Vinayaka Mission's Sankarachariyar Dental College, Salem: Admission, Courses, Fees, Placements

Vinayaka Mission’s Sankarachariyar Dental College (VMSDC) was set up in 1986 and is one of the leading dental college in Salem, Tamil Nadu. This constituent college, recognised by the Dental Council of India (DCI), has dental programs that are taught at its 10.14 acre campus. VMSDC has a students’ population of 568 and a faculty population of 126 which produces 12 courses in three degrees. With regard to the composition, female students in the college constitute 72% in undergraduate programmes while 56% in postgraduate programmes. Importantly, only 87% students of the institute are from Tamil Nadu whereas 13% students are from other states which are proofs of the institute’s popularity.

Due to this, VMSDC is obligated to make sure it offers the students a good learning environment. The campus provides properly outfitted practical classrooms and laboratories for training and scientific investigations. Cooperating students have the advantage of a vast library collection of articles and other dental related materials, both in print and electronic format. It has separate hostel facilities available for boys as well as girls so as to provide proper accommodation to out station students. The college hosts a cafeteria to feed the college community and also has a health centre to attend to the basic health needs of the college population. VMSDC lays down infrastructure for sports to support holistic development along with a facility of an auditorium for cultural and academic shows. The college also practices good industry linkages through its very active alumni association.

The institute gives a variety of dental courses for instance undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses. The BDS programme is the largest programme admitting 100 students each year while different MDS programmes have direct admission with numbers varying between 2 and 3 seats depending on the speciality. More so, VMSDC provides diploma courses in Dental Hygienist and Dental Mechanics which take 20 students each. All given courses are complete time that makes it effective and practical to get real experience. Combined, VMSDC has approval capacity of 158 students from first year through to postgraduate year across its courses and contributes to the dental healthcare work force.

When it comes to admission, VMSDC selects few candidates, the admission is partly competitive and partly based on merit. To be considered for BDS programme, the candidates must pass the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG). Similarly, for becoming postgraduate students in the field, one has to qualify NEET MDS examination. There is also a testimony of successful passage of the institution that VMSDC has been producing alumni that are practicing successfully in India as well as foreign countries.