Bachelor of Ayurveda Medical and Surgery

What does BAMS stand for? BAMS stands for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. It is a well-known 5-year medical program that teaches students how to use natural chemicals to treat various illnesses. The Bachelor of Ayurveda Medical & Surgery program is an undergraduate degree that combines traditional Ayurveda with modern medical practices. To get into the BAMS course, students must have completed their higher secondary education in the science stream, including Physics, Chemistry, and either Biology or Mathematics. Throughout the program, students study various aspects of Ayurveda and medical practices. Those interested can review the BAMS syllabus and subjects for a better understanding of the curriculum. This degree is offered in a traditional classroom setting, as there is no option for distance learning.

The BAMS program lasts for 5 years and 6 months, which includes a one-year internship. Graduates become skilled in Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicine. Notable institutions like Banaras Hindu University, Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth in Pune, and Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University offer BAMS admissions. The course fees vary from INR 25,000 to INR 3.5 lakh per annum. After graduation, there are many job opportunities for BAMS graduates, including positions in government. Graduates can pursue careers as Ayurvedic doctors, Medical Representatives, Business Development Officers, and more, often with attractive salary packages.

Check out the major highlights of BAMS as mentioned below:

Ayurvedic Medicine has been practiced in India since the Vedic era. While many ancient texts on Ayurvedic treatment have been lost, the benefits of Ayurveda remain strong today. It is now recognized globally as a significant field in medicine. The World Health Organization has launched initiatives to promote awareness of Ayurvedic practices.

A key feature of the BAMS program is its extensive syllabus, which covers various subjects such as Kriya Sharira, Rachana Sharira, Dravyuaguna, Yoga, Shalya Tantra, Roga Nidana, Vikriti Vijnana, and Shalakya Tantra. The course also includes topics like human anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostic methods, medical principles, toxicology, forensic medicine, pharmacology, E.N.T., gynecology and obstetrics, ophthalmology, and surgical principles from modern medicine.

Advantages of Studying BAMS Course:

• BAMS is accepted and encouraged worldwide. All doctors and scientists are perpetually interested in finding alternative and traditional medicines for curing diseases. Since it is considered one of the ancient and traditional ways of treating severe as well as minor ailments, there is no doubt that this field has immense potential and a variety of career prospects.
• All candidates have the option to do a bridge course after the completion of the BAMS degree program to practice allopathic medicine. Additionally, BAMS students are generally considered equivalent to MBBS graduates.
• Interestingly, various health centers have been set up by various state governments as well for the Ayurvedic practices all over India. Various MD and MS courses after BAMS are available nowadays for a better understanding of the subjects.

Who Can Enroll in the BAMS Course?

All candidates who are interested in the integrated study of Medical Science and Traditional Ayurveda, should pursue a BAMS degree to have an insightful understanding of the subjects and to grow in the field. All candidates wishing to pursue BAMS should have completed their higher secondary with physics, Chemistry and biology from a recognized board. Also, candidates who are interested in finding alternative methods for the treatment of diseases are also advised to enroll themselves in BAMS to satisfy their desired career prospects. 

Students are often confused about whether to opt for the BAMS or pursue the BHMS course. The study structure is a bit similar, making students wonder which option will be best for their career. Here’s a brief comparison of BAMS VS BHMS for candidates’ reference: 

The course comparison of BAMS and MBBS degree courses is given below

Mentioned below is a detailed explanation of the two courses, BDS and BAMS, for students to get a clear idea of which one is best suited for their goals:

The minimum qualifying eligibility criteria for the BAMS are as follows:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examinations with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as the main subjects. They must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of these subjects.
• Age Limit: The minimum age limit for BAMS admission is 17 years, and the maximum age limit is 25 years as of the date of admission.
• National Eligibility and Entrance Test: Candidates must have cleared the NEET exam and obtained the minimum required marks to be eligible for BAMS admission. 
• Minimum Percentage: Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks in their qualifying examination to be eligible for admission to the BAMS.
• Physical Fitness: Candidates must be physically fit and free from any kind of disability that may affect their performance during the course.
• Domicile Requirements: Candidates must satisfy the domicile requirements as specified by the concerned authorities.

It is essential to understand that the eligibility requirements can differ somewhat based on the university or institution providing the BAMS program. Candidates should verify the specific requirements before submitting their applications. Even if candidates meet the eligibility criteria, it does not ensure admission, as the process may involve an entrance exam, personal interview, and selection based on merit.

Skills Needed for BAMS

To excel in the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course and in future careers as Ayurvedic practitioners, students need to possess certain skills. Some important skills for BAMS include:

By developing these skills, BAMS students can better prepare themselves for the demands of the course and their future careers.

• NEET-UG (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate Programme) is a pan-India entrance examination held for BAMS admissions. 
• The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the entrance every year. 
• The NEET-UG exam contains two sections: Section A comprising 35 questions and Section B with 15 questions.
• All the questions are multiple-choice based.
• The exam duration is a total of 3 hours and 20 minutes.
• The counselling for the same is centralized. 
• Other entrance examinations for BAMS admission are IPU CET, KEAM, BVP CET, etc.

BAMS Cutoff

NEET 2023 Cutoff for BAMS is 720-137 for general category students and 136-107 for reserved category aspirants. The cutoff percentile for general category aspirants is 50th and for reserved category students is 40th.

There are many specialization courses that students can choose from after or during the Bachelor of Ayurveda Medical and Surgery course. Some of the popular choices of students for specialization in ayurvedic studies are

Admission in the BAMS typically involves the following steps:

• Eligibility criteria: The first step is to check if the candidate meets the eligibility criteria for BAMS. This usually includes having completed higher education with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as main subjects and a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.
• Entrance exam: Most BAMS colleges accept NEET scores for admission to their program. Some institutes may conduct their college-specific exam; the format and content of these exams may vary, but they typically test the candidate's knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and General Knowledge. 
• Application Fee: The fee for the NEET exam for general category applicants is INR 1,500, while it is INR 800 for those belonging to the SC/ST categories.
• Merit list: Based on the scores obtained in the NEET exam, a merit list is prepared, and candidates are selected for admission based on their rank in the list.
• Counselling: After the NEET exam, a centralized counseling process is conducted for the admission of students who have qualified for NEET into various medical science courses, based on their performance in the NEET UG entrance exam.
• Document verification: Candidates who are selected for admission are required to submit their original documents for verification.
• Fees payment: Finally, candidates are required to pay their tuition fees and other charges to complete the admission process.

The average B.A.M.S. course fee lies within the range of INR 25,000 to INR 3 LPA. Course fees of some colleges are given below

The entire coursework of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical and Surgery is spread across 5 years, with a 1-year internship at the end. The evaluation is done in semester mode and each year, 2 sessions are held in June/July and November/December. The year-wise syllabus for BAMS is given below for your convenience.

Best Books for BAMS

There are several books published for BAMS aspirants to guide them to follow the course curriculum. Some of the suggested reads by the course toppers are mentioned below in the table:

The state and city-wise distribution of B.A.M.S. colleges in India are mentioned below for your reference

Punjab

Popular B.A.M.S. colleges in Punjab are listed below

Delhi NCR

Popular B.A.M.S. colleges in Delhi NCR are mentioned below

Uttar Pradesh

Top B.A.M.S. colleges in Uttar Pradesh are

Karnataka

Colleges in Karnataka offering B.A.M.S. degree are

Some of the popular and top colleges in India that offer BAMS degree to their students are listed below

Some of the top BAMS Government colleges in India are mentioned below along with their average annual fees, and NIRF Rankings:

Some of the top BAMS Private Colleges in India are mentioned below along with their average course fees and NIRF Rankings:

There are many universities in foreign countries that offer ayurvedic education to students. Some of the most popular ones can be found below

After completing a Bachelor’s in Ayurveda and Surgery, many career paths are available for those interested in different roles. Graduates can work in government and private clinics as Ayurveda specialists or Ayurveda drug specialists, and they may also start their own private practice. BAMS graduates are employed in various positions.

BAMS Areas of Employment 

Students 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

BAMS Salary in India 

The typical salary for an Ayurveda doctor ranges from INR 5 LPA to INR 15 LPA. Ayurvedic doctors have the option to start their own practice, which can be quite profitable. Other positions, like Medical Representative, can also offer good pay, especially in multinational companies, with salaries between INR 3 LPA and INR 8 LPA. Those who pursue a BAMS degree can expect attractive salary packages, but earnings can vary based on experience and specific job roles.

BAMS Salary: Experience-wise

List below is the salary data of BAMS-qualified students based on their experience level gained in the field:

BAMS Salary: Job Role-wise

List below is the salary data of BAMS-qualified students based on their job profiles:

Top Recruiters of BAMS

BAMS offers a variety of opportunities in terms of career prospects. Listed below are some of the top recruiters for BAMS: 

Candidates looking to enhance their knowledge can choose a Bridge course after completing BAMS. This course is provided by IGNOU and offers a total of 18 credit points, split into 10 credits for practical work and 8 credits for theory. The Bridge course has been available since January 2017.

The Bridge Course is part of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, which aims to boost the skills and competencies of practitioners in Ayurveda and nursing. It is available for students sponsored by the National Health Mission (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, through the State Government or State Health Mission. The course was created with funding from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI (NHM).

Bridge Course after BAMS Highlights