Today, it is needless to mention that there is a lot of scope in medical degrees. MBBS and MD degrees are acquired by a large number of students today. Apart from them, another popular degree that is often taken by numerous students today is MCh.
The full form of MCh is Magister Chirurgiae or Master of Chirurgiae, which is a super-speciality postgraduate surgical degree that is meant for doctors who have completed their MS in General Surgery. The phrase “Magister Chirurgiae” comes from the Latin language. In this post, you will learn about various aspects of MCh, such as admission, fees, syllabus, exams, colleges, and scope.
Admission
The eligibility criterion for MCh is MBBS from a recognised institute and a postgraduate medical degree, such as MS (Master of Surgery). The eligibility parameter is a 50 percent aggregate score; however, 5-10% can be provided to the reserved categories in India. The popular entrance examinations are INI CET and NEET. Registration is required for entrance in an MCh course with the relevant authorities. For example, in India, you need to register with the Medical Council of India or State Medical Council.
Application Process
The MCh degree application process includes:
- Check the eligibility criteria at the official website of the institute where you are planning to get enrolled.
- You will also find the application form on the website. Fill out each detail in the form carefully.
- In the next step, you need to appear in the required entrance examination. NEET SS and INI CET are the most popular exams, as mentioned above.
- On a fixed date, a merit list is announced, and colleges are allotted to the candidates on the basis of their ranks and scores in the entrance exam.
- Thereafter, the candidates who are shortlisted are required to submit their documents and pay the fees.
Fees
Fees for the MCh degree vary depending upon the country you choose to study. Here, for example, we can take the fees in the UK and India.
UK: In the UK, the fees of MCh typically range from £14,000 to over £35,000 for the entire program or per year. The fees may vary depending on the university you choose in the United Kingdom.
India: In India, MCh fees range from about ₹3,000 to over ₹1 Crore for the entire course. The fees heavily depend on whether you get enrolled in a government or a private institution. In government institutions, you get admission on subsidized fees of ₹5,000 and ₹2 Lakhs. For example, in AIIMS Delhi, the fee is around ₹6,875, and in PGIMER Chandigarh, it is around ₹6,690 total. In private institutions, the fees generally range from ₹5 Lakhs to upwards of ₹1 Crore for the complete program. For example, in CMC Vellore, the fee is roughly ₹4.9 Lakhs, and in some private universities like KMC Manipal or MGMCRI Pondicherry can range from ₹50 Lakhs to over ₹1 Crore.
Syllabus
Syllabus may vary depending on the university or institution in which you enroll. In general, in the first year, you study “Foundation & Basic Sciences”. The second year is for “Advanced Operative Training”. And the third year includes “Lead Surgeon Practice & Completion”.
Exams
We can divide MCh into entrance level and exit level. In the entrance level, you find multiple-choice questions, which are divided into general/parent surgical components and specialized super-speciality domain questions. In the exit level, you find a 3-year residence program, which ends with university-level theory papers, practical/clinical patient examinations, and a grand viva.
Colleges
There are numerous colleges for MCh around the world. Here, for example, we are listing the names of some popular colleges in the UK and India.
- UK
In the UK, the MCh degree is awarded by universities. Here are the names of some of the colleges and universities in the United Kingdom for MCh.
- Edge Hill University
- University of Dundee
- Teesside University
- Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
- King’s College London (KCL)
- University College London (UCL)
You can find some more universities and colleges in the United Kingdom for MCh.
- India
Here are some of the institutes that offer MCh in India.
- AIIMS New Delhi
- PGIMER Chandigarh
- NIMHANS Bengaluru
- JIPMER Puducherry
- King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) Lucknow
- Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore
- MAHE Manipal (Kasturba Medical College)
- Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University (IMS and SUM Hospital) Bhubaneswar
Scope in MCh
MCh has a huge scope for building the career of students. MCh graduates have strong career prospects in different types of institutions such as specialized hospitals, research centers, and medical training institutes. The positions they can take are lead surgical teams or senior consultant positions. They also have the option to start super-speciality clinics.
Today, in the healthcare sector, demand of super-specialists surgeons for complex procedures is increasing. Due to advancements in minimally invasive surgery, robotic-assisted techniques, and precision surgery, there is a bright future for MCh graduates.