Master of Surgery: Eligibility Criteria, Admission Process, Top Colleges, Fees, Syllabus, Scopes, Jobs 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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The Master of Surgery, also known as the MS, is a postgraduate program in the medical stream. It is a three-year-long postgraduate course specially made for the candidates to have comprehensive skills and knowledge about surgical pieces of training. This course includes different specialization courses related to human anatomy.

Admission for Master of Surgery takes place through NEET PG. Students can study for a Master of Surgery after completing MBBS and 6 months of internship that comes after MBBS. Top Specialisations for Master of Surgery students are Orthopaedics, Urology, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, General Surgery, Ayurveda etc.     

Top Colleges for Master of Surgery are AIIMS, Maulana Azad Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, KMC Bangalore etc. The average course fee in Government Colleges ranges between INR 4,000 – INR 10,000. The average fees for Private Colleges ranges between INR 5 lakhs to 10 Lakhs.   

Master of Surgery: Quick facts

  • It is a three-year full-time post-graduation course
  • It includes various specialization courses about the human anatomy
  • The candidates, who want to build a career in surgery should opt for this specialized course
  • It enables the students to know more about human body parts, diseases, and different surgical techniques to treat and prevent the diseases
  • To get admission to these courses the aspirants must have completed their MBBS degree

All About Master of Surgery

The Masters of Surgery is an advanced course in the surgical medicine field. This was established in Great Britain in the mid 19th century. The main objective of this course is to make students aware of scientific skills, techniques, and pieces of knowledge to become a surgeon in any specialization. Here students will learn about the diseases related to the human body and their preventive measures and treatments. Additionally, they also learn theoretical aspects to work on different areas such as Pathology, Public Health, Pharmacology, and Epidemiology.

Why Study Master of Surgery

This course is specially designed for those who want to become a surgeon, and want to build a career in this field. After completing this course, graduates may work in various fields such as 

  • At clinics, Health Centers, Hospitals, and Nursing homes 
  • They can also do private practices
  • Join medical colleges, research centers, and Labs
  • If the aspirant wants to build a career as a plastic surgeon, vascular surgeon, neonatal surgeon, researcher, ophthalmologist, and many more. They should opt for this course
  • Additionally, the average salary of these professionals is between Rs 4 to Rs 35 lakhs. However, the salary may increase with the experience and expertise of the person in this field. Hence, a graduate can earn a good amount of money by pursuing a career in any of above mention fields

Master of Surgery Admission Process

The aspirant who wants to join different MS Degree courses needs to qualify for the NEET PG exam. In India, most universities or institutions accept scores of the NEET PG exam. NEET PG is organized by the National Board of Education (NBE). It is a common exam for admission to both the MD and MS programs. And during the time of counseling the candidate has to choose or decide whether they want to opt for MD or MS. However, few colleges also allow candidates to join this course directly. There are more than 200 medical colleges in India and these institutions offer & approximately the total seats available here are 10826.

Master of Surgery: Eligibility Criteria

To get admission the candidate needs to have completed their MBBS degree from a medical college recognized by MCI. Additionally, those candidates who have completed their MBBS degree with an internship experience of one year are also eligible for this course. However, candidates have to secure a minimum of 50% of marks to get admission to this course. Similarly, the candidates belonging to SC, ST, and OBC categories can apply for this course with a minimum of 40% of marks. The minimum percentage required for admission may vary from one college to another. So it is advisable to visit the official website before applying for this course.

Additionally, the aspirants need to have a provisional certificate or permanent registration certificate by the MCI or any State Medical Council.

Master of Surgery: Admission

The candidates who want to get admission to MS Courses can apply by visiting the official websites. The admission for this program is entranced-based and merit-based. And the minimum age limit of the aspirant for applying for this MS course should not exceed more than 35 years. Due to the pandemic, the exams are postponed, and the authority has not given any updates on it. But the entrance exam date will be notified soon.

Merit-Based Admissions

Many universities or colleges allow aspirants to get admission to this course based on their merits and conduct counseling. Based on the results of counsellings a merit list is prepared by the state universities.

Entrance-Based Admissions

Whereas most colleges do admission based on merits and counseling, some colleges conduct entrance exams to select students for MS courses. Majorly, students get admission after qualifying NEET PG exam but few universities also conduct their entrance exam with different selection processes. A few institutions named JIPMER, AIIMS, & PGIMER have their entrance exams. A few names of different entrances organized by universities are

Name of the Entrance Exam Full-Form Organized by
JIPMER PG Exam Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research All India Institute of Medical Sciences 
AIIMS PG Exam All India Institute of Medical Sciences Post Graduation Exam AIIMS- All India Institute of Medical Sciences 
PGIMER Exam Post-Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
UP PGMEE UP State Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination  UP State Post Graduate Medical College
AIPGMEE All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination NBE- National Board of Examinations
DUPGMET Delhi University Post Graduate Medical Entrance Test  Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi

The exam pattern and eligibility criteria may differ from one university to another. After qualifying for the entrance exam the aspirant needs to qualify for the personal interview and based on their performance and score they will be selected for admission

Master of Surgery Entrance Exam Dates

The entrance exam for MS admission is conducted once a year. The NEET PG exam is organized by the NBE (National Board of Education). And different universities organize their entrance exams. Now read below to know about the exam dates,

Exam Name Exam Details
NEET PG Check Here
INI CET Check Here

Entrance Exam Preparation Tips

Cracking or qualifying the entrance exam for MS courses on the first attempt is not easy but it is not impossible. Here are some tips mentioned below, which will help the aspirant to crack the entrance exam with a single go.

Before starting preparation for any exam, it is advisable to have detailed information or understanding of the exam pattern, structure, eligibility criteria, and syllabus of the course.

  • Only hard work is not sufficient to crack the entrance exam for the MS courses. With increasing competition, the aspirants need to study smart and do hard work more smartly
  • Make a timetable and study accordingly. Set time limits for individual subjects with learning goals. Creating and achieving weekly goals will benefit the aspirants in their future
  • Complete the syllabus at least before one month of the exam and multiple revisions
  • Appear for various mock tests. It will help the candidates to understand the exam pattern and question papers. It also helps you to assess your strengths and weaknesses. The mock tests for NEET PG will be available on the official website of the NBE. you only need to register to appear for these mock tests and you can take the mock test want for practice
  • Use the internet productively, download good study materials and books online. Check the previous year’s questions paper and solutions on the official website of the National Board of Education. Additionally, use the internet to know the want latest changes in the exam pattern and more
  • Most importantly, choose good books and study materials. It will help you with better preparation for the entrance exams
  • Lastly, take breaks to refresh your mind and rest properly. Additionally, having a healthy diet and a good sleep cycle will increase the efficiency of the candidates

Syllabus for  Master of Surgery

The Master of Surgery course is a full-time 3-year course. Moreover, the curriculum of MS degree courses has been divided into five major components such as

  • Theoretical knowledge
  • Clinical Skills
  • Thesis Skills
  • Training in Research Methodology

Assessment for postgraduate students is conducted once a year. The students have to appear for a written and practical exam at the end of the course. Additionally, the students have to submit a thesis and the topic of the thesis can be chosen by the candidate under the guidance of the professor. However, the thesis needs to be submitted 6 months before the final exam. The final result of the student will be declared based on the score of the written exam, practical exam, and thesis paper.

Year Subjects
First-year General surgery Paper on Anesthesia Paper on Radiology and Radiotherapy Paper on Orthopedics Paper on Traumatology
Second-year General surgery Paper on Neuro Surgery Paper on Plastic Surgery Paper on Pediatric Surgery Paper on Urology Paper on Cardio-Thoracic
Final year General Surgery Intensive Coaching

Top Master of Surgery Colleges

Many universities and institutions in India offer different MS courses. Some of the top universities are,

AIIMS, Delhi AFMC Pune, (Armed Force Medical College) Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Post Graduate Institution of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER) Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore

Top Government Colleges

There are different government colleges, who provide various courses in Master of Surgery. Such as

Top Private Colleges

Name of private colleges for the Master of Surgery course is given below,

Name of the Institution Fees (Approximate) Rank
CMC, Vellore Rs. 1,77,800 (1st year) 1
KMC, Mangalore Rs. 24,10,000 (1st year) 4
DMCH, Ludhiana Rs. 2,18,000 (1st year) 9
DYPMC, Pune Rs. 35,60,000 (1st year) 12
Johns Medical College, Bangalore Rs. 20,84,750 (Total) 14
KMC, Manipal Rs. 2,410, 000 2
MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore Rs. 11,50,205 8
HIMSAR, New Delhi Rs. 2.20,000 (Total) 11
SRMCRI, Chennai Rs. 20,00,000 (1st year) 6
CMC, Ludhiana Rs. 6,50,000 7

The approximate fee for this course is between INR 10,000 to 10 Lacs. Hence it is advisable to visit the official website of the respective college to know more about their fee structure.

After Master of Surgery

With increasing health issues, and diseases people are becoming more concerned about their health. And everyone nowadays wants to approach the doctor with different specialized degrees. Hence the scope of Master of Surgery in our country is very wide and variable. Careers in the surgery field are always very rewarding as surgeons get the chance to serve the health of the nation. Additionally, an MS degree holder also gets good jobs with nice salary packages. Some job opportunities available for Master of Surgery degree holders are, work as a private practitioner at the Medical Clinic, private hospitals, and government hospitals. Apart from this, a Master of Surgery degree holder can do their higher studies.

Ph.D. After Master of Surgery

After completing the Master of Surgery course the candidates also have the option to continue higher studies and can pursue different super-specialist courses and Ph.D. courses. It is a three-year-long course. Candidates having a higher degree are the best paid in this profession.

Master of Surgery Jobs & Placements

A person with an MS Degree has a wide scope of job opportunities both in India and foreign countries. With a Master of Surgery, they can also choose among different career options that are given below-

  • Government Hospitals
  • Private Hospitals
  • Starting their private practice
  • Teaching jobs
  • Join the Army/Air Force etc as Surgeon
  • Researcher at research institutes
  • Bio-chemical Companies

Top Job Profiles

There are multiple job profiles available for a Master of Surgery Degree holder such as-

  • They can work as a surgeon at private and government hospitals Plastic Surgeon, Neonatal Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon, General Surgeon and many more
  • Work a Researcher at different research institutions
  • Work at Bio-chemical Companies
  • Consultancy Services in various hospital
  • Working with different Non-profit Organisation

Top Recruiters

There is a huge demand for specialist doctors in the Public Sector, railways, and governmental agencies like NRHM and many more. India has many hospitals which are nationally and internationally acclaimed. A few names of the top hospitals are Apollo, Fortis, and Medanta. There are several other hospitals where a Master of Surgery degree holder can work. The private sector in India is booming hence, there will be a high demand for doctors with a Master of Surgery.

Master of Surgery Salary

The more degrees you have, the more you will have the opportunities to get good Jobs with awesome salaries. Now, read below to know the approximate salary for different jobs.

Career options/ Jobs Approximate Salary(LPA)
General Surgeon 10 to 25 LPA
ENT surgeons 8 to 10 LPA
Gynaecologist 12 to 25 LPA
Orthopedic Surgeon 15 to 25 LPA
Neurosurgeon 20 to 35 LPA
Trauma Surgeon 17 to 35 LPA
Indian Army Doctor 12 to 22 LPA

Master of Surgery: FAQs

Ques. What is the duration of the MS degree course?

Ans. The duration of the MS degree course is three years.

Ques. What is the level of the Master of Surgery Degree course?

Ans. The Master of Surgery is a postgraduate-level degree course.

Ques. What is the average salary of a Master of Surgery Degree holder?

Ans. The more experience and education you will acquire, the more salary you will get. However, the average salary of a Maer of a Surgery degree holder is between Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 LPA.

Ques. What are the average fees for a Master of Surgery Degree at a government medical college?

Ans. The fees for the Master of Surgery degree at Government Medical college are very less as compared to the fee structure of the different private medical colleges. However, the average fee for this course ranges between INR 2000 to 1 lac.

Ques. What are the average fees for a Master of Surgery Degree at a Private medical college?

Ans.  The fees for the Master of Surgery degree at the  Private Medical colleges is slightly higher as compared to the fee structure of Government colleges. The average fee for this course ranges between INR 2 lac. to 30 lacs.

Ques. What are the job options available for a Master of Surgery Degree holder?

Ans. There are plenty of opportunities available for a Master of Surgery degree holder and a few of them are mentioned here- 

  • General Surgeon
  • ENT  surgeons
  • Gynaecologist
  • Orthopedic Surgeon
  • Neurosurgeon 
  • Trauma Surgeon
  • Indian Army Doctor

Ques. What is the minimum eligibility required to apply for this course?

Ans. The minimum qualification required for this course is that the applicant has to qualify for the entrance exam with good grades. Additionally, the aspirant needs to have completed his/her MBBS degree from a recognized institution. Different universities have different eligibility requirements for admission, hence it is good to check the eligibility requirements before applying for this course.

Ques. Is NEET PG the only qualifying exam to get admission to the Master of Surgery course? 

Ans. No, NEET PG is not the only entrance exam to quality or this course. Different universities organize different entrance exams for this course. The details about other entrance exams are mentioned above. However, most of the colleges accept students based on their NEET PG scores. 

Ques. Which course is better between MS and MD?

Ans. It is difficult to categorize between the MS and MD courses as both the courses are post-graduation level courses. Master of surgery is a study of General Surgery, whereas the MD is a study of General Medicine. 

Ques. Apart from Surgeons, what other job opportunities are available for an MS degree holder?

Ans. Apart from becoming a Surgeon, an MS Degree can also work as a Lab technician with a 4-5 Lakh salary. Additionally, they can also work as researchers at different research institutes with good salaries. The other options available for an MS degree holder are already mentioned in this article.

Master of Surgery [MS] : 8 answered questions

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Ques. What do I do to crack the NIMHANS entrance exam for a post-graduation in neurosurgery?

● Top Answer By Pratik Parikh on 30 Sept 23

Ans. NIMHANS conducts an online MCQ based entrance test for Mch/DM Neurology and MD Psychiatry. A common exam is held for all these courses, and later on, a separate merit list is published for each. You have to select your course while applying, and can’t change it later on. You can apply for all three courses or one/two of them.  Here is some information on the entrance exam: It is a one-hour test with 150 MCQs. 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer, and ¼ mark is deducted for each wrong answer. 90-100 questions are asked from 19 MBBS subjects. These questions are not related to CNS. With good preparation for other PGMEE, you can answer them. Regular one-liner guidebook questions are asked. 50-60 MCQs are directly/indirectly related to CNS. For these, read the neuro aspect of all major subjects- Anatomy, Physio, Medicine, Psychiatry, Surgery, Patho, Micro, Pharma, Radio, and Anaesthesia. These questions are solvable given that you prepare well in the last 10-15 days before the exam. The entrance is overall easy. However, the number of seats is very low, so the margin of error for silly mistakes is very low.  Read all subjects before the last 10 days. Then, focus on the Neurology part in the last 10 days. By following these tips, you’ll successfully crack the NIMHANS entrance test.Read more
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Ques. Which way is better, to do an MS general surgery and then take up neurosurgery as a superspeciality, or the direct 6yrs (Mch) Neurosurgery course (offered by AIIMS and NIMHANS) after an MBBS?

● Top Answer By Tezal Dahiya on 30 Sept 23

Ans. I’ll be sharing with you my opinion on both. As a 6-year MCh candidate, you’ll rotate through 10 months of general surgery. However, general surgery skills aren’t of much use in Neurosurgery, except the very basic knot-tying and suturing skills. You can also acquire those from dedicated lab practice. The other techniques followed in Neurosurgery are very different from those followed in general surgery.  Neurosurgeons generally use access surgeons (thoracic surgeons or urologists) to perform unconventional approaches to the spine. It is much safer for the patient. Also, opting for a 6-year course after MBBS means one less entrance exam. So it isn’t very beneficial for you to take up 3 years of MS general surgery. I would recommend you choose the direct 6 year Mh Neurosurgery course at AIIMS or NIMHANS instead.Read more
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Ques. How is the life of a resident doctor pursuing neurosurgery at NIMHANS after an MBBS? Can we get a sneak peek into work hours, leisure activities, and culture at the institute?

● Top Answer By Sapna Malik updated on 03 Oct 23

Ans. Here is the routine of a Neurosurgery resident at NIMHANS. The department is subdivided into 6 units, each of which is headed by an internationally acclaimed faculty member. The day of a resident starts at around 6 AM with a routine assessment of patients in all the wards under one’s respective unit for the month.  This is followed by academics which start at 8 AM. It runs for 1-1 ½ hours. During this time, the cases posted for surgery are presented by senior residents. These are then discussed among faculty members and residents to reach a decision for the optimal treatment of that case. After this, the senior residents head to the OT complex, and junior residents present rounds to the faculty. Decisions on further treatment/discharge are made during the rounds. Junior residents then perform ward procedures like External Ventricular Drain Insertion, Lumbar drains, Lumbar Punctures, Shunt Taps, Fontanelle Tap, Tracheostomies, etc. under supervision. This is followed by evening rounds by the faculty/ senior residents. After these, any leftover work is completed. The evening ends with a post-op call to the respective consultant, and the duty ends at 9 PM when the night duty resident takes over.  The OPD for a particular unit is held on a fixed day. It is also a casualty call day for the unit. Life as a neurosurgery resident is so busy that even having meals is like a luxury.  NIMHANS will train you to practice evidence-based medicine and keep updated with all the recent developments in your field. It is one of the best places in India to practice Neurosurgery residency. Read more
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Ques. Which is better for an MS in General Surgery: AIIMS, JIPMER or PGI?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 21 Sept 23

Ans. Surgery can’t be read and understood. Also, no matter the number of simulations you run through, practicing on a human body is very different.  Now, with their limited number of beds, these institutions perform complex surgeries through protocol defining procedures. As a resident at these, you won’t perform many surgeries. Also, you’ll have a limited exposure to trivial diseases. On the flip side, you’ll witness some of the best surgeons at work, and access top notch technology. To master surgery, you’ll have to become an SR at these institutions. But at a decent government college hospital, the volume of patients is very high. As a result, you’ll be pushed into the OT. So you’ll get good practice, under proper supervision. However, at these colleges, protocols take a back seat. You’ll have to compromise with low funding as a resident at these institutions. I would personally recommend going for a decent government college. But you should choose according to your own preferences.Read more
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Ques. Which is better for neurosurgery, CMC Vellore or AIIMS Delhi?

● Top Answer By Puneet Aarya on 08 Jun 23

Ans. To pursue a specialization as complex as Neurosurgery, AIIMS is definitely the best choice. CMC Vellore is also a leading medical institute but the brand and credibility of AIIMS are unmatched. A few highlights of the institute that makes it worth choosing are  AIIMS has a well-adapted system, a huge patient load, modern technology, renowned consultants, and well-equipped theaters.  AIIMS has a well-managed patient management protocol and executes the latest techniques in its surgical practice. AIIMS provides an excellent cadaveric training facility with frequently conducted cadaveric courses. AIIMS also has animal training labs where you can expertise on your microsurgical skills. Delhi, the capital of India is the huh of everything. A city life, opportunities, hangout places, and coaching institutes.  Surprisingly enough, CMC Fees are much higher than AIIMS even though the salary at AIIMS is more than double of CMC. Again, I don’t consider CMC any less but the above points are in strong favor of AIIMS.Read more
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Ques. How is MS general surgery residency at JIPMER when compared to other top ranked colleges for surgery?

● Top Answer By Kushal Chaudhuri, on 21 Sept 23

Ans. The General Surgery is one of the best departments in JIPMER. Most residents here are extremely friendly and well-educated. This department has some of the best professors. Our HOD, Dr. Kate is a gem of a person and it's an honor to know him personally. Dr. Sistla is one of the senior-most professors in the department and is the role model of many.  The first-year residents have a hectic schedule due to an overload of work. There are all kinds of surgeries in JIPMER including many trauma surgeries so the OTs are busy all day. Overall, the Surgery department is one of the best and if you made it to MS at JIPMER, and are willing to work 24*7, during their first year, you should definitely go for it!Read more
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Ques. After doing neurosurgery in NIMHANS, do we have the opportunity to go to the U.S.A. & do any fellowships or practice there?

● Top Answer By Raktim Tarafdar on 03 Oct 23

Ans. I fail to understand why you are considering fellowship or practice options in the USA when India has highly advanced technologies and is at par with the USA. In fact, Neurosurgery is the one and only super-specialty in India that is known to have state-of-the-art faculties and super-advanced sophisticated instruments that are at par with all developed countries. India now has almost all subspecialties of neurosurgery that are accredited by MCI. Once you complete your neurosurgery residency at NIMHANS, you will have a plethora of opportunities to do fellowships within India itself. Admission to these fellowship programs is based solely on entrance tests followed by an interview  These are the most famous fellowships that are accredited by MCI  Cerebrovascular & skull base neurosurgery - 1 year Spine surgery - 2 years Epilepsy and functional base neurosurgery- 2 years Pediatric neurosurgery - 1 year Neurocritical Care - 1 year Once Neurosurgery - 1 year Neuro Vascular surgery - 1 year Skull base surgery - 1 or 2 year Neurovascular intervention - 2 years Trauma care - 2 years Some of the institutes offering these fellowships are AIIMS, NIMHANS, PIGMER, Tata Memorial Hospital - Mumbai, CMC Vellore, etcRead more
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Ques. Which is better for neurosurgery CMC Vellore or AIIMS Delhi?

● Top Answer By Tithi Aggrawal on 04 Jul 23

Ans. Both CMC Vellore and AIIMS Delhi are renowned Indian medical colleges and hospitals. AIIMS Delhi is one of the super-specialty hospitals for neurosurgery. Even though CMC Vellore is equipped with all the facilities for the neurosurgery branch, AIIMS Delhi ranks better in this regard. If you do end up in CMC Vellore, its neurosurgery is excellent in terms of patient management protocols and care. Its post-surgery rehabilitation is world-class and stands unparalleled. Also, choose according to your preferred location. If you wish to settle in Delhi in the future, choosing AIIMS Delhi will be a wise decision. You can also choose based on the distance of the institution from your hometown. Whichever of the two you choose, you will have to compromise your personal life to a great extent. However, you will gain a lot of experience for your career as a medical professional. Overall, out of the two, AIIMS Delhi has more facilities for neurosurgery and a locational advantage.Read more
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