Confused about which one to choose between PhD or MBBS? Get more information regarding eligibility, syllabus, scope, jobs, salary along with a comparative study of PhD vs MBBS.
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Students are often confused between PhD vs MBBS as both degrees help candidates earn a tag of a doctor. Though both of these courses seem to be the same, they have huge differences in the field and curriculum.
A PhD is a doctorate that states higher-level specialization, whereas MBBS is a medical degree that states people's treatment. One should look after the course they can pursue as per the eligibility criteria as one is an undergraduate course while the other is a doctorate level course.
To have a clear picture, let's look at the difference between the courses PhD vs MBBS.
Ph.D. vs MBBS - Highlights
Although both MBBS and PhD holders are referred to as doctors, the implications of these terms differ significantly. A bachelor's degree in medicine and surgery (MBBS) is for those who desire to pursue their ambition of becoming a doctor. A professional degree in medical science is the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). A doctorate, on the other hand, is a high-level degree that is associated with PhD holders. PhD holders are topic specialists who have specialized in a specific field. They may have an extensive understanding of the subject at hand.
Criteria |
Ph.D. |
MBBS |
Full-form |
Doctor of Philosophy |
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
Duration |
2-5years |
5.5years |
Age |
No age limit |
Upper age limit 25 years |
Eligibility criteria |
Master’s degree with a minimum 55% aggregate. |
10+2 with a minimum 50% aggregate. |
Mandatory Subjects |
Area of specializations (Marketing, Humanities, Bioscience, etc.) |
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. |
Average Fee |
INR 10k-6LPA |
INR 70k-21LPA |
Average Salary |
INR 9.5LPA |
INR 3.6LPA |
Job Profiles |
Associate Professor, Research Consultant, Accounts Executive, etc. |
General Surgeon, Medical Officer, Physician, etc. |
PhD vs MBBS – Overview
Ph.D. refers to Doctor of Philosophy, a Doctoral degree, whereas MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a graduate degree.
Ph.D. is a doctoral program that lasts at least two to five years, with some universities requiring students to finish the program in five years, including the thesis or research paper. The PhD in any stream of study allows you to understand the particular stream and the specialization study. PhD courses mainly focus on developing research thesis proposals and understanding concepts further. PhD is the highest degree, and graduates will have plenty of scopes with higher pay scales in their field of specialization.
Read more on Ph.D
MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. It is a bachelor's degree program in the field of medicine. The MBBS program lasts 5.5 years. This course is divided into nine semesters and is taught in a semester-by-semester format. For four and a half years, the MBBS curriculum includes practical and theoretical study, followed by a one-year mandatory internship in several disciplines of medicine and surgery.
Read more on MBBS
Ph.D. vs MBBS - Eligibility Criteria
Both the courses are way different from each other as one is an undergraduate and the other is a doctorate-level course. Eligibility criteria for both the courses differ from each other.
Eligibility Criteria for PhD is:
- Candidates must have completed a master's degree in a specialized field with an average of more than 55 percent.
- To get admitted to this program, the candidate must pass rounds of admission exams (GATE, GPAT, etc.) and a round of personal interviews and group discussions.
Eligibility Criteria for MBBS is:
- In their 10+2 grade, the candidate must have received more than 50% in physics, chemistry, and biology combined.
- Candidates have to clear the NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test), one of the most sought-after national level examinations offered by the CBSE board, to be eligible for the MBBS.
Ph.D. vs MBBS - Syllabus
The syllabus for both the courses is very different as Ph.D. focuses on specialization in a particular field which includes research, whereas MBBS is a bachelor's degree of medicine that includes the study of science in specific.
The syllabus for PhD, in general, are as follow:
- Introduction to Research Methodology
- Data collecting and Sampling
- Research Report Writing
- Data Analysis
- Literature Review
- Thesis Development
Read more on Ph.D Syllabus and Subjects
The syllabus for MBBS is as follow:
- Human Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Orthopedics
- Radiotherapy
- General Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- General Surgery
Read more on MBBS Syllabus and Subjects
Ph.D. vs MBBS - Employment Opportunities
The degrees of PhD and MBBS are well-known and have good job prospects for graduates and postgraduates. Because these two degrees are so dissimilar, their careers are also dissimilar.
Employment Opportunities for PhD are listed below:
- Research Scientist
- Finance Director
- Data Analyst
- Senior Project Lead
- Research and Development Head
- Technological Consultant
- Associate Scholar
- Head of the Department
Read more on Ph.D Jobs
Employment Opportunities for MBBS are:
- Physician
- Physiologist
- Neurologist
- Cardiologist
- General Doctor
- General Surgeon
- Urologist
Read more on MBBS Jobs
Ph.D. vs MBBS - Average Salary
Graduates with a good theoretical understanding and practical application will have a broad variety of alternatives after completing both courses, as the potential for expanding demands of PhD in companies and MBBS in hospitals with a good theoretical grasp and practical application is substantial. The average wage is influenced by job organization and educational skills.
The average salary of Ph.D. graduates are:
Designation |
Average Salary (INR) |
Assistant Professor |
INR 3.91LPA |
Research Scientist |
INR 7.46LPA |
Quality Assurance Manager |
INR 2.39LPA |
Management Consultant |
INR 5LPA |
Read more on Ph.D Salary
The average salary of MBBS graduates are:
Designation |
Average Salary (INR) |
Medical Officer |
INR 3.53LPA |
General Surgeon |
INR 17.55LPA |
Resident Medical Officer |
INR 4.14LPA |
Read more on MBBS Salary
Ph.D. vs MBBS - Top Colleges of India
Candidates should aspire to India's premier colleges. To begin the course, one needs first to become familiar with the best colleges in the world. Students can achieve significantly more at top universities for a certain degree than they might at other universities.
Top Colleges of India for PhD are:
- Banaras Hindu University
- Panjab University
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
Top Colleges of India for MBBS are:
- AIIMS New Delhi
- Christian Medical College
- Madras Medical College
- Kasturba Medical College
- Maulana Azad Medical College
Ph.D. or MBBS - Which One to Choose?
Both the courses are beneficial in terms of education and skills as per the requirements of an individual. Ph.D. focuses on specializations, whereas MBBS focuses on bachelors in science and medicine. The candidate has to choose the course based on the area of interest.
Broader Career Scopes: Candidates who want to pursue medicine can pursue the MBBS course just after 12th, whereas those who want to pursue a specialization in any stream of study can choose a Ph.D. once they complete post-graduation. MBBS has good career scopes as graduates can pick any field of specialization and master in a particular domain, whereas Ph.D. also provides numerous streams which they can opt for and complete their doctorate studies.
Exponential Growth: Both MBBS and Ph.D. are highly reputed coursework in India and graduates enjoy plenty of perks when it comes to the job market. Both sets of graduates are entitled to receive high paygrades ranging from INR 8 - 12 LPA, depending upon the sector they work and the job role they're assigned.
Both courses have advantages that students may bring to their employers after graduation and develop distinct talents. As a result, students must carefully examine both courses and select the one that best suits their interests.
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