Igatpuri’s SMBT Medical College Gets Deemed University Status

SMBT Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Igatpuri, Nashik, has received deemed-to-be university status, bringing an important change to the way several of its postgraduate and professional programmes will be administered.

The institution has said that the new status was granted under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. According to the college circular reported on September 29, the transition will be introduced in phases rather than moving every course immediately under the new deemed university structure.

SMBT Deemed University Status: Key Details

PG Medical Admissions to Move to MCC

One of the most immediate consequences of the new status concerns postgraduate medical admissions. The college has stated that admissions to programmes such as MD/MS and DM/M.Ch that fall under the deemed university structure will be handled through the central Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).

This is different from the state counselling route followed by many private medical colleges affiliated with state health universities.

Which Courses Will Come Under the New Status?

According to the institution’s circular, the following programmes are among those being brought under the deemed university framework from the current phase:

• MD and MS medical programmes
• DM and M.Ch super-speciality programmes
• B.Pharm
• M.Pharm
• Physiotherapy programmes
• Ayurveda programmes
• MD/MS in Ayurveda

What Happens to MBBS and Other Existing Admissions?

The transition does not mean that every current student or programme immediately moves to the deemed university system. The college circular states that admissions for MBBS, BDS, MDS, B.Sc Nursing and M.Sc Nursing will continue through the Maharashtra state CET counselling mechanism for the present admission cycle.

Students admitted to the applicable programmes through that route will continue under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), with examinations conducted under the existing university arrangement.

What Does Deemed-to-be University Status Mean?

Institutions declared deemed-to-be universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act receive university-level academic status subject to the applicable UGC regulations and regulatory approvals. The status can provide greater academic autonomy in areas such as programme structure, curriculum and degree administration.

For SMBT, however, students should pay close attention to the phased implementation because the applicable counselling authority, fee structure, eligibility rules and university affiliation may differ by programme.

What Should Medical Aspirants Check Now?

Students considering admission to SMBT should verify whether their particular programme falls under the new deemed university structure before participating in counselling. The institution has indicated that detailed information on eligibility, fees, registration and counselling will be issued separately.

For medical PG applicants in particular, the new status means the MCC counselling process becomes especially important. MBBS and other students whose programmes remain under the existing state framework should continue following the Maharashtra CET Cell and the applicable institutional notices.

The development marks a major institutional change for SMBT in Igatpuri, but because implementation is phased, candidates should rely on programme-specific official notices rather than assuming that the same admission rules now apply across every SMBT course.