Updated October 18, 2022
Master of Surgery, popularly known as MS, is a three-year postgraduate degree program in the medical stream and is designed to provide the students with comprehensive knowledge and skills in surgical training. The Master of the surgery itself is a course but also offers different specializations related to human anatomy for the students to become a surgeon in their respective areas.
The Master of Surgery Course is so challenging and prestigious that a very thin percentage of candidates are eligible to pursue the program. Only a few colleges in India offer this program, and some of these are AIIMS, Maulana Azad Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, KMC Bangalore, etc. These universities grant access to the program based on entrance exams score.
Specializations in Master of Surgery Course
The Master of Surgery is a course in itself, though many specializations are available in the degree. Specializations and courses MS aspirants can choose while completing their postgraduate degree are as follows.
- Orthopaedics
- Ophthalmology
- General Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Traumatology & Surgery
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- ENT (Ears, nose, and throat)
Master of Surgery Admission Process
Admission offered to the different MS Degree courses is based on the standard entrance test. So, the aspirants who want to join the MS Program need to qualify for the NEET PG exam. However, there are various other entrance exams too that the universities themselves conduct but in India, most universities or institutions accept scores of the NEET PG exam. The conducting body of NEET PG is the National Board of Education (NBE).
NEET PG is a common exam, and its score is applicable for admission to both the MD and MS programs. Once you qualify for the NEET PG, you can join any of them. So, during counseling, the candidate has to choose whether they want to opt for MD or MS. Apart from the entrance test, few colleges/universities allow candidates to join this course directly based on merits and conduct counseling.
Master of Surgery Eligibility Criteria
To join any program in the world, aspirants need to meet specific parameters, and the same goes with the MS program tool. Listed below are the criterion of eligibility candidates need to fulfill for admission to the Master of Surgery Program. The eligibility criteria regarding the “minimum required percentage” for admission may differ from institution to institution. Therefore, candidates need to visit the official website of the respective institute for confirmation before applying for this course.
- Candidates must have completed their MBBS degree from a medical college recognized by MCI. Along with that, they should have also completed their MBBS degree with one year of internship.
- They must have secured a minimum of 50% marks in their MBBS degree. However, the reserved categories candidates are given a relaxation of 10% in the “minimum required percentage.”
- Candidates must possess a provisional certificate or permanent registration certificate issued by the MCI or any State Medical Council.
Entrance Exams for Master of Surgery
The admission authorities conduct several entrance exams for admission to the MS degree program. The NBE (National Board of Education) conducts NEET PG, a common entrance exam accepted by most institutions that offer the program. And other entrance tests are organized by different Colleges/universities. Below are some of the top entrance tests for the Master of Surgery Course.
- NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test postgraduate)
- AIPGMEE (All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination)
- DUPGMET (Delhi University Post Graduate Medical Entrance Test)
- UP PGMEE (Uttar Pradesh Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination)
- AIIMS PGET (All India Institute of Medical Sciences Post Graduate Entrance Test)
- PGIMER ET (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Entrance Test)
- JIPMER ET (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research Entrance Exam)
Syllabus for Master of Surgery Course
The Master of Surgery course is a three-year postgraduate course in the surgical medicine field. The curriculum of MS degree courses has been designed to provide all the necessary & scientific knowledge to become a surgeon in their respective area of specialization. Listed below are the major components that the curriculum of the MS degree course includes.
- Thesis skills
- Theoretical knowledge
- Practical and clinical skills
- Training in research methodology
- Attitudes including communication skills
Top Master of Surgery Colleges in India
Many Government and Private colleges offer different courses in Master of Surgery. Some of the top colleges in India for MS programs are listed below.
- Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Grant Medical College, Mumbai
- Madras Medical College, Chennai
- B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
- Armed Force Medical College, Pune
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
- Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
- All India institute of Medical Science, Delhi
- King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
- Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry
Fees for Master of Surgery Course
The average fee for a master of surgery course ranges between INR 10,000 to 10 Lacs. The variation in the program’s fee structure at a different institution depends on the reputation and authority of the institutions. For instance, the fee expense for an MS degree at a private institution is more than at Government institutions. Therefore, to know the exact fee structure for the program, aspirants need to visit the official website of the respective college
Scope after MS Degree Programme
Careers in surgical medicine are always rewarding as surgeons get the chance to serve the nation’s health. Obtaining a Master’s degree in Surgery opens several doors for the candidates. Post pursuing the program, candidates can expect jobs in numerous government and private employment sectors. Government Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Academic Institutions, the Indian Army, Research institutes, Bio-chemical Companies, etc., are some employment areas where MS students get good jobs with handsome salary packages.
In today’s world, health issues and diseases are getting common due to an unhealthy environment and other factors. An increase in health issues and illnesses has made people more concerned about their health, and they search for a doctor with a specialized degree for the specific disease and health issue. Hence, the scope of MS degrees in our country is vast and continually growing. Apart from this, a Master of Surgery degree holder can also opt for their higher studies, and options, in this case, are a Ph.D. in Surgery and different super-specialist courses.
Top Job Profiles after Master of Surgery
A plethora of job options is available for a Master of Surgery Degree holder in various government and private sectors. Some of the top job profiles after completing the MS degree program are listed below.
- Researcher
- ENT Surgeon
- Gynaecologist
- Neurosurgeon
- Plastic Surgeon
- Trauma surgeon
- Ophthalmologist
- General Surgeon
- Vascular Surgeon
- Neonatal Surgeon
- Orthopaedic surgeon
Postgraduates in Master of Surgery Salary
After completing a master of Surgery, candidates can bag numerous job roles with handsome salaries. The average salary of an MS degree holder depends on components like their job profile, the type of establishment they are working in, etc. We have listed the below-average salary trend of some of the top job profile candidates can aspire to after obtaining an MS degree.
- Gynecologist:- 10 to 25 Lakh Per Annum
- ENT surgeons:- 10 to 12 Lakh Per Annum
- Neurosurgeon:- 20 to 35 Lakh Per Annum
- Trauma Surgeon:- 15 to 35 Lakh Per Annum
- General Surgeon:- 10 to 25 Lakh Per Annum
- Orthopedic Surgeon:- 15 to 25 Lakh Per Annum
Mostly Asked Questions on MS Degree Course
Ans:- The Master of Surgery is the most advanced qualification in surgical medicine, and the course may be abbreviated ChM, MCh, MChir, or MS, depending on the specializations. The duration of the program ranges between two and three years at the typical medical institutions.
Ans:- Master of Surgery, popularly known as MS, is a three-year-long degree program in the medical stream. Admission provided to the program is based on the stand entrance test conducted by the National Board of Education (NBE) or various other universities.
Ans:- According to the regulations of MCI, the eligibility criteria for Master of Surgery is that the candidates who have passed MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) can only apply for this course. They should also have completed one year of mandatory rotatory internship.