SDM Medical College Dharwad Admission Guide 2026 — Complete Overview
SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital (SDMMC), Dharwad, established in 2003 by the SDM Educational Society under Dr D Veerendra Heggade — the same SDM Trust that operates SDM Ayurveda Hassan, SDM Dental College, SDM Udupi and over 100 other educational institutions across Karnataka — is the only NAAC A+ accredited private medical college in North Karnataka. The college is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore, recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC), and is located at Manjushree Nagar, Sattur, Dharwad. The attached teaching hospital has 300-400 beds providing clinical exposure with a high daily OPD footfall of 800+ patients. The SDM Trust's institutional character is rooted in the Dharmasthala temple's community service philosophy — consistently lower fee structures than comparable commercial private institutions, stable long-serving faculty culture, and a campus environment shaped by values of community service.
MBBS Fee Structure & Seat Matrix
SDMMC Dharwad MBBS total fee under management quota is ₹36,15,000 per year. The NRI quota fee is the same at ₹36,15,000 per year. Government quota fee is ₹1,56,621 per year, and Private/COMEDK quota fee is ₹20,15,000 per year. The total intake is 150 seats — 75 Government Quota, 52 Private/COMEDK Quota, and 23 NRI/Foreign/PIO. All seats are filled through KEA State counselling. Additional expenses include hostel and mess (₹1,00,000-₹1,80,000/year), caution deposit (₹2-3 Lakhs refundable), and university/examination charges. MBBS interns receive ₹15,000-₹30,000/month during their 1-year rotating internship which includes one month of rural service at PHC, RHTC, and UHTC centers.
MD/MS Seats & Round-wise Cutoff
SDMMC Dharwad offers 94 MD/MS seats across 23 specialties. The most competitive branches are MD General Medicine (GM R1 closing rank 5,083), MD Radio-Diagnosis (GM R1 1,300), and MD Dermatology (GMP R1 19,806; OPN R1 11,268). Mid-tier clinical branches like MD Paediatrics (GM R1 9,385), MS OBG (GM R1 10,872), MS General Surgery (GM R1 10,381), and MS Orthopaedics (GM R1 22,067) have moderate competition. Para-clinical branches (Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Community Medicine) offer better chances in Round 3, with closing ranks extending to 85,856 for MD Pathology (GM R1).
PG Stipend — Uniform ₹45,000/Month
SDMMC Dharwad provides a uniform PG stipend of ₹45,000/month across all three years for MD/MS students. Over a 3-year PG program, total stipend earnings amount to approximately ₹16,20,000. MBBS interns receive ₹15,000-₹30,000/month.
Management Quota & NRI Quota — Complete Guide
SDMMC Dharwad management quota (52 MBBS seats) and NRI quota (23 seats) are filled exclusively through KEA State counselling. There is no direct admission outside KEA. For management quota, candidates must qualify NEET UG, register on kea.kar.nic.in, and select SDMMC Dharwad in choice filling. Karnataka is one of the few states that allows non-domicile candidates to compete for Private Quota seats through the OPN category. NRI candidates must submit embassy certificates, sponsorship deeds, and proof of NRE/NRO fund transfers. The NEET 2025 state GM cutoff was approximately 530 and state GMP approximately 448.
Bond & Service Obligation
All MBBS students at SDMMC Dharwad must complete a 1-year rotating internship which includes one month of rural service at PHC, RHTC, and UHTC centers. Rural service bond applies for Karnataka state quota seats as per Government of Karnataka norms. Bond rules in Karnataka have been changing frequently, and aspirants should always check KEA and HFW notifications of that admission year for the latest updates.
Counselling Advisory by Margdeep
Navigating KEA State option entry for SDMMC Dharwad requires precise evaluation of round-wise closing ranks, management quota fee structures, and category seat availability. At Margdeep, our senior medical counselors evaluate previous years' cutoff shifts, guide document verification for Management and NRI quotas, and ensure seamless allotment through the official KEA portal. For transparent, personalized admission assistance, reach our admissions desk at +91 9874597063.