Candidates willing to take medicine as a career can opt for Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) after the completion of Class 12. BAMS is an Ayurveda traditional healing art based undergraduate medical programme in India. BAMS course provides complete knowledge about ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda’ along with scientific advances in modern medicine along with extensive practical training. Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) is the responsible body for admission to Ayurveda education at undergraduate as well as the postgraduate level and for practice Ayurvedic medicine in India. The admission to BAMS courses will be granted on the basis of scores obtained in the NEET exam. Besides that, candidates must fulfil certain eligibility criteria of BAMS specified by the authority. BAMS syllabus and curriculum is uniform across the country and the admission to BAMS courses is done in only Ayurvedic colleges affiliated to the respective universities, which are permitted by the Department of AYUSH, Union Government of India. Interested aspirants must keep reading to know all about BAMS for more information on course details, eligibility criteria, admission process, fees, total seats among others.
Programme Name | Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery |
Abbreviation | BAMS |
Programme Level | Undergraduate |
Programme Type | Degree |
Field | Ayurveda Medical Science (Healthcare) |
Duration | 5.5 years (including 12 months mandatory internship) |
Average Salary | Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 700,000 |
Average Fees | Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 320,000 |
Career Opportunities | Pharmacist, Surgeon, Dieticians, Gynaecologist, Teacher, Panchkarma Practitioner |
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery is an undergraduate level medical programme based on ancient Ayurveda methods of healings. Candidates who could not make it to MBBS programme due to hefty fee can opt for BAMS programme. The average fee of the BAMS is economic. Candidates can opt for postgraduate programmes in Ayurveda medicine after successful completion of BAMS programme. It provides numerous careers in the field of medical sciences. One can become surgeon, gynecologist (ayurveda), pharmacist, teacher and numerous other roles offered in the healthcare industry.
BAMS course is an undergraduate degree awarded the degree of ‘Ayurvedacharya’.after five and a half years duration. The admission to BAMS degree is granted after qualifying National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – NEET entrance exam.
It is mandatory for aspirants to fulfil certain eligibility conditions to get admission to BAMS course. Some basic BAMS eligibility criteria are mentioned below.
Admission to BAMS courses will be taken on the basis of NEET UG score and the corresponding rank. Therefore, candidates are required to qualify NEET conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). AYUSH Admissions Central Counselling Committee plays a crucial role in the allotment process of seats in Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha and Homeopathy colleges.
In order to take admission to BAMS course, candidates are required to secure NEET cutoff percentile. Candidates can check the category-wise minimum required percentile in the table below.
NEET Required Percentile
S.No. | Categories | Minimum required percentile |
1 | General (UR) | 50th Percentile |
2 | SC/ST/OBC(including PwD of SC/ ST/ OBC) | 40th Percentile |
3 | UR PwD | 45th Percentile |
However, NTA is only responsible to conduct NEET and prepare the merit list for the same. The admission to BAMS will be taken by a state-wise counselling procedure. For the BAMS admission process each state will release its own state merit rank based on the NEET merit list for which the candidates will be required to fill the application form.
BAMS stands for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. It is an undergraduate programme designed for aspiring candidates who want to enrich their knowledge in Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery to treat various diseases and disorders. It is a programme that focuses on the ayurveda medical practice or ancient healing methods used by vaidya (ayurveda physician). The duration of the BAMS course is 5.5 years including a mandatory internship of 12 months.There are other similar courses as well. We have mentioned below such courses.
There are no specialisations offered in the BAMS programme. Candidates are required to opt for specialisations in postgraduate programmes in Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery. These programmes include M.S. (Master of Surgery) (Ayurveda) and M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) (Ayurveda).
Candidates can opt for following specialisations mentioned below in MS (Ayurveda) and MD (Ayurveda) programmes.
Professional -I Year | Professional-II Year |
Sanskrit | Charak Samhita (Purvardha) |
Padartha Vigyan | Swasthavritta |
Ayurveda Itihas | Dravyaguna Vigyan |
Ashtanga Hridayam (Sutrasthan) | Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana |
Rachana Sharir | Roga Vigyan Evum Vikriti Vigyan |
Kriya Sharir | Agada Tantra, Vyavhar Ayurved Evum Vidhi Vaidyak |
Professional-III Year | Professional-IV Year |
Agadtantra | Kayachikitsa |
Swasthavritta | Panchkarma |
Prasuti Tantra Evum Stri Roga | Shalakya |
Kaumarbhritya | Shalya |
Panchkarma | Research Methodology and Medical Statistics |
Compulsory Rotatory 1-year internship in the clinical departments
The theory BAMS course is carried out in four and a half years, while it is necessary for candidates to complete a year rotatory internship for practical training.
With an upsurge of countless grave health issues and limitations of allopathy, Ayurveda has emerged as an alternative. Therefore, BAMS as a medical course is gaining popularity not just in India but all over the world. With almost zero side effects, Ayurveda is being increasingly opted by people all over the globe. People suffering from lifestyle diseases also seek help in the traditional art of healing which indicates the growing demand of BAMS doctors. After the completion of the BAMS course, candidates can either opt for practising or may pursue higher studies and specialise in a particular branch of Ayurveda. Along with regular practice, a BAMS graduate can also take up specialized practice after pursuing higher education in the discipline, e.g., therapy of skin diseases, spinal disorders, ophthalmologic conditions, anorectal diseases, etc.
Bachelor of Ayurveda Medical & Surgery (BAMS) is a five-year undergraduate program that offers an integrated course that covers a wide range of subjects of traditional Ayurveda and modern medical systems. The five and half a year-long course also includes the one-year mandatory internship.
BAMS covers a wide range of courses such as physiology, modern anatomy, pharmacology, medicine, ENT, forensic medicine, rules and principles of surgery, standards of the solution, legal drug, herbal science, with different subjects of Ayurveda.
Students aspiring for a career in Bachelor of Ayurveda must have great power of concentration and determination as the courses include a lot of reading of both modern science and ancient Ayurveda texts.
Ayurveda is gaining a lot of popularity not only in India but in the Western World because of natural healing properties with minimum side-effects as these medicines are prepared from natural herbs, vegetables, and plants.
BAMS admissions in India are done on the basis of entrance exams.
Candidates have to apply for the entrance exam i.e., NEET-UG and appear in it.
After the results are out, the conducting authority of the examinations prepares a merit list, basis which counselling process is conducted.
Candidates who make it in the counselling process are allocated seats for BAMS course at different colleges.
The following flowchart will help you understand the BAMS admission process better.
|
Level |
Undergraduate |
|
Duration |
5 Years |
|
Minimum Academic Requirement |
10+2 (Science Stream) |
|
Subject Requirement |
Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
|
Minimum Aggregate Score Requirement |
50% or More |
|
Exam Type |
Annual |
|
Admission/ Selection Process |
Entrance Exam Based |
|
Exams Accepted |
NEET, OJEE, KEAM, etc |
|
Average Course Fee |
20,000 – 3,00,000 Per Anum |
|
Average Initial Salary |
3 LPA – 15 LPA |
| Job Roles | Business Development Officer, Ayurvedic Doctor, Category Manager, Resident Medical Officer, Jr. Clinical Trial Coordinator, Medical Representative, etc. |
|
Areas of Employment |
Govt/Pvt Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Ayurvedic Clinics, Own Business, Wellness Centres, etc |
| History of Ayurveda | Physiology (Kriya Sharira) | Panchkarma |
| Sanskrit | Samitha | Rasayana |
| Anatomy (Rachna Sharira) | History of Modern Medicine | Vajikarana |
| Pharmaceuticals of Ayurveda (Rasa Shastra avam Bhaisajya Kalpana) | Toxicology (Agadtantra) | Pathology (Nidan Vigyana) |
| Medica of Ayurveda (Dravyaguna) | Jurisprudence (Vidhi Vaidyaka) | Nadi Parkisa (Pulse Diagnosis) |
| ENT, Eye &Dentistry (Shalakya Tantra) | Gynaecology (Prasuti Tantra) | Medical Ethics & Yoga |
| Kaya Chikitsa (General Medicine ) | Obstetric (Stri Yoga) | Dissertation |
After pursuing Bachelors of Ayurveda & Surgery, there are a plethora of career options to choose from. Graduates can find a job in both government and private clinics, as Ayurveda Specialists, Ayurveda drug specialists and may even start their private practice. BAMS graduates are hired in the following capacities:
The average salary of an Ayurveda Doctor is between Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh. Ayurvedic doctors can start their private practice and can make a lot of money out of it. Other job roles like Medical Representative are also very lucrative if one gets into MNCs. The salary package of a medical representative is between Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh.
Graduates of the 5-year ayurvedic course will be able to pursue a career path in one of the following areas of employment for BAMS in India.
Government and Private Hospitals
Pharmaceutical Industry
Dispensaries
Nursing Homes
Government and Private Clinics
Own Business
Research Institutions
Insurance Industry
Apart from pursuing a career path in the field of Ayurveda, graduates of BAMS can also pursue higher education in the same field of even change disciplines.
BAMS graduates can pursue one of the following subjects:
MD in Ayurveda
MBA
LLB
With a higher education degree, graduates will be able to build a better and more lucrative career path for themselves. They will also be able to pursue career paths in different fields and disciplines such as management and law.