The Doctorate of Medicine in Hepatology (DM Hepatology) is a 3-year super-specialty medical degree and is split into 6 semesters. This program is for medical school graduates who want to focus on diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases of the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, and other related organs. This class helps students get ready for work in hepatology and liver donor units by teaching them advanced clinical practice, diagnostics, surgical aid and intellectual study.
To get a DM in Hepatology, you must first have an MD or DNB degree in General Medicine, Pediatrics, or equivalent from a university recognised by Medical CCouncil of India (MCI). Applying students must also do well on national-level entrance exams like NEET-SS or INI-SS (for AIIMS and some other schools). In addition to this, applicants are also required to complete a 1-year rotational internship during MD or DNB course.
Christian Medical College (CMC), Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPIMS), Madras Medical College, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (IPGMER), and others are among the top institutes. The course fee is generally low for government institutions, usually between INR 1,00,000-3,00,000, however at private institutions, the fee can range from INR 40,00,000-90,00,000 or even more.
Table of Contents
- DM Hepatology Key Highlights
- What is a DM Hepatology?
- Why Study DM Hepatology?
- Who should study DM Hepatology?
- DM Hepatology Eligibility Criteria
- DM Hepatology Entrance Exams 2025
- DM Hepatology Top Colleges
- DM Hepatology Admission Process 2025
- DM Hepatology Syllabus
- DM Hepatology Job Opportunities in India
- DM Hepatology FAQs
DM Hepatology Key Highlights
Below are the key highlights of the DM Hepatology course in India:
What is a DM Hepatology?
A DM in Hepatology is a three-year super-specialty medical degree that focuses on studying the liver, biliary system, pancreas and diseases that affect these organs in more depth. It's made for doctors who already have an MD or DNB in General Medicine, Paediatrics or a similar area and want to learn more about how to diagnose and treat complicated liver diseases. The school teaches a lot about both the clinical and surgical sides of hepatology. It covers topics like endoscopy, interventional radiology and liver transplants.
DM Hepatology teaches doctors a lot about the liver's structure, how it works metabolically, how the immune system works, and genetic factors that can cause liver diseases. Hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, fatty liver disease, autoimmune liver disorders and liver cancer are some of the diseases that students learn how to treat. The course covers modern therapeutic tools, managing an intensive care unit (ICU), taking diagnostic images and caring for patients in real life.
Why Study DM Hepatology?
The DM in Hepatology program is very specialised and is for medical doctors who want to become experts in advanced liver diseases and how to treat them. More liver diseases and transplants are happening around the world, so DM Hepatology provides a lot of clinical detail and good job opportunities in both the medical and academic areas. Here are some reasons why someone should get a DM in hepatology:
- Rising Need for Hepatology Experts: More people are getting liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and needing liver transplants. This means that both public and private healthcare systems need more trained hepatologists. Top hospitals and donation centres are always looking for hepatology doctors with a lot of training.
- Different Medical Jobs and Opportunities: Graduates with a DM in hepatology can work as consultant hepatologists, liver transplant doctors, clinical researchers, academic personnel, or hepatology group leaders. Apart from that, they may work in diagnostic labs, drug R&D, public health groups, or liver study projects in other countries.
- Career Growth and Appreciation: This training can help you get the best jobs in medical schools, hospitals, and liver care groups. A doctor with a DM degree is often picked to run transplant units, work on global health projects, and help write liver care rules for each country.
- High Earning Potential: Hepatology doctors are some of the best-paid experts in internal medicine. When working in academia, the starting salary is between INR 4 and 6 LPA. They can make INR 25 LPA or more in jobs abroad and at high-end private hospitals.
Who should study DM Hepatology?
A doctor of medicine (DM) in hepatology is one of the most advanced and respected degrees in India. It makes a lot of things possible in liver and bile medicine. As fears about liver health spread around the world, more and more medical postgraduates are interested in this course. The following people would be the best options for a DM in Hepatology course:
- People who want to become liver experts and work in top hospitals, donation centres or units that are just for liver care in India or other countries.
- PhD or MD holders in General Medicine, Paediatrics, or similar fields who are really interested in advanced internal medicine and hepatology.
- People who are doctors and want to help with studies into liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, viral hepatitis and metabolic liver diseases.
- People who want to work in academia as medical teachers, experts or public health advocates in the fields of GI and liver care.
DM Hepatology Eligibility Criteria
To enroll in DM Hepatology in India, the applicant needs to meet certain criteria, without which admission into this course is not possible. These criteria ensure that applicants have a strong foundation in clinical medicine before advancing to the super-specialty level in hepatology. Mentioned below are the DM Hepatology eligibility criteria:
- Must possess an MD or DNB degree in General Medicine, Pediatrics, or equivalent from a university or institution recognized by Medical Council of India (MCI).
- Should have completed the required 1-year rotational internship or postgraduate training in the relevant specialty.
- Must be registered with the Medical Council of India (MCI) or the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council.
- Admission is typically through a national-level entrance examination such as NEET-SS or INI SS or as per the norms of the respective university or institution.
- Candidates must meet any additional requirements specified by the admitting institution, such as interview performance or research experience.
DM Hepatology Entrance Exams 2025
For pursuing a DM Hepatology in India, various national/state/university-level entrance examinations are required to be taken. Colleges and Universities in India offer admission depending on the marks or rank obtained in these examinations. Some of the top DM Hepatology entrance examinations in India are given below:
DM Hepatology Top Colleges
Various institutions in India are offering DM Hepatology courses; each institute has got some entrance exam criteria for admitting students. Some of the top DM Hepatology colleges in India have been mentioned below, along with their total course fee, NIRF Ranking, and entrance exams required for admission:
Students also pursue related courses like DM Gastroenterology, click to know more!
DM Hepatology Admission Process 2025
The adison process for pursuing DM Hepatology is similar in all the institutes offering the course. For reference, the admission process for enrolling in DM Hepatology course at Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Science & Technology (MGUMST) is given below:
Step 1. Eligibility Check: Make sure you have obtained an MD or a DNB in General Medicine or Pediatrics in a recognized institution by the NMC.
Step 2. Registration for Entrance examination: The candidates can register online at the official entrance examination portal to take the NEET SS exam
Step 3. Application deadline: Fill in the application form and attach the necessary documents, plus pay the application fee by the due dates.
Step 4. Admit Card Download: Once it is released, provide a download of admit card and check all entries.
Step 5. Entrance Examination: Attend NEET SS exam, which consists of a written exam after which all the shortlisted candidates undergo a practical/viva.
Step 6. Result Declaration: The results will be checked online; selection through merit and rank in the examination.
Step 7. Counseling & Seat Allotment: You can take part in a centralized counseling process to be allotted seats according to ranks and preferences.
Step 8. Document Verification: Complementing original copies to be verified during counselling or during admission.
Step 9. Admission confirmation: Send the admission money and do the formalities to obtain your seat.
Step 10. Start of Courses: You will have to start the courses with the academic calendar.
Required Documents:
- MBBS and MD/DNB degree certificates and mark sheets
- NEET SS admit card and scorecard
- Internship completion certificate
- Permanent medical registration certificate (MCI/NMC/State)
- Proof of date of birth (birth certificate/10th mark sheet)
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Passport-size photographs
- Government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport)
DM Hepatology Syllabus
The syllabus for DM Hepatology in India is more or less the same in the colleges offering the course. The syllabus may slightly differ depending on the curriculum followed by the institute. For reference, the syllabus for DM Hepatology followed by Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPIMS) is given below:
Click here to know more about another related course DM in Rheumatology
DM Hepatology Job Opportunities in India
DM Hepatology graduates can have job roles in multiple fields, including Consultant Hepatologist, Senior Resident (Hepatology), Assistant Professor, Research Scientist, Transplant Hepatologist, and others. Some of the common job roles for DM Hepatology graduates in India are given below:
DM Hepatology FAQs
What kinds of studies or projects do DM Hepatology students usually work on?
Students in the DM Hepatology program do advanced clinical study, case studies, and dissertations that are all about liver illnesses like hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, and the results of liver transplants. They also learn how to do procedures like endoscopies and liver biopsies and figure out what images and lab results mean for hepatobiliary medicine.
What is the difference between DM Gastroenterology and DM Hepatology?
DM Gastroenterology is the study of the stomach, intestines, and liver, but DM Hepatology is only the study of the liver, pancreas, biliary system, and diseases linked to these organs. Hepatology is the branch of medicine that deals with liver transplants, viral hepatitis, fatty liver, and more advanced ways to care for the liver.
Is there the chance to work with people from other countries during the DM Hepatology program?
Yes, a number of well-known schools work together with global health groups, transplant units, and foreign study sites. After finishing the course, students can go to global conferences, take part in exchange programs, or apply for grants abroad.
How do clinical postings and hands-on training work in DM Hepatology?
A big part of the study is the clinical training. There are long shifts for students in hepatology rooms, intensive care units, and transplant units. They help take care of patients, do procedural labs, talk about cases, and do emergency rounds while being supervised by top doctors and teachers.