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MBBS and MBChB - Key Differences and Similarities

MBBS and MBChB - Key Differences and Similarities

Edited By Moksh Dheri | Updated on Jul 07, 2025 11:14 AM IST | #M.B.B.S.

Medical students, while researching, have often come across two medical courses. MBBS and MBChB. At first glance, they may look different; however, they both are the same degrees, the differentiating factor being the nomenclature and the short form. MBChB is a short form for Medicinae Baccalaureus et Chirurgiae Baccalaureus; in English it is MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery).

This Story also Contains
  1. MBBS vs MBChB - A Comparison
  2. MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
  3. MBChB (Medicinae Baccalaureus et Chirurgiae Baccalaureus)
MBBS and MBChB - Key Differences and Similarities
MBBS and MBChB

MBBS and MBChB are essentially the same degree, which is Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in English or Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae in Latin. The difference lies in the naming conventions used by different countries. MBBS is a common convention used in India, Pakistan, Australia and some parts of the UK. While MBChB is used in the majority of the UK, Commonwealth and European countries.

MBBS vs MBChB - A Comparison

Particulars

MBBSMBChB

Full Form

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Medicinae Baccalaureus et Chirurgiae Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)

Origin

India, Australia, Pakistan and some parts of the UK

The majority of the UK (Especially in Scotland), New Zealand, and South Africa

Course Curriculum

More or less similar to MBChB

More or less similar to MBBS

Course Duration

5-6 years (depending on the institute)

5-6 years (depending on the institute)


Internship

Mandatory (included in the curriculum)

Mandatory (included in the curriculum)

Recognition

Global recognition

Global Recognition

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)

MBBS full form is Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. It is an undergraduate degree programme in medicine that prepares candidates to become doctors. The course duration is 5.5 years (four years of coursework and one year of compulsory internship). An MBBS is a basic requirement in India to become a Doctor.

MBChB (Medicinae Baccalaureus et Chirurgiae Baccalaureus)

MBChB is another naming convention used for the MBBS degree. It is more common in the UK and Commonwealth countries.

Equivalence

Both MBBS and MBChB are undergraduate degrees, just differing in the naming conventions used in different countries.

Course Curriculum

The course curriculum for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery includes Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Forensic Medicine, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Pathology, and Pharmacology.

Global Recognition

While the names may differ, MBBS and MBChB both prepare students to be qualified doctors. The names may differ depending on the regions where they are awarded. Both MBBS and MBChB graduates can practice medicine after meeting the licensing requirements.

To conclude, MBBS and MBChB refer to the same degree, which is Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. The only difference between the two is the naming conventions used by different countries. In India, Australia, and some parts of the UK, it is referred to as MBBS, while in the majority of the UK, Commonwealth countries, and European countries, it is referred to as MBChB.

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Questions related to M.B.B.S.

Have a question related to M.B.B.S. ?

Since you completed your MBBS from Amrita, Kerala, you’ll be eligible to apply for Kerala state quota as that’s where you pursued your graduation. However, because you studied till 12th in Andhra Pradesh, you may also have a claim under Andhra domicile quota if you hold valid domicile/residence proof there. For NEET PG, the state quota usually depends on either your MBBS state or your domicile certificate, so you can try for both Kerala and Andhra Pradesh quotas depending on documentation.

Hello,

With the category rank of 94 and the All India rank of  250785, you have a good chance of getting a BDS seat in RIMS, Ranchi, under the Jharkhand state quota. However, securing a government MBBS seat with this state quota can be very hard and challenging for you.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Among private MBBS colleges in Uttar Pradesh, Sharda University consistently tops the list thanks to strong infrastructure, good NEET cut-offs, and student satisfaction. It is followed by similarly reputable institutions like Heritage Varanasi and Rama (Kanpur/Hapur). Hind Institute (Sitapur/Barabanki) and Rohilkhand Bareilly offer steady academics with slightly lower expectations, while Muzaffarnagar, Subharti, and Era’s Lucknow come next due to varying fee ranges and student experiences. Saraswati Hapur and Santosh Ghaziabad rank lower largely due to poorer reviews or very high fee requirements.

If your Aadhaar only has your first name as Arihant but all your academic documents show Arihant Jain, then this can create issues during MBBS admission and NEET counselling because both identity and name consistency are verified strictly. In such cases, the normal process is to make an affidavit declaring that both names belong to the same person. Along with that, you should also carry supporting documents like your 10th and 12th marksheets, admit card, and Aadhaar. Most colleges and counselling authorities accept the affidavit as long as it is notarized and clearly states the name difference. However, rules can vary by state counselling authority, so it is always safer to also try again for an Aadhaar update through the official UIDAI centers, since Aadhaar is often treated as the primary ID.

Here's a complete overview of MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery):
MBBS is an undergraduate professional degree in medicine and surgery with the duration of 5.5 year ( 4.5 years of academic studies & 1 year of compulsory internship). This degree is the first step to become a doctor.

Eligibility criteria: 12th standard (10+2) qualification with minimum marks 50%, You must qualify the NEET-UG entrance with the required cut-off marks for admission in institute

Structure of MBBS course:
1) Pre-clinical Phase (1 year): you'll learn Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
2) Para-Clinical Phase (1.5 year): Includes Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine.
3) Clinical Phase (2 years): includes General Medicine, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, General surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
4) Internship phase (1 year): Internship for one year in various departments.


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