Top B.D.S. Colleges in India

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is an undergraduate dentistry program with a duration of 5 years, including 4 years of academic studies and a compulsory 1-year internship. It covers diverse aspects of dental issues and surgeries, offering opportunities in both government and private medical sectors.

As per the Dental Council of India, there are 346 BDS colleges in India. Out of these 346 dental colleges, 60 are government BDS colleges while 286 are privately owned BDS colleges. BDS is a highly sought-after course in the medical field after MBBS. Graduates can establish their dental clinics or work as dentists and dental surgeons. Admission to top BDS colleges in India is done through the NEET UG examination. Check the information below to know more about Top BDS colleges in India. 

BDS colleges in India - Overview 

Top BDS colleges in India - Eligibility criteria

To secure admission to the best BDS college in India, candidates must fulfil the NEET eligibility criteria as mentioned by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Detailed eligibility criteria for admission to top BDS colleges in India are provided below. 

• Eligible candidates for the exam include Indian Citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Foreign Nationals. 

• To qualify for the exam, candidates must achieve a minimum NEET cutoff percentile, which is set at 50% for the General category, 40% for SC/ST/OBC categories and 40% for the PwD category. 

• Candidates should be at least 17 years old by December 31 of the admission year. 

• Aspirants must have completed or be in the process of completing their 10+2 education with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology and English as core subjects. 

Top colleges for BDS in India - Admission process 

Admission to top BDS colleges in India is granted through NEET UG scores. Qualified candidates are required to participate in the counselling process conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee. Check the detailed admission process below. 

NEET UG admission process  

• The MCC oversees the NEET counselling process for 15% of All India Quota seats and the remaining 85% of state quota seats are granted through state authorities. 

• To engage in each round of NEET UG counselling, candidates must register on mcc.nic.in and submit their preferences for colleges and courses. 

• The seat allotment results, containing information about the assigned institutions, courses and other specifics are released by the authority. 

• Candidates who secure seats in NEET counselling must adhere to the stipulated dates report to the allocated institute and complete the admission process.

Best BDS colleges in India 

The table below lists the leading BDS colleges in India. Aspiring dental candidates seeking admission to these top-tier BDS colleges must check the table to get information about fee structure. 

Top Dental Colleges in India

Top Govt BDS colleges in India

Best private dental colleges in India

BDS best college in India - Entrance exams 

Candidates aiming to secure admission in top dental colleges in India must participate in the NEET UG examination conducted by the NTA annually. NEET UG is the single largest dental exam that offers admission to BDS courses in government and private colleges of India. According to the NEET exam pattern, candidates have to answer a total of 180 multiple choice questions. Successful candidates are mandated to engage in the counselling process to secure admission to esteemed BDS colleges in India. 

Frequently asked questions 

Question: What does having a BDS degree refer to?

Answer: BDS in dentistry refers to an undergraduate degree in dental surgery, i.e. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).

Question: Is MBBS more difficult than BDS?

Answer: BDS and MBBS both deal with different fields of medical studies. The difficulty level of both courses is different since they focus on totally different subjects.

Question: What is the duration of the BDS course?

Answer: BDS consists of 5 years duration, with 4 years as academic duration, and one-year compulsory internship.

Question: Is it worth pursuing BDS?

Answer: Yes, it is worth pursuing BDS course study. This course offers a wide range of future scope and the one-year compulsory internship during the course study is advantageous for various opportunities. Therefore, the study of BDS courses is never a waste.

Question: What are the subjects studied in the BDS course?

Answer: Various subjects in the field of medicine are studied in BDS. Physiology, biochemistry, dental pharmacology, periodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics, dentistry, microbiology, etc. are the core subjects of study in BDS.

Question: What are the fees of BDS?

Answer: The fee structure of BDS differs from institution to institution and colleges to colleges depending on the facilities provided to its students. However, the medical field of studies is usually expensive, and the fee structure of BDS typically ranges from Rs. 50K to 42 lakhs.

Question: What is the career scope of BDS?

Answer: With a BDS degree, one can become an orthodontist, dentist, dental surgeon, dental pharmacologist, and they can even open their own private dental clinic. They can also opt to work abroad in various medical sectors.

Question: Which entrance test is the most common for admissions to BDS courses?

Answer: NEET is the accepted entrance test score for admissions to BDS courses of different colleges in India.

Question: Which are the best colleges in India for BDS?

Answer: There are over 300 BDS colleges in India, and only a few stand out to be the most prestigious college that offers BDS courses. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Science Delhi, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth Pune, Manipal College of Dental Science, are one of the best colleges to pursue BDS in India as per NIRF ranking.

Question: What is the average salary with a BDS degree?

Answer: The salary of an individual may differ with the level of degree, experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise in the field of work. For individuals after the completion of BDS degree, the average annual salary ranges from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 8 lakhs. The salary may also differ between dental surgeon and dentist, to private dental clinic owners.