Visual Arts: Courses, Admission 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Job Profiles and Salary

Pallavi Priyadarshini PandaContent Writer
Visual Arts courses are available at various educational levels which are undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs. Some of the courses offered include the BVA and the MVA. These programs provide a range of career opportunities in the creative sector, including positions for editors, educators, and visual artists.
Visual Arts Latest Updates:
- The CUET UG result 2025 has been announced for admission to UG courses. Candidates who appeared in the examination can check and download their scorecards by logging in with their credentials on the official website of CUET-NTA.
Visual Arts Course Details: Highlights
Check key points related to various courses in Visual Arts in the table below which contains the highlights on course level, course duration, entrance exams, average salaries, course fees, top recruiters and top job profiles.
Candidates can refer to highlights for a quick reference:
| Highlights |
Details |
|---|---|
| Visual Arts Course Level |
Certificate, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Doctorate |
| Visual Arts Eligibility |
UG: Class 12, along with the entrance examination PG: Graduation in any discipline or Theatre or Drama Certificate: Class 12 PH.D: Completion of post-graduation degree. |
| Visual Arts Duration |
UG: 3 - 4 years PG: 2 years Certificate: 6 months - 1 year Ph.D: 3 – 5 years |
| Visual Arts Examination Type |
Semester-wise |
| Visual Arts Fee Range |
INR 30000-INR 10 lakh |
| Visual Arts Top Colleges |
Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Asian Academy of Film and Television, World University of Design, etc. |
| Visual Arts Average Starting Salary |
INR 2 LPA-INR 10 LPA |
| Visual Arts Job Scope |
3D Artist, Painter, Graphic Designer, Art Teacher, Interior Designer, etc. |
| Visual Arts Entrance Exams |
CUET, UGAT, JMI Entrance Exam, NIFT, CUET-PG |
| Visual Arts Top Recruiters |
Maps of India, Dharma Productions, Netflix, Deloitte, IKEA, etc. |
Note: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.
Visual Arts Course topics you might be interested in:
What is the difference between Fine Arts and Visual Arts?
Detailed Information about BVA or Bachelor's in Visual Arts Courses
- Visual Arts Course Eligibility Criteria and Admission 2025
- Visual Arts Entrance Exams 2025
- Visual Arts Syllabus
- Best Visual Arts Colleges in India
- Popular Private Visual Arts Courses Colleges in India
- Visual Arts Career: Scope, Job Profiles, Salary, Top Recruiters
- FAQs on Visual Arts
- Popular Visual Arts Courses Specializations
- Most Popular Courses
- Popular Visual Arts Courses UG Courses
- Popular Visual Arts Courses PG Courses
Visual Arts Course Eligibility Criteria and Admission 2025
To get success in the field of Visual Arts, Students should have imaginative, design, artistic, communication, creative, and drawing skills. Students can study many courses such as a Bachelors in Visual Arts (BVA), Masters in Visual Arts (MVA), Editing Course, Film Making Course, Painting and Drawing Courses, Certificate Courses related to Visual Arts, Art Education Courses, Ph.D in Visual Arts etc. to make their career in the field of Visual Art.
Below are some of the common eligibility criteria to pursue a Visual Arts Course:
|
Course |
Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
|
UG Level (BVA) |
|
|
PG Level (MVA) |
|
|
Certificate-Level/Diploma |
|
|
Ph.D Level |
|
Note: This info is taken from the official website and may vary.
Visual Arts Courses Admission 2025
Here is the general step-by-step guide for Admission to Visual Arts Courses:
-
First you need to search for colleges or universities which offer Visual Arts programs
-
Check the eligibility criteria usually a bachelors degree in arts or related field is required some colleges may accept students from other backgrounds also
-
Fill the application form online or offline as the college tell you
-
Submit all required documents like mark sheets ID proof and a portfolio of your artwork if needed
-
Some colleges may conduct a portfolio review or practical test to see your skills and creativity
-
You may also be called for an interview to discuss your interest and motivation
-
After selection pay the course fees to confirm your admission
-
Complete the enrollment process and get ready to start the classes
Hi Subodh,
The eligibility to pursue a course in visual art is pass in 10+2 from any stream with minimum 50% marks.
All the best
Yes, You can pursue a Master of Visual Arts (MVA) degree after earning a Bachelor's degree in a suitable discipline, such as Fine Arts or Visual Arts. To accomplish this, you usually need to fulfil the prerequisites for admission to the particular MVA programme you are interested in, which may include turning in recommendation letters, academic transcripts, and a portfolio of your creative endeavours.
It's critical to do your homework, select a programme based on your interests, and be aware of application deadlines. After being accepted, your MVA studies will allow you to advance your creative abilities and understanding in a specific field of the visual arts. Check Bachelor of Arts (BA) Admission.
Visual Arts Entrance Exams 2025
For admission to Visual Arts courses, students must pass Class 12 with certain percentage and some colleges also accept students on entrance basis.
Below table shows some of the popular entrance tests for admission to Visual Arts courses with their schedule:
|
Entrance Exam Name |
Entrance Exam Dates |
Entrance Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
CUET 2026 |
May ' 26 (Tentative) |
|
|
UGAT 2026 |
Jun '26 (Tentative) |
|
|
SET 2026 |
May ' 26 (Tentative) |
|
|
PUBDET 2026 |
Jun '26 (Tentative) |
|
|
WUD DAT 2026 |
May ' 26 (Tentative) |
|
|
JMI Entrance Exam 2026 |
Apr '26 (Tentative) |
|
|
NIFT 2026 |
Feb '26 (Tentative) |
|
|
NID DAT 2026 |
Jan '26 (Tentative) |
|
|
CUET-PG 2026 |
Mar ' 26 (Tentative) |
Source: External site.
6 May ' 25 | CUET PG 2025 Result |
6 May ' 25 | CUET PG Final Answer Key 2025 |
Mar '26 | PUBDET 2026 Applications TENTATIVE |
10 Sep ' 25 | PUBDET 2025 2nd Round Seat Allotment |
Sep '25 | MAH AAC CET 2025 Cut-off Date for all type of adm... TENTATIVE |
Sep '25 | MAH AAC CET 2025 Last date of uploading the data TENTATIVE |
Mar '26 | CUET 2026 Application Process TENTATIVE |
May '26 - Jun '26 | CUET 2026 Exam TENTATIVE |
Yes, there is age limit to apply for WUD Entrance exam. The upper age limit for applying to Bachelor programmes is restricted to 20 years, relaxable up to 3 years on proving genuine evidence of discontinuity in education profile. However, for postgraduate programmes there is no age limit.
Common University Entrance Test (CUET) result is released by National Testing Agency. CUET syllabus is divided into three sections viz., Languages, Domain Subject and General Test. CUET language section assesses candidate through reading comprehension (factual, literary, and narrative), literary aptitude and vocabulary. CUET syllabus second section- domain subject assesses the candidate's in depth knowledge on the subject he/she has opted for. CUET third section- general test includes general knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, quantitative reasoning and logical and analytical reasoning. CUET syllabus is available now. Candidates can check the section wise detailed CUET syllabus here.
Visual Arts Syllabus
The syllabus of Visual Arts Course depends on the type of course UG, PG, and Certification as well as the specialization (drawing, sculpture, painting, film-making, painting, music, editing, etc.) that a candidate is pursuing.
However, Candidates can check the table below for subjects that are typically taught in Visual Arts.
UG level Course syllabus
Given below are the core subjects that are generally taught in the Bachelor of Visual Arts or BVA, B.Des in Interior Design, BA Graphic Design, Bachelor in Film Making program.
|
BVA Subjects |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Adobe Premiere |
Introduction to History of Crafts and Interior Design |
Basics of Arts and Crafts |
|
Introduction to Graphic Designing |
Analysis of Interior Landscape |
Painting |
|
Art History |
Fundamentals of Visual Art |
Corel Draw |
|
Fundamentals of Interior Design |
Typography |
Film Editing |
|
Basics of Building Services |
Adobe Premiere |
Principles of Design |
|
Drama & Aesthetics |
|
|
Note- This information is sourced from the official website/counseling body and may vary.
PG level Course syllabus
The course curriculum of Masters of Visual Arts or MVA, Master in Drawing, MA in Film Making, Master in Interior Designing, Master in Editing are mentioned in detail below:
|
MVA Syllabus |
||
|---|---|---|
|
3D Animation and VFX |
Metal Craft |
Contemporary Perspectives in Drawing & Painting |
|
Audiography |
Art of China, Japan, and South East Asia |
3D Modeling and Prototyping |
|
Advance Computer Application |
Elements of Interior Design |
Tribal and folk art |
|
Graphics |
Vector Graphics for Designers |
3D Modeling and Prototyping |
|
Interior Lighting and Acoustics |
Adobe Audition |
Serigraph |
|
Photoshop Illustrator |
Feature film Editing |
Adobe Dreamweaver |
|
Imparting the basics tools of Filmmaking techniques such as Edit, Cine, Sound, etc. |
Non-feature Film Editing |
Avid Media Composer |
Note- This information is sourced from the official website/counseling body and may vary.
Students also liked these topics on Visual Arts Course Syllabus:
Main subjects for visual arts depends the specialisation. The course may include subjects like Design and Layout, Photographic Seeing, Visual Culture, Visual Language, Art History, Typography, Sketch and Composition, Ideas and Stories etc. Main characteristics of Visual Arts are size, line, space, form, texture, shape, colour, tonal values, design, aesthetic organization, etc. in an object composition.
Students may also explore graphic design, multimedia arts, or other modern forms of visual expression, depending on the programme. These courses are included in Visual Arts degrees to promote a multidisciplinary skill set and a sophisticated comprehension of the creative process, as well as a holistic approach to artistic development.
Hi Tina,
There are lot of subjects that one need to learn in a course for visual arts, mentioned below are some of them :
- Drawing from Nature/Object
- Print – Making
- 3 D Design
- Still Life (Rendering)
- Head Study (Rendering)
- Pictorial Composition
- Western Aesthetics
- Dissertation
All the best
Best Visual Arts Colleges in India
India is home to many good Colleges that are offering quality learning opportunities in their Visual Arts programs. Course Fees and placement opportunities are two important criteria considered while choosing a college for pursuing Visual Arts. There are many top government and private colleges which offer Visual Arts courses.
Best Government Colleges for Visual Arts in India
There are various Visual Arts Government Colleges in India that provide streams in Visual Arts such as Painting, Editing, Sculpture, Interior design, Ceramic, Metal Work, etc with lower fees. Here is the List of Best Government Colleges that provide Visual Arts Courses:
|
Visual Art Government Colleges |
Visual Art Government College Fees |
|---|---|
| Aligarh Muslim University | INR 800 |
| Utkal University of Culture | INR 1,200 |
| Jadavpur University | INR 1,800 - 10,000 |
| Nalanda Open University | INR 9,600 |
| MSU Baroda | INR 27,540 |
| Bangalore University | INR 33,600 - 9.1 Lakh |
| University of Lucknow | INR 51,000 - 1.3 Lakh |
| MGR Government Film and Television Institute | INR 74,980 |
| Mumbai University (MU) | INR 1.61 Lakh - 14.64 Lakh |
| NIFT Delhi | INR 1.89 Lakh |
| Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi | INR 5.96 Lakh |
| Gujarat University | INR 7.20 Lakh |
| National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad | INR 11.43 Lakh - 15.72 Lakh |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website/counseling body and may vary.
Best Private Colleges for Visual Arts in India
There are many Best Visual Arts Private Colleges in India which are renowned for their industry-oriented programs, focusing on both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. Candidates can check the list below for Private Colleges that provide Visual Arts Courses in India:
|
Visual Art Private Colleges |
Visual Art Private College Fees |
|---|---|
| UNIRAJ- University of Rajasthan | INR 1,970 - 58,000 |
| NIMS School of Humanities and Social Sciences | INR 1.2 Lakh |
| Guru Gobind Singh IP University (GGSIPU) | INR 1.4 Lakh - 3.7 Lakh |
| Asian Academy of Film and Television | INR 2.15 Lakh |
| World University of Design | INR 2.85 Lakh |
| Pearl Academy Delhi | INR 3.2 Lakh |
| Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | INR 4 Lakh |
| Indian Institute of Crafts and Design | INR 4.48 Lakh - 8.9 Lakh |
| Army Institute of Fashion and Design | INR 6.12 Lakh |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website/counseling body and may vary.
Quick Links Related to Colleges for Visual Art Colleges:
Top 10 Interior Design Schools in India 2025
Popular Film-Making Colleges in India
Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ) Applications open. Apply Now
The following colleges offer BVA courses in various specialisations after Class 12. The admissions are provided either based on entrance exams or marks scored in class 12th. The names of a few such colleges and universities are:
Names of Colleges in BVA | |
|---|---|
There are 35 colleges in India that provides Master of Visual Arts. Here is the list of some colleges:
Popular Private Visual Arts Courses Colleges in India
Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ) Applications open. Apply Now
Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ) Applications open. Apply Now
Visual Arts Career: Scope, Job Profiles, Salary, Top Recruiters
Depending on their specialization in Visual Arts candidates can get jobs in many different sectors like animation, gaming, interior designing, digital media, advertising, schools and colleges, television, films, music companies, art studios and many more places where creative skills are needed. Some of the popular job profiles for Visual Arts pass-outs include:
|
Job Profile |
Job Description |
Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
3D Artist |
A 3D modeler creates three-dimensional models and animations for games films and virtual worlds. |
INR 2.6 LPA – INR 7.9 LPA |
|
Art Teacher |
An art teacher educates students in artistic techniques and encourages creativity and critical thinking in the classroom so students can develop their own style and skills. |
INR 2 LPA – INR 6 LPA |
|
Graphic Designer |
A graphic designer makes visual ideas either by hand or on computer. |
INR 1.1 - INR 7.1 LPA |
|
Illustrator |
Visual artists produce artwork to tell stories and share ideas across many types of media both digitally and traditionally exploring different techniques and styles. |
INR 2 LPA – INR 11.5 LPA |
|
Art Director |
An art director is responsible for the overall visual style of a magazine newspaper movie or television production making sure all visual elements work together. |
INR 4 LPA – INR 20 LPA |
|
Painter |
A painter can create different types of paintings such as watercolor painting, oil painting, ink wash painting, acrylic painting and glass painting and can exhibit or sell their work in art galleries. |
INR 2 LPA – INR 5.5 LPA |
|
Visual Artist |
Visual artists create artwork to tell stories or share ideas digitally or traditionally. |
INR 2 LPA – INR 9.5 LPA |
|
Editor |
A video editor puts together footage working with the director to make the final version. |
INR 2.1 LPA – INR 6.5 LPA |
|
Director |
A film director leads the whole project guiding actors and the crew. |
INR 2 LPA – INR 18 LPA |
|
Museum Curator |
A museum curator teaches people about art and culture and organizes collections and exhibitions. |
INR 8.6 LPA – INR 10.9 LPA |
|
UI/UX Designer |
A UI UX designer focuses on interface design and user experience for websites software and digital products creating intuitive designs that are visually pleasing and easy to use. |
INR 2 LPA – INR 13.7 LPA |
|
Interior Designer |
An interior designer plans layouts and designs to make buildings look attractive. |
INR 1 – 6.8 LPA |
|
Photo Editor |
A photo editor select positions and edits photographs for publication in magazines books or newspapers making sure each image communicates the right message and looks visually appealing. |
INR 1 – 6 LPA |
Note- The above salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.
Fine Art Top Recruiters
A Visual Communication degree opens up diverse areas of employment across various industries, including art studios, museums, advertising agencies, etc. Some of the top recruiting companies for visual artists include:
|
Visual Arts Top Recruiters |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Universal Arts Limited |
Deloitte |
HT Media |
|
Design Cafe |
Netflix |
IKEA |
|
Dharma Productions |
Iris Mediaworks |
Morpheus Human Consulting |
|
Saregama India Limited |
Asian Institute of Design |
Eros International |
|
Balaji Telefilms Limited |
Disney+ Hotstar |
Reliance Mediaworks |
|
Maps of India |
Graphic Design, Inc. |
Amazon Prime Video |
|
Kalki Fashion |
Green Gold Entertainment |
Red Chillies Entertainment |
Relevant Link Related to Visual Communication Career:
Career in Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing )
Hi Dubey,
A video & film editors job is to take video tapes to produce a single refined piece of video. The key responsibility of a video editor is to edit any visual media-form, like soundtracks, film and videos for the cable and broadcast visual media industries. Digital Video Editing is the buzzword in today’s digital world. Digital video editing makes use of computer technology to facilitate whole editing process onscreen. Film editing courses will help you understand the nuances of cutting and editing videos. This is done through hands-on, practical training.
These days, professional editing software such as Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro and Avid’s Media Composer are popular. All one needs is the training in the computer systems and programs used in digital video/film editing and an interest in editing visual media. For doing specialized courses from reputed institutes candidates must possess the qualification prescribed by the respective institutes/ colleges. In general, Digital video editors often have a bachelor's or a master's degree in animation or media arts. Besides media houses, large film studios, electronic news channel groups, one can also find wide ranging opportunities in various production houses scattered all across the country.
The increased popularity of online video clips has also resulted in large number of job opportunities for competent video editors. Please refer to the link for institutes: https://www.shiksha.com/search/?q=Video+Streaming+and+Editing&c=12&sc=90&sa=^0^249^0^0^0&ts=78273&rf=searchwidget&sp[]=249&ldb=l-249 Hope this information helps. Please feel free to revert. Click on the thumbs up or mark it as the best, if you found this useful. Wish You Luck!
Bachelors of Visual Arts or BVA is a 4-year UG degree in the field of fine arts. There are many specialisations available in the BVA course like Graphics, Applied Arts, Painting, etc. There are generally three types of visual arts, including decorative, commercial, and fine art.
Popular job roles available for BVA degree holders are Painter, Cartoonist, Art Conservator, Visual Designer, Graphic Designer, Visual Artist, Art Critic, Art Director etc. Popular recruiting companies for BVA graduates are Prime Focus, Red Chillies, Reliance Mediaworks and HT Media. Hence the career scope after BVA is very promising for the candidates. Check Graphic Designing Career.
Here are some of the job options for the student after completion of the MVA program:
- Visual arts teacher
- Studio Manager (Visual Arts)
- Visual Arts Instructor
- Art therapist
- 3-D Modeling
- Assistant Designer
- Assistant Art Director
- Fine Arts Professor
- Creative Designer
- Performing Arts Teacher
- Multimedia programmer
FAQs on Visual Arts
Take a look at some of the important Questions related to Visual Arts Courses:
A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) differ primarily in their programme focus and structure. Despite being undergraduate degrees, they differ in terms of their focus on academic subjects and aspirations for their careers.
Bachelor of Arts degree includes liberal arts courses like Literature, History, etc.. while a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) includes more design studies and intensive art subjects. BA is an all-encompassing subject that includes various career options such as Gender Studies, Literature, and other liberal studies.
Fine Arts on the other hand consists of courses in sculpture and other such visual arts which are meant to enhance the beauty of objects and make them more appealing to the clients. However, it is to be noted that many colleges have the nomenclature of offering BA courses in various disciplines of fine arts. Read Bachelor of Fine Arts: BFA Specialisations, Scope and Career Options.
Hi Tina,
Various institutes across India and abroad provide online course in visual arts, listed below are some of them :
- Session college
- Academy of art university
- International institute of Fine arts
- International fine art academy
All the best
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Hi Tina,
The fees for the course in visual arts depends on the course you are pursuing i.e. whether its Bachelors,certificate, diploma or a post graduate course. The fees may range from INR 23,000 to INR 3.5 lakhs for the entire course.
All the best