BAMS vs BDS – Differences, Eligibility, Syllabus, Jobs, Salaries, and More!
BAMS and BDS, being undergraduate professional courses in the medical field, are diversified in terms of practice. While the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) focuses on Ayurveda approach, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) focuses on dental science and surgery.
Another similar thing is that admission to both courses depend on the NEET UG score. And both the courses need their students to complete a 1-year internship during the program.
If you have doubts about the selection of a course for your career, give this article a read. By the end, you’ll have a clear perspective on eligibility criteria, entrance, syllabus, and other plethora of information about both options.
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- BAMS vs BDS: Course Highlights
- BAMS vs BDS: Definition
- BAMS vs BDS: Eligibility Criteria
- BAMS vs BDS: Entrance Exams 2024
- BAMS vs BDS: Syllabus
- BAMS vs BDS: Top Colleges
- Final Thoughts
BAMS vs BDS: Course Highlights
This section offers some key highlights of both the courses for easy understanding. Read this table to have an overview of significant details related to them.
| Parameters |
BAMS |
BDS |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery |
Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
5.6 Years (4.6 Years + 1 Year of Mandatory Internship) |
5 Years (4 Years + 1 Year of Mandatory Internship) |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET UG |
|
| Average Course Fee |
INR 20,000 – 3,00,000 |
INR 50,000 – 12,00,000 |
| Average Salary |
INR 10,000 – 50,000 |
INR 4,00,000 – 10,00,000 |
| Specialisations |
Ayurvedic Medicine |
Dental Science |
| Top Recruiters |
Patanjali Ayurveda Limited, Vicco Laboratories, Dabur India Ltd, Surya Herbal Ltd, etc. |
Cipla, Dr Reddys Laboratories, Lupin, and so on. |
BAMS vs BDS: Definition
What is BAMS?
To start with BAMS, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery is one of the most popular courses among AYUSH courses. It is a 5.6-year course that includes a 1 year of compulsory internship. In this study program, an integrated system of modern medicine and traditional Ayurveda is covered.
It is possible to get admission to a private medical college with a score of 300 in NEET. For a government medical college, one should ideally obtain a score above 600. The NEET cutoff for the Government medical colleges varies as per the institute rank and round of counselling. Hence, it can be said that a score of 300 in NEET may not be sufficient for admission to Government medical colleges. As per past years' trends, a score between 500 to 700 or above is in the cutoff marks for NEET.
Passed in Class 12 examination from a recognised board with a minimum of 55% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The candidate should have passed English as a subject of study (core/ elective/ functional) in the qualifying examination. Appeared in JEE Main Paper 1 conducted by the National Testing Agency NTA and admission would be based on the merit list/rank list. B.Tech (Biotechnology) Pass in Class 12 examination with a minimum of 55% marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology/Biotechnology. Appeared in the IPU CET, and their name should be in the merit list/rank list.
Generally, the scores of NEET UG are considered to grant admission across various BAMS institutes in India, some institutions also accept state-level entrance exam scores that include KEAM, IPU CET, etc.
What is BDS?
BDS, i.e., Bachelor of Dental Surgery is one of the most prominent courses after MBBS. Students who wish to see themselves as a Dentist in the future opt for this course. It is a 5-year bachelor's program, including 1 year of compulsory internship.
Admission to any BDS institute is based on the NEET UG scores only. And The Dental Council of India (DCI) regulates the curriculum of this course.
Students also liked these topics on BAMS vs BDS:
List of colleges accepting NEET scores for BDS courses (North India)
BAMS vs BDS: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for both courses are different from each other. Let’s look at the table below to better understand the requirements.
| Parameters |
BAMS |
BDS |
|---|---|---|
| Education |
Passed Class 12th from a recognized board |
Passed Class 12th from a recognized board |
| Compulsory Subjects |
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English. |
PCB in Class 12th |
| Minimum Percentage |
Minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in 12th. |
Minimum of 60% in Class 12th. |
| Minimum Age |
Must be 17 years old. |
NA |
BAMS vs BDS: Entrance Exams 2024
To get admission to the top BAMS and BDS schools, students must go through the national-level NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam.
Look at the table below for more details about both courses.
| Parameters |
BAMS |
BDS |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Mode of Exam |
Offline |
Offline |
| Entrance Exams |
NEET UG, KEAM, IPU CET, Merit-Based |
NEET UG |
| Entrance Exams Syllabus |
Botany, Physics, Chemistry, and Zoology |
Botany, Physics, Chemistry, and Zoology |
BAMS vs BDS: Syllabus
As mentioned earlier, BAMS is a 5.6-year course that includes 1 year of internship and BDS is a 5-year course that includes a 1-year mandatory internship as well. So, let’s get a general overview of the semester-wise BAMS and BDS syllabus in India:
BAMS Syllabus
The syllabus of BAMS course covers a wide range of subjects in Ayurveda. The whole syllabus is divided into 4 professionals which includes subjects like Padartha Vigyan and Ayurved Itihasa, Rog-Nidan, Kayachikitsa, and more.
| BAMS Syllabus Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| Padartha Vigyan And Ayurved Itihas | Sanskrit |
| Kriya Shareera | Rachana Shareera |
| BAMS Syllabus Year 2 | |
| Dravyaguna Vigyan | Roga Nidan |
| Rasashastra Evam Bhaishajyakalpana | Bhaishajyakalpana |
| BAMS Syllabus Year 3 | |
| Agadtantra | Swasthavritta |
| Prasooti Tantra And Stri Roga | Kaumarbhritya Parichaya |
| BAMS Syllabus Year 4 | |
| Kayachikitsa | Panchakarma |
| Shalya Tantra | Shalakya Tantra |
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Admission to AYUSH courses through NEET 2024
The BDS syllabus consists of General Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, General and Dental Pharmacology. The theoretical subjects are divided into 8 semesters and for practical knowledge, 1 year of paid internship is provided.
| BDS Syllabus Semester 1 | |
|---|---|
| General Human Anatomy including Embryology and Histology | General Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Dietetics |
| Dental Anatomy, embryology, and Oral Histology | - |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 2 | |
| Dental Materials | Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 3 | |
| General Pathology and Microbiology | General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
| Preclinical Conservative Dentistry | - |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 4 | |
| Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge | Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 5 | |
| General Medicine | General Surgery |
| Oral Pathology & Microbiology | Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 6 | |
| Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery | Oral Medicine And Radiology |
| Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics | Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 7 | |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics | Oral Medicine and Radiology |
| Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry | Periodontology |
| BDS Syllabus Semester 8 | |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge |
| Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics | Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics |
BAMS vs BDS: Top Colleges
There are around 323 BDS and 227 BAMS colleges in India, out of which, 178 are private BAMS colleges. Students who wish to pursue their career with a good institution can look at the list of top BAMS and BDS colleges in India mentioned below.
Top BAMS Colleges in India
Here is the list of top BAMS colleges in India for students interested in pursuing their career in the Ayurveda field.
| Top BAMS Colleges in India |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|
| Institute of Medical Sciences |
2.5 Lakh |
| Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences |
18.75 Lakh |
| Parul University Vadodara |
14.20 Lakh |
| Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University |
12.60 Lakh |
| Banaras Hindu University |
51,845 |
| Gujarat Ayurveda University |
1.5 Lakh |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University |
14.25 Lakh |
| Kerala University of Health Sciences |
2.75 Lakh |
| Baba Farid University of Health Science |
1.48 Lakh |
Top BDS Colleges in India
Go through the list below to find the best BDS colleges in India.
| Top BDS Colleges in India |
Fees in INR |
|---|---|
| King George’s Medical University - Lucknow |
5.5 Lakh |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Medical Sciences |
- |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences |
8.5 Lakh/Per Year |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences |
19.7 Lakh |
| A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences |
20 Lakh |
| SRM Dental College, Ramapuram Campus, Chennai |
17.6 Lakh |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research |
24 Lakh |
| Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital |
22 Lakh |
Relevant Links for BAMS vs BDS:
Ayurveda courses gained prominence post Covid-19; Know Career options after BAMS
People undoubtedly are turning to Ayurveda for so many reasons. This opens plenty of career prospects in the field. Similarly, with changing lifestyles, the demand for oral health will also increase. Therefore, let’s take a quick look at future possibilities in both the Dental and Ayurveda fields of healthcare.
What After BAMS?
After completing the BAMS course, students can opt for higher studies or take up specialized practice such as the therapy of skin diseases, spinal disorders, etc.
Some of the career opportunities include:
| Top BAMS Job Profiles |
Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Ayurveda dietician |
2.2 Lakh – 3.9 Lakh |
| Ayurveda Teacher |
4 Lakh – 6 Lakh |
| Ayurveda Practitioner |
7.2 Lakh |
| Ayurveda Pharmacist |
2.8 Lakh |
| Ayurveda Counsellor |
3.5 Lakh |
| Ayurveda Therapist |
3.5 Lakh |
| Ayurveda Nutritionist |
3.9 Lakh |
What After BDS?
Likewise, after BDS, students can go for higher degrees such as MDS, MHA (Master in Hospital Administration), MPH (Masters in Public Health), and so on.
Some of the career opportunities include:
| Top BDS Job Profiles |
Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentist |
6 Lakh |
| Lecturer |
3.5 – 4.4 Lakh |
| Dental Cosmetology |
15 – 40.8 Lakh |
| Forensic Dentistry |
9.56 Lakh |
| Consultant |
5 Lakh |
BAMS vs BDS Topics you may be interested in:
Career after BDS: Scope, Job Opportunities, and Salary
BAMS or BDS? Choosing between one can really feel like a difficult task. However, opting for either BAMS or BDS should completely depend on one's career objectives and personal interests. Where the BAMS course provides Ayurveda knowledge, The BDS course focuses on dental surgery and oral healthcare.
Before making a career decision, students must thoroughly research the courses and the long-term impacts related to them. Additionally, consulting with professionals can also help in making an informed decision.

Akansha Bisht is an education content specialist with over 1 year of experience in student guidance and academic writing. At Shiksha.com, she is focused on helping students get the right courses by simplifying the d
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If you belong to SC /ST category, you can get a MBBS seat with 350. for OBC and general category, cut-off score is much more higher than 350. So, prepare well. All the best.