Medicine Alternative Courses to MBBS: Eligibility, Colleges, Fees, Jobs

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Sounak Banerjee

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The medical sector is enormous, a study by Biomedcentral represents that according to National Health Workforce Account (2018), there are a total of 5.7 million health workers in India. This number includes allopathic doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical practitioners, and dentists. WHO estimates that the number will reach 10 million because the number of students inclined toward the medical profession is increasing. 

MBBS and BDS are no doubt the direct paths to get into the healthcare industry, but there are other alternative courses to MBBS, to be able to work in the healthcare industry. The other alternative courses are BSc in NursingBSc in BiotechnologyBSc PsychologyBSc in Cardiovascular Technology, BPharma, BNYSB.Sc in Food TechnologyB.Sc in Agricultural Science, and BSc Biology

However, apart from the MBBS Course, there are plenty of courses in the branch of medicine and Science that a candidate can pursue apart from MBBS such as physiotherapy, pharmacy, nursing, etc. The courses are available at some of the top medical colleges in India and the fees are comparatively low to the MBBS fees.

Top Medicine Alternative Courses to MBBS After 12th

Top Alternative Courses to MBBS include BPharma, BPT, and BSc Nursing. These three are the most popular medical courses after 12th without NEET. Students who had PCB as the compulsory subject in their 10+2 examinations are eligible to pursue Alternative Courses to MBBS. 

Parameter Bachelor of Pharmacy Bachelor of Physiotherapy Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Abbreviation B Pharma BPT/B P TH BSc Nursing
Duration 4 years 4.5 Years 4 Years
Eligibility 50% or more in 10+2 in PCB, PCM, or PCMB with English as a compulsory subject 50% or more in 10+2 in PCB, PCM, or PCMB with English as a compulsory subject 50% or more in 10+2 in PCB, PCM, or PCMB with English as a compulsory subject
Admission Procedure Entrance exams/Merit Based Entrance exams/Merit Based Entrance exams/Merit Based
Fees INR 3,00,000 INR 1,00,000 INR 80,000

B Pharmacy

BPharma or Bachelor of Pharmacy is a four years course divided into eight semesters. Usually, people who want to open their medical store or have a keen interest in medicines prefer to enroll in this course. There are around 1600 government and private colleges/universities in India offering B.Pharma undergraduate degrees. 

Checkout: Top Colleges offering BPharma courses in India

  • B.Pharma Full Form: Bachelor of Pharmacy
  • B.Pharma Course Duration: 4 years
  • B.Pharma Eligibility Criteria: 50% or more in 10+2 in PCB, PCM or PCMB with English as a compulsory subject
  • B.Pharma Admission Procedure: Entrance exams/Merit Based

B Pharmacy Eligibility Criteria

 Eligibility criteria for B.Pharma are mentioned below: 

  • Applicants should have passed 10+2 examinations with Physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and English as subjects. 
  • Students qualified in 10+2 examinations from non-formal schools like NIOS and state-based open schools cannot enroll in B.Pharma. 
  • Candidates should be 17 years or above on 31st December of the respective year in order to take admission to the B.Pharma course. 
  • Students need to clear entrance exams like MET, BITSAT, NIPER JEE, KCET etc.
  • An aggregate score of 50% or more in 10+2 is compulsory.

B.Pharma Top colleges in India 

BPharma graduates can be employed in hospitals, government drug research institutes, clinics, etc. Enrolling in B.Pharma in a private college is usually a big blow for the pocket. The average fees of private colleges are around INR 5 lakh per annum. On the other hand, government colleges are relatively less expensive. The average annual fee of government colleges is less than 4 lakh per annum. 

Read More: BPharma Jobs

B.Pharma Number of seats in top colleges and Universities

B.Pharma Number of seats in top colleges and Universities

BPT Course

BPT or Bachelor of Physiotherapy is a four-year undergraduate program. It involves the study of human body movements. The course is split up into six semesters with six months of compulsory internship in the last semester. There are numerous government and private colleges/universities in India offering bachelor's degrees in Physiotherapy. 

Checkout: Top Colleges offering BPT courses in India

  • BPT Full Form: Bachelor of Physiotherapy
  • BPT Course Duration: 4 years
  • BPT Eligibility Criteria: 50% or more in 10+2 in science stream

BPT Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for Bachelor in Physiotherapy are as follows:

In order to enroll in BPT Higher Secondary (10+2) or equivalent qualification from a recognized university is mandatory. 

  • Only students who have studied Physics, chemistry, and biology in high secondary school can pursue BPT. 
  • A minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA is required in higher secondary school. 
  • 45% or more for students belonging to reserved categories SC/ST/OBC.

BPT Top Colleges in India according to NIRF Rankings 

Before you apply for your BPT in any college/university make sure it is recognized by IAP (Indian associations of Physiotherapists). There are plenty of colleges not recognized by IAP. You can visit the IAP website to know about recognized colleges in your vicinity.

Here are the best government and private college/university for BPT as per NIRF Rankings. 

Career Options After BPT Course

  • After completion BPT students can be employed in both the private and government sector.
  • They can work in different departments like geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, neurological disorders, and sports medicine in the government and private sectors.
  • Graduates can open their private clinics as well. 

Check OutJobs after BPT course

Career Options After BPT Course

BSc Nursing

BSc Nursing is a paramedical undergraduate course that can be pursued after completing the 12th standard. It is one of the best alternatives to MBBS. The duration of this course is 4 years and various government and private colleges have a specialty in providing Nursing graduate degrees.

Admission to BSc Nursing is generally through entrance exams like JIPMER, AJEE, AUAT, AIIMS Nursing, and various other state-level exams.

Checkout: Top Colleges offering BSc Nursing course in India

  • BSc Nursing Full Form: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • BSc Course Duration: 4 years
  • BSc Eligibility Criteria: 50% or more in 10+2 in science stream

BSc Nursing Eligibility Criteria

Here are important eligibility criteria for the BSC Nursing course:

  • The first important requirement is that students should have passed the 12th standard from a recognized board.
  • Candidates should be from a science background and have studied PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) and English (Mandatory) in 10+2.
  • The student age should be 17 or above on 31st December of the year in which enrollment is being done.
  • Minimum 50% or more marks in 12th standard exams.

Read MoreBSc Nursing Entrance Exams

BSc Nursing Top Colleges in India 

College Name Annual Fees Annual Salary Package
PGIMER Chandigarh INR 8,045 INR 8 LPA
CMC Vellore INR 71,790 INR 7.1 LPA
National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore INR 2,32,000 INR 6.2 LPA
BHU Varanasi INR 11,140 INR 11 LPA
JIPMER Puducherry INR 15,040 INR 15 LPA

BSc Nursing College Fees and Average Package Comparison

BSc Nursing College Fees and Average Package Comparison

BSc Nursing: Career Opportunities and Jobs

There are a wide variety of jobs available after completion of BSc Nursing. Some of the jobs and career opportunities for BSc graduates are as follows:

  • Can work as a nursing teacher in various colleges and training institutes etc.
  • Clinical nurse in private or government hospitals, clinics, defense forces, etc.
  • Job opportunities in the nursing administration department in hospitals.
  • Opportunities in the research sector especially in research institutes and companies in the field of health care. 

CheckoutJobs after BSc Nursing

Other Alternatives of MBBS after 12th Standard

Apart from the various medical courses mentioned above, there are several other alternative courses to the MBBS course. Candidates can pursue any of the following courses as an alternative course to the famous MBBS course.

BSc Radiography

  • BSc Radiography is a paramedical course that can be pursued after completing your higher secondary school (10+2). It is a three-year undergraduate course divided into six semesters.
  • BSc Radiography is the study of different ways of diagnosing diseases through radiation techniques. Students are trained for MRI, CT Scan, X-Rays etc.
  • Admission in BSc Radiography is various national/state level entrance exams. However, many colleges/universities enroll students based on their 12th standard marks. 

CheckoutTop Colleges offering BSc Radiography courses in India

BSc Biotechnology

  • BSc Biotechnology is a three years undergraduate course offered by many private and government colleges across India.
  • It involves the study of innovations and technological developments contributing to the betterment of people’s lives and death.
  • The minimum requirement to take admission in BSc Biotechnology is 50% or more marks in 10+2 exams.
  • Admission in this course is done through exams like JMI Entrance Exam (Jamia Millia Islamia), Aptitude test (Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur) etc.
  • Many colleges/universities accept admission based on 12th standard exam marks.

CheckoutTop Colleges offering BSc Biotechnology courses in India

Alternative Courses to MBBS: FAQs

Ques. Can we take admission in BSc Nursing through NEET?

Ans. Yes, admission in BSc Nursing can be taken through NEET entrance exam.

Ques. Can I go abroad for higher education after completing BSc in Biotechnology?

Ans. Yes, you can. You need to score good marks in entrance exams of the abroad universities. Canada and Germany are popular countries for higher education in Biotechnology.

Ques. Are B.Pharm and MBBS equivalent degrees?

Ans. B Pharma is a field of pharmaceutical science and MBBS is about medicine and surgery, therefore these two are different degrees. Although, Dr Is used by both B Pharm and MBBS graduates. 

Ques. Is it possible to take admission in Pharmacy after BSc?

Ans. Yes, it is possible. You can take admission in Pharmacy (D. Pharm., B. Pharm. and M. Pharm) after completing BSc. Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) are the two governing agencies responsible for Pharmacy education in India. 

Ques. Is BPT a prudent career choice for females?

Ans. A Bachelor in Physiotherapy is equally prudent career choice for both male and females. A female Physiotherapist will give an extra sense of comfort to a female patient. 

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] : 94 answered questions

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Ques. How much marks should I score in the AIIMS entrance exam to secure an MBBS seat in AIIMS Delhi?

● Top Answer By Muskan Shafi on 30 Mar 24

Ans. AIIMS Delhi doesn’t conduct its own entrance exam for MBBS, instead, it accepts NEET UG for admission to MBBS on an All-India basis. Being the top choice for medical aspirants in India for MBBS, AIIMS Delhi has an extremely high cutoff for all the categories. The marks required for securing a seat for MBBS at AIIMS Delhi vary each year depending on various factors such as the number of seats, the number of candidates appearing, the difficulty level of the exam, and the previous year's cutoffs.  To get a seat for MBBS at AIIMS Delhi, candidates from the general category must aim to score 710+ in NEET UG to be on the safer side for admission. Students from the general category must aim to have an All-India rank within the top 50 to have a sure chance for admission. For reserved categories such as EWS and OBC, candidates must aim to score above 690+ for admission to MBBS at AIIMS Delhi. SC and ST candidates should aim to score 675+ for admission to MBBS at AIIMS Delhi.  Candidates can also check AIIMS Delhi Cutoff in 2023 for MBBS for different categories to get an estimate about the expected cutoff rank in 2024: Category 2023 Closing Cutoff By Rank  General 57 EWS 258 OBC 247 SC 989 ST 1624 General- PwD 1018 OBC- PwD 20882 SC- PwD 77386 ST- PwD 145610Read more
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Ques. How is the life of an MBBS student at KJ Somaiya medical college, Mumbai?

● Top Answer By Raktim Tarafdar on 28 Sept 23

Ans. The life of an MBBS student at KJ Somaiya Medical College, like medical students at most institutions, can be both challenging and rewarding. The lectures at KJ Somaiya typically begin at 8:30 in the morning and go until 5–5:30 in the evening. Typically, lectures last three hours and include a 15-minute break. After lectures, students attend committee meetings, presentations, assignments, or extracurricular activities. Here's an overview of what you can expect during your time as an MBBS student at KJ Somaiya Medical: Academic rigor: You will have to study a wide range of subjects, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, and clinical medicine. The workload can be intense, and you'll spend a significant amount of time in lectures, labs, and studying. Class strength: The student-faculty ratio is good. And students come from various states which results in a diversity in culture, perspective and language This diversity of thought enriches class discussions and exposes students to a wide range of ideas and viewpoints, fostering a more dynamic and stimulating learning environment. Facilities: College provides you with great amenities. There is stock in libraries. Next to the college is the hostel. The cafeteria is fantastic. You may also find a skating rink, cricket pitch, indoor table tennis facility and football pitch on the site. Private hospital: Because it is a privately funded facility, patients are not in short supply, but there is also not an overcrowding issue. This offers you plenty of time to prepare for your PG while also providing ideal clinical experience. Rather than high fee structure KJ Somaiya Medical college is a good place to pursue MBBS. It would be demanding as well as incredibly rewarding.Read more
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Ques. What is the total MBBS course fees in KMC, Manipal?

● Top Answer By Sonal Mishra, on 30 Sept 23

Ans. For the batch of 2023-24, the first installment is Rs.17.80 Lakhs. The remaining installments add up to Rs. 70,88,500. This includes tuition and other fees.  So, for your medical degree, you’ll be paying around Rs. 88,68,500. This is for Indian students. You will be paying the fees in 5 installments. You’ll also be paying a caution deposit of Rs.10,000 (refundable). For girls’ hostels, the cost is Rs. 1,30,500 per year, and for boys’ hostels, it is Rs. 1,25,500 per year.  This is the total MBBS course fee at KMC Manipal. Read more
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Ques. Which one is the best AIIMS or CMC Vellore for an MBBS?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 21 Sept 23

Ans. One of my friends was in a similar dilemma. He considered the following points while making his decision  Most AIIMS undergraduates settle in the US or pursue higher education in top colleges in India while CMC graduates prefer CMC for their higher education only.  Students of CMC are required to do bonds in mission hospitals so their higher education gets delayed. But this instills in them a strong sense of community-oriented healthcare. They tend to work in remote places of India without any personal glory. An AIIMS student can hardly be seen doing community service. AIIMS graduates publish more when compared to CMC graduates. CMC students get better hands-on experience and hence fare better in terms of clinical and Surgical skills. Right from the second year, they start assisting postgraduates in clinical work.  If you are a non-Christian, it will be difficult to go through the entire training without a mission hospital Ultimately, make a choice based on your demographics, preferences, and goals in life. Read more
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Ques. Which academic books do the students of MBBS at AIIMS, Delhi and JIPMER use?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 20 Sept 23

Ans. As an MBBS student at JIPMER, I am listing down the academic books followed over here- For Anatomy- Gray's Anatomy, Keith L. Moore, B.D. Chaurasia (before exams), difiore's Atlas of Histology, Langman’s Embryology. For Neuroanat, Snells and Vishram Singh, and Netter’s Atlas. For Physiology- Dr. G.k.Pal’s textbook and Guyton,for reference. For Biochemistry- Harper, Vasudevan, and the college practical manual. For Pharmacology- K. D. Tripathi and Lippincott. You can also read Dr. Gobind Rai Garg sir's book. For Pathology - Robbins, Tejinder Singh (Haematology). For Microbiology - Ananthanarayanan, Dr. Apurb Shastri. For Parasitology- Panikar. For Forensic - V. V. Pillai, Apurba Nandi For Ophthalmology - Parsons and Khurana For ENT - Dhingra For Psm - Parks For Medicine - Davidson, Harrison (only some topics), George Matthew, Kundu and Alagappan (for practical), Sethuraman (clinical examination) For Surgery - Bailey and Love’s Short Practise of Surgery, Manipal textbook, SRB textbook, Das and Makhanlal for practicals For OG - Sheila Balakrishnan and Dutta for Obs, Shaws and Lakshmi Sheshadri for Gynae For Pediatrics - O. P. Ghai (the standard but not all topics are updated), IAP and Nelson for recent topics and reference For Dermat - Dr. Thappa and Neena Khanna For Ortho - Apley, Maheshwari; John Ebenezer for clinics, Dr. Apurv Mehra’s textbook for quick review For Psychiatry - College handouts and George Matthew For Anesthesia - Bailey and Love’s For Pediatric surgery - Bailey and Love’s, Nelson This is the complete list of books that we read as MBBS students at JIPMER.Read more
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Ques. Which is better for ug university college of medical sciences (ucms) or vmmc?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 25 Sept 23

Ans. As a student of UCMS, I will try to enlighten you about my college. Location- It is true that UCMS is located in the periphery of Delhi, and its surrounding is not as developed as that of VMMC. Regardless, the location of UCMS offers most of the facilities required for a good college life. You can access Cinepolis, PVR and Big Cinemas from here, reach CP in 20-30 minutes by metro/private vehicle, and catch a metro from Jhilmil metro station to explore Delhi/NCR.  Campus- UCMS has a beautiful campus, the best among Delhi medical colleges. It has a huge central field where you can play cricket, basketball, football, etc. Boys get single seater hostel rooms from the first year itself. The campus has two 24*7 canteens, a book shop from where you can access all your medical books, an ATM, and a post office.The hospital has undergone renovation, and looks new and well managed. Academics- UCMS offers excellent academics. The faculty is skilled and teaches with sincerity. The Histology Lab in the Anatomy department is really good.  Extracurriculars- UCMS has a sports society, a western dance team, a theme choreography team, a dramatics team, a musical society, a literary society and a medical education unit. You can join any of these. According to me, both UCMS and VMMS are good medical colleges. You can choose the latter if location is a concern to you, otherwise, UCMS is a good choice too.Read more
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Ques. What are the pros and cons of doing an MBBS at JIPMER in Puducherry?

● Top Answer By Manjil Sharma on 21 Sept 23

Ans. Here are a few pros and cons of pursuing MBBS from JIPMER Pros- You will meet some highly experienced doctors who will be your professors too. You will be amazed by their nature, their dealing with patience, and their motivating nature. You will start respecting them from the bottom of your hearts. You will be given the opportunity to take part in different procedures in neonatal resuscitation or the Pediatrics department. The residents are very helpful given that you are keen to learn. Pondicherry is a safe place for both boys and girls. You will experience a unique kind of freedom here. Girls stay out till 9-9:30 pm alone and dont face any issues at all. Pondicherry is a clean and pollution-free city that offers fresh breathable air. You will be away from the hustle and bustle of city life and get to experience a slow life. You get a lot of time to ponder upon the challenges life throws at you. Cons North Indians might face language issues to a certain extent. Pondicherry does not have online delivery services like Swiggy, Big Basket, and Food Panda.  There isn't any decent shopping place here. There is only Pothys which is only known for sarees and suits. There is no good bookstore near the campus for fictional books. Overall, studying at JIPMER is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that shouldn't be underestimated at any cost. Read more
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Ques. What is the fee structure of an MBBS at AIIMS Rishikesh?

● Top Answer By Abhinav Mishra on 28 Sept 23

Ans. The fee structure of AIIMS Delhi is mentioned below in tabular format: Academic and other fees Amount (in INR) Hostel and other fees Amount (in INR) Registration fee 25 Hostel rent 990 Caution money 100 Gymkhana fee 220 Tuition fee 1350 Pot fund 1320 Laboratory fee 90 Electricity charges 198 Student union fee 63 Mess security 500 - - Hostel Security 1000 Total  1628 Total 4228 Grand total: INR 5856 In addition to the INR 5856 levied over the course of 5.5 years, the students also have to pay a mess fee of INR 10,000 every three months. Also optional is that. We have the option to avoid mess and prepare our own meals.Read more
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Ques. How is life as an MBBS student in JIPMER?

● Top Answer By Shreyansh Roy Singh on 21 Sept 23

Ans. The life of an MBBS student at JIPMER is quiet and tiring. Yet, they get to learn and experience new things every day. Their daily schedule looks like this  8 am to 11 am: Lectures 11 am to 1 pm: Anatomy dissection hours 1 pm to 2 pm: Lunch break 2 pm to 4:30 pm: Practicals In the evening some prefer playing basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, and badminton while others order just napping or hitting the gym. Some music lovers go to the band room to play out various symphonies and musicals. A few artist students spend their time participating or practicing for fine arts competitions. September brings in a huge crowd of students from different colleges attending Spandan. It’s a 7 day intercollegiate cultural literary and sports extravaganza that makes the monotonous life of JIPMER students a bit vibrant. October witnesses the Jipmer premier league ied teams of girls and boys. There is also Curie Day which is the annual girls' hostel day celebration. The hostel is open for boys as well and girls perform dance and sing. After all this enjoyment, the exams begin and students are reminded of their primary goal.  January is usually spent at home. In February, students go to Pune for the fest at AFMC -‘Silhouettes’. March brings in the tension of the annual university examinations and everybody can be seen surrounded by books. The seniors organize a wonderful Holi celebration- a cultural night followed by gulaal in the morning to ensure that students don’t succumb to the stress. With this the most happening year, the first year comes to an end.  The subsequent years bring in additional tasks such as Research projects, voluntary teaching, quizzing, etc. Read more
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Ques. Which college is better for an MBBS: the MAMC or VMMC?

● Top Answer By Tezal Dahiya on 25 Sept 23

Ans. Usually MAMC is the first choice of aspirants. But, a good number of students choose VMMC over MAMC despite getting really high ranks, and having a Delhi state quota. The reasons for this decision are- VMMC is much newer than MAMC, UCMS and LHMC. Thus, it offers a modern and fully air-conditioned infrastructure. Workload for the first 1-2 years is much lighter. There are only semester-end exams. Despite this, the education quality is top notch.  VMMC offers the benefits of an internal PG quota. The batch strength is smaller. This facilitates better interaction with peers and professors. Safdarjung Hospital has the largest OPD in Asia with a dedicated Specialized Burns Unit. So you’ll get more opportunities to learn during postings and internship. There is an entirely separate Sports Injury Centre as well.  The hostels are air conditioned, and the girls' hostel has no curfew. The library reading room remains open 24*7.  VMMC is located in the heart of South Delhi. The best hangout spots like HKV, Dilli Haat, Promenade are all located at a close distance. SN market and South Ex are just 5 minute drive away. Thus, I would recommend you choose VMMC for your MBBS degree.Read more
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