Bachelor of Arts focuses on subjects such as Humanities, Social Studies and Liberal Arts. There are a variety of specializations like History, English, Philosophy, Economics, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, etc to pursue in Bachelor of Arts. The average duration of a Bachelor of Arts ranges from 3 years for both regular and distance courses. Post completing a BA degree, students can choose to study further such as MA and Ph.D. in the same or relevant discipline.
Advantages of B.A.
Learning Career Skills
Anyone who graduates with a bachelor's degree learns important job skills. No matter what the size of a college, the purpose of getting a bachelor of arts degree is to give the student a good background, which can prepare the student for many activities. These skills include effective writing, public speaking and critical thinking.
Learning Life Skills
College time is a time of transformation. During this time, the student learns the art of managing money, managing time, balancing work and health and having a commitment to himself in a negative environment like the real world. For example, a student who does not submit his / her paper at a time simply suffers from poor grade results. An employee who does not submit an important report may lose his or her job.
Communication Opportunities
During the college years, a student may come in contact with people from many different walks of life and with many different backgrounds ahead of them. This can lead to greater opportunities for communication.
BA Eligibility
Students who have successfully passed their higher secondary examinations (10+2) from a recognized education board with science, arts, or commerce stream can opt for a B.A course. Some of the colleges and universities conduct entrance exams for students to be eligible for the course. While other colleges require students to have scored a minimum of 50% in their 12th exams.
What is BA All About?
A Bachelor of Arts Degree or BA course is an undergraduate arts degree awarded to students, usually in a branch of the Liberal Arts. The Bachelor of Arts degree is one of the oldest and most popular programs globally. BA degree is a mix of many subjects that allows candidates to adapt to the changing demands of the employer and meet their needs. The BA course enhances the candidates’ communication, research, and analytical skills.
BA: Bachelor of Arts Course- Key Points
Following are the key points and Highlights of the BA course-
| Course Level | Graduation |
| course Duration | 3 years in India (4years in some other countries) |
| Eligibility | 10+2 or Intermediate from any Recognized University |
| Admission Process | Direct admission, based on intermediate marks. some top colleges conduct counseling |
| Tuition fees | 5 thousand per year to 50 thousand per year. |
| Exam Type | yearly in most of the colleges, some even conduct semester wise exams |
| Starting Average Salary | 1.5 lakhs to 4 lakhs per year |
| Job profile | Teacher, writer, publisher, Editor |
| Placement Opportunities | Banks, government Jobs, Relinace, colleges, newspaper |
| Top Achievement | most of the students who qualify for UPSC are from Arts background |
Types of Bachelor of Arts
Other than a regular Bachelor of Arts of 3 years duration, an aspirant can pursue BA in distance mode or online mode, designed as per the demands of individuals who want to pursue Bachelor of Arts from their homes, or along with their full-time jobs.
| Types of BA | Eligibility | Duration | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time BA | 10+2 from a recognised board with 50% marks | 3 years | INR 10,000 - 80,000 |
| Distance BA | 10+2 qualifying degree from a recognized board. | 3-6 Years | INR 6,000 - 20,000 |
| Online BA | 10+2 degree from a recognized board. | 3 years | INR 40 000 to 1,00, 000 |
Full Time BA
Distance BA
Online BA
Distance BA
Distance BA is a 3-6 years correspondence course. IGNOU, TNOU, Karnataka State Open University are the top BA distance education colleges in India. The syllabus is almost the same as a regular course and there are weekly classes that the student has to attend.
See More: BA Distance Education Colleges in India
Distance BA: Admission 2023
Distance BA Admission is done on the basis of merit. The students will have to apply in the college the student is interested in and the students will be selected on the basis of marks obtained in Class 12.
The documents that are required for the admission process of BA Distance Education are mentioned below:
IGNOU BA
| Duration | 3-6 Years |
| Fees (INR) | 6000 |
| Eligibility |
10+2 or its equivalent or BPP from IGNOU. |
Distance BA From DU
| Average Fees | INR 3,400-3,600 |
| Specializations | General, Political Science, English |
| Application Dates | To be Announced |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with at least 45% marks in the best five subjects |
| Duration | 3 Years |
Distance BA in Nalanda Open University
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Fees (INR) | 2400 |
| Eligibility | Intermediate in any stream |
| Application Dates | To be Announced |
BA Syllabus
BA syllabus depend upon the course taken, but following are the common BA subjects taught throughout the course duration, along with electives:
| BA Subjects & Syllabus | ||
|---|---|---|
| BA English Syllabus | ||
| English Literature | Concurrent – Discipline Centered | Anglo-American Writing from 1930/ Literary Theory/ Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries/ Modern European Drama |
| Twentieth-Century Indian Writing | Contemporary Literature | Nineteenth-Century European Realism/ Classical Literature/ Forms of Popular Fiction |
| Concurrent – Qualifying Language | - | - |
| BA Political Science Syllabus | ||
| Constitutional Government and Democracy in India | Generic Elective | Indian Political Thought |
| Understanding Political Theory | Language - MIL/ English Environmental Science | Classical Political Philosophy |
| Political Process in India | Introduction to Comparative Government & Politics | Modern Political Philosophy |
| Political Theory-Concepts and Debates | Environmental Science Language - MIL/ English | Modern Indian Political Thought |
| Ability Enhancement Course | Pol. Process & Inst. in Comparative Perspective | Ability Enhancement Course |
| Perspectives on International Relations | Perspectives on Public Administration | Public Policy and Administration in India |
| Generic Elective | Global Politics | - |
| BA History Syllabus | ||
| History of India | Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World | Generic Elective (Interdisciplinary Any Four): Environmental Issues In India, Research Methodology in History, Making of Contemporary India, Delhi: Ancient, Delhi: Medieval, Delhi: Modern or Issues in the Contemporary World Any Two: Understanding Heritage/ Art Appreciation: An Introduction to Indian Art/ Archives and museums/ Understanding Popular Culture |
| Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Medieval World | Rise of Modern West | History of Modern East Asia |
| History of Modern Europe | History Of Southeast Asia: 19th Century | - |
| BA Philosophy Syllabus | ||
| Indian Philosophy | Logic | Philosophy of Language (Indian & Western) |
| Greek Philosophy | Ethics | Philosophy of Religion (Indian & Western) |
| Western Philosophy: Descartes to Kant | Social & Political Philosophy: Indian and Western | Truth Functional Logic |
| Applied Ethics | Text of Indian Philosophy | Continental Philosophy |
| Text of Western Philosophy | Analytic Philosophy | - |
| BA Economics Syllabus | ||
| Introductory Microeconomics | Mathematical Methods for Economics | Discipline-Specific Elective |
| Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | Generic Elective | Development Economics |
| Introductory Macroeconomics | Mathematical Methods for Economics | Development Economics |
| Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | Intermediate Microeconomics | Indian Economy |
| Statistical Methods for Economics | Skill Enhancement Course | Indian Economy |
| Intermediate Microeconomics & Macroeconomics | Introductory Econometrics | Skill Enhancement Course |
| BA Archeology | ||
| Methodology and Perspectives of Social Science | History of Art and Architecture in India | Making of Modern Kerala |
| Basics of Archeology | Introduction to Sociology | Development of Sociological Theory |
| Cultural Transition in Pre-Modern Kerala | Methods of Archeology | History of Folklore |
| BA Sociology Syllabus | ||
| Methodology and Perspectives of Social Science | History of Art and Architecture in India | Introduction to Archives and Records |
| Basics of Archeology | Introduction to Sociology | Archival Conservation and Reprography |
| Cultural Transition in Pre-Modern Kerala | Methods of Archeology | Growth of Indian Archeology |
| History of Folklore | Development of Sociological Theory | Archeological Sites and Monuments in India |
| Making of Modern Kerala | Informatics | Governmental Machinery and Processes |
| Basics of Indian Numismatics | Introduction to Political Science | Development of Numismatics in India |
| Understanding the Past | Early Societies in India | - |
| BA Anthropology Syllabus | ||
| Introduction to Social Anthropology | Introduction to Biological Anthropology | Fundamental of Human Origins and Evolution |
| Archeological Anthropology-I & II | Technical Writing & Communication in English/ Computational Skills | Anthropology In Practice |
| Anthropology of Kinship | Biostatistics and Data Analysis | Field work dissertation |
| Theories of Culture and Society | Human Genetics | Genomic Diversity in Human Populations |
| Primate Biology / Cell Biology-I | Molecular Biology-I & II | Genetics & Genomics |
| Tribes and Peasants in India | Anthropology of religion, politics & economy | Human Ecology: Social and Cultural Dimensions |
| Biodiversity & Indigenous Knowledge / Cell Biology II | Anthropology of India | Biological Diversity in Human Populations |
| Human Ecology: Biological Dimensions | - | - |
| BA Rural Studies | ||
| Elements of Rural Development | Rural Development Policies and Programmes | Indian Rural Social Scene |
| Indian Rural Economic Scene | - | - |
| BA Geography Syllabus | ||
| Geomorphology | Climatology | Disaster Management |
| Cartographic Techniques | Geography of Population | Optional: Agricultural Geography, BioGeography, Political Geography, Geography of Tourism, Contemporary Environmental Issues and Rural Development |
| Concurrent – Qualifying Language | Analytical Physical Geography | Field Techniques |
| Oceanography | Thematic Cartography (Practical) | Geographical Information System |
| Geography of Settlements | Concurrent – Credit Language | Evolution of Geographical Thought |
| Economic Geography | Environmental Geography | Regional Planning: Case Studies |
| Remote Sensing (Practical) | Urban Geography | Geography of India |
| Concurrent – Interdisciplinary | Geography of Natural Resources | Social Geography |
| Spatial Dimensions of Development | Statistical Methods in Geography | - |
| BA Social Work | ||
| Beginnings of Social Work | Fundamental of Social Work | Research in Social Work |
| Sociology for Social Work | Concurrent Field Work | NGO Movement |
| Concurrent- Qualifying Language | Basic Concepts in Psychology | Social Welfare and Administration |
| Contemporary Social Concerns | Social Psychology | Areas of Social Work Practice II |
| Concurrent- credit Language | Working with Individuals | Social Policy and Social Development |
| Working with Groups | Social Deviance and Social Problems | Social Action and Movements |
| Community Organization | Communication and Development | Social Legislation and Human Rights |
| Physical, Mental and Community Health | - | - |
| BA Psychology Syllabus | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-I | Health Psychology |
| Environmental Science | General Psychology | Counseling Psychology |
| Psychology for Health and Well-being | Understanding Psychological Disorders | Community Psychology |
| English Communication | Youth, Gender and Identity | Organizational Behavior |
| Development of Psychological | Psychological Research | Positive Psychology |
| Psychology of Individual Differences | Biopsychology | Developmental Psychology |
| Social Psychology | Emotional Intelligence | Human Resource Management |
| Psychology at Work | Stress Management | Dealing with Psychological Disorders |
| Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-II | Applied Social Psychology | - |
BA Subjects
| English | Psychology |
| Philosophy | History |
| French | Sociology |
| Journalism and Mass Communication | Media Studies |
| Religious Studies | Any Other Linguistics Course |
BA Elective Subjects
Some of the BA Course electives are tabulated below:
| Elements of Rural Development | Understanding Human Language | Archaeological Anthropology |
| Urban Geography | Economy and Society | Introductory Econometrics |
| Communication and Development | Ethics In Public Domain | Philosophy of mind |
| Developmental Psychology | Environmental Issues In India | Global Politics |
| Contemporary Literature | Public Policy and Administration in India | Ability Enhancement Course |
BA Specializations
The specialisation under BA Course are mentioned below. Bachelor of arts has a lot of specializations to choose from like BA Hindi, BA English, BA LLB, BA Psychology, etc.
BA Hindi
BA Hindi IGNOU
| Particulars | Details |
| Duration | 3-6 Years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 or its equivalent or BPP from IGNOU |
| Fees (INR) | 9,600 |
BA English
BA English IGNOU
| Particulars | Details |
| Duration | 3-6 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 or its equivalent or BPP from IGNOU |
| Fees (INR) | 1,700 |
BA LLB
Check Out: BA LLB Colleges
Top BA Specializations
| BA Economics | BA Geography |
| BA Sociology | BA History |
| BA Sanskrit | BA Persian |
| BA Gujrati | BA French |
| BA Political Science | BA Sanskrit |
| BA Education | BA Drawing and Painting |
| BA Music Vocal | BA Home Science |
| BA Fine Arts | BA Social Science |
| BA Film Studies | BA Comparative Literature |
| BA Astrology | BA Media Science |
| BA Social Work | BA Urdu |
| BA Tourism | BA Telugu |
| BA Tamil | BA Rural Development |
| BA Punjabi | BA Philosophy |
| BA Fashion Designing | BA Dance |
| BA Acting | BA Business Economics |
| BA Journalism | BA Anthropology |
Top BA Colleges in India
Top BA colleges in India are centered around major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, etc. The tables below will discuss the top BA colleges across 5 metropolitan cities in India,
BA Colleges in Mumbai
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College | 4,825 |
| KC College | 10,815 |
| Wilson College | 4,095 |
| NMIMS BSSA | 4,27,000 |
| NMIMS JDSOLA | 4,52,000 |
| Mithibai College of Arts | 8,000 |
| Amity University Mumbai | 80,000 |
| Whistling Woods International | 9,00,000 |
| SP Jain School of Management | 12,77,940 |
| DG Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce | 5,805 |
BA Colleges in Delhi
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Lady Shri Ram College for Women | 20,370 |
| Miranda House | 14,160 |
| Hindu College | 17,560 |
| Hansraj College | 20,545 |
| Indian Institute of Art and Design | 4,68,975 |
| Ramjas College | 13,495 |
| Jesus and Mary College | 15,610 |
| Gargi College | 12,295 |
| Sri Venkateswara College | 12,405 |
| Delhi College of Arts and Commerce | 9,095 |
BA Colleges in Kolkata
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| St Xaviers College | 32,600 |
| Asutosh College | 4,730 |
| Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose College | 8,600 |
| Sarsuna College | 2,100 |
| University of Calcutta | 2,899 |
| Bangabasi College | 4,810 |
| Charuchandra College | 5,410 |
| Chittaranjan College | 2,905 |
| Deshbandhu College for Girls | 4,530 |
| Maharaja Sris Chandra College | 2,450 |
BA Colleges in Bangalore
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| St Joseph’s College | 28,800 |
| Universal Group of Institutions | 1,50,000 |
| Brindavan Group of Institutions | 1,05,600 |
| RS College of Management | 2,00,000 |
| SEA College of Arts and Commerce | 55,000 |
| SJR College of Arts, Commerce and Science | 6,000 |
| BWMC | 2,92,955 |
| Bangalore University | 1,857 |
| The National Degree College | 9,000 |
| London American City College | 20,000 |
BA Colleges in Pune
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| St Mira College for Girls | 19,350 |
| Abeda Inamdar Senior College | 9,240 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University | 16,000 |
| Hutatma Rajguru Mahavidyalaya | 7,120 |
| Tikaram jagannath College of Arts, Commerce and Science | 5,400 |
| MU College of Commerce | 2,400 |
| MIT Art, design and Technology University | 45,000 |
| TCC Pune | 4,010 |
| SMNC Pune | 2,730 |
Top BA Colleges Abroad
Aspirants can find top BA colleges in US, UK and Canada to pursue various specializations in BA courses.
BA Colleges in USA
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Stanford University | 58.43 Lakhs |
| MIT | 40.67 Lakhs |
| University of California | 34.75 Lakhs |
| Columbia University | 46.59 Lakhs |
| University of Chicago | 44.22 Lakhs |
| Princeton University | 39.01 Lakhs |
| Yale University | 47.39 Lakhs |
| Cornell University | 46.29 Lakhs |
| University of Pennsylvania | 39.89 Lakhs |
| Johns Hopkins University | 42.81 Lakhs |
BA Colleges in UK
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | 35.15 Lakhs |
| University of Oxford | 26.06 Lakhs |
| University College London | 18.48 Lakhs |
| University of Edinburgh | 29.46 Lakhs |
| Kings College of London | 30.40 Lakhs |
| University of Manchster | 20.85 Lakhs |
| University of Glasgow | 20.92 Lakhs |
| University of Bristol | 18.16 Lakhs |
| University of Southampton | 20.29 Lakhs |
| University of Warwick | 17.45 Lakhs |
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 36.02 Lakhs |
| University of British Columbia | 25.43 Lakhs |
| McGill University | 13.42 Lakhs |
| University of Montreal | 11.37 Lakhs |
| University of Alberta | 17.45 Lakhs |
| McMaster University | 21.09 Lakhs |
| University of Calgary | 13.11 Lakhs |
| University of Waterloo | 25.51 Lakhs |
| University of Ontario Institute of Technology | 14.37 Lakhs |
BA Colleges in Australia
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Australian National University | 22.03 Lakhs |
| University of Melbourne | 18.79 Lakhs |
| University of NSW | 19.19 Lakhs |
| University of Sydney | 20.14 Lakhs |
| University of Queensland | 25.67 Lakhs |
| Monash University | 8.84 Lakhs |
| University of Adelaide | 22.51 Lakhs |
| University of Western Australia | 18 Lakhs |
| Macquarie University | 15.95 Lakhs |
| University of Wollongong | 12.79 Lakhs |
BA Scope
Courses After BA
You can pursue MA in various specializations like:
| MA Development Studies | MA Gender Studies | MA Journalism | MA Sociology |
| MA History | MA Education | MA International Relations | MA English |
| MA Economics | MA Psychology | MA Political Science | MA Anthropology |
BA Jobs
After doing a Bachelor of Arts, you have a wide array of options of industry jobs, higher education and government sector jobs.
BA Jobs: Top Recruiters
| Company Name | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Accenture | INR 3.39 L |
| TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) | INR 2.02 L |
| HCL Technologies | INR 2.1 L |
| Genpact | INR 2.28 L |
| HDFC Bank | INR 2 L |
| Cognizant | INR 3 L |
| Deloitte | INR 2.9 L |
Top BA Job Profiles
| Job Profile | Description |
|---|---|
| Content Creator | Content creators can be employed in any field ranging from copywriting to travel writing, blogging, etc. They are also required in big MNCs to develop content for brands and advertising. |
| Academic Writing | Academic writers usually write content for research articles or papers and edit the already written articles for further modifications. |
| Air Hostess/ Flight Attendant | They are responsible for the safety of passengers inside the flight, taking care of them and serving them onboard. |
| Political Consultant | A political consultant studies the origin, development, and operation of political systems, which may include public opinion, ideology, political decision-making, |
| Author/ Writer | An Author writes fictional, academic, nonfictional or any genre of books or short stories, apart from different sorts of literature mediums. |
| Historian | A historian usually writes or outlines the chronological account or record of past or current events in history, dealing with some phase of human activity, either in terms of individuals, or social, ethnic, political, or geographic groupings. |
| Psychologist | Psychologist employs their education and practical knowledge to provide diagnostic interviews, psychological testing, and individual, group psychotherapy, etc. They can work individually or may work as part of a multidisciplinary team or professionals. |
| Executive Assistant | An Executive Assistant performs the role similar to a secretary or administrative assistant. They usually perform tasks from accepting and making phone calls, setting business meeting agendas reviewing incoming reports, etc. |
| Counselor | A counselor guides students or professionals about their careers and studies as per the client’s interests. They work either individually or under some counseling company. |
| Foreign Language Expert | Foreign language experts are the professionals who help to translate conversations and written files to overcome language barriers in business and communication. |
| Social Worker | Social work can be done in any field like child labor, women's rights, unemployment, anima services, etc. There are so many government institutions and organizations which require social workers. They are also employed by national and international NGOs. |
| Archaeologist | An Archaeologist investigates historic and prehistoric sites and examines the physical remains to understand human links to the past and to preserve past cultures. |
After BA Government Jobs
Many Bachelor of Arts students give exams like UPSC, IAS, SSC, etc. to get a job with a higher pay scale in the government sector. You can also clear the bank exams and get employment as a manager or senior executive in a bank.
| Company Name | Last Date to Apply |
|---|---|
| National Book Trust | 4th January 2023 |
| TANUVAS | 22nd December 2023 |
| IIT Kanpur | 15th December 2023 |
| Competition Commission of India | 17th December 2023 |
| Women and Child Development | 17th December 2023 |
| Deendayal Post Trust | 5th December 2023 |
| SFRI Jabalpur | 10th November 2023 |
| Air India Limited | 18th September 2023 |
| IIM Bangalore | 31st December 2023 |
| NIT Patna | 8 November 2023 |
BA Salary
Below are the major Bachelor of Arts jobs with role description and average salary offered:
| Job Profile | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Content Creator | 3.5 L |
| Academic Writing and Editing | 4 L |
| Air Hostess/ Flight Attendant | 6 L |
| Political Consultant | 7.5 L |
| Author/ Writer | 4.5 L |
| Historian | 4.5 L |
| Psychologist | 4.2 L |
| Executive Assistant | 6 L |
| Counsellor | 3.5 L |
| Foreign Language Expert | 4 L |
| Social Worker | 2.9 L |
| Archaeologist | 3.5 L |
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 exams without any hurdles.
Why Choose BA?
When students decide to pursue the BA qualification, they should research BA course details to ensure that they know the course they are enrolled in. Some of the common queries that students encounter are, "What is BA" and "Why BA?". To understand the answer to these questions, we can make it simpler by breaking it down into the following three short questions:
Syllabus and Subjects for BA.
The course syllabi included in the curriculum of some of the most popular BA courses are tabulated below. The crux of the syllabus is maintained throughout most colleges across the nation, although minor deviations may be observed for a few colleges. Listed below are some subjects that the students get a chance to study:
BA admission is possible through both entrance examination and merit-based selection. Many universities offer direct and entrance exam-based admission to the BA course. Candidates applying for the BA degree should have their results from the respective entrance exams 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.
How to Apply?
The BA degree course applications are available either online from the University website or offline by visiting the university's Admissions Office. In addition, some colleges may conduct interviews before admissions to check if students have good communication skills. Candidates applying for the Bachelor of Arts program should have all the necessary documents before the entrance test, such as class 12 results and ID verification.
Selection Process
The selection process for the courses under BA in India is usually the same irrespective of the specialization. Generally, once the application for the course is received, colleges decide on the final selection of the candidates based on the marks obtained by them in the entrance exams. Additionally, the merit obtained by the candidates in their undergraduate degrees also plays an important role.
Entrance exams are a common and popular means for some colleges to have a screening to decide which student must be admitted to the course. Many popular colleges around the country have made a name for themselves by conducting internationally acclaimed research projects. These colleges often conduct Entrance exams, as the demand to enter these colleges is higher than the number of seats available. Listed below are some of the popular exams:
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 of the BA entrance examinations:
