Ocular Microbiology remains as an applied science and development in molecular biology and newer technologies pave way for better understanding of ocular diseases. Due to the rapid increase in infectious diseases developments are also high in the development of medicine for controlling these infections. Ocular Microbiology is deals with the medicine for eye infections and blinding diseases like trachoma has been brought under the control of this medicine because of the rapid diagnostic methods and public health measures.

Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology is a course that is offered only a single government medical college in India, whose name is:

• All India Institute of Medical Science

Department of Ocular Microbiology of All India Institute of Medical Sciences:

The Department of Ocular Microbiology of AIIMS is working under the Dr. R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences and this section of the institute is engaged in research activities in infections affecting human eye. The centre is engaged in research activities in different types of eye infections. The centre also continues to render clinical lab services, in addition to training and teaching to UG and PG courses and Ph. D course in Ocular Microbiology as well.

Eligibility for seeking admission to Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology in AIIMS:

Eligibility requirement of getting into the Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology is given below:

• For getting into the Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology course at AIIMS, candidates must have completed their PG degree in related discipline from an institution recognized by the Medical Council of India

• Before getting into the PG course, candidates must have completed their MBBS from a recognized institution with at least 55% of marks

Course Duration for Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology:

Generally, the utmost duration allowed by AIIMS to students for completing their Ph. D course (to submission thesis) is five years and this period will be calculated from registration date of the candidate for the Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology course.

Admission Process:

Admission of students to the Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology course is done in the following stages:

• The first stage of the process of admission to the Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology is the written test, which will be conducted for 80 marks and time given for completing this test is 90 minutes. The questions for the written test will be based on Ocular Microbiology and the format of question paper is theory based multiple choice questions and there will also be practical/clinical based short questions. Each correct answer will carry one mark and there will be a deduction of 1/3rd of the mark for each wrong answer. Once a candidate clears this examination he/she will be called for second stage of departmental test

• For getting a call for the second stage of admission (departmental test), candidates must have passed the written test with a minimum of 50% of marks and the number of candidates to be invited for the second stage will be decided on the basis of three times the number of seats advertised by the institute and in this process candidates with highest percentage of marks will be given preference

• Admission to this course will be based on the availability of funds/fellowship from an approved funding agency. A candidate will be finalized for admission only on the basis of production of evidence for availability of funds/grants from the candidate through the department head of Ocular Microbiology.

AIIMS being one of the best institutions for medical education many candidates wish to take up admission to the Ph. D in Ocular Microbiology and therefore there is heavy competition among the students for this written test to get into the Ocular Microbiology Ph. D course.