27,868 (2025) | 1,08,915 (2025) |
| Average Fees | 40,000 – 10,00,000 per annum | 50,000 – 25,00,000 per annum |
| Career Options | Dentist Orthodontist Prosthodontist Public Health Dentist | Doctor Surgeon Specialist in various medical fields |
| Salary Range (India) | 4 – 12 LPA | 8 – 20 LPA |
| Overseas Opportunities | Requires licensing exams (NBDE, ORE, DHA) | Requires licensing exams (USMLE, PLAB, AMC) |
Top Government BDS Colleges in India
| College Name | Location |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) | New Delhi |
| Government Dental College & Hospital | Mumbai |
| Nair Hospital Dental College | Mumbai |
| King George’s Medical University (KGMU) | Lucknow |
| Government Dental College | Bangalore |
| Government Dental College | Ahmedabad |
| Government Dental College | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Government Dental College | Nagpur |
Top 5 BDS Colleges in India
Pursuing the BDS program from a top ranked institution provides good career prospects including a high salary package and a good job. The Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences is ranked 1st by NIRF in 2024 for BDS program studies while the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research is ranked 10th by NIRF in 2024.
| Top 5 BDS Colleges in India Rank Wise | |
| Name of the College | Ranking |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | 1st by NIRF 2024 |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences | 2nd by NIRF 2024 |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | 3rd by NIRF 2024 |
| King George’s Medical University | 4th by NIRF 2024 |
| A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences | 6th by NIRF 2024 |
| SRM Dental College | 7th by NIRF 2024 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 8th by NIRF 2024 |
| SOA University – Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan | 9th by NIRF 2024 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | 10th by NIRF 2024 |
BDS Program Cutoff Trends
| Year | Category | Percentile | NEET Qualifying Marks (Range) |
| 2022 | General (UR) | 50th | 715–117 |
| General – PwD | 45th | 116–105 | |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th | 116–93 | |
| 2023 | General (UR) | 50th | 720–137 |
| General – PwD | 45th | 136–121 | |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th | 136–107 | |
| 2024 | General/EWS | 50th | 720–164 |
| UR/EWS – PwD | 45th | 163–146 | |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th | 163–129 |
Conclusion: BDS Program
The BDS program is one of the medical programs in India after MBBS which is offering students a well deserving career in dental healthcare. The duration of 5 years includes internship in this field, which helps students to cover both the practical as well as theoretical knowledge in the field of Dentistry.
Admission to this program is mainly through the NEET UG and also graduates can explore various career opportunities from government jobs to the private jobs along with higher studies. The students find the BDS program a stable journey for those who are passionate about oral healthcare.
FAQs: BDS Program
The course duration of BDS is 5 years including 1 year of internship.
The annual tuition course fee of BDS is around 40,000 to 10,00,000 or higher.
To take admission in a BDS program, qualify the NEET exam, register for the counselling rounds, upon selection pay the required fees and secure your BDS seat at your preferred college.
Yes a 1 year internship is mandatory in the BDS program.
