BUMS: Unani Medicine Course Guide

What is BUMS?

BUMS stands for Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery. It is an undergraduate professional degree in the Unani system of medicine, which is one of the AYUSH systems recognised by the Government of India.

The course combines the principles and clinical methods of Unani medicine with foundational subjects from the general medical sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, and pathology. It is a secular, regulated academic and clinical programme studied as a structured curriculum.

This guide covers the course and admission route only. It does not make any claim about the effectiveness of any treatment system — for that, rely on official regulatory and academic sources.

Who regulates BUMS?

BUMS education is regulated by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), a statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The NCISM was constituted in 2021 and took over the functions of the earlier Central Council of Indian Medicine.

NCISM governs Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa education, including the Unani (BUMS) curriculum, minimum standards, and college recognition. Students should confirm that a college is currently recognised on the official NCISM website before applying.

• Regulator: National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)
• Parent ministry: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
• Verify current college recognition on the official NCISM portal

Course structure and duration

BUMS is structured as a multi-year undergraduate programme that typically includes an academic phase followed by a compulsory rotatory internship, in line with the NCISM regulations for the Unani stream.

The academic phase usually moves from foundational medical sciences toward the core Unani subjects — including its diagnostic and therapeutic principles — and supervised clinical training. The internship provides hands-on, supervised clinical exposure before graduation.

The exact duration, subject list, and internship rules can be revised by the regulator. Verify the current curriculum and duration on the official NCISM website before relying on any specific figure.

Eligibility and admission through NEET

Admission to BUMS is through NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). NEET is the single national entrance for AYUSH undergraduate courses, including Unani medicine.

Candidates generally need to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and to meet the qualifying and age criteria in the official NEET information bulletin. Seats are filled through counselling — an All India Quota run by the AYUSH Admissions Central Counselling Committee (AACCC) and state quotas run by state authorities.

Minimum percentages, age limits, fees, seat numbers, and cut-offs change each year. Always verify the current eligibility and counselling details on the official NEET and AACCC websites before applying.

After BUMS: typical pathways

After completing BUMS and the internship, graduates may need to register with the relevant statutory body or state board before practising, as required by law. Common pathways include clinical practice, roles in hospitals or AYUSH facilities, and academic or research work.

Some graduates pursue postgraduate study in the Unani system or related fields such as public health or hospital administration. Registration norms and rules for practice are set by the regulator and statutory authorities — confirm them on official sources.

This guide describes course and career structure only and offers no medical, legal, or career guarantees.