Master of Dental Surgery [MDS]
Fees
Fees at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program are notably low, with total expenses for the entire 5.5-year course approximately ranging from Rs. 1,650 to Rs. 7,200, inclusive of all costs. Annual tuition fees are often reported at around Rs. 1,080, with other fees, such as hostel registration, adding approximately Rs. 720 each year. A refundable security deposit of Rs.
1,000 is required at enrollment. Hostel charges stand at about Rs. 2,500 for the full duration, accommodating amenities like gym facilities and library access. Electricity fees, if charged, are minimal, with figures quoted as Rs. 3 per month. For international students, the fee structure significantly differs at Rs. 25 lakhs per year. Scholarships are available, such as merit-cum-means scholarships, and others funded by various educational trusts, although the already minimal fees make them often unnecessary.
Intern stipends range from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 monthly.
About Master of Dental Surgery [MDS]
AIIMS Delhi offers the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) through its Centre for Dental Education and Research (CDER), a 3-year full-time postgraduate dental degree. Five specializations are available across 8 seats, with a uniform programme fee of INR 5,111. Admission is through INI-CET, the national entrance test for Institutes of National Importance.
📋 Admission Status: Applications closed. Round 2 seat allotment was released on 10 July 2026 and candidate reporting concluded on 16 July 2026.
Key Points
- CDER is India’s only dental school within a central government Institute of National Importance, granting access to AIIMS multi-specialty referrals.
- MDS residents receive Junior Resident emoluments under the 7th Pay Commission scale with on-campus hostel accommodation.
- AIIMS funds MDS thesis research with up to INR 2,00,000 per eligible resident through its intramural research grant.
AIIMS Delhi MDS Fees 2026
The total programme fee for all MDS specializations at AIIMS Delhi is INR 5,111 for the full three-year duration, among the lowest at any premier dental postgraduate institution in India.
| Specialization | Total Fees (3 Years) |
|---|---|
| MDS Orthodontics | INR 5,111 |
| MDS Prosthodontics | INR 5,111 |
| MDS Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics | INR 5,111 |
| MDS Paediatrics and Preventive Dentistry | INR 5,111 |
| MDS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | INR 5,111 |
- Fees are subject to change. Verify with official sources before admission.
AIIMS Delhi MDS Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| INI-CET Basic Registration Opens | 2 March 2026 |
| INI-CET Application Deadline | 21 April 2026 |
| INI-CET Admit Card Release | 10 to 12 May 2026 |
| INI-CET Exam Date | 16 May 2026 |
| INI-CET Result Declaration | 23 May 2026 |
| Mock Round Choice Filing | 11 to 13 June 2026 |
| Round 1 Choice Filing | 16 to 17 June 2026 |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment | 24 June 2026 |
| Round 1 Acceptance and Reporting | 25 June to 30 June 2026 |
| Round 2 Seat Allotment | 10 July 2026 |
| Round 2 Acceptance and Reporting | 11 July to 16 July 2026 |
- July 2026 session counselling concluded by 16 July 2026.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- BDS degree from a Dental Council of India-recognized university is required.
- Minimum 55% aggregate in BDS for General, OBC, and EWS candidates and 50% for SC and ST candidates.
- 12-month compulsory rotating internship completed and valid DCI registration held before the date of joining.
- No more than two failures in any BDS professional examination. Marks deducted at 1% or 3% for one or two failures respectively.
- Valid INI-CET score is required.
Admission Process
- Register on aiimsexams.ac.in and complete basic registration then final registration using a fresh Exam Unique Code.
- INI-CET is a 200 MCQ computer-based test across four 45-minute sections covering the BDS curriculum. One-third mark is deducted per wrong answer.
- Merit list is based on INI-CET score. Ties are resolved in favour of the candidate with fewer examination attempts.
- Online counselling is conducted in multiple rounds. Candidates exercise choices and seat allotment follows rank and preference.
- Allotted candidates report to CDER with original documents within the reporting window.
AIIMS Delhi MDS vs Other Colleges
Here is how AIIMS Delhi MDS compares with similar premier dental postgraduate institutions on fees, exams, cutoff, and ratings.
| College | Fees | Exams | Cutoff | Salary | CD Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | 5.1 K | INI-CET | Rank 76 (all categories, 2026 Round 2) | Not Disclosed | 4.3/5 |
| MAIDS, New Delhi | 46.8 K | NEET MDS | Rank 1 (MDS Ortho, 2025 Round 1) | Not Disclosed | 4.2/5 |
| PGIMER, Chandigarh | 9.2 K | INI-CET | Rank 2 (MDS Oral Surgery, 2026) | Not Disclosed | 3.9/5 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 5.1 K | INI-CET | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | 4.2/5 |
✓ Opt for this if
- You want the most affordable MDS seat at a national institute.
- Complex multi-specialty referral cases from AIIMS align with your training goals.
- You plan to pursue a DNB or DM after MDS and want the AIIMS brand advantage.
- Government dental teaching or an academic career is your long-term goal.
- Your INI-CET rank is competitive enough for the limited CDER seats.
✗ Skip if
- You prefer NEET MDS counselling over INI-CET for seat access.
- Only 8 total MDS seats makes your admission chance very narrow.
- You want a wide choice of specializations with higher seat availability.
- Private practice in a metro city is your immediate post-MDS goal.
AIIMS Delhi MDS Scholarships 2026
MDS residents receive Junior Resident emoluments and on-campus hostel accommodation. Several additional financial support schemes are available.
| Scholarship / Support | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Thesis Research Grant (MDS) | INR 2,00,000 | MDS resident within 6 months of ethics-approved thesis protocol submission |
| Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST) | As per Government of India norms | SC/ST students in postgraduate programmes |
| Central Sector Scheme for Top Class Education | As per Government of India norms | SC students at central institutions |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | As per AIIMS norms | Students with financial need and academic merit |
- Thesis grant covers research consumables only, not equipment or travel.
- Verify amounts and deadlines at the official AIIMS research portal.
AIIMS Delhi MDS FAQs
Ques. How does INI-CET differ from NEET MDS for AIIMS Delhi CDER admission?
Ans. INI-CET is conducted by AIIMS and governs admissions to all AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER, and NIMHANS. NEET MDS covers the majority of government and private dental colleges nationwide. AIIMS Delhi CDER admits MDS students exclusively through INI-CET. Many candidates take both exams, but only an INI-CET score will secure a CDER seat.
Ques. Which MDS specializations at AIIMS Delhi CDER have the highest competition?
Ans. In the July 2026 INI-CET session, the closing rank for MDS at AIIMS Delhi was 76 across all categories. With only 8 seats across 5 specializations, competition is intense. Prosthodontics and Orthodontics have 2 seats each and fill fast. Conservative Dentistry and Oral Surgery have 1 seat each. No specialization offers easy entry at CDER.
Ques. How does the AIIMS thesis research grant work for MDS residents?
Ans. The AIIMS Research Section funds eligible MDS thesis projects with up to INR 2,00,000 per resident for research consumables. Three grants are awarded per batch cycle in June and December rounds. Applications go to the research portal (researchsubmission.aiims.edu) within six months of ethics committee approval. Funds release in two installments, with the second requiring a 50 percent completion progress report.
Ques. What career paths open up after completing MDS from AIIMS Delhi?
Ans. Many graduates take up senior residency at AIIMS or other apex institutions, then teaching positions in government dental colleges under 7th Pay Commission scales. The AIIMS brand strengthens DM and international fellowship applications. Private practice is strong for Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, and Oral Surgery graduates in metro cities. Academic positions at dental colleges are easier to secure with an AIIMS MDS.
Ques. Are there any bond or service obligations after completing MDS from AIIMS Delhi?
Ans. AIIMS Delhi does not impose a rural service bond after MDS completion. Residents must complete their three-year posting at CDER. Early departure may lead to forfeiture of the degree certificate and recovery of stipend. Candidates admitted via the Rural Service quota must have completed two years of rural service before joining, a pre-admission condition rather than a post-degree obligation.
Ques. What clinical training advantages does CDER offer over standalone dental colleges?
Ans. CDER sits inside the AIIMS multi-specialty hospital. Oral Surgery residents handle maxillofacial trauma, oncology, and reconstructive cases that standalone dental colleges rarely see. Orthodontics residents get high volumes of skeletal malocclusion cases from AIIMS cleft programmes. CDER has CBCT radiography, surgical microscopes, and dedicated phantom head labs. Case complexity and patient load are substantially higher than at most other dental colleges.