BA [Bachelor of Arts]: Course Details, Eligibility, Admissions, Fees
Duration
3 Years
Average Fees
INR 4,000 - 65,000
Updated on Mar 29, 2023 by Lisha Gupta
Updated on Mar 29, 2023 by Lisha Gupta
Bachelor of Arts or BA, is a three year undergraduate program that aims to provide extensive knowledge of humanities and social sciences through the many BA specializations available for students to choose from. BA jobs after graduation include Executive Assistant, HR Manager, Content Writer, Operations Manager, Marketing Manager, etc.
BA Course Details
| Degree | Bachelors |
| Full Form | Bachelor of Arts |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Age | 17 years |
| Subjects Required | 10+2 from a recognized university |
| Minimum Percentage | 40% in 10+2 |
| Average Fees | INR 4,000 - 65,000 |
| Similar Options of Study | BFA, BVA, BVC, BA LLB, BA+MA |
| Average Salary | INR 3.5 LPA |
| Employment Roles | Executive Assistant, Content Writer, Graphic Designer, Marketing Manager |
| Opportunities | Accenture, Genpact, United Health Group, InterGlobe Technologies, Times of India Group |
BA latest updates:
- March 29, 2023: Admission is open at MIT-WPU for UG & PG courses. Read More
What is BA?
BA Full Form stands for Bachelor of Arts and is primarily focused on the social sciences, Liberal Arts, and Humanities. The BA course duration is for three years. BA courses are composed of many artistic disciplines and offer various subject combinations for candidates to choose from apart from compulsory subjects. The average BA Fees range between INR 4,000 to 65,000 PA. The BA syllabus and subjects focus on understanding multiple disciplines such as English, Psychology, History, Geography, etc.
BA admission requires candidates to pass Higher Secondary (10+2) with a minimum of 40% aggregate and qualifying entrance exams such as IPU CET, BHU CET, JSAT, etc, based on the college requirement.BA 1st year is the most important year of a student's academic career for this respective course and establishes a foundation for the rest of the course tenure.
The BA job scope is vast due to nature expanding it into various specializations. A candidate after graduation can choose to work in the government sector as Civil Administrator, IAS, Police, or Civil Servant or in the private sector as a Content Writer, Copy Writer, Human Resource Manager, and many more.
| BA Courses | BA Entrance Exams |
Table of Contents
- Why choose BA course?
- Who should do a BA course
- Eligibility Criteria for BA
- BA admission process
- BA Entrance Exams
- Types of BA Courses
- BA Courses
- Fee Structure for BA
- Top BA Colleges in India
- Syllabus and Subjects for BA
- BA Course Comparison
- Preparation Tips for BA Course
- Courses After BA
- Salary of a BA Graduate
- BA Scholarships
- Career Options after BA
- Skills To Excel
Why Choose a Bachelor of Arts Course?
BA full form stands for Bachelor of Arts which is a study of various fields of Arts & Humanities. Some of the common queries that students encounter are, "What is BA" and "Why BA?" "what is the full form of BA?". To understand the answer to these questions, we can make it simpler by breaking it down into the following points:
To get adequate answers, Let's break them down into the following :
- According to the State of Art Market Report 2021, the collective turnover of Indian art sales registered a growth of Rs 880.9 crore in FY21.
- BA degree is a mix of many subjects that allows candidates to adapt to the changing demands of the employer and meet their needs.
- Students can gauge the intrinsic worth of a BA course because it offers more avenues of employment opportunities than any other stream.
- According to Indian Art Investor, the Indian art industry generated Rs 582.7 crore ($75.8 Million) in the first half of FY22-23.
- There is a diverse range of job roles available for the graduates of this course. Since the specializations available to the students are very flexible, it enables them to pursue a wide range of career roles.
Who Should do a BA Course?
In general, Students can pursue all the BA courses after 12th. Following is a list of prospective students who are qualified to enroll in the BA course:
- BA degree is for those aspirants that want to set up a career in humanities and social sciences.
- Candidates who completed their High School Degree (10+2) in any stream.
- Candidates who want to study English, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Communication Studies, etc.
- aspirants that want to set up a career in humanities and social sciences.
| Top BA Colleges in Inda |
Eligibility Criteria for BA Course
For BA admission, the students need to know the criteria for BA eligibility and all the BA course details.
- BA eligibility requires students to successfully pass their higher secondary examinations (10+2) with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognized education board in the Arts/Humanities stream preferably.
- Students have to qualify for the BA entrance exam
- There is no age limit to applying for this course.
BA Admission Process
BA admission is possible through both entrance examination and merit-based selection. Candidates applying for the BA degree should have their results from the respective entrance exam boards required by the selected/opted universities. Though the admission process varies from college to college.
Below are the steps that one should generally go through to get admission.
- BA course applications are available either online from the University website or offline by visiting the university's Admissions Office.
- The merit obtained by the candidates in their undergraduate degrees also plays an important role in BA admission
- Admission for the BA 1st year is typically in the month of August which is done by the entrance exams for the majority of the colleges
- Final selection for BA admission is based on the marks obtained by them in the entrance exams such as IPU CET, BHU UET, JSAT, etc.
- Colleges may conduct interviews before admissions to check if students have good communication skills.
| Comparison of BA with Similar Courses | Scope of BA For Higher Education |
BA Entrance Exams
Many popular colleges around the country have made a name for themselves by conducting internationally acclaimed research projects. These colleges often conduct entrance exams for BA admission, as the demand to enter these colleges is higher than the number of seats available.
Listed below are some of the popular exams:
| BA Entrance Exams | Registration Details |
| IPU CET | IPU CET Application Form |
| BHU UET | BHU UET Application Form |
| JSAT | JSAT Application Form |
| TISS NET | TISS NET Application Form |
| DU JAT | DU JAT Application Form |
A Quick Glance at the BA Entrance Exams
Students can access the BA course details by going to the college's official website to which they are interested in applying. The specialization plays a vital role in the college's approach to the entrance exam. Below listed are some of the general guidelines for the BA entrance examinations:
- The exam pattern includes English, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Thinking, and subject-specific questions according to the specialization.
- The papers are MCQ-based.
- The syllabus, mode of examination, and question pattern may change according to a university/conducting body.
Read more: Arts Entrance Exams
| IPU CET Exam Pattern | BHU UET Exam Pattern | JSAT Exam Pattern |
| TISSNET Exam Pattern | DU JAT Exam Pattern |
BA Entrance Exam Syllabus
Admission to the BA course is done through a number of entrance exams. The BA Entrance Exam syllabus mainly covers General Awareness, Logical Reasoning, General English, and Mathematics at 10+2 levels.
Types of BA Courses
The BA Full form is Bachelor of Arts which is consisted of several modes of study. Aspirants can pursue the BA course in full-time or part-time mode. Below are the BA course details of all the modes.
Full-Time BA
Full-time BA Duration is typically for 3 years, during which students will have to attend classes in person, submit assignments, and write their exams on campus. The advantage of this course is that students will gain a lot more exposure, experience, and knowledge through direct interaction with their peers and faculty.
Part-Time BA
The Part-time BA course is designed for students who cannot attend regular classes. Part-time courses either entail weekend or night classes or online classes, depending on the type of course. The advantage of this course is that students can pursue this course while simultaneously being engaged in employment, research, etc.
Distance BA
Distance BA is designed keeping the Distance Education methodology in mind. This course is designed for students who cannot afford to attend classes on-campus or those engaged in some form of employment and cannot take time out to pursue a full-time course.
Read More: Distance BA
BA Courses
Students have a multitude of specialisations to choose from under the BA course. One can download the BA courses list from the college website if they are unsure about which specialization to pursue. Popular BA courses are listed below:
- BA English
- BA Sociology
- BA Journalism & Mass Communication
- BA Psychology
- BA Economics
- BA History
- BA Political Science
- BA Philosophy
- BA LLB
- BA Hons
- BA Assamese
Other Popular BA specializations are listed below:
BA Courses Fees
The average BA course fees in India range between INR 10,000 - 1.5 LPA. The BA fees are not fixed and depend on many factors. Some of the factors which affect the BA admission fees include location, faculty, demand, infrastructure, and the facilities available to the students. Listed below are the details of BA course fees in renowned colleges.
|
Sl. No. |
Name of the Institute |
Tuition Fees |
Admission Fees |
Miscellaneous Fees |
|
1 |
Delhi University |
INR 80,000 |
INR 2,000 |
INR 18,000 |
|
2 |
St Stephens College |
INR 70,000 |
INR 3,000 |
INR 25,000 |
|
3 |
Miranda House |
INR 15,000 |
INR 1,000 |
INR 12,000 |
|
4 |
Madras Christian College |
INR 35,000 Lakhs |
INR 3,000 |
INR 17,000 |
|
5 |
Loyola College |
INR 30,000 |
INR 2,000 |
INR 15,000 |
Best BA Colleges in India
India is home to some of the BA colleges in the world. Depending on the type of BA programs offered, candidates will have to make the appropriate choice.
Below is the BA colleges list which contains the Top BA Colleges in India:
| Sl.No | Name of the College | Average Fees (INR) |
| 1 | LSR, New Delhi | 15,870 PA |
| 2 | Loyola College, Chennai | 11,400 PA |
| 3 | Christ University, Bangalore | 65,000 PA |
| 4 | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai | 7,000 PA |
| 5 | Miranda House, Delhi University | 14,160 PA |
| 6 | Hans Raj College, Delhi University | 18,000 PA |
| 7 | SRCC, New Delhi | 15,000 PA |
| 8 | Hindu College, Delhi University | 14,000 PA |
| 9 | Ramjas College, Delhi University | 11,850 PA |
| 10 | St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University | 35,000 PA |
Read More: BA Colleges in India
BA Colleges in Delhi
India’s capital city is home to some of the best institutions for BA in India. Check the table below for the top BA colleges in New Delhi:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | LSR |
| 2 | Miranda House |
| 3 | Hindu College |
| 4 | Hansraj College |
| 5 | Ramjas College |
Read More: BA Colleges in Delhi
BA Colleges in Pune
Pune also has some of the best institutions for BA in India. Check the table below for the top BA colleges in Pune:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | Fergusson College |
| 2 | Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce |
| 3 | St. Mira’s College for Girls |
| 4 | MES Abasaheb Garware College |
| 5 | Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce |
Read More: BA Colleges in Pune
BA Colleges in Bangalore
The capital city of Karnataka is renowned around the country for colleges offering top BA programs. Check the table below for the best BA colleges in India:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | Christ University |
| 2 | Vivekananda Degree College |
| 3 | Jain University |
| 4 | Kristu Jayanti College |
| 5 | Presidency College |
Read More: BA Colleges in Bangalore
BA Colleges in Mumbai
The capital city of Maharastra is renowned around the country for colleges offering top BA programs. Check the table below for the best BA colleges in Mumabi:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
Read More: BA Colleges in Mumbai
BA Colleges in Indore
The capital city of Madhyapradesh is home to some of the premier institutions for BA in India. Check the table below for the BA colleges in Indore:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 |
Read More: Top BA Colleges in Chennai
Top BA Colleges in Kolkata
West Bengal’s capital city, Kolkata, has some of the best BA colleges in India. Check the table below for the best BA colleges in Kolkata:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | Presidency College |
| 2 | St. Xavier’s College |
| 3 | Adamas University |
| 4 | Lady Brabourne College |
| 5 | Jadavpur University |
Read More: Top BA Colleges in Kolkata
Top BA Colleges in Hyderabad
The Telangana state capital has some of the best BA colleges in India. Check the table below for the top BA colleges in Hyderabad:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | Nizam College |
| 2 | AV College of Arts, Science and Commerce |
| 3 | Osmania University College for Women (UCW) |
| 4 | St. Ann’s College for Women |
| 5 | St. Francis College for Women |
Read More: Top BA Colleges in Hyderabad
Top BA Government Colleges
There are several top Government Colleges offering quality BA programs across the country. Check the table below for the best BA colleges in India under the state or central government bodies:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | LSR, New Delhi |
| 2 | Loyola College, Chennai |
| 3 | Miranda House, New Delhi |
| 4 | Presidency College, Chennai |
| 5 | Hindu College, New Delhi |
Top BA Private Colleges
India has seen significant growth in the number of quality BA private colleges that offer some of the best programs in the country. Check the table below for the top BA private colleges in India:
| Sl.No | Institution |
| 1 | St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai |
| 2 | Christ University, Bangalore |
| 3 | BML Munjal University (BMU), Gurgaon |
| 4 | MCC, Chennai |
| 5 | Fergusson College, Pune |
Subjects and Syllabus for Bachelor of Arts Course
BA full form is Bachelor of arts which has a very well-structured syllabus. BA course duration is for 3 years and spans over 6 semesters. The syllabi crux under BA course details is maintained throughout most colleges across the nation, although minor deviations may be observed for a few colleges.
Listed below are some BA subjects that the students get a chance to study:
- Contemporary Literature
- Political Theory - Concepts and Debates
- Classical Political Philosophy
- Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World
- Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Medieval World
BA 1st year Syllabus
BA 1 st year syllabus generally covers all the general studies under Social sciences, Liberal Arts, and Humanities. It mainly includes subjects such as English Literature, Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Sociology, and Language studies.
BA 2nd year syllabus
The syllabus for the BA 2nd Year focuses on the intrinsic areas of subjects and aims to provide necessary information regarding the core functionalities of the study and various subjects like Comparative Government & Politics, Public Administration, International Relations, and World History, etc.
BA 3rd Year Syllabus
The syllabus of BA 3rd Year mainly deals with the subjects based on specializations where students can opt for an area of study based on their interest.
Read More: BA Subjects and Syllabus
BA Course Comparison
BA stands for Bachelor of Arts and is typically catered to students interested in and inclined towards humanities and social sciences. Below is a comparison of the BA course with other courses:
BA vs B.Com
The table below showcases the differences between BA and B.Com:
| Course | BA | B.Com |
| Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor of Commerce |
| Stream | Arts and Humanities | Commerce |
| Course Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in any stream with 50% aggregate | 10+2 in commerce stream with 50% aggregate |
| Entrance Exams | IPU CET, BHU UET, JSAT, TISS NET, DU JAT | CA-ICAI, PUCETl, LPUNEST, IPU CET |
| Top Colleges | St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Christ University, Presidency College Chennai | St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Christ University |
| Fees | INR 4,000 - 65,000 LPA | INR 7,500 - 1 LPA |
Read More: B.Com
BA vs B.Sc
The table below showcases the differences between BA and B.Com:
| Course | BA | B.Sc |
| Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor of Science |
| Stream | Arts and Humanities | Science |
| Course Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in any stream with 50% aggregate | 10+2 in the science stream with 50% aggregate |
| Entrance Exams | IPU CET, BHU UET, JSAT, TISS NET, DU JAT | NEST, UPSEE, TS EAMCET, IEEE, NPAT |
| Top Colleges | St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Christ University, Presidency College Chennai | Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College, Presidency College Chennai |
| Fees | INR 4,000 - 65,000 LPA | INR 10,000 - 2 LPA |
Read More: BA vs B.Sc
BA vs BBA
The table below showcases the differences between BA and BBA:
| Course | BA | BBA |
| Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor of Business Administration |
| Stream | Arts and Humanities | Business Management |
| Course Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in any stream with 50% aggregate | 10+2 in commerce stream with 50% aggregate |
| Entrance Exams | IPU CET, BHU UET, JSAT, TISS NET, DU JAT | GGSIPU CET, DU JAT, SET, AIMA UGAT, NPAT |
| Top Colleges | St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Christ University, Presidency College Chennai | Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, NMIMS Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce |
| Fees | INR 4,000 - 65,000 LPA | INR 1 - 2.5 LPA |
Read More: BA vs BBA
Preparation Tips for BA Course
There are many tips that students must note when deciding to pursue a BA degree. Some important preparation tips are listed below to ensure that the students crack the course and pass the various assessments under BA exam without any hurdles.
- Improve Vocabulary: Improving vocabulary is very necessary as the BA course deals with many writing and reading activities. So having excellent communication and writing skills are a plus for the student studying the BA course.
- Read and Practice More: Being up to date with the syllabus every day is very important. Practising and reading more will help the student be thorough with the syllabus and do well in the exams.
- Have Intrinsic Knowledge and Interest in Subjects: Having intrinsic knowledge about the subject and having the same interest will keep the student motivated to learn more than what's in the syllabus.
- Revise Methodically: Revising from time to time can be a key to scoring well in the final exam. Keep revising regularly and understand the subject properly. Revision is the key to scoring good marks.
Courses after BA
BA degree full form stand for Bachelor of arts which consists of several specializations. Students can pursue these specializations in their post-graduate studies. Also, gaining more education can help students pursue a career in research if they are interested in it. Listed below are courses after BA available for students:
Salary of a BA Graduate
The BA salary for the graduates can differ according to the specialization that the aspirants decide to pursue. Other factors that can affect BA salary in India include experience, geography, and the industry they are working in. Graduates can increase their salary by doing internships and work placements as it would add to their experiences. The average BA jobs salary for graduates is around INR 2.5 - 3 LPA [Source: PayScale].
Read More: BA Salary
BA Scholarship
The Indian government provides a number of scholarships for students who wish to enrol in BA courses after 12 for people who are physically, mentally, or financially challenged. Those who meet the requirements can apply for a number of private and governmental scholarships. The following are several BA Scholarships:
- Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme
- Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship
- Saryu Doshi Graduate Fellowships in Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Scheme for Scholarships to Young artists in Different Cultural Fields
Read more: BA Scholarships
Career Options After BA Graduation
There are plenty of jobs available for students looking for a career in Humanities and Social Sciences. The job roles will differ based on the specialization that one has opted for. BA graduates have abundant job opportunities with good salary packages that include the following fields:
- Advertising
- Law
- Broadcast
- Library and Information Science
- Business Process Outsourcing Units
- Policing
- Civil Services
- International Relations
- Social Work
- Journalism and Mass Communication
Skills That Make You The Best BA Graduate
There are many complex and soft skills that BA graduates need to possess to succeed in their careers. These are not necessarily skills that students can get in a classroom setting. Instead, these are skills that are learned through experience. Therefore, students should always put in the effort to go out of their comfort zone and gain as much experience as possible. Some of these skills include:
- Quantitative Analysis Skills
- Research Skills
- Analytical Skills
- The Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Interpersonal Skills
| Other Popular UG/Diploma Courses | |
| B Pharmacy | BCA |
| BBA | D Pharmacy |
| BSc | MBBS |
| B.Com | B.Ed |
| B.Tech | D.EL.Ed |
Top BA [Bachelor of Arts] Colleges
Top Arts Entrance Exams
BA Fee Structure
FAQs
⭐Which BA course is best?
BA offers various specialization, one can pick from the wide range of choice based on their career goals and path of research. Some of the popular courses are: Economics, History, Sociology. Philosophy, Literature, Communication Studies, to name a few.
⭐What is BA salary?
The average salary range for BA graduate starts from INR 2 LPA and with time and experience can go up to INR 9 - 10 LPA
⭐Is BA a good degree?
With so many questions on Indian politics, history, and general knowledge in the preliminary tests for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and Provincial Civil Services (PCS), a BA is particularly helpful in preparing you for these exams.
⭐What can I do after Bachelor of Arts?
After graduation one can pursue MA courses, prepare and sit for Civil Service Examination, Specialize in writing and take up various roles in the domain of writing. BA offers candidates various grounds to explore after graduation.
⭐Which course has the highest salary in BA?
Media, Communication a d Journalism, followed closely by Literature, Economics, History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology. Psychology.
