MHA After BDS in India: A Complete Guide
Interested in pursuing administration roles after dentistry? MHA after BDS in India can be the right choice for you.
Explore this comprehensive guide to know more!
Introduction to Health Care Administration Masters
What is MHA?
A Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree is a postgraduate program for professionals and students.
It gives an understanding of the business and management aspects of the healthcare industry and establishes leadership skills and financial expertise.
How does an MHA differ from an MBA or an MPH?
MHA, MBA, and MPH prepare students for leadership but differ in focus. MHA is healthcare-specific, MBA is versatile, and MPH targets public health and policy.
| Aspects | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Master of Public Health (MPH) |
| Focus | Healthcare Management and Administration. | Business management and administration for industries. | Epidemiology, public policy, research. |
| Industry | Healthcare industry | Any industry | NGOs, government, private & international organizations. |
| Career roles | Hospital administrator, executive position in hospitals and healthcare companies. | Business & marketing manager, entrepreneur, consultant, financial analyst. | Epidemiologist, public health analyst, health policy advisor, community outreach coordinator, health educator. |
| Duration of course | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Why Pursue a Master of Healthcare Administration?
If you are keen on understanding the behind-the-scenes aspects of a hospital, a master’s degree in healthcare administration could be ideal.
It focuses on business, administration, leadership, strategic management, and communication skills.
Benefits of Pursuing MHA After BDS in India
- Networking
- Competitive pay
- Enhance management skills
- Better roles in the healthcare industry
Read further to know if you can pursue MHA after BDS in India.
Who Should Consider an MHA After BDS in India?
- MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BHMS graduates, allied health sciences graduates, and other healthcare professionals interested in pursuing leadership and management roles.
- Professionals in administration looking to specialize in the healthcare industry.
- Recent graduates interested in pursuing more exciting and challenging roles in hospital administration.
MHA Curriculum and Program Structure
A Master’s in Health Administration (MHA) provides a multi-disciplinary curriculum on healthcare administration, health economics, hospital operations, and strategic planning.
In addition, finance, marketing, human resources, and legal and ethical frameworks are also taught to students theoretically and practically.
This course is modeled after the general business administration curriculum while focusing on the particular needs of the healthcare industry.
Understand the course duration and core subjects below. Read further!
Course Duration and Core Subjects in MHA Programs
This is a 2-year course with 4 semesters in India. The core subjects include administration, entrepreneurship, management, and hospital residency.
The subjects in each semester are briefly described below:
- First, it involves foundational health science and business administration subjects, such as Hospital Environment and Healthcare, Basic Economics and Health Economics, Principles of Management for Hospitals, and IT for Hospitals.
- Second, covers Research Methodology for Hospitals, Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Decision Making Accounting.
- Third, focuses on Human Resources Management and Labour Legislation, Legal Framework for Hospitals, and Hospital Operations Management.
- Fourth, includes Health Insurance and Risk Management, Healthcare Entrepreneurship, and Consultancy Management.
Additionally, you will be required to complete at least one industry-based internship to gain adequate experience in the field.
Practical Training and Internship Requirements
Getting practical experience in college through hands-on experience, internships, and capstone projects is important to gain this skill.
- Industry knowledge and skill development
- Networking and learning from mentors
- Problem-solving in real-life scenarios
MHA After BDS Course Fees
The average MHA fees in India are between ₹80,000 and ₹5 lakhs(2)
Whereas it can range anywhere from ₹10 lakhs to ₹50 lakhs in countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Admission Requirements for MHA Programs
Educational Prerequisites
The students can be undergraduates in any healthcare or related disciplines with at least 50% average marks in India.
If you are trying to go abroad, you will require at least a 2.5 GPA for the UK, 4.0 for Australia, and 3.0 for Canada and the USA.(3)
Standardized Exams Required for MHA After BDS in India
In India, passing common entrance tests like the
- AIIMS MHA Entrance exam,
- PGIMER MHA Entrance Exam
- TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)
MHA Entrance Exam with good marks is important to get admission into a good MHA program.
If you want to study at a good college in the US or Canada, you should submit your GRE test scores, but you will need to check the information on the specific university and course websites for more details.
Additional Application Materials
In addition to the primary requirements, you might require some extra application materials.
- For international universities: IELTS/TOEFL exams, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, a resume, and proof of finances.
- In India, there are two types of admission: merit-based and entrance exam-based.
- Merit-based admission requires you to have at least 50% marks in your bachelor’s degree & essential documents.
- In entrance exam-based admission: The selection process completely depends on whether you qualify for the exam.
Career Opportunities After an MHA After BDS in India
There are various opportunities available for MHA graduates.
- Research Associate
- Healthcare manager
- Hospital Administrator
- Quality Assurance (QA)
- Patient service manager
- Medical Superintendent
- Health System Administrator
- Hospital Operations manager
- Medical Record Administrator
- Deputy Medical Superintendent
Hence, to make your work easy, we have mentioned some top colleges below for your reference.
Top MHA Programs
The top MHA programs offered by various government & private colleges are mentioned below:
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
- Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Jaipur
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow
- Manipal University, Manipal
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Additionally, some of the international universities are mentioned below:
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA)
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) (USA)
- Johns Hopkins University (USA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (USA)
- Columbia University (USA)
Conclusion
In conclusion, MHA is for those passionate about healthcare leadership and committed to the field before choosing a course.
Therefore, assess colleges, courses, the job market, and your strengths to make an informed decision.