In India, Medical College refers to an educational institution that provides medical education. These institutions may vary from stand-alone colleges that train doctors to conglomerates that offer training related in all aspects of medical care. The term is synonymous with Medical School as used in the USA and some other countries.

In India, the MBBS degree represents the level of training required to be licensed as a physicians, and the MD degree is a higher postgraduate degree, representative of specialty training. The equivalent training in the US or Canada would be residency training carried out after the completion of a medical degree, and approved internship. Eligibility for the MD course is restricted to medical graduates holding the MBBS degree (which has a duration of five and a half years), and training is obtained in medical disciplines which are non-surgical in nature (e.g.: Internal Medicine, Radiology, Pathology, etc). After three years of study and the successful completion of an examination which includes both theoretical and practical elements, in a pre-clinical or clinical subject of a non-surgical nature, the candidate receives an MD degree.

The research element is not extremely prominent here, as this is primarily a clinical qualification resembling the professional doctorates of the USA. In general surgery, orthopaedics and gynaecology the equivalent degree is Master of Surgery (MS).

A third qualification, termed the DNB (Diplomate of the National Board of Examiners) is considered equivalent to the MD and MS degrees. This can be obtained by passing an exam conducted by national board of examinations (usually in the month of June) after completing 3 years post MBBS residency training in hospitals recognised by the board.

After obtaining the first post graduate degree, that is MD/MS/DNB, one can go for further specialisation in medical or surgical fields. This requires three years of hard training and study and then passing an examination, both theory and practical, and the degree awarded is DM (Doctorate in Medicine, superspeciality) eg DM in Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology etc. For surgical subspecialities the degree awarded is MCh, eg MCh (Cardiac Surgery), MCh (Neurosurgery) etc.The DM or MCh degrees are equivalent to the Fellowship training in the US and are considered "post-doctoral" degrees in India, similar to the PhD

Anesthesiology · Cardiac surgery · Cardiothoracic surgery · Colorectal surgery · General surgery · Neurosurgery · Oral and maxillofacial surgery · Orthopedic surgery (Hand surgery) · Otolaryngology (ENT) · Pediatric surgery · Plastic surgery · Podiatric surgery · Surgical oncology · Thoracic surgery · Transplant surgery · Trauma surgery · Urology · Vascular surgery

Andrology · Cardiology · Dermatology · Endocrinology · Gastroenterology · Gynaecology · Hematology · Hepatology · Immunology · Infectious disease · Nephrology · Neurology · Oncology · Pulmonology · Rheumatology · Urology

Clinical laboratory sciences (Cellular pathology, Clinical chemistry, Clinical microbiology, Clinical immunology, Transfusion medicine) · Radiology (Interventional radiology, Nuclear medicine) · Pathology (Anatomical, Clinical) · Clinical neurophysiology

Adolescent medicine · Allergy · Angiology · Disaster medicine · Emergency medicine · Family medicine · Fertility medicine · General practice · Geriatrics · Hospital medicine · Intensive-care medicine · Obstetrics  · Occupational medicine · Ophthalmology · Neonatology · Pain medicine · Palliative care · Pediatrics · Physical medicine and rehabilitation (Physiatry) · Preventive medicine (Public health) · Psychiatry · Reproductive medicine · Sleep medicine · Sports medicine · Transplantation medicine · Tropical medicine

Indian law requires these type of institutions to be recognized by the Medical Council of India. The Indian government keeps an updated list of these approved medical colleges

Medical colleges in India are owned, funded and administered by one of the three following sources, each having distinct admission processes:

• The Government of India
• State Governments
• Private Organisations

Admission criteria differ from one part of the country to another and even from Institution to Institution. In general, admission is based on one of the following:

• Marks obtained in the final examinations of Std. XII.
• Rank obtained in an entrance examination forms the basis for admission.
• Specific institutions may also require a personal interview of the candidate.

The Government of India has allocated a number of seats for students from developing countries where facilities for medical education are either inadequate. The exact number and country-based allocation of these reserved seats may vary annually.

Students seeking admission to the reserved seats are required to apply through the Indian missions abroad or through the diplomatic missions of the respective countries in India. The Indian Embassy or High Commission in a country will be able to provide more information on request. The last date of submission of application is usually the 28th February of the corresponding year.

An international student must have completed 12 years of schooling. International students studying in schools in India can apply pending the declaration of their Higher Secondary (10+2) or equivalent examination results. The marks sheet of the examination should be sent within 10 days from the declaration of the result to:

Students Cell, Room No. 1009, Ministry of External Affairs, Akbar Bhavan, New Delhi. International students can seek university admission to undergraduate courses in Engineering, Medicine (MBBS) and Dentistry (BDS) in private colleges.