Difference between MBBS and MD (MBBS vs MD) Explained

Medical education is the most sought out degree across the world for science students. Every county offers Medical education promoting future doctors to support their nation and the global healthcare system. Across the world, Medical education degrees are awarded in Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral levels. Nonetheless, a medical degree popularly known to be MBBS, in a few countries offers the same under different names. Let’s have comprehensive research on various Medical degrees awarded across the globe, which are equivalent to MBBS. 

MBBS— Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery also described as BMBS sometimes, derived from Latin: Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae. MBBS in Malaysia is an undergraduate-level program.
MD— Doctor of Medicine, offered at different levels the reason for the confusion in medical student’s minds. Few countries MD is a post-graduation specialization degree, and in few, it is offered at the doctorate level. However, in US-based curriculum, MD offered at the undergraduate level is equivalent to an MBBS degree. 
MD in Malaysia— Most of the Universities of Malaysia offer either MBBS or MD programs at undergraduate level. The students graduated from this program, called as general physicians subject to the medical registration of the countries they practice. This entirely is an undergraduate level course offered by various institutes of Malaysia not Post-graduate level program offered in India or some other countries. 

Universiti Malaya (UM) is an exemption, as it is the only university of Malaysia offering MD at Doctorate level instead of undergraduate. 

MBBS vs MD in Malaysia

To understand the difference and commonness of MBBS and MD in Malaysian universities, we need to verify the eligibility, course curriculum, and other relevant information involved like:

Criteria	MBBS	MD
Level	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
Duration	5 years	4 / 5 years
Internships	1 year mandatory	1 year mandatory
Eligibility	10+2 qualification	10+4 / 10+2 qualification
Subjects in Higher secondary	Biology, chemistry, Physics / Mathematics, English	Biology, chemistry, Physics / Mathematics, English
Age	17 plus years	17 plus years
Syllabus	Year I Cellular response Cardiovascular system Early Clinical Attachment Basic mechanism of disease Hematology system Medical science Cardiovascular system Basic mechanism of disease Hematology system Alimentary & Genitourinary Year 2 Epidemiology & Biostatistics Nervous system Gastro-Intestinal system & Nutrition Reproductive system Musculoskeletal system Endocrine & Metabolism Health care Delivery scinece Year 3 Medical posting Primary care Medicine Internal Medicine General Surgery Dermatology Obstetrics Gynecology Community Health Year 4 Medicine Surgery Acute Medicine and Trauma Pediatrics Primary care Orthopedics Psychiatry Anesthesia Emergency medicine Critical and palliative care Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology Forensic Medicine Year 5 Medicine Surgery Family Medicine Internal Medicine General Surgery II Special study course Obstetrics & Gynecology pediatrics	Year I Semester 1 Cellular Biomolecules Tissues of Body Membranes & Receptor Metabolism Personal & Professional Advancement Semester 2 Human Genetics Infection & Immunity Mechanisms of Diseases Musculoskeletal System Clinical Science 1 Medicine & Society I Personal & Professional Advancement Year 2 Sem 1 Blood & Lymph Cardiovascular system Respiratory system Urinary system Clinical science Medicine & Society II Personal & Professional Advancement Semester 2 Gastrointestinal & Hepatobiliary system Endocrine system Neuro sciences Reproductive system Clinical science Personal & professional Advancement II   Year 3 Internal Medicine I Surgery I Family Medicine I Medicine & Society III Personal & Professional Advancement III Radiology I   Elective Posting Year 4 Psychiatry Pediatrics I Obstetric & Gynecology I Orthopedics ORL-HNS Ophthalmology Anesthesiology Personal and Professional Advancement IV Special Study Module I Special Study Module II Forensic Pathology I Forensic Pathology II Radiology II Year 5 Family Medicine II Surgery II Emergency Medicine Pediatrics II Internal Medicine II Obstetrics & Gynecology II Personal & Professional Advancement V Special Study Module III
Medical license exam	Mandatory to get the license	Mandatory to get the license
License registration	General Physician	General Physician

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A list of Malaysian Universities that offer Undergraduate Medical Degrees

Medical School	Degree	Type	City
University of Malaysia	MBBS	Public	Kuala Lumpur
International Islamic University Malaysia	MBBS	Public	Kuantan
Manipal University	MBBS	Private	Kuantan
International Medical University	MBBS	Private	Bukit Jalil
Universiti Kuala Lumpur	MBBS	Private	Ipoh
AIMST University	MBBS	Private	Bedong
Universiti Teknology MARA	MBBS	Public	Sungai Buloh
University of Cyberjaya	MBBS	Private	Cyberjaya
Universiti Sains Islam	MBBS	Public	Pandan Indah
Management & Science University	MBBS	Private	Shah Alam
University Sultan Zainal Abidin Faculty of Medicine	MBBS	Public	Kuala Terengganu
MAHSA University	MBBS	Private	Cheras
Newcastle University	MBBS	Private	Iskandar
Universiti Tunku Abdl Rahman	MBBS	Private	Sungai Long
SEGi University	MBBS	Private	Kota Damansara
Taylor’s University	MBBS	Private	Subang jaya
Asia Metropolitan University	MBBS	Private	Johor Bahru
Widad University	MBBS	Private	Kuantan
Quest International University Perak	MBBS	Private	Ipoh
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mua’dzam shah Kulliyyah of Medicine and Health Sciences	MBBS	Private	Kuala Ketil
Lincoln University	MD	Private	Petaling Jaya
Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine	MD	Private	Damansara Heights
National Defence University of Malaysia	MD	Public	Sungai Besi
UCSI University	MD	Private	Marang
Monash University	MD	Private	Bandar Sunway
Allianze University College of Medical Sciences	MD	Private	Kepala Batas
Sabah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences	MD	Public	Kota Kinabalu
Universiti Malaysia Sabah	MD	Public	Kota Kinabalu
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak	MD	Public	Kuching
Universiti Putra Malaysia	MD	Public	Serdang
University Sains Malaysia	MD	Public	Kubang Kerian
National University of Medicine	MD	Public	Cheras

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MBBS vs MD in India

In India, MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is the basic undergraduate medical degree required to become a licensed medical practitioner. It is a 5.5-year program that includes 4.5 years of classroom and clinical training, followed by a one-year internship in a hospital. The MBBS curriculum covers basic medical science subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, and community medicine, as well as clinical subjects such as medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and ophthalmology.

MD (Doctor of Medicine) is a postgraduate degree in medicine that can be pursued after completing an MBBS degree. It is a three-year program that offers advanced training in a specific area of medicine, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, psychiatry, or radiology. The MD program is more research-oriented and includes a research component, such as a thesis or dissertation. In addition to MD, there are other postgraduate medical degrees in India, such as MS (Master of Surgery), DM (Doctorate of Medicine), and MCh (Master of Chirurgiae).

In India, MBBS is the minimum qualification required to practice as a medical doctor, while MD is a higher qualification that provides specialized training and knowledge in a specific area of medicine. Both degrees are highly respected and can lead to rewarding careers in healthcare. After completing their degrees, medical graduates can work in hospitals, clinics, private practices, research organizations, and other healthcare settings.
Although the road of becoming a doctor is lengthy and difficult, there are always people who want to take it. It is selfless that puts others before oneself, yet it is also one of the most personally rewarding paths to take.