The healthcare industry is a sector that offers favorable career and knowledge opportunities to people associated with the medical field. In India, the number of students who want to pursue their degree-level education in this area after their senior secondary education has increased tremendously. Some popular medical courses in India that grasp the interest of students year after year are MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, nursing, pharmacy, medical technology, health sciences, biotechnology, etc. It can be observed that until a few years back MBBS used to be the first choice of students who thought about establishing a career in medicine. However, according to the latest trends, it is noticeable that students are academically competing fiercely to secure seats in the BAMS and BDS courses. Although they are both domains of the healthcare sector only, the course teachings, as well as the professional work characteristics, differ on various levels. This differentiation is visible in the form of medical equipment, learning practices, approaches to diseases, treatment plans, health concerns, etc. To truly understand the pros and cons of studying BAMS and BDS or to navigate through a better career option amongst the two, you must read through this blog which has accumulated and detailed information about both the medical courses.
BAMS Course
BAMS is a short form for Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery. It is a graduate-level degree program that is taught over a period of five and a half years. In this time schedule, 5 years are reserved for the academic teaching-learning process. Later, 6 months are supposed to be dedicated to the internship program which will mark the conclusion of your degree program. Since it is a recognized medical field in India that is valuable to the country’s history and origin, the admissions to this course are overseen by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine. The studies in this field of medicine involve learning about concepts such as pathology, Sharir Rachna, anatomy, forensic medicine, ayurveda itihas, vyadhi vigyan, charak samhita, physiology, dravya (drugs), etc. While some people believe that the facts taught under this stream of knowledge are based on the ancient sciences of India, others argue that it is majorly different from the medical science concepts that are studied today. Students can be assured that this course has ample career prospects in India. Unparallel to the popular opinion where some might believe that the BAMS course is easier than other medical courses in India, the BAMS course is very extensive and mandates learning about complex medical theories and concepts that have been developed for hundreds and thousands of years. We can safely term it a highly specialized field.
BDS Course
BDS is a general short-term Bachelor of Dental Surgery. In India, it is a graduate-level degree that is officially authorized for a person to be considered qualified in the field of dentistry. Its studies span over a period of five years with a mandatory internship program afterwards. Graduates holding this degree are considered qualified to find employment in government colleges and hospitals as well as private medical facilities. In fact, a majority of BDS course qualifiers establish their own clinics after gaining practical experience under internships and assistantships since it is economically fruitful. Students who opt for this medical course have to study elective and practical subjects along with various hand skills to learn about the art of using medical equipment. Some core subjects that are a part of the curriculum are Oral microbiology and pathology, preclinical conservative dentistry, General & dental pharmacology, pathology, dental therapeutics, understanding biochemistry, orthodontics, etc. All other treatments, disorders, and diagnoses concerning ailments of the oral cavity are a part of the BDS course. The exams for this graduation-level medical degree are conducted in a semester-wise format. Students are evaluated based on written exams, vivas, practicals, and participation in internships. The course has a scope of specialization at the postgraduate or diploma level as well. Some popular PG-level subjects that students prefer to specialize in are pediatric dentistry, Periodontology, prosthodontics with crown and bridge, etc.
Eligibility criteria for BAMS BDS courses
- A certain level of eligibility has to be met before applying for a BAMS or BDS course. Almost all of the admission criteria for the courses are the same, hence we have highlighted their qualifying characteristics underneath-
- Admission into both BAMS BDS course is overseen by the National Medical Commission. According to the established criteria, you are supposed to appear for the national-level common entrance test called ‘national eligibility cum entrance test’ (NEET). It is a paper-pencil-based test and has to be completed within 3 hours 20 minutes.
- NEET has to be qualified with the prescribed cut-off of the current year.
- The age of the student should not be below 17 years. They should have completed this age before 31st December of the year in which they are seeking admission. The maximum age to apply for a BAMS or BDS seat is 25 years.
- Applying candidates should have completed and passed their 10+2 examination. The final board examinations should be taken from recognized boards only.
- For the BAMS course, the applicants should have scored at least 50% and 40% marks for the unreserved and reserved categories respectively. For the BDS course too the marks criteria remain the same.
- Students who have completed their higher secondary school in the humanities or commerce stream are not eligible to study these medical courses. Only medical stream students who have studied biology, physics, chemistry, and English are considered worthy of applying.
How to secure admission into BAMS BDS courses in India
- Eligible candidates have to appear for the national-level NEET examination.
- Qualifying candidates whose score meets and go above the cut-off marks must register themselves for the counseling sessions organized by the MCC.
- The MCC will allot you seats based on your NEET AIR rank and score.
- Factors like your domicile and category are also important. Seats are particularly reserved under All India Quota (AIQ) and state quota.
- Choose a college of your preference keeping in mind the availability of seats.
- Reach your college in due time to get ll your documents verified.
- You might be required to undergo a medical fitness test as well.
- Inquire about any fees that has to submitted and get your admission confirmed.
Highlighting the difference between ‘BAMS vs BDS’
| S. No. | Basis of Difference | BAMS | BDS |
| 1 | Course Full Name | Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| 2 | Entry level Exam | NEET UG, IPU CET, KAM, Merit | NEET UG |
| 3 | Course Period | 5 Years and 6 Months | 5 Years |
| 4 | Average Tuition Fees | Government-INR 10,000-30,000 Private-INR 40,000- 12/15 lakhs | Government-INR 7000-15,000 Private-INR 50,000- 12,00000 |
| 5 | Expected Annual Remuneration | INR 15,000-50,000 p.a. | INR 300,000-10,00000 |
| 6 | Subject Base | Ancient India Ayurveda | Medical Science |
| 7 | Approach | Overall internal and external Healthcare, well-Being | Treat the human body with scientific observations |
| 8 | Focus | Principles, Surgery, Herbal Medicine | Dental Anatomy, Oral Health |
| 9 | Higher Qualification Prospects | MHA or MPH | MDS, other diplomas etc. |
A comparative analysis concerning BAMS vs BDS
Each academic year, many students face the question of ‘bds or bams which is better’? Students must remember that both of these courses are entirely different from each other in terms of the approach they follow in the field of medicine. It is important to navigate through this dilemma by weighing all the pros and cons of these courses and how they stand in the real-world atmosphere. However, what matters more than the advantages and disadvantages of these courses is the person who is going to study them. An individual’s own academic understanding, passion, interest, career expectations, and preferences along with their own views about the medical field in India can seriously influence the question about which course is better among BAMS/BDS.
The ultimate goal of pursuing BAMS or BDS is to become a medical professional. Thus, research well about the hospitals, authorities, and companies that look to employ such people and whether you see yourself working accordingly with them. While the professional scope of BAMS is limited to India and some other surrounding countries, BDS is recognized all over the world since its teachings are based on the theories and research of modern science. Moreover, you should be assured that there are no gender differences like some other medical courses as both degree courses have renowned professionals of both genders.
Factors to consider while choosing between BAMS vs BDS
Orientation of Interest- It is one of the first and foremost points that an applicant should debate with themselves. One can find out about their interest by researching the subjects that are taught under BAMS and BDS courses or the job opportunities available after this degree. It is better to seek guidance from teachers and seniors as well so that they can outline the factors that affect each course.
Academic Prowess- It is not possible for all students to become aware of their course interests within a stipulated time. Therefore, you can also base your decision on your strengths and weaknesses. You can take mock tests from education consultancy scores and find out the area in which you are able to perform better. Experiments and practicals conducted in schools can also help you find your academic prowess.
Future goals– Do in-depth research and set short and long-term future goals for yourself. If you are passionate about holding a certain position and want to see yourself on that post then you must choose your course accordingly. Moreover, You will realize that in order to start your own practice, you might have to make a certain level of financial investment in buying equipment, medicines, opening your own clinic or hospital, etc. This observation will help you to make financial planning for the future based on your choice of course.
Tuition Fees– The prime difference between the tuition fees of both courses comes from whether you are studying in a public or private university/college. In a government institution, you can expect to submit INR 10,000 to 30,000 as your fees. However, private institutions can charge you as high as 1,500,000 . Extra charges can be implied as part of hostel fees. Students can also apply for various NEET scholarships to cover their academic as well as maintenance costs.
Reputation of college– Choose your college very wisely as it will shape not just your professional skills and ethics but your personal characteristics as well. Refer to the criteria for choosing an ideal medical college to understand the factors that can affect your quality of education. Renowned colleges emphasize on the facilities they provide to their students so that they can maintain their social reputation. Since BAMS and BDS are unique though important medical fields in themselves, some colleges and faculties specialize in their subject teachings.
Conclusion
Making a career choice is always a challenging task as your whole future depends on your decision. Still, it’s not something that should be avoided or a decision that can be made on a whim. It is best to dedicate sufficient time to finalizing between BAMS and BDS by understanding what they hold for you in the future. To restate, both the courses have at least 5 years of education where BAMS follows the Ayurvedic medical structure and BDS pertains to medical science with a focus on dental studies. A noteworthy point here is that the Indian government allows BAMS professionals to prescribe allopathic medicines to patients at a certain level. Do not undermine your personal interests and strengths as you make this life-altering decision and even more importantly, truly commit yourself to the course choice that you make.
Students can also contact a medical Admission Consultant to guide them about which course is better based on their academic orientation. We, at Mediplor, have the best NEET counsellor in India having years of experience in guiding students with BAMS and BDS. Give us a call and book your slots to get a genuine consultation.
