# Medical degree

A medical degree is a professional degree admitted to those who have passed coursework in the fields of medicine and/or surgery from an accredited medical school. Obtaining a degree in medicine allows for the recipient to continue on into specialty training with the end goal of securing a license to practice within their respective jurisdiction. Medical graduates may also pursue non-clinical careers including those in basic research and positions within the healthcare industry. A worldwide study conducted in 2011 indicated on average: 64 university exams, 130 series exams, and 174 assignments are completed over the course of 5.5 years. As a baseline, students need greater than an 85% in prerequisite courses to enrol for the aptitude test in these degree programs.

## Undergraduate medical degrees

* Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, BMBS, MBChB, MBBCh)
* Bachelor of Medicine (B.Med, MB, BM)
* Bachelor of Surgery (B.S)/(B.Surg)
The MBBS is also awarded at the graduate level, meaning the applicant already has an undergraduate degree prior to commencing their medical studies (graduate entry).

## Graduate medical degrees

* Doctor of Medicine (MD, Dr.MuD, Dr.Med)
* Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

## Comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medical degrees

| Medical degree type | Undergraduate (Post-secondary) | Graduate (Post-baccalaureate) | Graduate (Post-baccalaureate) | Graduate (Post-baccalaureate) |
| Degree name | Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery; or Bachelor of Medicine | Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery | Doctor of Medicine | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Degree abbreviation | MBBS, BMBS, MBChC, MBChB, MBBCh; or MB, BM, BMed | MBBS, BMBS, MBChC, MBBCh | MD | DO |
| Admission | Follows secondary education (standard course) | Follows an undergraduate degree (graduate-entry) | Follows an undergraduate degree (professional doctorate) | Follows an undergraduate degree (professional doctorate) |
| Duration | 5 to 6 years | 4 years (accelerated) | 4 years | 4 years |
| Countries offering the degree (not exhaustive list) | United Kingdom, Ireland, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Australia, and China, Saudi Arabia | United Kingdom and Ireland | United States, Canada, Israel, UAE, Australia | United States |
Some countries, especially Eastern European and former Soviet republics (Russia, Ukraine, Armenia) offer post-secondary, undergraduate, 6-year medical programs, which confer the title Doctor of Medicine as their medical qualification.

## Post-graduate medical degrees

* Master of Clinical Medicine (MCM)
* Master of Medical Science (MMSc, MMedSc)
* Master of Public Health (MPH)
* Master of Medicine (MM, MMed)
* Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
* Master of Philosophy in Ophthalmology (MPhO)
* Master of Public Health and Ophthalmology (MPHO)
* Master of Surgery (MS, MSurg, MChir, MCh, ChM, CM)
* Master of Science in Medicine or Surgery (MSc)
* Doctor of Medicine of by research MD(Res), DM
* Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
* Doctor of Clinical Medicine (DCM)
* Doctor of Clinical Surgery (DClinSurg)
* Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc, DMedSc)
* Doctor of Surgery (DS, DSurg)
* Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

## Alternative medical degrees

* Ayurveda - BSc, MSc, BAMC, MD (Ayurveda), M.S. (Ayurveda), Ph.D. (Ayurveda)
* Siddha medicine - BSMS, MD(Siddha), Ph.D(Siddha)
* Acupuncture - BSc, LAc, DAc, AP, DiplAc, MAc
* Chiropractic -
* Herbalism Acs, BSc, Msc.
* Homeopathy - BSc, MSc, DHMs, BHMS, M.D. (HOM), PhD in homoeopathy
* Naprapathy - DN
* Naturopathic medicine - BSc, MSc, BNYS, MD (Naturopathy), ND, NMD
* Oriental Medicine - BSc, MSOM, MSTOM, KMD (Korea), BCM (Hong Kong), MCM (Hong Kong), BChinMed (Hong Kong), MChinMed (Hong Kong), MD (Taiwan), MB (China), TCM-Traditional Chinese medicine master (China)
* Osteopathy - BOst, BOstMed, BSc (Osteo), DipOsteo