About Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata 🏛️
Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata (also known as Calcutta Medical College), is a historic and premier public medical school established in 1835. It is the oldest medical college in Asia to teach European medicine. Affiliated with the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS), it is consistently ranked as one of the top medical institutions in India. The college is renowned for its flagship MBBS program, a wide range of postgraduate (MD/MS) and super-specialty (DM/M.Ch) courses. Its associated hospital is one of the largest in the state, providing an immense and diverse patient load for clinical training.
Key Information at a Glance 📊
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Fees (Approx.) | ₹60,000 - ₹70,000 for the entire MBBS course (5.5 years) |
| Flagship Program Intake | 250 (MBBS) |
| Highest Package (2025) | Not applicable; focus is on post-graduation and government service. |
| Average Package (2025) | Stipend during internship: ~₹28,000/month | Stipend during PG: ~₹90,000/month |
| Median Package (2025) | Not Applicable |
| Scholarship Availability | Yes, through West Bengal Govt. scholarship schemes |
| Top Career Avenues | Post Graduation (MD/MS), Government Medical Officer, Private Practice, Research |
| Top Recruiters | Top PG Institutes (AIIMS, PGI), State/Central Government Hospitals, Private Hospital Chains |
| Approvals | NMC, INC |
Career Prospects & Post-Graduation 📈
As a premier government medical college, MCK provides a launchpad for distinguished careers in medicine. The focus is overwhelmingly on post-graduate specialization, research, and public service.
| Primary Career Paths after MBBS | |
|---|---|
| Post Graduation (MD/MS) | The primary goal for the vast majority of graduates is to secure a top rank in the NEET-PG exam to pursue a specialization at MCK itself or other premier institutions. |
| Government Medical Officer | Many graduates join the West Bengal Health Service (WBHS) or central health services as Medical Officers in government hospitals. |
| Private Practice / Hospitals | Graduates are highly sought after for roles as Resident Doctors in top private hospitals across India. |
| Armed Forces Medical Services | Opportunities to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force as a commissioned medical officer. |
Common Career Paths
- Super Specialist Doctor (after DM/M.Ch)
- Government Medical Officer (through state PSC/UPSC)
- Faculty and Professor in Medical Universities
- Clinical Research and Academia
Fee Structure & Scholarships: Funding Your Education 💰
The most significant advantage of studying at MCK is its highly subsidized government fee structure, which makes world-class medical education extremely affordable.
Fee Structure (Approx.)
- MBBS Course Fee: ~ ₹11,000 per year.
- Hostel Fee (Optional): Extremely nominal charges apply (excluding mess charges).
- Note: The total academic cost is exceptionally low for the quality of education.
Scholarship Opportunities
Financial assistance is readily available for eligible students:
- Kanyashree Prakalpa: A flagship scheme of the Government of West Bengal for girl students.
- Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship: For meritorious students from economically weaker sections.
- Other State/Central Schemes: All government scholarships for SC/ST/OBC/Minority students are applicable.
Compulsory Internship & Clinical Exposure 🏢
The one-year compulsory rotating internship is the most critical phase of medical training. MCK, being located in the academic hub of College Street, offers massive clinical exposure.
- Massive Patient Load: The hospital is one of the largest tertiary care referral centers in Eastern India, with an enormous and diverse patient footfall, providing unparalleled clinical experience.
- Extensive Hands-on Experience: Interns get rigorous, hands-on training in managing a wide spectrum of diseases, complex trauma cases, and critical care.
- Comprehensive Rotations: Interns rotate through all clinical departments, including super-specialties, preparing them for any medical challenge.
- Stipend: All interns receive a monthly stipend from the government during their one-year internship period.
The Real Campus Experience: Life at MCK 🧑🎓
The historic MCK campus is an iconic landmark in Kolkata, steeped in history. Life here is a unique blend of intense academic pressure, grueling clinical duties, and a vibrant, traditional "medico" culture.
Hostel Life
The college has a fully residential campus with a strong and traditional hostel culture.
- Historic hostel buildings with a legendary senior-junior support system.
- Student-run messes providing regular meals.
- A vibrant community of some of the brightest medical students in the country.
- Sports grounds and facilities for recreation.
A Day on Campus
The daily schedule is extremely rigorous, involving early morning lectures, extensive clinical postings in the hospital, and late-night study sessions.
- Iconic heritage buildings and a centrally located academic block.
- A large central library and departmental libraries with a massive collection of medical literature.
- An environment that is highly focused on academics and preparing for postgraduate entrance exams.
- "Rhapsody": The grand annual cultural and sports fest, which is one of the most famous medical college fests in West Bengal.
Admissions Process & Eligibility (MBBS) 📝
- Check Eligibility: Must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in PCB (40% for reserved categories).
- Qualify NEET-UG: A valid and very high qualifying rank in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is mandatory. Admission is extremely competitive.
- Register for Counselling: Admissions are conducted through centralized online counseling. 15% of seats are filled through All India Quota (AIQ) counseling by MCC, and 85% of seats are filled through West Bengal State Quota counseling by WBMCC.
- Choice Filling & Seat Allotment: During counseling, candidates fill their college preferences. A seat at Medical College, Kolkata is allotted based on the student's NEET rank, category, and filled choices. It is the top preference for almost all state and AIQ applicants.
- Reporting to College: After seat allotment, candidates must report to the college within the stipulated time for document verification, medical check-up, and completion of admission formalities.