Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a 5-year undergraduate degree in dental sciences with a one-year compulsory internship. Maharashtra has several top-ranked government and private dental colleges that provide BDS courses under the governance of the Dental Council of India (DCI).
Maharashtra BDS admissions are governed by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell) in a centralized counselling plan on the basis of NEET UG ranks. All applicants applying for BDS admissions in Maharashtra must clear NEET UG, as it is the only entrance test accepted in the state for this program.
Candidates must register for the Maharashtra NEET UG counselling process online, including document verification, choice filling, seat allotment, and admission to dental colleges based on their NEET rank, category of reservation, and seat availability.
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Maharashtra BDS Admission: Eligibility Criteria
To seek admission in Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Maharashtra dental colleges, one must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- They must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
- They should have obtained a minimum aggregate mark of 50% (General) and 40% (SC/ST/OBC) in the group PCB
- Must be an Indian citizen; NRI candidates can apply under the NRI quota.
- Domicile of Maharashtra is mandatory for state quota seats.
- The candidates must be at least 17 years old.
- The candidates must have qualified NEET UG with the minimum cutoff marks.
Maharashtra BDS Admission: Entrance Exams
Admission to BDS in Maharashtra is primarily based on NEET UG 2025, which is a national-level exam conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). Here is the important dates for NEET UG 2025.
Maharashtra BDS Admission: Top Dental Colleges
Here is the list of some of the top dental colleges in Maharashtra. The table also includes the Bachelor of Dental Surgery fees of these institutes.
Maharashtra BDS Admission Process
Admission to the BDS courses in Maharashtra is based on NEET UG scores. The admission into BDS courses in dental colleges in Maharashtra will be conducted by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra. Here is the BDS admission process conducted by the Maharashtra CET.
Entrance Exam - The candidates interested in Bachelor of Dental Surgery admission should appear for NEET UG, conducted usually in the month of May, and should also qualify for the examination.
Counselling Registration - The candidates will have to visit the Maharashtra CET website at www.mahacet.org and register for the Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling. They will have to fill out the application form, upload documents, and pay the application fees.
State Merit List - The state merit list of the candidates who have cleared the NEET-UG cutoff will be released on the Maharashtra CET website.
Choice Filling & Locking - The candidates whose names are on the merit list will have to lock their choices for the BDS institute for the first round of allotment.
Allotment List - The seats will be allotted to the candidates based on NEET rank, category, preferences, and availability of seats. The allotment list will be released on the official website.
Reporting - The candidates who have been allotted a seat will have to report to the respective institute on the given date for document verification, submission of admission fees and completion of other admission formalities.
Documents Required:
Here is the list of documents required for admission into the BDS program:
- Admit card of NEET UG
- Copy of Online Application Form (Latest) filled on www.mahacet.org
- NEET-UG 2024 Mark sheet
- Nationality certificate issued by District Magistrate/Addl. District Magistrate or Metropolitan Magistrate (Competent Authority for issue of such certificate)/ valid Indian passport /School Leaving Certificate of HSC/12th Std. indicating the nationality of the candidate as Indian’
- Domicile Certificate issued by District Magistrate/Metropolitan Magistrate/ Addl. District Magistrate or Competent Authority for the issue of such a certificate.
- H.S.C. (or equivalent) examination mark sheet
- SSC (or equivalent) passing certificate (for Date of Birth)
- Aadhar Card
- Medical fitness certificate
Also, Read other MBBS Course
Maharashtra BDS Admission FAQs
Is BDS admission possible in Maharashtra without NEET?
No, NEET UG is a must for every BDS admission in Maharashtra. Whether it's a government or private dental college, qualification through NEET is essential according to DCI norms.
What is the number of BDS seats in Maharashtra?
Maharashtra has approximately 3,000+ BDS seats in government, private, and deemed dental colleges. The actual number may be a bit different and will be notified during NEET counseling.
Is domicile required for Maharashtra BDS admission?
Yes, domicile of Maharashtra is required for applying under the 85% state quota in BDS colleges. Other state candidates are eligible to apply for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) or management/NRI quota in private/deemed universities.
How much is the BDS course fee in Maharashtra colleges?
BDS fees in Maharashtra government dental colleges vary from INR 20,000 to INR 50,000 per year. In private colleges, the fee varies from INR 2.5 lakh to INR 5 lakh annually. Tuition fees for NRI quota seats are more.
What are the top BDS colleges in Maharashtra accepting NEET UG scores?
Some of the top BDS colleges in Maharastra that accept admissions based on NEET UG include Government Dental College & Hospital, Mumbai, Government Dental College & Hospital, Nagpur, Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College, Pune, D.Y. Patil Dental College, Navi Mumbai, Sinhgad Dental College, Pune, etc.
