Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery | All you need to know

One of the oldest methods of medicine known to man

Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery (BAMS), as the course is referred to, is a five-and-a-half-year medical course which blends the tried and tested practices of Ayurveda with that of modern medicine. 

Based on the learning’s of Ayurveda, students are exposed to the curative properties of herbs & the natural elements they contain, which are helpful while treating patients. 

As the concept of Ayurveda is gaining global traction & acceptance, BAMS has become a highly promising field of study.

Students are exposed to a rigorous four & a half years academic course along with a year reserved for internships.

Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) is the governing body enabling admission to UG & PG Ayurveda programmes in the country.

Post completion, graduates are awarded with the degree of “Ayurvedacharya”.

Scope after BAMS

At the university level, a student can continue on to receive a PhD and clinical doctorate degrees in traditional and alternative medicine, as well as an MD or MS in Ayurveda. Additionally, there are opportunities to work in healthcare administration, hospital administration, and health monitoring.

The World Health Organization claimed in a study dated 2020 that India has “a history of mixing allopathic and traditional health systems, notably through medical education.” As far as governance, organisation, education, and service delivery go, the WHO defined AYUSH and mainstream medicine as “separate and parallel.”

Permission to practice

The state of Maharashtra has approved the practice of medicine for BAMS graduates. In Karnataka, BAMS physicians employed in rural primary health centers are permitted to use modern medicine in “emergencies.”

Eligibility Criteria for the Course

To pursue the BAMS course, students need:

• To clear Grade 12 Board Examinations with PCB subjects.
• Most colleges accept Class 12 certifications with at least 60% marks.
• Candidates have to write the    National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) after grade 12 to qualify for the various colleges.
• On average, the NEET cutoffs required for admission into BAMS courses are lower than that of their MBBS counterparts.

Course Curriculum

Post gaining admission to a college, students will be exposed to diverse subjects such as:

• History of Ayurveda
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Toxicology
• Gynecology
• Internal Medicine
• Pharmacology

Opportunities post-BAMS

• Practice under certified professionals: Post UG, graduates can learn and gain hands-on relevant experience. Students can also earn specialized experience after gaining holistic general knowledge.
• Managers: Graduates can make a career in Healthcare Management after pursuing an MBA post their BAMS.
• Health Supervisors: Graduates can put their knowledge to practice as supervisors of Ayurvedic health at resorts and spa centres across the country.
• Higher Studies: Students can choose to pursue higher education in the field, which will open the door to a lot more opportunities.
• Additionally, Ayurvedic product companies such as Patanjali, Dabur & Himalaya recruit BAMS undergraduates to meet their product development requirements. There exist ample opportunities on both Government and Private sides for aspirants.

Best Colleges to Pursue BAMS 

• National Institute of Ayurveda
• Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University
• Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurgaon
• Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Pune
• Govt. Ayurveda College & Hospital, Nagpur
• CSJMU, Kanpur

In addition to Indian institutions, there exist foreign institutions which offer a course in Ayurveda, such as:

• National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, New York
• College of Ayurveda, UK

Further Education Prospects

Post BAMS, students can choose to pursue their Masters in the same field through MS in Ayurveda. This is a rigorous three-year academic programme which requires a BAMS or equivalent programme as eligibility criteria. 

Unlike Undergraduate Ayurveda studies, PG courses entail specializations such as Sharir Kriya, Rasa Shastra and Padatha Vigyan, amongst others.

Key takeaways

• Amongst the many facets offered in medical education, Ayurveda proves to be a practice which has sustained the test of time and is now gaining global relevance.
• Ample career opportunities exist right after an under graduation in Ayurveda. A master’s degree would open further opportunities.
• Some of the biggest Ayurvedic product companies act as recruiters for BAMS graduates.

We hope this blog was informative. If so, please share your views in the comments below. Click here to reach out to us for more information. We would be happy to assist you with your queries.

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FAQs

Q1. Is BAMS equivalent to MBBS?

Answer: BAMS is a field of study that deals with the study of Ayurveda merged with modern medicine. MBBS deals solely with the study of modern medicine.

Q2. Are students qualified to call themselves ‘Doctors’ post BAMS?

Answer: Yes, like other qualifications such as BDS and MBBS, BAMS graduates can add Dr. as a prefix to their names.

Q3. Is BAMS more difficult than MBBS?

Answer: On average, MBBS deals with the ever-changing world of modern medicine and hence is a more challenging course than BAMS.