India is more than the home of Hinduism and the Taj Mahal. The country also has a long tradition of training physicians who practice in India and around the world. Because medical education in India is regulated through national standards and admission is based on NEET-UG, Indian medical schools remain an important option for domestic and international students.
Known for rigorous clinical training and, in many public institutions, relatively low tuition, Indian medical schools are often considered by students who want to study medicine in Asia. In this article, we will be looking at top medical schools in India, with rankings and admissions details updated using the latest available official sources.
How long do you need to study Medicine in India?
At the undergraduate level, it typically takes 5.5 years to earn an MBBS degree in India. The program consists of 4.5 academic years, followed by a one-year compulsory rotating internship.
After completing MBBS and the required internship, graduates can pursue postgraduate medical training such as MD or MS programs, depending on their eligibility and performance in the relevant postgraduate entrance process.
What are the requirements to study Medicine in India?
Admission to MBBS programs in India is based on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency. Current NEET-UG eligibility requires candidates to meet the qualifying examination rules set by the National Medical Commission, including study of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English at the qualifying level. General-category candidates generally need at least 50% in the required science subjects, while reserved-category rules may differ.
Top Medical Schools in India
1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, is one of India’s premier public medical institutions and was ranked first in the medical category of the NIRF India Rankings 2025. It offers the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, with admission through NEET-UG and centralized counseling.
The MBBS curriculum follows the national competency-based medical education framework, with pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical training, followed by compulsory rotating internship. Students progress from subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry to pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, forensic medicine, community medicine, and clinical disciplines such as medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, and other specialties.
At the postgraduate level, AIIMS offers MD, MS, and other advanced medical programs through the relevant national entrance and institute-level processes.
2. Christian Medical College
Christian Medical College (CMC) is a private, minority-run medical college and hospital based in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Its origins date to 1900, when Dr. Ida Scudder began work with a single-bed dispensary; the medical college opened with a full MBBS course in 1942. CMC is associated with several medical milestones, including the world’s first reconstructive surgery on leprosy patients and India’s first successful kidney transplant.
CMC is also one of India’s leading medical schools and was ranked third in the NIRF India Rankings 2025 for medicine. Its MBBS program follows the national competency-based framework and includes pre-clinical, para-clinical, clinical, community health, and internship training.
CMC also offers postgraduate and higher specialty programs in areas such as anesthesiology, family medicine, general surgery, geriatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology, among many others.
3. University of Delhi Faculty of Medical Sciences
The University of Delhi is a public university in India’s capital and was founded in 1922. Its Faculty of Medical Sciences oversees medical and dental education and admissions for affiliated institutions under the university’s medical faculty framework.
The MBBS course under the University of Delhi follows the standard structure of 4 1/2 academic years divided into nine semesters, followed by one year of internship training. Teaching includes lectures, demonstrations, seminars, clinical work, case discussions, and practical training.
The course moves from pre-clinical subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry to para-clinical subjects and clinical specialties. Internship training includes rotations in community medicine, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics, ENT, ophthalmology, emergency/casualty services, and other required areas.
4. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, is an educational institution in Karnataka, India. Established in 1953, it is regarded as the country’s first self-financing medical college and is a constituent institution of Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
The MBBS course runs for 4.5 academic years, followed by one year of compulsory rotating internship. KMC Manipal states that it is recognized by the National Medical Commission and has international recognitions or affiliations including the General Medical Council of Great Britain, the Malaysian Medical Council, and the New York State Education Department recognition for clinical clerkship placements, with the New York recognition listed by the institution as valid until 2025.
Such affiliations make KMC a popular choice among many international students. The institution states that students from 59 countries study a range of courses at KMC.
Its competency-based curriculum includes clinical case presentations, bench-side diagnostic training, research mentoring, didactic lectures, self-directed learning modules, team-based learning sessions, problem-solving sessions, interactive tests, and electives.
For hands-on education, KMC students train through simulation facilities, Kasturba Hospital, and other affiliated clinical and research facilities.
5. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research
Fondly known as JIPMER, this medical school in India is an Institute of National Importance and a major public medical institution in Puducherry. Its main campus is spread over about 192 acres, and the institute also has a Karaikal campus.
JIPMER was ranked fourth in the medical category of the NIRF India Rankings 2025. MBBS admission is through NEET-UG and the centralized counseling process, and applicants should check the latest JIPMER prospectus for the current seat distribution between the Puducherry and Karaikal campuses.
JIPMER’s MBBS course aims to develop doctors who can function as clinicians, healthcare team members and leaders, communicators, professionals, and lifelong learners.
The curriculum follows the national competency-based structure, beginning with a foundation course and early clinical exposure, followed by pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical training. Subjects include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, forensic medicine, community medicine, ENT, ophthalmology, medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics.
6. Armed Forces Medical College, India
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) is headquartered in Pune, India. Founded in 1948 as a teaching institution for the Armed Forces Medical Services, it remains one of India’s most respected medical colleges for students who want a career linked to military medical service.
AFMC admits 150 MBBS students annually, including government-sponsored candidates from friendly foreign countries. Admission is based primarily on NEET-UG merit and includes additional AFMC evaluation and a rigorous medical examination.
Because medical cadets have a service liability with the Armed Forces Medical Services, AFMC has strict academic, medical, and physical fitness requirements. Applicants must meet the prescribed eligibility, medical fitness, vision, hearing, height, weight, and other standards published in the current AFMC admission brochure.
7. St. John’s Medical College
Based in Bengaluru, St. John’s Medical College is considered one of India’s well-known private medical colleges. The college was established in 1963 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and has long focused on medical care, education, research, and community service.
St. John’s accepts 150 MBBS students each year through the applicable NEET-UG and Karnataka counseling process. In the NIRF India Rankings 2025 medical category, St. John’s Medical College was ranked 30th.
Its MBBS program follows competency-based medical education, helping students develop the knowledge, skills, communication, ethics, and professional behavior needed for primary care and broader medical practice.
The curriculum covers anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry in the early phase, followed by para-clinical and clinical subjects. Later phases include ophthalmology, ENT, community medicine, general medicine, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
Lessons are taught through clinical exposure, seminars, demonstrations, group discussions, and lectures.
8. Banaras Hindu University Institute of Medical Sciences
Banaras Hindu University, also known as BHU, is a public central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Founded in 1916, it is widely described as one of Asia’s largest residential universities.
BHU is home to the Institute of Medical Sciences, which offers medical education and clinical training through its constituent faculties and departments. In the NIRF India Rankings 2025 medical category, Banaras Hindu University was ranked sixth.
BHU’s MBBS program follows the competency-based medical education curriculum, including a foundation course, early clinical exposure, pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical phases, and one year of compulsory rotating internship.
As with much of the BHU student body, MBBS students have access to campus facilities and hostel accommodation subject to university rules and availability.
9. Jamia Hamdard – Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
Jamia Hamdard is a higher education institution in New Delhi, India. Established in 1989, it is one of the younger universities on this list. Its Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (HIMSR) was established by Jamia Hamdard and received permission for a new medical college in 2012.
HIMSR originally received permission for 100 MBBS seats, and the intake was later increased to 150. However, seat availability has been subject to recent official notices and legal developments, so applicants should verify the current MBBS seat position on the HIMSR, Jamia Hamdard, NMC, and MCC websites before applying.
HIMSR’s MBBS curriculum follows the national pattern of 4.5 academic years of study plus a one-year internship.
Clinical training is linked to Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital, which HIMSR currently describes as a 710-bed teaching hospital. The institute emphasizes undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, patient care, and clinical research.
10. JSS Medical College
The final university in our list of India’s top medical schools is JSS Medical College, a renowned institution in Mysuru, Karnataka. The college is part of JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research and offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-specialty medical programs.
JSS Medical College currently lists an annual MBBS intake of 250 seats. In the NIRF India Rankings 2025 medical category, JSS Medical College, Mysuru, was ranked 37th.
Through this program, students are expected to develop competence in holistic medicine. At the same time, JSS students are trained to become physicians who focus on the preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative aspects of healthcare.
The MBBS course is taught through lectures, case studies, seminars, group discussions, practical sessions, clinical exposure, and internship training.
Internships and clinical training are supported by JSS Hospital, an 1,800-bed teaching hospital attached to JSS Medical College.
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