What is the faculty-student ratio for PG medical, SS courses? NMC specifies in PG MSR amendment

New Delhi: Releasing the Minimum Standard Requirements for Postgraduate Courses (PGMSR) 2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) specified the faculty-to-student ratio for postgraduate broad speciality and super-speciality courses.

Through the amendment issued by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), the Commission has modified the norms governing how many postgraduate students can be admitted under each faculty member in government and non-government medical colleges.

Faculty student ratio for PG board specialty courses

Earlier, the PGMSR-2023 guidelines stated that in Government medical colleges and non-government colleges with at least 15 years of standing and a minimum of 10 years of running postgraduate courses, a Professor or Associate Professor acting as Unit Head could supervise up to three postgraduate students, while an Associate Professor could guide two students and an Assistant Professor one student, subject to eligibility as a PG guide.

In other non-government medical colleges, a Professor or Associate Professor serving as Unit Head could supervise two students, an Associate Professor one student, and an Assistant Professor one student if eligible.

However, under the amended PGMSR-2023, the ratio has been revised only for other non-government medical colleges, where an Associate Professor can now supervise two students.

The guidelines for Government medical colleges remain unchanged.

Previously, if an Assistant Professor fulfilled all the requirements of post-graduate Guide as per the Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions, Regulations” in vogue, he/she may be allotted 1(one) post-graduate student.

Now, if an Assistant Professor fulfils all the requirements of Post Graduate guide as per Section 16 of Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025, one post-graduate student may be allotted.

The rules regarding the ICU beds strenght has remained the same. 

Faculty student ratio for PG degree super speciality courses

For postgraduate degree super-specialty courses, the faculty–student ratio remains unchanged under the amended PGMSR-2023. As per the guidelines, both Government and Non-Government medical colleges must follow the same ratio.

However, the reference for eligibility of Assistant Professors has been added in the amended version. In the revised guidelines, it is specified that an Assistant Professor who fulfils the requirements of a postgraduate guide as per Section 17 of the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 may be allotted one postgraduate student.

In the faculty student ratio which remained unchanged in both government and non government medical colleges include that a Professor can supervise up to two super-specialty postgraduate students, while an Associate Professor can also supervise two students. An Assistant Professor may supervise one postgraduate student, provided they fulfil the eligibility requirements to act as a postgraduate guide.

Also read- NMC amends Minimum Standard Requirements for running PG medical courses, here are key takeaways