AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and IISER (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research) are both premier institutions in India, but they differ in their focus and academic programs. AIIMS is a group of autonomous public medical colleges in India, which offer medical education, and conduct research in various fields of medicine. On the other hand, IISER is a group of premier science education and research institutes in India. IISERs are known for their focus on interdisciplinary research, cutting-edge facilities, and world-class faculty. There are 19 AIIMS across India, while 7 IISERs nationwide.
In this blog, we will discuss the following:
- Where should you go? AIIMS or IISER.
- Courses offered
- Admission procedures
- Fee structures
- Future opportunities
Where should you go?
The answer to this question depends entirely on what your interests are and what you aspire to be.
If you want to see yourself as a doctor, practice medicine, and pursue medical research, you must try AIIMS. AIIMS offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various medical fields like MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Surgery), M.Ch. (Master of Chirurgiae), DM (Doctorate of Medicine), etc.
On the contrary, if you want to do some interdisciplinary hardcore research in basic sciences, say biology combined with geology, IISERs are the best place for you. IISERs are the best place for students aspiring to enter the academic field. Most students opt for PhD from abroad after the BS-MS degree.
In simpler terms, AIIMS creates doctors, while IISERs create scientists.
Courses Offered:
For undergraduate programs, AIIMS offer:
- MBBS:
- B.Sc. Nursing
- Paramedical Courses:
B.Sc. (Hons.) Ophthalmic Technique
B.Sc. (Hons.) Medical Technology
There are many post-graduate courses offered by AIIMS. Some of them are:
- MD (Doctor of Medicine): A 3-year postgraduate course in various specialisations of medicine such as General Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Radiodiagnosis, etc.
- MS (Master of Surgery): A 3-year postgraduate course in various specialisations of surgery such as General Surgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, etc.
- M.Ch (Master of Chirurgiae): A 3-year postgraduate course in surgical specialities such as Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Surgery, etc.
- DM (Doctorate of Medicine): A 3-year postgraduate course in various super-specialities such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, etc.
- MDS (Master of Dental Surgery): A 3-year postgraduate course in various super-specialities of medicine such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, etc.
AIIMS also offer PhD in various disciplines such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Community Medicine, Dermatology and Venereology, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Physiology.
IISERs offers few courses as compared to AIIMS. For undergraduates;
- BS-MS: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science is an integrated program of 5 years. It is offered in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth and Environmental Science. Some IISERs also offer this program in Humanities and Economics too.
- BS: Bachelor of Science is provided by only IISER-Bhopal in some Engineering fields like Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, etc.
IISERs provide 5-year doctoral PhD programs in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Economics, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Space Sciences( CESSI, IISER-K). There are integrated 5-year PhD programs that offer M.Sc and PhD in various disciplines mentioned above.
Admission Procedures:
In terms of admission, both AIIMS and IISER have highly competitive entrance exams for undergraduate programs. To get into AIIMS, you must clear NEET(National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)/AIIMS MBBS Entrance Exam with high scores. The exam is of 720 marks, and you must score more than 50% to qualify. You can get admission in IISERs through IAT( IISER Aptitude Test) or JEE-Advanced. IISERs conduct IAT, while JEE-Advanced is conducted by IITs. Every IISER requires different cutoff marks.
AIIMS also conducts an entrance exam(AIIMS PG Entrance Exam) for admission to PG courses. You must have completed their MBBS course to be eligible for the exam. For PhD programs in IISERs, you must clear exams like CSIR-NET, GATE, etc. Also, you can directly approach professors for PhD.
Fee Structures:
The fee structure for different courses at AIIMS as well as at IISERs, varies based on factors like the program, category, and availability of seats. Here is a general overview of the fee structure for AIIMS courses:
- MBBS: The annual tuition fee for the MBBS program at AIIMS is around Rs. 1,628 for Indian nationals, while for Foreign nationals, it is around USD 75,000(Rs.61,39,500).
- MD/MS/MDS: The annual tuition fee for the MD/MS/MDS program at AIIMS is around Rs. 2,285 for Indian nationals and around USD 10,000(Rs.8,18,600) for foreign nationals.
- DM/M.Ch: The annual tuition fee for the DM/M.Ch program at AIIMS is around Rs. 6,825 for Indian nationals and around USD 20,000(Rs.16,37,200) for foreign nationals.
- PhD: The annual tuition fee for the PhD program at AIIMS is around Rs. 1,485 for Indian nationals and around USD 6,000(Rs.4,91,160) for foreign nationals.
Additionally, AIIMS also offers scholarships and financial assistance to eligible students.
The fee structure for IISER is as follows:
- The fee for students whose family income is less than or equal to Rs. 1 Lakh per annum is completely waived.
- For students whose family income is between Rs. 1 Lakh and Rs. 5 Lakh per annum, the fee is Rs. 15,000 per semester.
- For students whose family income is more than Rs. 5 Lakh per annum, the fee is Rs. 25,000 per semester.
- Foreign Nationals have to pay the fee in US dollars. The fee for Foreign Nationals is USD 5000 (Rs.4,09,300)per semester.
The fee structure for PhD programs differs according to discipline. It is important to check their website as the fee structure changes frequently.
Apart from the tuition fee, students are also required to pay other fees such as hostel fees, mess fees, etc., which may vary from institute to institute. Additionally, there may be other expenses, such as travel, books, and stationery, which students have to bear themselves.
Future Opportunities:
Being institutes of national importance, both IISERs and AIIMS host a vast number of opportunities. The top 15 highest-earning professions in the world fall under the medical field. The current pandemic has already shown the importance of the healthcare sector. Here are a few fields you can explore after your education at AIIMS:
- Specialisation in a medical field: You can specialise in a particular medical field, such as cardiology, neurology, oncology, paediatrics, or any other field of interest. Specialisation helps you gain expertise in your chosen field, which leads to better job prospects and career growth. As a medical specialist, you can expect to earn an average salary of INR 10-20 lakhs per annum, depending on your level of experience and specialisation.
- Research and development: With a strong foundation in medical research, AIIMS graduates can pursue careers in research and development. You can work in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, or biotech firms and contribute to developing new drugs, medical devices, or treatment methodologies. Research analysts can expect to earn an average salary of INR 6-10 lakhs per annum, while research scientists can earn up to INR 20 lakhs per annum or more.
- Healthcare management: Healthcare management is a rapidly growing field that requires individuals with strong leadership and management skills. As an AIIMS graduate, you can explore opportunities in hospital administration, healthcare consulting, or healthcare policy-making. Salaries can range from INR 5-15 lakhs per annum, depending on job roles and responsibilities.
- Medical education: AIIMS graduates can also choose to pursue a career in medical education. You can work as a faculty member in medical colleges, develop medical curriculums, or conduct medical training programs. Entry-level faculty members can expect to earn an average salary of INR 5-8 lakhs per annum, while senior professors can earn up to INR 20 lakhs per annum or more.
- Entrepreneurship: With the growing demand for innovative healthcare solutions, AIIMS graduates can also consider starting their own healthcare ventures. You can develop new medical technologies, start a healthcare service company, or create a telemedicine platform, among other possibilities. Successful entrepreneurs can earn significant returns on their investments, while startups may have a lower salary until they gain traction.
There are plenty of career opportunities after your education from IISERs. Some of them are the following:
- Education: You can join coaching classes like Allen, FIITJEE, etc. Instructors with degrees from IISERs or IITs are in high demand in the coaching industry. And depending on your experience and feedback from students, you can easily get a salary of around INR 10 lakhs per annum. You can also be a professor at any institute like IITs, IISERs, NITs, etc.
- Research and Development: You can work in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, or biotech firms and contribute to developing new technologies, products, or scientific theories. You can also join ISRO, TIFR or DRDO. Here, you can expect a salary between INR 6 to 20 lakhs.
- Science journalism: It is a growing field that requires individuals with a strong science background and excellent communication skills. As an IISER graduate, you can explore opportunities in science writing, science communication, or science media.
Conclusion:
In summary, while AIIMS focuses on medical education and research, IISER is dedicated to basic sciences education and research. Both institutions are highly respected in their respective fields and attract top talent from all over India. Completing your education at these institutes opens the door to a lot of opportunities. Now, if you are wondering what you should do if you are interested in pursuing Biological Sciences, check out our other blogs to know more.
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