About SDM Ayurvedic Medical College Udupi
SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital is a private Ayurveda medical college located in Kuthpady, Udupi district, Karnataka. Approved by CCIM and affiliated to RGUHS Bangalore, SDM College of Ayurveda offers BAMS with an intake of 150 students. The college is managed by the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) Educational Society — the educational wing of the Dharmasthala temple trust, whose colleges in Ujire (SDMIT) and Dharwad (SDMCET) are among Karnataka's most respected institutions. The SDM Ayurveda college in Udupi brings the trust's educational quality to coastal Karnataka's Ayurveda education sector.
Admission is through NEET and KEA AYUSH counselling for Karnataka state quota seats.
Programme Offered
| Programme | Duration | Intake | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) | 4.5 years + 1 year internship | 150 | NEET + KEA AYUSH |
| MD (Ayurveda) | 3 years | Subject to CCIM approval | NEET-PG AYUSH |
NEET and BAMS Admission
NEET qualification is mandatory for BAMS admissions. Karnataka AYUSH counselling by KEA fills 85% state quota seats. The SDM brand's reputation makes this college among the most competitive BAMS seats in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi AYUSH counselling allocation. Current NEET rank cutoffs are published on the KEA AYUSH portal.
SDM Dharmasthala Trust — Unmatched Institutional Credibility
The Dharmasthala temple trust, guided by Heggade family management, is one of Karnataka's most respected charitable institutions. The SDM educational network — spanning engineering (SDMCET Dharwad), Ayurveda (SDM College Udupi), medicine and multiple other institutions — carries consistent management quality and institutional integrity. SDM Ayurveda College Udupi benefits from the same trust governance that makes SDM institutions across Karnataka employer-recognised and community-trusted.
Kuthpady, Udupi — Coastal Karnataka Ayurveda Context
Udupi district has deep cultural connections to Ayurveda through coastal Karnataka's Tulu-speaking community and Kerala's adjacent Ayurveda tradition. The Western Ghats biodiversity surrounding Udupi provides rich medicinal plant access for pharmacognosy education. Udupi's thriving wellness and pilgrimage tourism economy (Udupi Sri Krishna temple draws lakhs of visitors annually) creates a natural Ayurveda wellness practice market for BAMS graduates.
Career Scope
SDM College of Ayurveda BAMS graduates register with Karnataka Ayurveda Medical Council after internship. The SDM institutional credential provides career referral access across coastal Karnataka and the broader Karnataka healthcare sector. Gulf wellness employment via the coastal Karnataka NRI diaspora, AYUSH government officer positions, Panchakarma wellness market practice and NEET-PG AYUSH for MD Ayurveda are the primary pathways.