Bapuji Dental College and Hospital: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Ranking & Davangere Campus Life

About Bapuji Dental College and Hospital - [BDCH] Davanagere

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital (BDCH), established in 1979, is a premier private dental institution located in Davanagere, Karnataka. The college is managed by the Bapuji Educational Association and functions as a dedicated dental college and teaching hospital. BDCH is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru, for all its academic programmes.

BDCH is recognized by the Dental Council of India and has been accredited with an NAAC A grade, reflecting strong academic and institutional quality. The college offers BDS, MDS and PhD programmes in multiple dental specialities, and has consistently figured among the country’s better dental colleges, featuring in NIRF Dental rankings and securing India Today Dental rank 25 in 2024. The institution is known for strong clinical exposure, research orientation and high graduate employability.

Key Highlights

Admission Dates 2026

Admission to Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davanagere for 2026 is based on NEET UG for BDS and NEET MDS for MDS courses, followed by counselling conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). The admission cycle typically begins with NEET registration in early 2026, followed by KEA counselling rounds from mid-2026 onwards.

Admission Process

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davanagere admits students to its BDS and MDS programmes through NEET UG and NEET MDS, followed by Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) counselling. All seats are filled strictly on entrance merit and eligibility norms notified for that year.

BDS Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Register and apply for NEET UG on the NTA portal and appear for the exam.
2. Check NEET UG result and ensure you meet BDS eligibility for Karnataka counselling.
3. Register for Karnataka NEET UG counselling on the KEA website and upload documents.
4. Fill in Bapuji Dental College, Davanagere as a preferred option during choice filling.
5. Participate in KEA seat allotment rounds and check if you are allotted BDCH for BDS.
6. Download KEA allotment order and report to BDCH with originals for verification.
7. Submit the college application form (download from BDCH website) along with documents.
8. Pay the prescribed BDS tuition and other fees at the college to confirm admission.

MDS Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Register and apply for NEET MDS on the NBE/National Board portal and appear for the exam.
2. Check NEET MDS result and ensure you meet eligibility for MDS in your desired specialty.
3. Register for Karnataka NEET MDS counselling on the KEA website and upload documents.
4. Indicate Bapuji Dental College and preferred MDS specialty during KEA choice filling.
5. Check KEA seat allotment status for BDCH and download the allotment order if selected.
6. Download the MDS application form from BDCH website and fill it completely.
7. Report to BDCH with KEA allotment order, NEET MDS documents and originals for verification.
8. Pay the notified MDS tuition and specialty-wise fees at the college to finalise admission.

Eligibility Criteria & Fees

Documents Required

• Class 10 marks card and passing certificate
• Class 12 marks card and passing certificate
• NEET UG/NEET MDS admit card and rank/score card
• KEA registration form and document verification slip
• Transfer Certificate (TC) from last attended institution
• Conduct/Character certificate
• Caste/Category and income certificates (if applicable)
• Aadhar card or other valid photo identity proof
• Recent passport-size colour photographs
• For MDS: All BDS year-wise marks cards
• For MDS: BDS degree/provisional pass certificate from university
• For MDS: Compulsory rotatory internship completion certificate (1 year)
• For MDS: Registration certificate from State Dental Council
• Migration certificate for non-RGUHS candidates
• Eligibility certificate from RGUHS for non-Karnataka universities (if required)

Cutoff 2025

For 2025 BDS admissions at Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davanagere, NEET-UG cutoffs through Karnataka-NEET (KEA) counselling tightened compared to 2024, with the general merit closing rank improving to nearly 1.07 lakh. Category-wise ranks for state quota show relatively higher closing ranks for reserved categories, reflecting better access for these groups while still indicating strong demand for the college.

Placements 2025

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davanagere shows strong placement outcomes for the 2023–24 batch, with NIRF 2025 data indicating good absorption of both BDS and MDS graduates into hospitals, clinics and healthcare setups. UG median salary stands above ₹6.5 lakh, while PG (MDS) graduates report a higher median package around ₹7.65 lakh, with a large share of students either placed or opting for higher studies.

Placement Statistics

Top Recruiters

IT:

Consulting:

Core: Leading multispeciality hospitals, chain dental clinics, private dental practices and in-house positions at Bapuji group institutions (exact organisation-wise list is not disclosed in NIRF/official data).

Branch-wise Placement

Rankings & Accreditations

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital (BDCH), Davanagere is consistently listed among India’s top dental colleges, securing an All-India rank of 37 in the NIRF Dental rankings 2025 and featuring in national magazine rankings. It is particularly well regarded for its clinical exposure and overall academic environment.

NIRF 2025

Other Rankings

Accreditations

• NAAC: Accredited (Grade not specified on public sources)
• NBA: Not applicable for dental programmes

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital students access financial aid mainly through government post‑matric schemes (central NSP and Karnataka SSP) and Bapuji Educational Association merit awards. SC, ST, OBC and minority students with lower family income receive substantial fee reimbursement, in some cases up to the full annual tuition fee.

Institute Scholarships

Government Scholarships

External Scholarships

• Indian Dental Association (IDA): ₹2,500, ₹1,500 and ₹1,000 per year to BDCH BDS students securing the highest aggregate marks in the academic year.
• Private/Minority Trust Scholarships (via SSP): ₹10,000–₹30,000/year for BDCH students from specific minority or community backgrounds meeting trust‑specific merit and income criteria.

Comparison

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davanagere is compared with SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad and Government Dental College, Bangalore as they are among the top NIRF-ranked dental colleges in Karnataka, offering similar BDS programs and attracting comparable student profiles.

Key Strengths

• Bapuji Dental College and Hospital - [BDCH] Davanagere: Strong clinical exposure through attached hospital, good NIRF rank among private dental colleges, and strong alumni network in Karnataka.
• SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad: Higher placement packages, strong research output, and well-established infrastructure with multiple specializations.
• Government Dental College, Bangalore: Very low tuition fees, strong reputation in government sector placements, and excellent NAAC grade with central location in Bengaluru.

Campus & Infrastructure

Bapuji Dental College and Hospital (BDCH) is located in MCC B Block, Davanagere, Karnataka, as part of the Bapuji Educational Association institutions cluster, with a dedicated dental college and hospital complex featuring lecture halls, advanced labs and a central library. The campus integrates academic blocks with a full-fledged dental hospital and hostels for boys and girls.

Campus Details

Academic Facilities

• Library: Central library with print books, journals and digital resources; computerised services with audio‑visual room, photocopy, spiral and thermal binding, and lamination
• Labs: Advanced speciality laboratories including CBCT, CAD‑CAM based digital dentistry and implantology facilities
• Classrooms: Ventilated smart classrooms with ICT-enabled teaching aids

Hostel

Other Facilities

• Indoor games: Chess, Carrom, Table Tennis
• Gymnasium in both boys’ and girls’ hostels
• Auditorium and Seminar Hall for academic and cultural events
• Mess facilities in hostels with vegetarian and non‑vegetarian meals
• Wi‑Fi enabled campus and IT infrastructure
• Bus and van transport services for female students between hostel and college

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NEET UG score and eligibility required for BDS admission at Bapuji Dental College Davanagere?

For BDS, you must have passed 10+2 with at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (40% for SC/ST/Category-I) and be 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year. Admission happens through NEET UG and Karnataka NEET counselling conducted by KEA.

How are MDS seats allotted at Bapuji Dental College and what exams are accepted?

MDS admission is based on NEET MDS scores followed by counselling through KEA or DGHS for All India Quota. You must hold a DCI-recognised BDS degree and one-year compulsory internship, with all NEET MDS documents and state counselling registration for seat allotment.

How many seats are available for BDS and MDS at Bapuji Dental College Davanagere?

The college has an approved intake of 100 seats for the BDS programme and 45 seats across nine specialties for MDS. For BDS, 15% of seats are under All India quota and 85% under Karnataka state quota through KEA counselling.

What is the approximate tuition fee for the BDS course at Bapuji Dental College?

The BDS course is of 5 years including a 1-year compulsory internship, and the total tuition fee is around ₹3.8 lakh for the full course for certain quota categories. Exact fee varies by quota (government, private, NRI) and is notified annually through KEA and the college.

How much does the hostel cost per year for boys and girls at Bapuji Dental College?

The boys’ hostel charges about ₹45,000 per year for a shared room and ₹52,000 for a single room. The girls’ hostel charges around ₹80,000 per year (excluding mess), with attached bathrooms in both shared and single rooms.

Is mess fee compulsory and how is the food quality in hostels?

Mess fee is compulsory for hostel residents. Students mention that the mess food is generally average to unsatisfactory, so many, especially girls, choose nearby PGs or flats and manage food outside using tiffin services or local eateries.

Does Bapuji Dental College provide any scholarships or financial support to students?

The college management supports distribution of government scholarships and also provides its own scholarships and freeships for deserving students. Students are also covered under insurance, and the institutional scholarship support is in the college’s self-study report.

What kind of clinical exposure and patient inflow do BDS students get at Bapuji Dental College?

The college runs a large dental hospital with OPDs in all nine specialties, satellite centres, mobile dental units and regular dental camps. Students report high daily patient inflow, giving strong exposure to restorative, prosthodontic, endodontic and surgical cases from second year onward.

How experienced is the faculty and what are the main specialties offered in MDS?

The college has highly qualified, experienced faculty in all nine DCI-recognised specialties, including Orthodontics, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Conservative Dentistry, Pedodontics, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Public Health Dentistry. Many departments are involved in active research and publications.

Is there good research and PG training culture at Bapuji Dental College?

The institution offers MDS in nine specialties and PhD programmes recognised by RGUHS. It has well-equipped laboratories, a ceramic lab, animal house, and an institutional ethics committee, supporting dissertation work, funded projects and publications for PGs and PhD scholars.

How are placements and career opportunities after BDS/MDS from Bapuji Dental College?

Being a dental college, there is no typical campus placement like engineering, but students get absorbed through clinical practice, assistantships in corporate chains and teaching positions after MDS. Graduates frequently join private practice in Karnataka and neighbouring states, or pursue higher studies and fellowships.

Does the college help students with internships or externships during or after the course?

The 1-year rotating internship in BDS is structured within the college and affiliated medical college, with postings in all departments. The college also sends students for rural dental camps, satellite centres and community postings, which function like field internships with real patient management.

What are the hostel facilities and room types available on campus?

The campus has separate hostels for boys (2 hostels) and girls (3 hostels), with mostly twin-sharing rooms and limited single rooms. Facilities include gym, TV, indoor games and Wi‑Fi. Girls’ hostels generally have attached bathrooms, while boys’ hostels have common bathrooms.

How is the campus infrastructure for academics (classrooms, labs, library)?

The college has smart classrooms with projectors, department-wise preclinical and clinical labs, a ceramic lab and a large central library of about 15,000+ sq m with book bank, HELINET and PubMed access, audio-visual section, computerised services and a 300-seat reading hall.

What is campus life like in Davanagere for a dental student?

The campus is in MCC B Block, a busy part of Davanagere city with easy access to eateries, hostels, PGs, banks and a medical college. Students mention a study-intensive routine with moderate cultural and sports activities organized through the students’ council and annual college day.

Is there a strict dress code or mandatory apron/uniform policy in the college and clinics?

Students follow formal dress in classrooms and white apron with ID card in preclinical and clinical postings. In clinics, closed footwear, tied hair, masks and protective gear are compulsory, and coloured jeans or flashy outfits are generally not allowed during working hours.

How safe is the campus for female students and what transport facilities exist?

The campus has separate girls’ hostels, 24×7 security and CCTV in key areas. The college runs dedicated bus and van services for female students between hostels and campus on fixed schedules, and they also have access to the adjacent medical college’s emergency services and hospital.

Can students stay in private PGs/flats instead of college hostel, and what are typical costs?

Many senior and female students choose off-campus PGs or flats within 1–3 km of the college. Typical rents range from ₹5,000–₹7,000 per month per person, with deposits of about ₹20,000–₹40,000 depending on location and room type, excluding food and utilities.

How does Bapuji Dental College compare to other top private dental colleges in Karnataka?

Bapuji Dental College is among the older, established dental colleges under RGUHS with 100 BDS and 45 MDS seats, strong clinical load and NAAC-accredited infrastructure. It is often preferred by students aiming for intensive clinical exposure, though fees and hostel costs can be higher than some newer colleges.