Most Preferred Arts Courses after 12th 2024

If you have passed your 12th board exams in the humanities stream, then the first question that comes to the mind is “What are some of the best courses after the 12th?”, isn’t it? well if this question puzzles you, then you are surely in the right place!

Here in this article, we have explained in detail about the top courses & career options for Arts students after passing class 12th.

Even in today’s times, students who take up humanities subjects in their class 12th, aim to serve the nation as an IAS officer or a civil servant. On the one hand, where that is an extremely noble profession, the scope isn’t limited to this only! Keep on reading to know more. 

Conventional and Traditional Arts Courses After 12th

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is one of the most popular arts courses after 12th that focuses on the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and liberal arts disciplines. It is a versatile degree that offers a broad range of subjects and allows students to explore various academic areas.

Here’s a brief overview of a Bachelor of Arts degree:

• Duration and Eligibility: A BA degree program typically lasts for three years in India. To be eligible, students need to have completed their 12th-grade education from a recognised board or equivalent with an aggregate of 50% marks.
• Specializations: BA degrees offer a wide range of specializations to choose from. Some common specializations include English, History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Fine Arts, Linguistics, Anthropology, and Cultural Studies. These specializations allow students to gain in-depth knowledge and expertise in their chosen field of study.

• Curriculum: The curriculum of a BA degree program includes a combination of core subjects, electives, and specialization specific courses. It aims to provide students with a well-rounded education by incorporating subjects from different disciplines. The coursework typically involves lectures, seminars, tutorials, research papers, projects, and exams.
• Skill Development: A BA degree program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, analytical reasoning, research skills, effective communication, problem-solving, and creativity. It encourages students to think independently, analyze complex ideas, and express their thoughts effectively.
• Career Opportunities: A BA degree opens up a wide range of career opportunities with high salary in various sectors. Graduates can pursue careers in fields such as education, journalism, publishing, advertising, public relations, human resources, social work, research, administration, arts and culture, tourism, and non-profit organizations. The degree also serves as a foundation for further studies at the postgraduate level.

Fine Arts/Performing Arts Degrees 

To pursue a degree in Fine Arts is more driven by passion and zeal rather than a want for a high-paying job. If you are also interested in the same, know the various fields that draw your attention:

• Duration and Eligibility: A degree in Fine Arts or Performing Arts typically lasts for three to four years, depending on the program and institution. The eligibility criteria may vary, but generally, students need to have completed their 12th from a recognised board or equivalent with an aggregate of 50% marks. A relaxation of a minimum of 5% in total is in place for students belonging to the SC/ST/PwD category.
• Specializations: Fine Arts and Performing Arts degrees offer a range of specializations for students to choose from based on their interests and talents. Common specializations include Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Applied Arts, Theatre Arts, Dance, Music, Film and Television, and Creative Writing. These specializations allow students to develop their artistic skills and explore their chosen field in depth.
• Curriculum: The curriculum of a Fine Arts or Performing Arts degree combines theoretical knowledge with practical training. It includes a mix of foundational courses, specialized courses, studio practice, workshops, performances, and projects. The coursework varies depending on the chosen specialization but generally covers art history, art theory, technique development, practical skills, creative expression, and critical analysis.

• Skill Development: A Fine Arts or Performing Arts degree program aims to develop students’ artistic abilities, creativity, critical thinking, and technical skills. It emphasizes hands-on practice, experimentation, conceptual understanding, and the ability to communicate ideas through artistic expression. Students also develop skills such as teamwork, self-discipline, adaptability, and resilience.
• Career Opportunities: Graduates with a degree in Fine Arts or Performing Arts can pursue diverse career paths within the creative industries. They can work as professional artists, painters, sculptors, photographers, designers, actors, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, writers, art directors, art educators, curators, or arts administrators. Some graduates may choose to establish their own studios or freelance in their respective fields. Others may explore opportunities in galleries, museums, theatres, advertising agencies, production companies, and cultural organizations.

Top 20 Universities/Colleges Offering Arts Courses After 12th

These top universities in India offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various disciplines, including Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, and more. Considering your choice of stream/subject, you can opt for any of the below-mentioned universities:

1. University of Delhi (DU), Delhi
2. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi
3. University of Calcutta, Kolkata
4. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
5. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh
6. University of Mumbai, Mumbai
7. IIT Madras, Chennai
8. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
9. Jadavpur University, Kolkata
10. University of Allahabad, Prayagraj
11. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
12. Osmania University, Hyderabad
13. University of Calicut, Calicut
14. University of Rajasthan, Jaipur
15. University of Lucknow, Lucknow
16. University of Mysore, Mysore
17. University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
18. Panjab University, Chandigarh
19. Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
20. University of Kashmir, Srinagar

Students must keep in mind that in order to get admission to the top universities and colleges in India, they need to qualify for the Common Universities Entrance Test for Undergraduate Program (CUET UG).

Check 6 Best Commerce Courses After 12th with High Salary here!

Online/Distance Learning Mode (ODL)

Apart from the prestigious universities offering arts courses after the 12th in regular mode, there are universities and institutions offering vocational, degree, short-term term and various diploma distance learning courses after the 12th. Some of them are:

1. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
2. Sikkim Manipal University (SMU-DE)
3. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU)
4. Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education
5. University of Mumbai, Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL)
6. Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University (MPBOU)
7. Karnataka State Open University (KSOU)
8. Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU)
9. Nalanda Open University (NOU)
10. Uttarakhand Open University (UOU)
11. Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU)
12. Alagappa University, Directorate of Distance Education
13. University of Delhi, School of Open Learning (SOL)
14. University of Madras, Institute of Distance Education (IDE)
15. Kakatiya University, School of Distance Learning and Continuing Education

Check out Commerce Courses After 12th with High Salary!

Specialized Courses Under Humanities/Arts

Students might find this section the most informative and lucrative since it mostly contains the courses that are most sought after. Have a look:

Law

Pursuing a degree in law has been a dream of a lot of students since quite early in their lives. Here is how they can make the dream turn into reality:

Degree Courses in Law

• LLB 
• BA. LLB 
• BLS. LLB 
• BBA. LLB

Entrance Exam for Law

Students will have to qualify for the national/state-level law entrance examination in order to get admission to undergraduate law programs. Here are a few of the important ones:

• CLAT (Common Law Admission Test): It is the primary, All India level entrance examination that a student needs to qualify in order to get admission into various law colleges.
• CUET UG (Common Universities Admission Test): The most widely accepted score, as we mentioned before as well.
• AILET (All India Law Entrance Test): The National Law University, Delhi, conducts the entrance examination every year to admit students to various law courses. 
• BLAT (Banaras Law Admission Test): One of the most prestigious universities in India to offer law programs. The entrance exam is conducted each year.

Check the latest entrance exam news here!

Designing

Bachelor of Design or B.Des has been the talk of the town ever since, but it is definitely not limited to just fashion. Here is a list of the programs that have the term ‘design’ in them:

• Fashion Design
• Accessory/Jewellery Design
• Graphic Design
• Product Design
• Communication Design
• Industrial Design
• Furniture and Interior Design
• Animation Design
• Film and Video Design
• Visual Communication 

The streams mentioned above are mostly covered as undergraduate as well as diploma courses in most Indian institutions. As per the trend, students mostly go for either diploma or certificate courses in case of auxiliary designing courses.

Management

This booming industry has a lot more to offer than just a BBA or an MBA degree. Having a degree in management will open doors for you in finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, banking, business management, business analytics, tourism, information technology, e-commerce and a lot more such industries. Let’s see how.

Degree Courses in Management

• BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)
• BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management)
• BBM (Bachelor of Business Management)
• BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies)
• IPM (Integrated Program in Management)
• B.Com (Management) 
• Bachelor in Business Economics

Check popular diploma courses after 12th commerce here!

Entrance Exam for Management

Students will have to qualify for the national/state-level entrance examination in order to get admission to undergraduate management programs. Here are a few of the important ones:

• IPMAT (Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test): Qualifying for this examination would grant admission into a five-year course 5-year integrated program offered in the management field. 5 IIMs offer this course including IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi and IIFT. 
• CUET UG (Common Universities Admission Test): The most widely accepted score, as we mentioned before as well.
• DU JAT (Delhi University Joint Admission Test): One of the most prestigious institutions offering courses in management studies, the University of Delhi conducts this exam once a year in online mode.
• AIMA UGAT (All India Management Association Undergraduate Aptitude Test): It is a national-level entrance exam that grants admission to students for BBA courses. 
• GGSIPU CET (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test): GGS IPU’s management study courses are considered one of the best in the country. Hence, taking this admission test would unlock many avenues for you in the management sector.

Diploma Courses in Management

Students can go for diploma courses in management as well. Here is a list of the few most preferred ones:

• Business Management
• Retail Management
• Event Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Financial Management
• Human Resource Management
• Export and Import Management
• Advanced Diploma in Business Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Supply Chain Management
• International Business

Hotel Management

One of the most lucrative arts courses after 12th is pursuing a course in hotel management. The sector is already blooming with a lot of opportunities and is only set to rise. Here’s a comprehensive list of degree courses which you can take up after your class 12th:

• Bachelor of Hotel Management
• Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology
• B. Sc in hospitality and hotel management
• B.Voc in Hotel Management
• BA in hotel management
• BSc In Culinary Arts

Entrance Exam for Hotel Management

Students will have to qualify for the national/state-level entrance examination in order to get admission to undergraduate hotel management programs. Here are a few of the important ones:

• NCHM JEE (National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination):  The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts this entrance exam once a year to grant admission to students in B.Sc in Hospitality & Hotel Administration courses.
• AIMA UGAT (The All India Management Association Under Graduate Aptitude Test):  The entrance examination is conducted every year for admission of eligible candidates to the BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management) course.

Apart from the above mentioned national-level entrance examination, there are a lot of state and university specific entrance exams that are conducted to grant admission to students under various hotel management courses. Some of these are:

• IIHM eCHAT (International Institute of Hotel Management Electronic Common Hotel Admission Test)
• IPU CET BHMCT (IP University Common Entrance Test for Hotel Management and Catering Technology)
• PUTHAT (Punjab University conducts the Panjab University Tourism & Hospitality Aptitude Test)
• Oberoi STEP (Systematic Training and Education Program)
• IHM AEE (IHM Aurangabad Entrance Exam)
• UP CET BHMCT (The Uttar Pradesh Common Entrance Test for Hotel Management and Catering Technology)
• MAH BHMCT CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Hotel Management and Catering Technology)

Diploma Courses in Hotel Management

Students can go for diploma courses that offer immense practical knowledge and are valuable for enhancing the skills, much required in this particular sector:

• Hotel Management
• Bakery Operations
• Front Office Operations
• Hotel Management and Catering Technology
• Housekeeping Operations

Mass Communication & Journalism

With the advent of digital media, the need for journalism writing and mass media communication has grown manifold. If you are interested in opinionated writing, then there are various Mass Communication and Journalism courses available in India after class 12th. Some of the popular courses include:

• Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC), 
• Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC), 
• Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication (BA-JMC), 
• Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BA-Comm)

Entrance Exam for Mass Communication and Journalism

Most of the colleges/universities conduct their own entrance examinations. Some of the popular entrance examinations for Mass Communication and Journalism courses in India are:

• IIMC (Indian Institute of Mass Communication)
• ACJ (Asian College of Journalism)
• SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)
• Christ University Entrance Exam
• DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)
• IPU CET (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test) 

Apart from the above-mentioned entrance examinations, prestigious institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) also conduct institute specific entrance examinations. 

Diploma Courses in Journalism and Mass Communication

Students can go for diploma courses that offer immense practical knowledge and are valuable for enhancing the skills, much required in this particular sector:

• Journalism and Mass Communication
• Journalism & Media Management

Vocational Courses

Vocational courses are a great way to build your career in a specific field with the utmost skill enhancement and practical knowledge. Moreover, vocational courses must be a part of the daily curriculum which our current government is focusing a lot on. Here are a few most sought-after vocational courses that have high demand in the industry:

The most popular vocational courses after 12th are:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Training
• Digital Marketing
• Photography
• Beautician Courses
• Foreign Languages
• Translation
• Soft skills
• Personality development
• Catering Services
• Marketing & Advertising
• Tourism Management
• Communication and IT
• Cinematography
• Boutique Management
• Interior Design & Styling
• Diet & Nutrition
• Sports Nutrition
• Media Programming
• Non-Linear Editing (Final Cut Pro)
• Development Journalism

Conclusion

This article was an exhaustive guide to the multiple arts courses after 12th, offered by eminent universities in India. It’s important to note that the specific structure, curriculum, and opportunities for specialization may vary between institutions in the case of courses after 12th arts.

Prospective students should research different programs, and consider faculty expertise, facilities, alumni success, and the overall reputation of the institution before making a decision. You can comment your doubts related to this topic and more and our team shall be happy to help you out.

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