SMBT medical college Igatpuri gets deemed university status, NEET PG admissions to move to MCC from 2026-27
Mumbai: The Union Ministry of Education has granted deemed-to-be university status under a distinct category to SMBT Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Igatpuri.
With the recognition, postgraduate medical admissions at the institution will be conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) from the 2026- 27 academic year.
While postgraduate medical admissions will move to the MCC system, several undergraduate and other courses will continue through the existing state counselling system. The NEET PG 2026 admission process is likely to begin soon following the recent declaration of the results.
In a circular issued by the college, SMBT said it has been declared a deemed-to-be university under a distinct category by the Ministry of Education. The new category will be introduced in phases, according to the circular reported by TOI.
Under the latest arrangement, admissions to MD/MS, DM/MCh, BPharm, MPharm, physiotherapy, Ayurveda and MD/MS in Ayurveda will be offered under the deemed-to-be university from this year.
Apart from this, the college said that admissions to MBBS, BDS, MDS, BSc Nursing and MSc Nursing will continue through the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell. Students admitted for these programmes this year will continue to be part of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and the exams will be conducted by the state university, the circular said.
Meanwhile, the college further clarified that DPharm, BDS and MDS will not be constituent courses of the deemed-to-be university and their admission process will continue as before.
A detailed note covering eligibility, fees, registration and counselling for the courses being offered under the deemed university will be issued separately.
Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the conversion of two medical colleges into private universities affiliated with Lata Mangeshkar University and Balasaheb Vikhe Patil University, respectively. The two medical colleges include NKP Salve Medical College, Nagpur, and Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation Medical College, Ahilyanagar.
Notably, Mumbai's KJ Somaiya Medical College (KJSMC) has also applied to become a 'deemed-to-be-university'. Another institute in Ratnagiri, BKL Walawalkar Rural Medical College (BKLWRMC), could also receive 'deemed' status.
Also read- Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Conversion of Two Medical Colleges Into Private Universities
