The Gujarat Ayurved University was established on January 5, 1967 at Jamnagar.  Before the existence of the University, Shri Gulabkunverba Ayurved Mahavidyalaya was established in 1946 and was run by Shri Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society. The Central Institute of Research in Indigenous System of Medicine (CIRISM) founded in 1953 and Post Graduate Training Centre in Ayurveda (PGTCA) founded in 1956 were run by the Government of India. Later on all these three institutions were amalgamated to form Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research (IASR) which was finally taken over by the Gujarat Ayurved University in 1967.  The Institute of Post Graduate Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (I.P.G.T & R.A.) of the University which is fully financed by the Government of India imparts postgraduate teaching, training and research in Ayurveda for the award of the M.D. (Ayu) and Ph.D. degree in Ayurveda. Total nine Ayurvedic colleges of Gujarat including Shri Gulabkunverba Ayurved Mahavidyalaya are affiliated to the Gujarat Ayurved University. These colleges run the BAMS degree course. In addition, Shri Akhandanand Govt. Ayurveda College, Ahmedabad has upgraded P.G. Dept. in Kayachikitsa.

Self Finance Courses
 

After 1998 many new academic developments have taken place in the University. Four self finance institutions have been established which run the courses and training programme for Indian and foreign professionals including NRIs and NRI sponsored candidates, as under:

• International Centre for Ayurvedic Studies (ICAS). 

It runs BAMS course in English Medium for foreigners including NRIs and NRI sponsored candidates.  In addition, 3 month introductory course in Ayurveda for foreigners, one year Diploma course in Ayurveda for foreign modern medical doctors and Certificate course in Ksharasutra and Panchakarma for Ayurvedic/Traditional Medicine Graduates and foreign modern medical graduates are also organized.

• Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences (IAPS)

          It runs D. Pharm, B. Pharma and M.Pharma in Ayurveda courses.

• Institute of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant Sciences (IAMPS)

It runs the Certificate course in Identification, Cultivation, Collection, Preservation and Storage of medicinal plants, postgraduate course of M.Sc and Ph.D. in Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants.

• Maharishi Patanjali Institute for Yoga & Naturopathy Education and Research

          It runs the Certificate and Diploma courses in Yoga and Naturopathy.

At present 1800 students are studying under BAMS course in all the nine affiliated Ayurvedic colleges which includes 220 students at Shri Gulabkunverba Ayurved Mahavidyalaya. Total 33 students are studying in BAMS English Medium course in the University, 100 in M.D. (Ayu) course, 40 students are registered for Ph.D., 187 students  in D. Pharm, B, Pharm and M. Pharm (Ayurveda) courses and 22 students are studying in M.Sc. (Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants) course.  European Institute for Scientific Research on Ayurveda, The Netherlands is conducting Ayurvedic course. This institute regularly sends their graduates to the Gujarat Ayurved University for applied teaching and training in Ayurveda. During the year 2002-03, 9 Ayurvedic graduates from European Institute for Scientific Research on Ayurveda attended the training programme at Gujarat Ayurved University.  During the month of January, 2004, 15 doctors from Argentina are coming for clinical training. Moreover, 4 ayurvedic graduates from Ayurvedic College of Great Britain, U.K. will also be coming for 3 months clinical training.