The Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute was started as a private Medical School in the year 1955 by Mysore Education Society. The Founders of this Society were Dr. R. Shivaram, Dr.Mekhri, Dr. B.K. Narayana Rao and Dr. B.V. Ramaswamy. It was handed over to the then Government of Mysore in the year 1957 with affiliation to Mysore University, subsequently to Bangalore University. Presently, it is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences since 1996.
Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute has MCI recognition for Undergraduate 250 students, 280 Postgraduate students, {MS Anatomy, MD Physiology, MD Biochemistry, MD Pharmacology, MD Pathology, MD Microbiology, MD P & SM, MD Forensic Medicine, MS Ophthalmology, MS ENT, MS Orthopaedics, MD Anaesthesiology, MD Paediatrics, MD Gen. Medicine, MD Gen. Surgery, MD OBG, MD Radio Diagnosis, MD Radio Therapy, MD Psychiatry, MD Skin & V.D, MD Transfusion medicine, and MD Respiratory medicine} and  16 Super Specialty seats for M.Ch Plastic Surgery, M.Ch Paediatric Surgery, DM Neurology, M.Ch Surgical Gastroenterology and DM Cardiology. The institution has Fellowship programmes in Vitreo-Retina, Surgical Gastroenterology, Neurology, Cornea & External diseases of Eye, Cosmetic Dermatology, Glaucoma, Paediatric Dermatology, Paediatric Anaesthesiology, Accident, Trauma & Emergency Care, Community Ophthalmology and Dermato-Surgery. The institution offers Bachelors’ degree in Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, diploma and certificate courses in Para-medical streams.