Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

What courses does Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research offer?

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh offers around 12 distinct programme types spanning four academic levels - undergraduate (B.Sc Nursing, BPT, B.Sc paramedical), postgraduate (MD, MS, MDS, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing, MPH), super-specialty postdoctoral (DM, MCh) and doctoral research (PhD). As a postgraduate-focused Institute of National Importance, PGIMER's centre of gravity is its MD/MS and DM/MCh residency programmes, which run across more than 50 clinical and non-clinical departments. The Institute currently trains roughly 326 MD/MS postgraduate residents and about 98 DM/MCh super-specialty residents each cohort, alongside its nursing and paramedical UG streams. This makes PGIMER one of the few medical institutions in India where the bulk of seats sit at the PG and super-specialty end rather than at MBBS level - in fact, PGIMER does not run an MBBS programme at all.

Entrance routes differ by level: MD, MS and MDS admissions run through INI CET (conducted by AIIMS New Delhi), DM and MCh super-specialty seats are filled via INI-SS, while B.Sc Nursing, paramedical B.Sc, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing, MPH and PhD seats are filled through PGIMER's own entrance examinations. The sections below give the actual 2026 fees, durations, eligibility and exams for each programme so an aspirant can compare them side by side.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below answers the most common question PGIMER aspirants ask: what does each programme cost, how long does it run, and what do I need to qualify? It lists every major programme offered at PGIMER Chandigarh for the 2026 cycle along with its level, duration, total course fee (where officially published), eligibility and the accepted entrance exam. Read it top-to-bottom to compare UG, PG, super-specialty and doctoral options; note that PGIMER's public-institute fees are strikingly low, with full PG degrees costing barely over ₹12,000 for the entire course. Where the Institute does not publish a consolidated course fee, it is marked accordingly rather than estimated.

The clearest takeaway for 2026 is affordability: an MD or MS at PGIMER costs ₹12,410 for the full three years and MDS ₹11,910, a fraction of private medical-college fees, while the four-year B.Sc Nursing programme is just ₹10,500. Duration is the other deciding factor - UG nursing and paramedical streams run 4.0-4.5 years, all PG medical degrees run 3.0 years, public-health and nursing master's run 2.0 years, and DM/MCh super-specialties add a further 3.0 years on top of an MD/MS. Aspirants should note that the headline fee excludes refundable deposits, hostel and mess charges, which PGIMER bills separately.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

The flagship programmes at PGIMER Chandigarh are its MD/MS residencies and DM/MCh super-specialties, which are among the most competitive postgraduate medical seats in India. PGIMER has held the 2nd rank in the NIRF Medical category for eight consecutive years - scoring 82.58 in NIRF 2025, 80.83 in NIRF 2024 and 81.10 in NIRF 2023 - placing it behind only AIIMS New Delhi and ahead of CMC Vellore. That sustained ranking is built almost entirely on the strength of its postgraduate and research output rather than undergraduate teaching, which is why MD, MS, DM and MCh seats here are so heavily contested through INI CET and INI-SS.

Among UG programmes, the four-year B.Sc Nursing course (₹10,500, reported intake of around 93 seats) is the most sought-after entry point, admitted through PGIMER's own 100-question computer-based entrance test rather than NEET. At PG level, MD and MS branches such as Radiodiagnosis, Pathology, Anaesthesia, General Surgery and Ophthalmology draw the largest applicant pools because of PGIMER's clinical volume and research reputation. The DM and MCh super-specialties - filled via INI-SS, where typically under 8-15% of candidates even clear Stage I - represent the apex of demand, since they lead directly into consultant and faculty careers at premier institutes. M.Sc Nursing, MPH and PhD round out the popular research-oriented track for candidates aiming at academic and public-health roles.

How to Choose the Right Course at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Choosing the right course at PGIMER Chandigarh comes down to matching your current qualification and career goal to the Institute's strongest tracks. School-leavers with 10+2 PCB should target the four-year B.Sc Nursing programme (₹10,500) or the paramedical B.Sc/BPT streams via the PGIMER entrance tests - these lead into nursing, imaging, radiotherapy and operation-theatre technology roles within a 50-plus department teaching hospital. MBBS graduates seeking clinical specialisation should aim at the 3.0-year MD or MS (₹12,410) through INI CET, picking a non-surgical branch for MD or a surgical branch for MS; BDS holders follow the parallel 3.0-year MDS (₹11,910) route.

If your ambition is super-specialisation, plan a longer arc: complete an MD/MS at PGIMER or elsewhere, then compete through INI-SS for a 3.0-year DM (medical) or MCh (surgical) seat - the prerequisite chain matters, since, for example, an MD in General Medicine opens DM branches like Cardiology or Nephrology, while MS General Surgery feeds MCh streams. Candidates leaning toward research, teaching or population health rather than bedside specialisation should weigh the 2.0-year M.Sc Nursing and MPH or the PhD, all admitted via PGIMER's own examinations. In every case, PGIMER rewards applicants who align their choice with its INI CET/INI-SS entrance calendar and its research-heavy, postgraduate-first identity.

Frequently Asked Questions: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Courses 2026

What courses are offered at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh?

PGIMER Chandigarh offers around 12 programme types across UG, PG, super-specialty and doctoral levels - including B.Sc Nursing, BPT, paramedical B.Sc, MD, MS, MDS, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing, MPH, DM, MCh and PhD. Its core strength lies in MD/MS and DM/MCh residencies spread across more than 50 departments. PGIMER does not run an MBBS programme; admissions are routed through INI CET, INI-SS or PGIMER's own entrance examinations depending on the course.

What is the fee for B.Sc Nursing at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research?

The total fee for the B.Sc Nursing programme at PGIMER Chandigarh is ₹10,500 for the full four-year course in 2026. Admission is through PGIMER's own 100-question computer-based entrance test (not NEET), and reported intake is around 93 seats. Refundable deposits, hostel and mess charges are billed separately. Eligibility requires 10+2 in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a minimum 45% aggregate.

How much does an MD cost at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research?

An MD at PGIMER Chandigarh costs ₹12,410 for the entire three-year programme in 2026, and an MS costs the same ₹12,410, while MDS is ₹11,910. These public-institute fees are a fraction of private medical-college charges. Admission to MD, MS and MDS is through INI CET conducted by AIIMS New Delhi, and candidates must hold an MBBS (or BDS for MDS) with valid registration.

What is the duration of courses at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research?

Course durations at PGIMER Chandigarh range from 2.0 to 4.5 years depending on level. B.Sc Nursing and paramedical B.Sc run 4.0 years and BPT runs 4.5 years; MD, MS, MDS, DM, MCh and PhD each run 3.0 years; and M.Sc Nursing and MPH run 2.0 years. DM and MCh super-specialties add their 3.0 years on top of a prior MD or MS, making the full super-specialty path one of the longest at the Institute.

What is the eligibility for MD/MS at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research?

Eligibility for MD and MS at PGIMER Chandigarh is an MBBS degree with permanent or provisional registration, plus a qualifying rank in INI CET conducted by AIIMS New Delhi. MD branches cover non-surgical specialities and MS covers surgical ones. For the parallel MDS programme, candidates need a BDS degree with valid registration. These three-year PG programmes are among the most competitive in India given PGIMER's NIRF 2nd-rank status.

Which is the best course at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research?

The most prestigious courses at PGIMER Chandigarh are its DM and MCh super-specialties, filled through the highly competitive INI-SS exam where typically under 8-15% of candidates clear Stage I. For most MBBS graduates, the 3.0-year MD/MS (₹12,410) is the flagship choice, with branches like Radiodiagnosis, Pathology, Anaesthesia and General Surgery in highest demand. The best course ultimately depends on your qualification and whether you want clinical specialisation, super-specialisation or a research and public-health career.

How many seats does Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research have?

PGIMER Chandigarh enrols roughly 326 MD/MS postgraduate residents and about 98 DM/MCh super-specialty residents per training cohort across its 50-plus departments. The B.Sc Nursing programme has a reported intake of around 93 seats per cycle, allocated across General, OBC, SC, ST, PwBD and Foreign National categories per government norms. PGIMER does not publish a consolidated seat matrix for every programme, and exact branch-wise PG and super-specialty seats vary each INI CET and INI-SS cycle.