Fees
Fees at Kerala University of Health Sciences for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) program vary depending on the year and quota. The tuition fee for merit quota students is approximately Rs. 103,000 for the first year and Rs. 78,000 for the subsequent three years. The total course fee ranges between Rs.
3 lakhs to Rs. 4.5 lakhs, excluding additional costs such as examination fees, arts fees, and sports fees. For management and LBS quota students, the tuition fee is around Rs. 80,000, while NRI students pay Rs. 120,000, reflecting an additional Rs. 40,000 over standard tuition. Hostel accommodation costs Rs. 22,000.
Scholarships like the E-grants, Means cum Merit, and Central Government scholarships are available for eligible categories, offering financial aid up to Rs. 30,000 per recipient.
About Bachelor of Dental Surgery [BDS]
KUHS BDS is a 5-year undergraduate programme at Kerala University of Health Sciences-affiliated dental colleges, Thrissur, approved by the Dental Council of India. Admission is through NEET-UG. Annual fees at government dental colleges are INR 26,640. Graduates register as dentists with the Kerala Dental Council and the DCI, and work in dental hospitals, private practice and government health services.
📋 Admission Status: Applications closed. Counselling begins August 2026 (Tentative).
Key Points
- Dental Council of India approved curriculum under KUHS affiliation in Kerala
- Training across six clinical departments including oral surgery, orthodontics and prosthodontics
- One-year compulsory rotating internship in hospital dental departments
- BDS graduates can pursue MDS specialisation across 9 dental specialties
KUHS BDS Fees 2026
| Component | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | INR 20,840 |
| Caution Deposit (per year) | INR 2,320 |
| Miscellaneous Charges (per year) | INR 1,740 |
| Van Fee (per year) | INR 1,740 |
| Total Fees (5 Years) | INR 1,33,200 |
- Annual fee of INR 26,640 applies to government-quota BDS seats per official DME Kerala notification.
- Caution deposit of INR 2,320 per year is refundable on course completion.
- Private dental colleges under KUHS charge higher fees set by the Fee Regulatory Committee.
KUHS BDS Admission 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NEET-UG Registration Opened | February 8, 2026 |
| NEET-UG Registration Closed | March 8, 2026 |
| NEET-UG Admit Card Released | June 14, 2026 |
| NEET-UG Exam | June 21, 2026 |
| NEET-UG Answer Key Released | July 6, 2026 |
| NEET-UG Result | July 20, 2026 (Tentative) |
| MCC AIQ BDS Counselling Registration | August 2026 (Tentative) |
| CEE Kerala State Quota Counselling | August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Class Commencement | November 2026 (Tentative) |
- State-quota BDS seats (85%) are allotted by CEE Kerala after the NEET-UG result.
- All India Quota BDS seats (15%) are allotted by MCC through central counselling.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognised board
- Minimum 50% aggregate in PCB (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates)
- Valid NEET-UG score is mandatory for BDS admission
- Minimum age 17 years as of December 31, 2026
Admission Process
- Register for NEET-UG on the NTA portal and appear for the examination in June
- After NEET-UG result, register for MCC counselling for AIQ seats or CEE Kerala for state-quota seats
- Fill college and speciality preferences during seat allotment
- Participate in allotment rounds and confirm seat by reporting to the dental college
- Submit original documents including NEET scorecard, Class 12 marksheets and domicile certificate
- Pay prescribed fees to complete admission formalities
✓ Opt for this if
- Dentistry and oral health are your definitive career goal
- You want to run your own dental clinic or join a corporate dental chain
- Government dental college fees (INR 26,640/year) are within your budget
- You plan to pursue MDS specialisation after BDS for higher career prospects
✗ Skip if
- You want to practice general medicine or surgery beyond dental scope
- MBBS is your target and BDS is only a backup option
- You are unable to manage manual dexterity-intensive clinical procedures daily
- You need a degree with Gulf or overseas licensing without a conversion process
KUHS BDS Scholarships 2026
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility and Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| E-Grantz (Kerala State Scholarship) | Up to INR 50,000/year | SC/ST/OBC students in Kerala dental colleges, apply via e-grantz.kerala.gov.in |
| MCM Scholarship (Central) | Up to INR 20,000/year | Family income below INR 4.5 Lakhs, apply via NSP portal annually |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships | INR 10,000/year | Merit-based (80th percentile in Class 12), apply via NSP portal |
| KUHS Research Appreciation Award | INR 10,000 one-time | UG students undertaking approved short-term research projects under KUHS |
- E-Grantz must be applied for after admission to a KUHS-affiliated dental college is confirmed.
- NSP scholarship portal closes in October each academic year.
KUHS BDS FAQs
Ques. What is the structure of the BDS programme at KUHS-affiliated dental colleges?
Ans. BDS at KUHS-affiliated dental colleges is a 5-year programme, comprising 4 years of academic and clinical training followed by one year of compulsory rotating internship. The curriculum covers basic sciences in the first year and clinical dentistry departments from the second year onwards, including conservative dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, oral pathology and public health dentistry. The DCI-approved curriculum is followed across all affiliated colleges.
Ques. Is NEET-UG mandatory for BDS admission at KUHS-affiliated dental colleges?
Ans. Yes, NEET-UG is mandatory for BDS admission across all dental colleges in India, including those affiliated with KUHS. State-quota seats (85%) are allotted by CEE Kerala through centralised counselling. All India Quota seats (15%) are allotted by MCC through central counselling rounds. There is no alternative entrance route for BDS, and candidates who do not qualify NEET are ineligible to apply.
Ques. What are the fees for BDS at government dental colleges under KUHS?
Ans. Government-quota BDS seats carry an annual fee of INR 26,640, comprising tuition (INR 20,840), caution deposit (INR 2,320), miscellaneous (INR 1,740) and van fee (INR 1,740) per the official DME Kerala notification. The five-year total is INR 1,33,200. The caution deposit is refundable. Private dental colleges under KUHS charge higher fees regulated by the Kerala Fee Regulatory Committee.
Ques. What are the career options after BDS from KUHS-affiliated dental colleges?
Ans. BDS graduates work in private dental clinics, corporate dental chains, government dental hospitals and dental colleges as junior faculty after postgraduation. Gulf countries offer higher remuneration for KUHS-trained dentists after passing the respective dental council examination. Graduates can pursue MDS in nine dental specialties for academic and senior clinical roles. Kerala PSC regularly notifies Dental Surgeon posts in government hospitals.
Ques. Can BDS graduates from KUHS work in Gulf countries?
Ans. Yes. KUHS BDS graduates can work in Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Oman after clearing the relevant licensing examination, such as the Prometric test or DHA exam, depending on the country. Gulf dental hospitals actively recruit trained dentists from India. Salaries for dentists in Gulf countries are considerably higher than those in India, making overseas practice a popular option for KUHS dental graduates.