Full forms: degrees and courses

33 full forms, each with a line on what it means.

Degree names are almost always written as short forms, on certificates, visiting cards, name plates and job advertisements. Many come from Latin, which is why the letters do not always match the English words: LLB has two Ls because the Latin plural "laws" doubles the letter, and MBBS follows the Latin order of words. This page covers the common first degrees, master's degrees, research degrees and professional qualifications in India. Some short forms change meaning with the field: MD is a medical degree in a hospital and a managing director in a company; MS is a surgical degree in India and a master of science abroad. Write degree abbreviations in capitals without full stops, after the name, with the highest or most relevant first.

Explained in full: MBBS PhD

• BA

  Bachelor of Arts

  An undergraduate degree in subjects such as languages, history, political science and economics, usually of three years.

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• BSc

  Bachelor of Science

  An undergraduate degree in science subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics or biology.

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• BCom

  Bachelor of Commerce

  An undergraduate degree in commerce subjects such as accountancy, business studies and economics.

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• BTech

  Bachelor of Technology

  A four-year undergraduate degree in engineering.

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• BE

  Bachelor of Engineering

  A four-year undergraduate engineering degree, equivalent to B.Tech.

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• BBA

  Bachelor of Business Administration

  An undergraduate degree in business and management.

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• BCA

  Bachelor of Computer Applications

  An undergraduate degree in computer applications and software.

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• BEd

  Bachelor of Education

  The professional degree required to teach in schools.

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• MBBS

  Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

  The basic degree that qualifies a person as a doctor. The letters come from the Latin name, Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae.

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• BDS

  Bachelor of Dental Surgery

  The undergraduate degree that qualifies a person as a dentist.

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• BAMS

  Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery

  The undergraduate degree in Ayurveda.

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• BHMS

  Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery

  The undergraduate degree in homoeopathy.

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• LLB

  Bachelor of Laws

  The undergraduate law degree. The letters come from the Latin Legum Baccalaureus; the double L marks the plural, "laws".

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• LLM

  Master of Laws

  The postgraduate law degree, from the Latin Legum Magister.

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• MA

  Master of Arts

  A postgraduate degree in arts and humanities subjects.

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• MSc

  Master of Science

  A postgraduate degree in a science subject.

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• MCom

  Master of Commerce

  A postgraduate degree in commerce.

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• MTech

  Master of Technology

  A postgraduate degree in engineering.

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• MBA

  Master of Business Administration

  A postgraduate degree in business management.

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• MCA

  Master of Computer Applications

  A postgraduate degree in computer applications.

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• MD

  Doctor of Medicine

  A postgraduate medical degree in India, taken after MBBS. In business, MD also means Managing Director.

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• MS

  Master of Surgery

  A postgraduate surgical degree in India. Abroad, MS usually means Master of Science.

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• PhD

  Doctor of Philosophy

  The highest university degree, awarded for original research in any subject. From the Latin Philosophiae Doctor.

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• MPhil

  Master of Philosophy

  A research degree between a master's degree and a PhD.

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• CA

  Chartered Accountant

  A qualified accountant who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

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• CS

  Company Secretary

  A professional qualified through the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, responsible for a company's legal compliance.

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• CMA

  Cost and Management Accountant

  A professional qualified through the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

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• UG

  Undergraduate

  A student studying for a first degree, or the course itself.

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• PG

  Postgraduate

  A student or course after the first degree. In everyday Indian use PG also means paying guest.

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• DPharm

  Diploma in Pharmacy

  A two-year diploma that qualifies a person to work as a pharmacist.

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• BPharm

  Bachelor of Pharmacy

  The undergraduate degree in pharmacy.

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• ANM

  Auxiliary Nurse Midwife

  A trained village-level health worker, and the diploma course that qualifies her.

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• GNM

  General Nursing and Midwifery

  A diploma course in nursing.

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How to read an entry

The letters in bold are the short form as it is normally written. Under it is the full form, and then a line of meaning in plain words. Where the same letters mean something else in another field, the entry mentions it. "Copy" puts the short form, the full form and the meaning on your clipboard, ready to paste into notes or a message.

Check what matters. These pages explain names and terms in general. Rules, dates, fees and limits change: take them from the official body. Read on 12 November 2026.

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