BUMS, or Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery, is a professional undergraduate degree program that aims to provide a thorough understanding of the origins, evolution, and developments of unani medicine practice, with a focus on Anatomy, Unani Physiology, Unani Pharmacology, and Unani Surgery.
The course duration is 5.5 years, consisting of 4.5 years of academic studies and 1 year of mandatory clinical internship. The average program fee ranges between INR 1,00,000- INR 16,00,000 with Rehbar Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbi Medical College, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Hayat Unani Medical College and Research Centre and Yunus Fazlani Unani Medical College being the top Indian colleges that offer it.
Majorly, all Indian colleges prefer an entrance-based eligibility criteria for the BUMS program, requiring candidates to satisfy the basic merit requirement and pass the applicable entrance exam, the most well-known of which is the NEET UG. The course’s merit-based eligibility, on the other hand, requires them to pass 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate score and Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects.
This professional degree prepares learners to pursue professional careers as Medical Officers (Unani), Unani Pharmacists, Research Associates, Production Executives – Unani Pharma, Unani Consultants, Chief Medical Officers (AYUSH) and more. The average entry level salaries in the field ranges from INR 2-6 LPA whereas the experienced level salaries range from INR 12-20+ LPA.
Table of Contents
BUMS Highlights Table
The table below lists some of the key insights of the Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery course:
What is BUMS?
A Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery is a 5.5-year undergraduate degree program that consists of 4.5 years of academic coursework and a mandatory 1-year rotatory internship. The course study focuses on delivering an in-depth theoretical understanding and practical abilities in the various facets of Unani medical practice.
This professional degree combines traditional cultural medical practices from the Indian, Arab, Greek, and Persian cultures with modern testing and medical research to analyze, develop, and promote physical therapies, natural treatments, dietary adjustments and herbal remedies for the treatment of various severe or chronic illnesses.
The course curriculum is combined with a mandatory 1-year internship, which functions similarly to a practical training program and enables students to work with actual medical specialists in various departments or specialties of Unani medicine.
Why Study BUMS?
BUMS degree is a highly specialized medical program centered on the practice of Unani Medicine, which has been around for thousands of years. Pursuing this course in 2025 has its own benefits, with some of the major ones being:
- Global and diverse career opportunities: With people becoming highly aware of the importance and benefits of natural remedies, Unani medicine, which has been practiced for thousands of years, has begun to regain recognition in both national and international markets. As a result, the course graduates now have access to a wide range of global opportunities in academia, research, medical practice, and even wellness fields.
- Cultural Legacy: The practice of Unani Medicine dates back over 6,000 years and is heavily based on Greek, Indian, Persian, and Arab culture. Hence, pursuing a BUMS allows learners to preserve these ancient cultures, carry on its legacy, and spread it in both national and international households.
- Emphasis on natural healing treatments: The BUMS curriculum focuses entirely on natural treatments and herbal remedies, resulting in a holistic and balanced approach to treating a wide range of ailments, including vertigo, infertility, and even asthma.
Who should study BUMS?
A Bachelor in Unani Medicine and Surgery is an ideal degree for someone who is an ardent nature lover and is deeply interested in the discovery and use of herbal treatments. In addition, the following individuals can also be deemed extremely suitable for pursuing this specialised medical program:
- Those who have passed their 10+2 in Science stream with a 50% aggregate score in Chemistry, Biology and Physics subjects.
- Those who have studied Arabic or Urdu and are quite comfortable studying extensive and detailed texts in the same as a part of the course curriculum.
- Those interested to pursue research prospects in Unani medicine and related fields.
- Those who desire to pursue a medical career involving patient care or become registered Unani Physicians.
BUMS Eligibility Criteria
Majority of Indian colleges utilize entrance-based criteria for admissions into the BUMS program, with barely a few colleges considering and accepting applicants based on their merit scores. The course's eligibility requirements include the following conditions:
- The candidate must have passed 10+2 from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate score in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- The candidate must qualify the relevant entrance exam, NEET UG in majority of the cases.
- In some colleges, candidates are also required to appear for a personal interview round.
- Some colleges demand applicants to have studied Arabic or Urdu as a major subject in 10+2.
BUMS Entrance Exams 2025
As an undergraduate medical program, NEET UG is the only state-level entrance exam widely accepted for enrollment into the BUMS program, with only one or two colleges conducting their own internal admission exam to determine eligibility for the same. The crucial details about these entrance exams are as follows:
BUMS Colleges in India
In India, a number of private and public universities offer the 5.5 year BUMS course, consisting of a 4.5-year academic curriculum and a 1-year mandatory internship program under industrial professionals. The table below lists the leading Indian colleges that offer this specific course, as well as some crucial course-related details:
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BUMS Admission Process 2025
The admission procedure for the BUMS often includes a thorough counselling process, with the NEET UG serving as the primary entrance exam for assessing candidate’s eligibility. At Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, the admission process consists of the following steps:
Step 1: The candidate must appear and qualify the NEET UG exam with the scores required to apply for the BUMS course at Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences.
Step 2: After qualifying the NEET UG Exam, the candidate must register at the college’s counselling portal to participate in the counselling process. The counselling portal opens somewhere around August - October and can be accessed via https://www.knruhs.telangana.gov.in/.
Step 3: In order to register at the portal, the candidate must enter his/her name, email address and mobile number. Then click on “submit”.
Step 4: The candidate must fill out the application form, which is accessible only after the successful completion of step 3. In the form, the candidate must provide his/her personal and academic qualification details along with the scanned copies of the relevant documents.
Step 5: The candidate is required to pay the non-refundable counselling form fee using Net Banking/ Credit Card/ Debit Card. The fee generally costs around INR 2,500.
Step 6: Once the fee is paid, submit the form and wait for the counseling procedure to start. All the updates regarding the same are provided through the candidate's registered email address.
Step 7: Once the counseling process begins, the candidate must fill out a list of his/her preferred courses and colleges to which he/she desires to pursue the same from, ranked by importance and priority. Once done, submit the same as well.
Step 8: The candidates are shortlisted for the colleges and courses on the basis of their NEET UG ranks, counselling preferences and 10+2 scores.
Step 9: If shortlisted, the candidate is sent an allotment letter via his/her profile on the college’s counseling portal and is also notified via his/her registered email address.
Step 10: As per the email, the candidate is required to visit the college for physical verification of his/her documents and is also required to complete the other basic formalities to secure a seat in the course.
Documents Required:
- 10th marksheet and passing certificate issued by the board.
- 12th marksheet and passing certificate issued by the board.
- School Leaving Certificate
- Provisional Certificate
- Coloured Passport Size Photographs
- NEET UG/other entrance exam admit card
- NEET UG/other entrance exam Scorecard
- Caste Certificate (If applicable)
- Identity Proof issued by the government (Aadhar Card/PAN Card/Passport etc.)
BUMS Syllabus
The BUMS syllabus covers practically every significant aspect of unani medicine, from its history to modern clinical medicine, forensic and unani surgery procedures. At Yunus Fazlani Unani Medical College, the 5.5 year program is conducted on an annual basis with the important topics covered during these years including:
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BUMS Job Opportunities in India
There are multiple diverse career opportunities in the booming field of unani medicine, which offers a variety of specialized and well-paying work options. The following are a few of the most desirable and lucrative career profiles for BUMS graduates:
BUMS FAQs
What is Unani Medicine and Surgery?
Unani Medicine and Surgery is an ancient field of medical practice that focuses on diagnosing illnesses using pulse reading, urine and stool inspection, and the assessment of a patient’s personality traits and surroundings, and treatment of the same using natural and herbal remedies, physical therapies, and dietary plans.
What are some of the entry level job roles for Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery graduates? Who are the top recruiters for them?
Some of the leading entry level job prospects for the course graduates include Unani Medical Officer, Junior Research Assistant (Unani or related fields), Unani pharmacist, Junior Unani Therapist and Assistant Lecturer. State AYUSH departments, Central Research Institutes, National Health Mission and Private Unani Hospitals and Universities are generally considered as the top recruiters for these profiles.
Are Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery graduates qualified as doctors?
Yes, BUMS graduates possess the relevant theoretical knowledge and practical abilities that qualifies them to practice as professional doctors. It should be noted, however, that they can only practice as unani medical practitioners, in the positions of unani physicians, unani medical officers and more.
What general topics are covered under the Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery syllabus?
Some of the basic topics covered under the BUMS syllabus include Anatomy, Principles of Unani Medicine, Unani Pharmacology, History of Unani Medicine, Toxicology & Unani Forensic Medicine, Advanced Arabic & Tafseer, Unani Pharmacography & Dosage Forms, Surgery and more.
What is the eligibility criteria for Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery course?
The eligibility for the BUMS program is determined by either a merit or an entrance-based criteria, with the majority of colleges preferring the latter, which requires candidates to meet the basic merit requirement and pass the relevant entrance exam, the most well-known of which is the NEET UG. In addition, the course's merit-based eligibility, requires them to pass 10+2 with a minimum aggregate score of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects.
