Difference between Fine Arts and Visual Arts: Course Level, Colleges, Fees, & TOP Recruiting Companies

Fine Arts is a broader term which includes visual arts, performing arts, and applied arts, which vary from painting to sketching to dance, filmmaking, animations, design and graphics to music. So, if you are opting to take up a course in Fine Arts, you are taught about various subjects, while in Visual Arts, students can opt to specialize in a subject when it comes to visual arts. We will help you understand the difference by splitting the two courses, talking about each course separately, the colleges which offer the two courses and the differentiation between the two. 

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a full-time, three-year course that allows students to explore and develop their creative talents. During the program, students can choose a specific area to specialise in and focus on sharpening their skills in that field. To join a BFA course, students need to fulfil the eligibility requirements and go through the admission process. For those looking to dive deeper and gain advanced knowledge in their chosen area, many universities also offer postgraduate courses in Fine Arts (MFA), which are ideal for specialisation and further learning. 

Eligibility Criteria: The student should have done their Class 12 from a recognised Board in any stream and should have secured a minimum of 45 per cent marks. However, the candidate receives a major boost if they have Art as a subject in their Class 12.

Admission Process: The candidate will have to follow the steps, which are as follows:

• Fill and Submit the Application Form: The candidate will first have to apply online on the official website of the University or college which is offering a course in Fine Arts. The candidate is required to register and apply online by entering the details required and paying the application fee to complete the application process.
• Entrance Exam: For admission, there are some Universities and Colleges which conduct Entrance Exams or Aptitude Tests. Generally for the course, students are offered admission based on merit, judging the marks secured in the qualifying examination.
• Results: Results are declared in the form of merit lists. Candidates who clear the entrance exam or make the list based on merit are offered admission to the University or college.
• Counselling: Students who make the merit list are required to attend the counselling session to complete the admission formalities by submitting their documents and paying the first semester/year fees to secure a seat.

Top Colleges Offering Fine Arts

What is Visual Arts?

A branch of Fine Arts, Visual Arts deals with work which is visual such as ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, filmmaking, design and graphics. Even Architecture is a form of visual art as all of the mentioned topics deals with visuals. Also, Design is included in visual arts which have applied arts such as Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design and more.

By opting for a course in Visual Arts, students can take up a specialisation and begin their course by refining their skills and also have the option to take an elective and study the subject as well. In art, all subjects and topics go hand in hand as art requires creativity, innovativeness and an aesthetic sense. After Class 12, students can opt to take up a Bachelor's in Visual Arts. The duration of the course is generally three or four years.

BVA: Highlights

Candidates can check the table below to learn all about the BVA course. Candidates can check course highlights such as course level, course duration, entrance exams, average salaries, course fees, top recruiters and top job profiles. Candidates can refer to the highlights for a quick reference:

About BVA

A Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) is a three or four-year course which is offered by various Universities and Colleges in the nation. Students can opt to take a specialisation in the above-mentioned courses. Students are required to meet the eligibility criteria and follow the admission process to secure admission to the University interested in.

Eligibility Criteria: The candidate needs to have done their Class 12 from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 45% to be eligible. If the candidate has Art as a subject in their Class 12, the subject acts as a major boost in the admission process.

• Fill and Submit the Application Form: The candidate will first have to select the University or college which is offering a course in Visual Arts. The candidate is required to register and apply online by entering the details required and paying the application fee to complete the application process.
• Entrance Exam: For admission, there are some Universities and Colleges which conduct Entrance Exams or Aptitude Tests. Generally for the course, students are offered admission based on merit that is judging the marks secured in the qualifying examination.
• Results: Results are declared in the form of merit lists. Candidates who clear the entrance exam or make the list based on merit are offered admission to the University or college.
• Counselling: Students who make the merit list are required to attend the counselling session to complete the admission formalities by submitting their documents and paying the first semester/year fees to secure a seat.

Top Colleges Offering BVA

Here is the list of top colleges that offer BVA courses in India. 

• MSU of Baroda

• Bangalore School of Design
• St. Paul’s College
• Poornima University
• Vogue Institute of Art and Design
• NIMS University
• Parul University

Choosing between two courses, such as Fine Arts and Visual Arts, is based on one's passion, interest, and career goals. The Fine Arts course is related to the traditional art forms such as painting, sculpture, and printmaking. However, Visual Arts consists of a wider spectrum, which incorporates the new age artistic fields such as graphic design, digital media, photography, and more. 

Both the art fields are open with many options because candidates can pursue diplomas, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses in fine arts and Visual arts as well. However, the Visual Arts is a more tech-driven syllabus compared to the Fine Arts courses. When it comes to job opportunities, Fine Arts graduates can explore career options in independent art practice, academia or galleries and Visual Arts candidates can go for film studios, advertising agencies, design firms, and tech companies. Top recruiters in Visual Arts include Infosys, TCS (for UI/UX roles), and Wieden+Kennedy, animation houses like Toonz and Technicolour. 

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