By Team Virohan on 25 Jun 2026
9 mins read
Choosing the right university for an allied and healthcare program shapes your first job, your salary, and the kind of clinical work you do. The NCAHP Act 2021 has pushed the sector toward clearer nomenclature, curriculum standards, and clinical-training expectations for AY 2026-27. Not every university delivers the hospital-grade exposure recruiters look for.
This guide compares seven universities offering allied and healthcare undergraduate programs - BPT, B.MRIT, B.AOTT, B.Optom, and B.MLS - across curriculum standards, clinical exposure, fees, and student fit. For students looking for a university-awarded, industry-aligned route, a separate section at the end covers universities that offer these programs with Virohan as their industry partner.
A side-by-side view of the seven universities covered in this guide. Programs listed are the allied and healthcare options each institution is best known for; full program lists may be wider.
| University | Location | Programs Offered (Allied and Healthcare) | Curriculum Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | New Delhi | Diagnostic, operation theatre, optometry, dental hygiene tracks | Institute of National Importance |
| CMC Vellore | Vellore, TN | Physiotherapy, laboratory sciences, prosthetics and orthotics | Deemed-to-be university |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | Chandigarh | Physiotherapy, imaging, radiotherapy, laboratory sciences, audiology | Institute of National Importance |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Manipal, Karnataka | Physiotherapy, laboratory sciences, BASLP, optometry, operation theatre technology | Private deemed-to-be university |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology | Chennai, TN | Optometry, cardiac / dialysis / respiratory / critical care technology, imaging | Private deemed-to-be university |
| JIPMER Puducherry | Puducherry | Limited undergraduate allied and healthcare routes | Institute of National Importance |
| Chettinad Academy of Research and Education | Chennai, TN | Physiotherapy, optometry, laboratory sciences, operation theatre, imaging, cardiac technology | Deemed-to-be university |
Terminology note: we use "allied and healthcare" (with "and") to match NCAHP usage under the NCAHP Act 2021.
Allied and healthcare programs cover diagnostics, therapy, rehabilitation, surgical support, and eye care. Lab technologists analyse samples, radiographers operate MRI and CT machines, physiotherapists handle rehabilitation, operation theatre technologists assist surgical teams, and optometrists run eye care.
Programs typically run 3-5 years including a mandatory clinical internship. NCAHP regulates the field under the NCAHP Act 2021 and its current curriculum index lists notified curricula for programs including Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, and Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology. Because NCAHP notices and corrigenda can change, students should verify the latest curriculum status directly on the NCAHP website before applying.
Many allied and healthcare UG programs outside MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH routes use merit-based or university-entrance admissions. For BPT specifically, the NCAHP letter dated 02 March 2026 deferred mandatory NEET to AY 2027-28. Eligibility is typically 10+2 with PCB or PCM, but subject combinations and minimum marks vary by university and program.
AIIMS Delhi is ranked #1 in NIRF Medical 2025. Allied and healthcare options at AIIMS commonly include diagnostic, operation theatre, optometry, and dental hygiene tracks, but students should verify the exact program list, seat matrix, and eligibility in the current AIIMS prospectus before applying.
Clinical exposure is the standout. AIIMS is a premier public teaching-hospital ecosystem, so the route is attractive for students who want government-institution training and are comfortable with a highly selective entrance process.
Pros: NIRF #1 Medical ranking; government-institution credibility; strong tertiary-care clinical environment. Cons: Highly selective entrance route; exact seats and program availability must be checked in the current prospectus. Best For: Top-performing Class 12 PCB students aiming for radiography, operation theatre, optometry, or dental hygiene in premier government hospitals.
CMC Vellore is ranked #3 in NIRF Medical 2025. It is a strong option for students who want healthcare training in a mission-hospital environment, with allied and healthcare routes such as physiotherapy, laboratory sciences, and prosthetics and orthotics commonly associated with the institution.
CMC is also known for service-oriented training. Before applying, students should verify current program-specific service obligations, fee schedules, and admission preferences in the latest official admissions bulletin, because these details can vary by course and year.
Pros: NIRF #3 Medical ranking; service-oriented clinical training; strong reputation in hospital-based healthcare education. Cons: Course-specific service obligations and admission preferences need careful review before applying. Best For: Students pursuing physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science, or prosthetics and orthotics who want excellent clinical training and are open to a rural service commitment.
PGIMER Chandigarh holds the #2 ranking in NIRF Medical 2025. Its allied and healthcare routes are attractive for students who want government-institute training in a specialised tertiary-care environment.
Admission is selective and program-specific. Students should check PGIMER's current prospectus for the exact list of undergraduate programs, seat counts, exam route, internship duration, and eligibility conditions before applying.
Pros: NIRF #2 Medical ranking; Institute of National Importance status; specialised government-hospital training environment. Cons: Competitive entrance process; current seats and program availability must be verified from the latest prospectus. Best For: High-achieving 10+2 PCB students aiming for specialised allied and healthcare tracks like physiotherapy, medical imaging technology, or audiology.
MAHE is ranked #3 among universities in NIRF University 2025. It is a strong private-university option for students who want a broader health-professions ecosystem with programs such as physiotherapy, laboratory sciences, audiology and speech-language pathology, optometry, and operation theatre technology.
Clinical training is usually the main draw: MAHE's health-professions programs sit close to large hospital and medical-college infrastructure in Manipal. Students should verify the exact program name, campus, fee, and clinical-posting structure for the year they apply.
Pros: NIRF University #3 ranking; wide health-professions ecosystem; hospital-linked training environment. Cons: Higher fees than government institutions; competitive admissions for sought-after programs. Best For: Students seeking hands-on clinical training in BPT, B.MLS, B.Optom, or BASLP with a recognised international footprint.
SRM Institute of Science and Technology ranks #22 Overall and #11 among Universities in NIRF 2025, and its medical ranking is #18. It is relevant for students who want a private-university setting with health-science and hospital-linked programs in areas such as optometry, dialysis, cardiac care, medical imaging, respiratory care, and critical care.
The differentiator is the medical-college and hospital ecosystem attached to the university. For the 2026-27 cycle, verify the current SRM admission route, program list, hospital posting schedule, and fee structure directly with SRM before applying.
Pros: NIRF Overall #22, University #11, and Medical #18 rankings; private-university choice with hospital-linked training. Cons: Higher fees than government institutions; admission route and exact program options should be checked each cycle. Best For: Students seeking a wide menu of allied and healthcare specialisations, particularly Cardiac, Dialysis, Critical Care, or Imaging Technology, with hands-on hospital integration from year one.
JIPMER is an Institute of National Importance and is ranked #4 in NIRF Medical 2025. It is best known for medical education and tertiary-care training, with limited undergraduate allied and healthcare routes compared with larger private health-science universities.
The clinical setting is a tertiary-care government hospital environment with a wide case mix. Students should verify current undergraduate program availability, seats, admission route, and fees through the latest JIPMER admissions notification.
Pros: Institute of National Importance; heavily subsidised government fees; high-volume tertiary care clinical exposure with strong access to senior clinicians. Cons: Very limited seats per program; highly competitive entrance exam. Best For: High-achieving PCB students who want a government-funded UG route in BPT or Medical Laboratory Science with a research-leaning campus culture.
Chettinad Academy of Research and Education is a deemed-to-be university in Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu. It is ranked #49 in NIRF Medical 2025, so it belongs in the top 50 medical list, not merely the 51-100 band.
The allied and healthcare UG portfolio is broader than many single-speciality institutions, with tracks commonly covering physiotherapy, laboratory sciences, optometry, anaesthesia and operation theatre technology, medical radiology and imaging technology, and cardiac technology.
Clinical training happens through the Chettinad medical-college and hospital ecosystem. Exact seat intake, hospital posting details, admission process, and fees should be verified in the current CARE admissions material because these are cycle-specific.
Fees are usually higher than government routes, so applicants should compare total program cost, hostel cost, clinical-posting requirements, and refund rules before shortlisting.
Pros: NIRF Medical #49; broader allied and healthcare UG choice than many institutions; teaching-hospital ecosystem. Cons: Fees higher than government institutes; current seats, admissions route, and clinical posting structure need direct verification. Best For: Students in or willing to relocate to Tamil Nadu who want broad allied and healthcare UG choice with steady clinical exposure.
A separate path that 12th-pass students often evaluate alongside the universities above is the model of universities with Virohan as their industry partner. Virohan is not a university. The universities own the academic program and award the degree; Virohan describes itself as an industry partner to higher education institutions that offer healthcare and management programs. Its website lists 13,000+ candidates and alumni, 2,000+ healthcare industry partners, and 20+ university and college partners.
Programs shown on Virohan's current courses page include Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology, and an MBA in Healthcare Management. The current campuses page lists partner examples such as CMR University, HRIT University, Lingaya's Vidyapeeth, and MIT University. The active list can change by intake, so talk to our expert counsellors before starting an application.
The university-led model centres on degree programs with clinical internships and employer-input learning content. Virohan's current course pages describe several UG degrees as having three years of academic learning plus one year of internship.
Pros: University and merit-based routes for many programs in AY 2026-27, with BPT specifically covered by the NCAHP letter dated 02 March 2026; access to Virohan's 2,000+ healthcare industry partner network; university-awarded degrees with structured clinical internships. Cons: Program fees above government-subsidised options; relocation required depending on chosen campus. Best For: 12th-pass PCB or PCM students who want a university-awarded, industry-aligned route into allied and healthcare careers, with structured employer access during the internship year.
Five questions to walk through before shortlisting:
If you are evaluating universities for the 2026-27 cycle:
"Salary figures and fee estimates are indicative and may vary based on institution, location, and individual performance. Regulatory information can change as NCAHP publishes new notices and corrigenda. Students should verify current details directly with their chosen institution or NCAHP."
How do I evaluate whether an allied and healthcare program is worth applying to?
Check three things in order: NCAHP recognition where a curriculum is notified, the attached or partner hospital and clinical posting structure, and verifiable placement data from the last two batches. Prestige rankings are a tiebreaker, not a starting point.
Do allied and healthcare programs need NCAHP recognition?
NCAHP's current curriculum index lists notified curricula for several professions, including Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, and Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology. Confirm the current status on the NCAHP website, because notices and corrigenda are updated over time.
Is NEET required for allied and healthcare UG programs in 2026-27?
For many allied and healthcare UG programs, admissions run through merit-based or university-entrance routes rather than NEET. For BPT specifically, the NCAHP letter dated 02 March 2026 deferred mandatory NEET to AY 2027-28. NEET remains mandatory for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and BHMS.
How do government and private fees compare?
Government institutions like AIIMS, PGIMER, and JIPMER are usually more subsidised than private universities, but seats are scarce. Private universities and universities with Virohan as their industry partner usually cost more than government routes. Always verify total program fees, not annual tuition.
What does it mean when a university has Virohan as its industry partner?
The university owns the degree, the academics, and regulatory compliance. Virohan is the industry partner that contributes employer-input curriculum and gives students access to its healthcare industry partner network. Students get a university-awarded degree plus an industry-aligned access layer.
What should I check during application counselling?
Five concrete things: total program fee (all years), exact hospital where clinical postings happen and when they start, internship duration and stipend status, last two batches' placement and salary data, and whether the curriculum follows NCAHP nomenclature for AY 2026-27.
How do internships work in allied and healthcare programs?
Many 4-year UG degrees use three academic years plus a 12-month clinical internship at a teaching hospital or partner facility. Some longer programs, such as physiotherapy, can follow a different academic and internship structure. Check the program prospectus for the exact internship duration and posting sites.
Can allied and healthcare graduates work abroad?
Yes, with relevant licensing. Country-specific exams, experience requirements, and registrations apply, so graduates should check the current regulator rules in the country where they want to work.
