Top 10 Photography Colleges in India: Courses, Fees, Eligibility

Top 10 Photography Colleges in India: Courses, Fees, Eligibility

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Updated on May 9, 2025 18:30 IST
Photography is mastering the art of capturing the right emotion at the right time. Students who are looking for some of the top ten photography colleges in India should read this complete Shiksha article to become a professional photographer and to get an idea of how to get to their professional journey. 
top 10 photography colleges

Remember the time when we were kids and our parents captured so many moments in those pictures? But the most special thing about those pictures is that you remember the exact moment and memory, and that is the magic of photography. Capturing the memories in a way that lasts forever, and you smile every time you look at those pictures. The art of photography demands a lot more creativity and observation, along with technical skills. 

Those budding photographers feel like snapping a picture whenever there is lovely weather, natural beauty, or delicious cuisine. They should start by studying and pursuing the same field they are so passionate about, and get admission to the best photography colleges in India. One can start experimenting with different frames and events to capture photos such as family functions, changing weather, nature, celebrations of loved ones and places they reside. Initially, there are chances that someone started photography as a hobby, but with time, it becomes an integral part of their day-to-day life, and they feel like pursuing photography as their professional career

It is better to start from the basics of photography and then move towards the advanced level if a person wants to become an established photographer. Also, it is better to work as a photographer from the initial stage to avoid along with studies and for that, candidates should enrol for the best photography courses in India or abroad. 

Table of content
  • Top 10 Photography Colleges in India
  • MIT-WPU
  • Lovely Professional University
  • Creative Hut Institute of Photography
  • Light and Life Academy
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University
  • Asian Academy of Film and Television
  • Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts
  • National Institute of Photography
  • Osmania University
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Top 10 Photography Colleges in India

India has many colleges that offer an Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Certificate or Diploma programme in Photography. The syllabus of such courses varies according to the module and the duration of the course. Candidates can see the best photography colleges in India in the table below:

Colleges Name Courses Offered Duration
MIT-WPU BA in Photography 3-years
Diploma in Photography 1-year
Lovely Professional University Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) 4-years
Diploma in Digital Photography 1-year
Creative Hut Institute of Photography Professional Diploma in Photography and Cinematography (Specialisation: Wildlife, Travel, Photojournalism, Fashion, Product and Food Photography 10-months
Light and Life Academy PG Diploma in Photography 6 months to 1 year
Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University B.A. (Hons.) in Photography and Digital Imaging 3-years
B.F.A. in Photography and Visual Communication 4-years
Asian Academy of Film and Television Diploma in Still Photography 1-year
Certificate in Still Photography 3 months
B.A. in Still Photography 3-years
Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts BFA in Applied Arts 4-years
National Institute of Photography Diploma in Photography 7 months
Certificate in Photography 15 days
Osmania University BFA in Fine Arts 4-years
The Indian Institute of Digital Art and Animation Diploma in Film and Photography 1-year
Post Graduate Diploma in Film and Photography 1-year

MIT-WPU

MIT-WPU is one of the premier institutions of higher learning in India, and it offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, and Ph.D. courses in numerous streams. MIT entrance exam, i.e., MIT WPU CET is particularly conducted for admission to the UG and PG courses. Apart from this, MIT Pune admissions are also done based on valid scores of national-level entrance exams such as JEE MainMHT CETPERA CETCAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT and NEET-UG, among others for admission to BTech, MBA and BPharm courses. The college infrastructure consists of a library, hostel, sports complex, lab, cafeteria, gym and auditorium.

Location- Pune, Maharashtra

Ownership- Private

Fees: The total fee of MIT WPU for a Diploma in Photography is INR 1.25 L, and for a BA in Photography is INR 8.25 L.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

Placement: The top recruiters of MIT WPU in 2022 included IBM, HCL, Michelin India, Amdocs, Infosys, ONGC, Hitachi, etc.

Also Read: Diploma in Photography in India 2024-25: Top Colleges, Eligibility, Jobs & Salary

Lovely Professional University

Established in 2005, Lovely Professional University (LPU) is approved by UGC, UGC-DEB, NCTE, PCI, BCI, COA, PSCAE, ITPI, Indian Association of Physiotherapists, and AICTE. LPU University is accredited by ACBSP and ICAR. LPU Punjab is a member of the AIU, IAU, IIE, The Institution of Engineers (India), and ACU. Lovely University is ranked 23 by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 among the Top Universities of India. The college infrastructure includes a library, hostel, sports complex, gym, labs and auditorium. LPU admission 2024 is a multi-step process, including application, selection rounds and result declaration.

Location- Jalandhar, Punjab

Ownership- Private

Fees: Total fees for the BFA course is INR 4 Lakh, and for the Diploma in Digital Photography is INR 81.2 K.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

Placement: During the School of Education, LPU placement 2024, the students got placement in prestigious institutions of Metro, NCR, and other top cities of Maharashtra, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and more.

Creative Hut Institute of Photography

Established in 2007, the Creative Hut Institute of Photography is known for its unique educational system based on Gurukul (residential school). The institute is located on the banks of the river, Pannagam Thadu at Mattakkara, which is about 20 km away from Kottayam. The notable feature of the institute is its dedication to providing strong photography education and expertise to students in a residential programme so that they are completely prepared for a future career in Photography and Cinematography. The college infrastructure includes a hostel, library, sports complex etc. 

Location- Kottayam, Kerala

Ownership- Private

Fees: Total fees for courses offered at Creative Hut Institute of Photography is INR 2.6 lakhs.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 for enrolling in both programmes.

Also Read:

Light and Life Academy

Established in 2001 by a famous advertising photographer, Iqbal Mohamed, Light and Life Academy has a good student-to-teacher ratio. The college has diverse programs which can be chosen by the students. It offers Diploma courses, including 4 PG courses. These programs are offered in full-time mode. Light and Life Academy is a well-known institution for PG Diploma courses. These programs are delivered by highly experienced faculty. The college has fourteen studios, among other infrastructure such as a library, auditorium, design studio, etc. The admission is given based on portfolio review and Zoom interaction.

Q:   What types of courses are offered at Mumbai University?
A:

Mumbai University offers over 2,000 UG, PG, diploma, doctoral and certificate programmes in various fields such as Engineering, Arts, Science, Management, Accounting, Law, Library Sciences, Fine Arts & Performing Arts among various others. Popular for its Accounting, Arts, Economics and Management courses, all the courses of MU are offered by more than 800 colleges affiliated with the university. Some of the popular affiliated colleges of Mumbai University include Mithibai College, KC College, Jai Hind College, among others. Check out more details on all the courses available at MU here

Q:   Is the MBA course free at Delhi University?
A:

DU is one of the topmost Indian universities, offers courses in the widest range imaginable, from Arts and Commerce, to Science, Law, and Management. For the MBA programme at DU, the course fees varies from INR 1.56 Lakhs - 3.54 Lakhs. This excludes the caution fees at the university. Students who wish to pursue their higher education goals despite financial hurdles may consider opting for the variety of feees assistance and scholarship options at DU.

Q:   Does Mumbai University offer LLM?
A:

Yes, Mumbai University offers LLM course at the Postgraduate - PG level. The University offers an LLM programme for a duration of 2 years. Admission to LLM is given on the entrance examination basis. Interested students can appear for the MU LLM CET Examination, which is an online examination conducted by the university. However, candidates are required to be eligible for the programme.

Eligibility Criteria: LL.B. degree of this University or a degree recognised as equivalent thereto.

Selection Criteria: MU LLM CET Exam, Interview. 

Location- Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Ownership- Private

Fees: Total fees for the courses offered at Light and Life Academy are INR 5.2 Lakhs.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12.

Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University

The Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University caters to two colleges, namely the College of Fine Arts and the School of Planning and Architecture, which provide several PhD research and undergraduate and postgraduate courses. In 1940, the university was authorised by the State of Hyderabad as a College of Fine Arts. The university is a constituent college of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, which was founded in October 1972. In the year 2008, the university was authorised by an Act of the Andhra Pradesh State Legislature No. 31 of 2008. Located on a vast campus, it provides all facilities and amenities to its students, like a library, workshop and computer laboratory. The University also provides a boys’ hostel facility.

Location- Hyderabad, Telangana

Ownership- Public/Government

Fees: Total fees for BA (Hons) in Photography and Digital Imaging is INR 4.5 Lakhs, and B.F.A. in Photography and Visual Communication is INR 41 K.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

Placement: The top recruiters of JNAFAU during the past years include TCS, L&T, Livspace, XLenz, etc.

Asian Academy of Film and Television

Established in 1990, the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) is a Media and Communication academy which offers various undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and short-term courses in the fields of Cinema, Mass Communication, Animation, Fashion and Photography. The academy is approved by the UGC and recognised by the Ministry of Education. AAFT has international accreditation from the International Chamber of Media & Entertainment Industry. The academy has collaborated with international universities such as New York University, USA, Oxford Business College, United Kingdom and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The college infrastructure includes a library, hostel, labs, well-equipped classrooms etc. The AAFT admissions to all the courses are based on an in-house entrance exam, i.e., the AAFT GEE, which is conducted by the academy every year.

Q:   Which all JMI BA (Hons) specialisations will consider CUET for admission starting 2022?
A:

Economics, Hindi, Sanskrit, Spanish & Latin American Studies, French and Turkish Language & Literature will consider CUET scores for admission starting 2022. Jamia Millia Islamia offers BA (Hons) programme across 17 specialisations along with a BA programme. For all the remaining specialisations (other than the aforementioned ones, the university will conduct its own entrance exam, namely JMI Entrance Exam for final admission. However, before every other criteria, all the interested students must have completed their Class 12 with 50% aggregate.

Q:   Does the University of Delhi offer MSc programme?
A:

Yes, Delhi University offers full-time MSc in multiple specialisations from a number of DU-affiliated colleges. The duration of the programme is two years. DU admission to all the PG courses is subject to CUET PG scores seat allotment. Candidates who qualify for the exam have to apply on the official website for final seat allotment. Check out the details regarding DU MSc admission in the below table:

Particulars

DU MSc Highlights

Duration

2 years

Fee

INR 432 - INR 2.3 lakh

Number of specialisations

25

Name of specialisations

Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Zoology, Mathematics, Statistics, etc. 

Seats

Dependent on affiliated colleges

Popular colleges for MSc

Hindu College, Miranda House, Hansraj College, Daulat Ram College, SVC, etc.

Common eligibility

BSc (Hons)/ BSc degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate

Accepted entrance exam

CUET PG

*The fee is sourced from unofficial sources. Hence, it is indicative. Additionally, it signifies the commutative MA fee across all DU-affiliated colleges.

Q:   Does Jamia Millia Islamia University offers BJMC course?
A:

Yes, Jamia Millia Islamia offers BJMC course. In JMI the name of the course is Bachelors in Mass Media (Hindi). And Masters in Mass Communication. The application forms will be available soon on the official website of the university. For more details please visit jmi.ac.in.

Location- Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Ownership- Private

Fees: The total fee for a Diploma in Still Photography is INR 1.65 L, and the BA in Still Photography is INR 4.98 Lakhs.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

Placement: Some of the renowned organisations that have hired AAFT students in recent years are Aaj Tak, All India Radio Air Akashvani, Disney+ Hotstar, Bhansali Productions, 95 BIG FM, etc.

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Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts

Sir J.J.Institute of Applied Art is a premier Institute established in 1963. It is located in Maharashtra. The Institute is known for its unique offering of a UG Degree course in Arts (Fine/Visual/Performing). The course is available in full-time mode. The course offered by the institute is recognised by known approving bodies like AICTE. The college provides good facilities and infrastructure, like a Cafeteria, Gym, Hostel, and library, to the students. 

Location- Mumbai, Maharashtra

Ownership- State Government

Fees: Total fees for the BFA in Applied Arts are INR 26.8 Lakhs.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

National Institute of Photography

The National Institute of Photography conducts several certificate and diploma courses in the fields of photography and videography. Established in the year 1983, the founder of this institute was Professor Manohar Desai. In the year 2013, the National Institute of Photography received the Educational Leadership Award from the Dewang Mehta Foundation. 

Location- New Delhi

Ownership- Private

Fees: Total fees for a Diploma in Photography are INR 90K and for a Certificate in Photography are INR 23.5 K.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

Osmania University

Osmania University is recognised by the UGC and accredited with an “A+” Grade by the NAAC. The varsity was ranked 22 in the 'University' category and 46th under the Overall category by the NIRF 2022 Rankings. It has over 720 affiliated colleges with an enrollment of 3.2 lakh students. Osmania University has about 8 campus colleges, 5 constituent colleges, 12 faculties, and 53 departments. It also has 16 research centres and 9 academic centres. The University offers various undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), PG Diploma, PhD, and certificate programmes to students in streams such as Science, Humanities, Management, Teaching, Pharmacy, Engineering, Law, Commerce, Medicine & Healthcare, and IT and Software. Osmania University, Hyderabad, conducts its entrance test called the Common Post Graduate Entrance Test (CPGET) for admission to PG, PG Diploma, and five-year Integrated courses. Apart from CPGET, OU also accepts GATETSICET, CMAT, AP ECET and TS EAMCET, among others, for admission to several undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Location- Hyderabad

Ownership- Public/Government

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

Placements: The top recruiters of Osmania University in 2024 were Mathworks, De SHAW, Fanatics, Darwinbox, etc.

The Indian Institute of Digital Art and Animation

The Indian Institute of Digital Art and Animation is a prestigious Institute, incepted in 2008. The Indian Institute of Digital Art and Animation offers 6 diverse courses for a Diploma in Full-time/part-time mode. The institute presents diversified 6 UG programs, which are designed to meet the learning aspirations of students from various backgrounds. The college provides good facilities and infrastructure, like A/C Classrooms, Labs, Library to the students.

Location- Kolkata, West Bengal

Ownership- Private

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have completed class 12 to enrol in both programmes.

With the growing need in the photography industry, the demand for professional photographers is also climbing and is expected to increase even more in the coming years. Selecting a photography profession will create numerous opportunities for budding photographers to make a name for themselves, work with industry professionals, to own a unique identity in the photography field. 

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Comments

(4)

P

Phiyanshu

5 years ago

I don't found them good and after lots of research I found someone on Instagram named @shootguru He teaches some basic things for free and guided me for some things in future and also his course was way more better and affordable I will join there and search more of him after covid 19 but for sure n

...Read more

Reply to Phiyanshu

Scholarship will they provide

Reply to Abhiram Baragada

A

Ampadi

5 years ago

Admission time

Reply to Ampadi

B

Bhupesh Little

7 years ago

This information has a great lacuna. It doesn't mention Lucknow College of Arts

Reply to Bhupesh Little