MBBS Syllabus (Semester-Wise): MBBS Subjects, Topics and FAQs

MBBS Syllabus (Semester-Wise): MBBS Subjects, Topics and FAQs

Sonia VatsUpdated on 09 Oct 2025, 10:25 AM IST

The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery popularly known as MBBS is a professional degree to practice in the field of medicine. Aspirants who want to pursue the course should be aware of the syllabus and MBBS subjects. Candidates who want to become a doctor must know the MBBS syllabus. The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the body that regulates the MBBS syllabus in India. The MBBS subjects year wise may vary with the recent development and requirements of the present time. The detailed MBBS syllabus pdf can be downloaded below.

MBBS Syllabus (Semester-Wise): MBBS Subjects, Topics and FAQs
MBBS Syllabus

Being aware of the MBBS syllabus before the commencement of classes will surely boost aspirants' performance in their academics. The MBBS course syllabus is also useful for medical graduates who want to pursue postgraduation medical courses such as Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), Master of Chirurgiae (M.Ch), etc. The MBBS subjects are divided into three categories - Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, and Clinical. The subjects in MBBS cover microbiology, biochemistry, anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, and pathology.

With the knowledge of MBBS subjects year wise, medical aspirants can get first-hand experience of how things work in the field concerned. Medical aspirants can enrol themselves in the MBBS course by qualifying for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Interested candidates must read the article on the MBBS syllabus by Careers360 to know more details on the same.

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MBBS course syllabus

The National Medical Commission (NMC) earlier known as the Medical Council of India (MCI) is the authority responsible for prescribing the MBBS syllabus. Under the MBBS course, which is for five and a half years, candidates will have to complete a one-year mandatory rotational internship. The entire MBBS syllabus has been divided into a total of nine semesters. These nine semesters will be for a period of 6 months each. There will be approximately 120 teaching days in each semester.

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How many semesters in MBBS?

The MBBS course has nine semesters and is divided into three phases – Pre Clinical, Para Clinical and Clinical. The semesters are divided into various MBBS course subjects and the pedagogy combines theoretical and practical classes. The internship year, which follows the academic portion, is usually considered separate from these semesters and is dedicated to hands-on training in various medical specialities. During the nine semesters of the academic phase, students cover a wide range of medical subjects and gain foundational knowledge and skills essential for their medical careers.

MBBS course syllabus

The Medical aspirants can refer to the table below, for a better understanding of how the MBBS course duration is divided into phases.

Phases of MBBS Syllabus

Phase

Year

Semester

Details

Phase I

MBBS 1st year syllabus

2 semesters

Pre-Clinical Subjects

Phase II

2nd-year MBBS subjects

3 semesters

Para-clinical and Clinical subjects

Phase III

3rd-year MBBS subjects

4 semesters

Continuation of the study of clinical subjects for 7 semesters after passing semester I

How to get admission to the MBBS course?

In order to get admission to the MBBS course, candidates must qualify for the NEET UG exam. Earlier, there were other options like AIIMS MBBS and JIPMER MBBS, but from 2020, these have also been brought under the ambit of NEET. This makes the NEET, a single national medical entrance examination at the undergraduate level. For admission to undergraduate medical courses, the aspirants need to appear for the medical entrance test and qualify by securing the NEET cutoff.

NEET Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

MBBS subjects list

It is already aforementioned that the syllabus of MBBS has been divided into three phases. In the table below, we have compiled the medical subjects that are to be taught under these phases, for the reference of candidates.

MBBS curriculum year-wise

Phase

Semesters

Subjects covered

Pre-Clinical

1-2: two semesters

Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology

Para-Clinical

3-5: three semesters

Community Medicine; Forensic Medicine, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Clinical postings inwards, OPDs to begin here;

Clinical

6-9: four semesters

Community Medicine, Medicine and allied subjects (Psychiatry, Dermatology), Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Paediatrics

Surgery and allied subjects (Anesthesiology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics);

Clinical postings

MBBS course subjects - Division of subjects covered

Candidates can refer to the table below to understand the division of subjects in these three phases.

MBBS subjects list

Phase

Subject

Topics

Pre-Clinical

Anatomy

Gross anatomy, Microanatomy, Embryology and Genetics, Neuroanatomy

Biochemistry

Biological cell, Biomolecules, Enzymes, Metabolic pathways, their regulation and metabolic interrelationships, Food assimilation and nutrition, Hormones, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Environmental biochemistry, cancer and cancer makers

Physiology

General Physiology, Nerve–Muscle, Blood, Respiratory System, Cardiovascular System, Gastrointestinal System, Nutrition, Environmental Physiology, Reproduction, Kidney, Neurophysiology, Yoga

Para-clinical

Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Forensic Medicine, Toxicology

Microbiology

Microbiology, Bacteriology, Bacterial Staining and Cultivation, Common Tests for Bacterial identification, parasitology, Virology, Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infection, Mycology, Common Laboratory Methods for Diagnosis of Fungal Infections, Collection of Transport of Samples, Host-Parasite relationship, Bacterial and Viral Genetics, Immunity to infection, Immunodiagnosis, Vaccines, Sterilisation and disinfection, Bacteriology of water and air, Microorganisms associated with gastrointestinal infections, Gastrointestinal infections caused by parasites

Pathology

General Pathology, Systemic Pathology, Practical

Pharmacology

General Pharmacology, Autonomic nervous system & Peripheral nervous system, Central nervous system, Autacoids, Cardiovascular system, Gastrointestinal and respiratory system, Hormones, Chemotherapy, Miscellaneous

Clinical

Anesthesiology

Preoperative evaluation & optimization, Skills I/V, Cannulation, Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal Airway insertion, Bag Mask Ventilation, Attaching pulse oximeter, BP cuff and ECG electrodes and setting up a monitor

Community Medicine

Behavioral Sciences, Health Education, Environment, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Nutrition, Maternal & Child Health, Rehabilitation, Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases And Non-communicable Diseases, Important National Health Programmes, Occupational Health, Health Administration, Health Economics, Geriatrics, Counselling

Dermatology and Venereology

Ineffective dermatoses, Infective dermatoses, Infestations, Melanin synthesis, Allergic disorders, Drug eruptions, urticaria, erythema multi-forme, Vesiculo-bullous diseases, Epidermopoisis, Psoriasis, Pathogenesis, Syphilis, Gonococcal and Non-gonococcal infections, HIV infection, Dermatological Emergencies

Medicine

Clinical Pharmacology, Nutritional and metabolic disorders, Water, electrolyte and acid-base imbalance, Critical care Medicine, Pain management and palliative care, Medical Psychiatry, Poisonings, Specific environmental and occupational hazards, Immune response and Infections, Cardiovascular system

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Basic Sciences, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Contraception, Neonatology and Recent Advances

Ophthalmology

Microbiology in relation to eye, Pathology in relation to eye, Pharmacology in relation to eye, Disorders of the Lid, Disorders of the Lacrimal Apparatus, Conjunctivitis & Ophthalmia Neonatorum, Trachoma & Other chronic conjunctivitis, Keratitis and corneal ulcers, Corneal ulcer, Scleritis & Episcleritis

Orthopaedics

Pediatric orthopaedics, Orthopaedic oncology, Management of Trauma, Sports Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Neurology, Disorders of Spine, Radiology, Fracture

Otorhinolaryngology

Oral cavity and oropharynx, Ear, Instruments, Operative Procedures, X-ray

Pediatrics

Vital statistics, Growth and development, Nutrition, Immunization, Infectious diseases, Hematology, Respiratory system, Gastro Intestinal Tract, Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular system, Genito-Urinary system, Neonatology, Pediatrics Emergencies, Fluid-Electrolyte, Genetics, Behavioral Problems, Pediatrics Surgical Problems, Therapeutics

Psychiatry

Behavioural Sciences, Emotion and its application to health, Cognitive process and memory, psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorders, Depression, Anxiety neurosis, phobia and OCD

Surgery

Skin, Head and Neck region, Arteries, Veins, Breast, Oesophagus, Stomach and duodenum, Small intestine, Colon and rectum, Appendix, Acute abdomen, Urology


MBBS Syllabus - 12 months rotatory internship

To complete the MBBS course, candidates must complete their one-year rotatory internship. When candidates are under the internship period, they will be provided with hands-on experience of how things work in their field. They will also be taught how to maintain interpersonal relations with their patients. During this internship session, emphasis will be placed on hands-on experience. Also, the department that is concerned will be maintaining a daily logbook for each candidate. The postings will keep on changing at intervals, the scheme of which is mentioned in the table below.

Internship postings

Speciality

Duration

Medicine

1.5 months

Surgery

1.5 months

Rural

3 months

Pediatrics

1 month

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

1 month

Casualty

1 month

Anaesthesiology

15 days

Ophthalmology

15 days

Elective

2 months

Total

12 months

MBBS scope

After the completion of the aforementioned MBBS subject year wise during Bachelor degree, deserving aspirants can get opportunities for earning in some of the following areas, in which they can get a better scope.

  • Hospitals
  • Laboratories
  • Biomedical companies
  • Nursing homes
  • Medical colleges
  • Health centres
  • Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies

MBBS career opportunities

Candidates, after completing their MBBS wish to get jobs in reputed companies across the nation and globe. There are a lot of job opportunities for deserving aspirants in the private and public sectors. Everyone has the opportunity to grab the below-mentioned jobs.

  • Doctors
  • Junior Doctors
  • Physicians
  • Junior Surgeons
  • Medical Professors or Lecturers
  • Researcher
  • Scientists

MBBS specialisations

Some major MBBS specialization areas are:

  • General Medicine
  • General Surgery
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Dermatology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics
  • ENT
  • Psychiatry
  • Anesthesiology
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Neuro Surgery
  • Cardio-Thoracic surgery
  • Continuos Urinary surgery
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Hematology
  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Craniologist
  • Pathologist

Also read: MBBS Course fees | MBBS vs MD | Medical Courses after 12th | AIIMS MBBS fee

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many sections are there in MBBS?
A:

The syllabus of MBBS is covered into three phases - Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical and Clinical subjects.

Q: How many topics are covered under Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical and Clinical subjects?
A:

Only the topics from Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical and Clinical subjects are covered in the MBBS syllabus.

Q: What is the duration of MBBS course?
A:

Candidates appearing for MBBS must complete five and a half year of theoretical as well as practical knowledge. Along with that, aspirants are also required to complete one year of compulsory internship on a rotatory basis.

Q: How important is the MBBS syllabus for preparing for NEET PG, INI CET?
A:

The questions asked in PG entrance examination is based on the syllabus of MBBS, thus it is mandatory for candidates to learn the fundamentals and concepts of MBBS curriculum.

Q: Can I get admission into MBBS course without clearing NEET?
A:

No, to get admission to the MBBS course, students must appear and qualify for NEET exam. 

Q: How many semesters are in MBBS?
A:

The MBBS syllabus comprises of 9 semesters. These semesters will be for a period of 6 months each.  Each semester is having approximately 120 teaching days.

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Questions related to NEET

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NEET ?

firstly, for NEET the main requirements are ur own details.. ur name, ur dob, photo, signature and identity proof.. if ur mother's name is slightly different on ur 10th marksheet and her aadhar card, it usually doesnt create any issue during NEET admission or registration as well.. however if there is a major difference then u should consider getting the aadhar updated to avoid confusion during counselling or document verification

If you are not prepared for NEET with only a month left, skip this attempt and plan calmly for next year or explore other PCB(PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY) options like pharmacy, nursing, biotech or psychology. Think about which subjects you will enjoy and what kind of work suitable for you like patient-care, lab work, lab research. If you explore these areas, it will help you to find your real interest.

Hello,

Cracking Neet in 5 months is tough, but not impossible. You must revise the subjects daily, practice lots of PYQ and work on your weak areas. At lastly keep confidence and believe in yourself.

Thank you.

Hello aspirant,

The sample paper PDF can help NEET 2026 candidates better prepare.  These NEET 2026 sample papers, which cover questions from physics, chemistry, and biology, adhere to the most recent exam format.  Students can learn about question kinds, chapter-wise weighting, and difficulty level by solving the question paper, which also provides them with exam-like practice.

To get the sample papers, you can visit our site through following link:

https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/neet-sample-paper

Thank you