13 Best PG Courses After MBBS Degree (With Descriptions)

Updated 26 July 2023

PG (Postgraduate) education in medicine aims to create specialists who can provide excellent health care and help advance scientific progress through research and training. An MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) graduate can consider various PG options like Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in subjects that interest them. Exploring the popular PG courses after MBBS can help medical students determine the right career path and profession that suits their aptitude. In this article, we discuss 13 best PG courses you can consider after an MBBS degree.

13 PG Courses after MBBS

Here are the best 13 best PG courses after MBBS that you may consider pursuing:

1. MD in aerospace medicine

An MD in aerospace medicine explores the impacts of a space environment on the physiological and psychological health of individuals. Since medical emergencies can occur at any time or place, it is important to have medical staff to cater to the health of flyers aboard an aircraft.

With a PG degree in aerospace medicine, students learn how to apply various preventive and medicinal measures to reduce the effects of the aerial environment on the human body. The course conducts clinical training in areas like flight medicine, radiation health, basic flight surgeon training, flight familiarisation, hypobaric and hyperbaric therapy and other electives.

2. MD in anatomy

A PG degree in anatomy explores in detail the structure and function of the human body. This course gives students an understanding of the working of the human body, stem cell development, human body dissection, genetics and human evolution. It also includes imaging techniques like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed Tomography) scans and X-ray radiography to obtain a physician's perspective on the human body structure.

As an MD in Anatomy is a non-clinical course, it is ideal for students interested in a career in teaching and research. Students with this degree also find opportunities in scientific writing, journalism and in analytical and quantitative roles.

3. MD in obstetrics and gynaecology

An MD in obstetrics and gynaecology deals with the areas of pregnancy and female reproductive health. Obstetrics primarily involves managing the health of a pregnant woman and her baby through various phases of childbirth and handling any complications that may arise during the process of childbirth.

Gynaecology encompasses the area of obstetrics, but also includes other aspects of female reproductive health-right from the onset of puberty to the post-menopausal stage. With this degree, medical students train to diagnose and treat various conditions and diseases of the reproductive organs like the cancer of uterus, ovaries, cervix and fallopian tubes.

4. MS in orthopaedics

An MS degree in orthopaedics trains students to identify and recognise disorders of the musculoskeletal system. These may include congenital, inflammatory, developmental, traumatic, infective, neuromuscular, oncologic and degenerative disorders of the human musculoskeletal system. The course helps students understand methods of diagnosing and treating various bone and joint disorders like spondylosis, bone tumour, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, fractures, complex limb and other congenital diseases through surgical and non-surgical means. Various topics that a student learns while pursuing an MS degree in orthopaedics include peripheral nerve injuries, plastering techniques, incision and drainage, microsurgery, amputation, sports medicine and arthroplasty.

5. MD in general medicine

An MD in general medicine is a postgraduate course that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of adult diseases. Students receive training to diagnose common medical ailments, advances and rare diseases using advanced technology. They also learn to manage medical emergencies and aspects like diagnostic investigation procedures, patient monitoring, patient counselling and medical equipment handling.

Important subjects include OPD (Out Patient Department) patient management, diagnostic investigation and procedures, biostatistics and clinical epidemiology, conferences, practicals and more. General medicine is a great stream for someone interested in exploring the intricacies of diagnostics. Students may pursue higher subspecialties based on interest and aptitude.

6. MD in dermatology, venereology and leprosy

Dermatology is a speciality that deals with disorders related to skin, hair and nails. An MD in dermatology trains students to diagnose and manage common skin conditions, medical emergencies related to the skin, sexually transmitted diseases, leprosy and venereal disease. Common conditions that dermatologists encounter among patients include eczema, psoriasis, scalp allergies, skin allergies, scars, extra growth on skin and more.

They also perform elective procedures like laser hair removal, botox, collagen injections and hair transplant. Important subjects covered in this course are skin genetics, immunology of dermatological diseases, skin structure and development, cellular and molecular inflammation, skin reactions and carcinogenesis.

7. MD in paediatrics

Paediatrics is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases in infants, children and adolescents. Paediatricians are responsible for managing physical, behavioural and mental health aspects related to children. A paediatrician often deals with areas like health check-ups, infant and child nutrition, immunisation, evaluation and treatment of congenital diseases, infectious disease treatment, tonsillitis, growth and development evaluation and newborn care. An MD in paediatrics is ideal for students who enjoy being around children. The profession demands an ability to earn the cooperation and confidence of a child and foster long-term trust with parents.

8. MD in radiology

An MD in radiology equips medical students to diagnose and treat diseases with the help of radiologic technology. Radiologists use imaging procedures to see the inside of the human body and assess the health of a patient. The field helps correlate various radiographic findings with other tests and examinations to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. In this course, students receive an understanding of various medical imaging modalities and utilising the findings to diagnose diseases and injuries. Important areas covered in radiology are radio physics, production of X-rays, radiation detection and measurement, computed tomography, fluoroscopy, ultrasonography and more.

9. MS in general surgery

With an MS in general surgery, medical professionals train on how to treat injury and disease through various operative procedures. General surgery involves the surgical treatment of abdominal organs like the stomach, oesophagus, liver, colon and thyroid gland. General surgeons usually deal with conditions like appendicitis, hernia, stomach and intestinal issues and gall bladder surgeries.

They are responsible for taking patient history, performing a complete physical examination and making accurate clinical diagnosis. Important subjects under general surgery include oncology, anaesthesia and pain management, acute life support and critical care, neurosurgery, urology, cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, oncology and vascular surgery.

10. MS in ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a speciality in medicine that studies the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the human eye. An ophthalmologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of various eye disorders and conditions. In this course, medical students receive training on how to offer eye care starting from prescribing glasses to performing delicate and complex eye surgery on patients. The subjects included in this course are ocular physiology, orbital and ocular anatomy, ocular pathology, gross anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry and ocular immunology. The course imparts training in clinical surgery settings that include fine microsurgery, intraocular surgery, operating microscope usage and vitreoretinal surgery.

11. MD in forensic medicine

Forensic medicine involves the application of medical concepts to investigate criminal and civil cases. An MD in forensic medicine is a good choice for students interested in research and para-clinical work. Forensic pathologists examine deceased bodies and determine the cause of death through in-depth physical examination of the deceased.

They may conduct medico-legal autopsies to help the police and government study a case in detail. They may also examine rape and abuse victims in divorce, legitimacy affiliation and marriage nullification cases. Important subjects covered include forensic toxicology, forensic pathology, forensic immunology, medical jurisprudence and other basic medical sciences.

12. MS in ENT (Ear Nose Throat)

ENT is a popular speciality in medicine, also known as otolaryngology. The field deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear, throat, nose, neck and head. ENT specialists treat hearing and balance disorders, taste and smell problems, breathing and swallowing issues, head and neck tumours, voice box issues, face deformities and infections.

Some common conditions that they manage include nosebleeds, adenoidectomies, tonsillectomies, sinusitis and infected mastoids. Otolaryngological surgeons perform procedures like cleft palate surgeries, polyp removal and rhinoplasty. ENT practitioners require some essential skills like excellent hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, perfect vision, visuospatial awareness and organisation.

13. MBA in healthcare management

If you are interested in a business career after an MBBS degree, an MBA in healthcare management is an apt choice to consider. Healthcare management involves the efficient management and administration of hospitals, healthcare systems, medical facilities and public health systems. The primary responsibilities of healthcare management professionals are to ensure the smooth running of individual departments, hiring of qualified employees, efficient use of resources and proper dissemination of important information throughout the organisation. Common roles in this setting are clinical directors, hospital managers, health coordinators and health supervisors.