Updated on Jun 20, 2024 03:56 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

Bachelor of Arts or BA courses are interdisciplinary and are available in multiple specialisations. Candidates can pursue BA courses right after class 12th or even after graduation. It is an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course awarded to aspirants in the field of Arts related to Humanities or Social Science. Candidates study different subjects like Psychology, Philosophy, Political Science, History and many others. BA syllabus is designed such that it helps candidates to understand different concepts and topics related to the field of arts. 

BA Course: Highlights

Exam Particulars Exam Statistics
BA Level of Course Undergraduate
BA Course Duration 3 Years
BA Course Eligibility Criteria Class 12th pass with minimum 50 % marks
BA CourseAdmission Process Entrance based
BA Course Examination Types Semester wise

Latest Updates About BA Course

CUET UG Application in the first week of February 2024: Exams from 15-May-2024

PUBDET 2024 Application Form Filling in January 2024

Types of BA Courses

BA is a three-year Arts course which consists of around six semesters of six months duration. In the first and second semesters of the BA programme, candidates are taught Core Courses, General Elective Courses and Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses. In the third and fourth semesters, Core Courses, General Electives and Skill Enhancement Courses are taught while in the fifth and sixth semesters, Core courses and Discipline Specific Elective Courses are taught. In this article, we will discuss in detail the BA subjects, syllabus, and specialisations in or to develop an understanding of BA courses. 

Popular BA Courses 

BA courses are taught in different modes. Some of the courses are full-time or regular courses, while some are taught in part-time mode. Some BA programmes are taught as degrees while many courses are taught as diploma or certificate courses. Here we will shed light on different types and modes of BA courses:  

BA Degree Courses 

BA is a full-time regular course of usually three years duration. The course is divided into six semesters. The courses and syllabus in all six semesters of BA comprises subjects of different courses like Core Courses, General Elective Courses, Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses, Skill Enhancement Courses and Discipline Specific Elective Courses. There are more than 14000 BA Colleges in India.  

Distance BA Courses 

Distance Bachelor of Arts course is a three to six years duration degree course. The course aims to provide detailed knowledge about the subjects for students who are unable to study the regular degree course due to any reasons such as financial or time management issues. Some of the popular colleges for the Distance BA programme are IGNOU, Karnataka State Open University and many more. The syllabus of Distance BA is almost similar to the regular BA course. There are around 140 Distance BA colleges in India.

Part-Time BA Courses 

Part-time BA degree courses are also available. Candidates can also pursue part-time BA courses. There are many colleges and institutes which allow students to work and study at the same time. Part-time BA courses are best suited for such candidates. 

Online BA Courses 

There are a number of websites that offer online BA courses to candidates. These courses are flexible and can be pursued as per the time, need and availability of candidates. There is no age limit for the entrance exam of this course. These courses can be pursued from any distance and any part of the country.  

BA Subjects and Syllabus 

Courses in BA may vary in different colleges and universities but the basic subjects are similar. Here is a list of BA core and elective subjects that are part of the BA syllabus. 

BA Core Courses

The list of core courses in the Bachelor of Arts are listed below in the table: 

BA Syllabus: Core Subjects 

Agricultural Development in India 

Foundation Course in Hindi 

Government & Politics in India 

Religions of the World 

Economic Development 

Understanding Prose and Poetry 

Political Ideas and Ideologies 

Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences 

Administrative Theory 

Indian Economic Development: Issues and Perspectives 

Foundation Course in English 

History of Urdu Literature and Language 

Social Problems in India 

Indian Philosophy 

BA Elective Courses 

The elective courses in the Bachelor of Arts degree programme are listed below: 

BA Syllabus: Core Subjects 

Ability Enhancement Course 

Ethics In Public Domain 

Philosophy of mind 

Urban Geography 

Global Politics 

Contemporary Literature 

Public Policy and Administration in India 

Public Policy and Administration in India 

Communication and Development 

Introductory Econometrics 

FAQs on BA Courses and Subjects

Q. How many BA courses are there in India?

A. There are more than 100 Bachelor of Arts courses in India that candidates can pursue after class 12th. 

Q. What are the subjects of BA?

A. The main subjects of BA or Bachelor of Arts are History, Geography, Philosophy, Literature, Anthropology, Political Science, Library Science, Sociology, Psychology, Archaeology, Economics, Education and many more.  

Q. What are the job options after BA?

A. After pursuing BA, candidates can go for higher studies, work as a manager, business analytics, opt for Law courses, data scientists and so on.

Q. Can I pursue BA in online mode?

A. Yes, online BA courses are also available in India. There are many wesites that provide online BA courses to students. 

Q. Can BA be pursued in distance mode?

A. Yes, BA courses can be pursued in distance mode. There are many colleges and institutes in India that provide BA in distance mode.

Q. Are BA part-time course available in India?

A. Yes, part-time BA courses are also available for students in India. Students can pursue this course as per their time. 

Q. What are the advantages of online BA courses?

A. Online BA courses are flexible and can be pursued by candidates as per their need, availibility. It provides flexibility to candidates.

Q. Which are the core subjects in BA? 

A. The core subjects in BA includes Government & Politics in India, Agricultural Development in India, Religions of the World, Foundation Course in Hindi, Understanding Prose and Poetry, Administrative Theory, Political Ideas and Ideologies etc.

Q. What are the elective subjects in BA? 

A. Elective subjects in BA includes Communication and Development, Ability Enhancement Course, Urban Geography, Ethics In Public Domain, Public Policy and Administration in India etc.

Q. What is the total duration of BA courses? 

A. Regular Bachelor of Arts courses are usually of three-year duration. 

Q. What is the duration of distance BA courses? 

A. The duration of distance BA courses is three to six years. 
Table of contents
  • Popular B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Colleges in India
  • Popular Private B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Colleges in India
  • Popular B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Popular B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Colleges in India. Learn more about these B.A (Bachelor of Arts) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
13 Courses
540
8.4 LPA

#5 India Today

12 Courses
86.01 K
9.5 LPA

#1 India Today

51 Courses
19.01 K - 19.09 K
7 LPA

#2 India Today

20 Courses
46.55 K - 50.45 K
5.4 LPA

#12 The Week

22.2 K - 2.91 L
5.5 LPA

#9 The Week

1.42 L
8 LPA

Popular Private B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Colleges in India

1.62 L - 13.2 L
3.3

#44 The Week

B.A. Applications open. Apply Now

2.16 L - 5.92 L
3.6

B.A. Applications open. Apply Now

14.75 L
4.0
3.45 L - 10.65 L
4.35 LPA

B.A. Applications open. Apply Now

1.95 L - 4.56 L
2.7

#112 India Today

14.74 L - 14.75 L
3.3

Popular B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Specializations

Following are the most popular B.A (Bachelor of Arts) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Following are the top ranked colleges for B.A (Bachelor of Arts) based on rankings published by The Week, Business Today and National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD).
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 20 hours ago

In my opinion, if you want to prepare for UPSC or any other competitive exams later, you can pursue a BA in Political Science, Economics, History, or Sociology. Since their syllabus is heavily equipped with GK, Indian and world history, public policy, public administration, Indian and world politics

...Read more

M

Mohit Datta

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 20 hours ago

A General BA course will give you a basic idea of the subject and a base knowledge. But a BA Hons course will provide you with in-depth knowledge in a specific area. The difference between a BA and a BA Hons is their depth, difficulty, and focus.

For example, you'll find the curriculum of a BA Hons c

...Read more

I

Ishita Uniyal

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 21 hours ago

Well, there are hundreds of them. In fact, you'll find many universities abroad also providing a BA in different specializations in an online mode. Though you can refer to the following table for some top options in India.

Online BA CollegesTuition Fees
IGNOUINR 9,600 - 31,500
DU SOLINR 1,500 - 2,000
Amity OnlineINR 60,000 - INR 1.7 Lakh
University of Madras, Distance EducationINR 16,710 - 25,410
IGNOUINR8 Subhas Open UniversityINR 9,900

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

know mor

...Read more

S

Sreetama Shrivastava

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 5 days ago

Hi.

If you want to prepare for banking exams for a job after graduation, you need a structured approach because banking jobs in India (like IBPS PO/Clerk, SBI PO/Clerk, RBI, NABARD, etc.) are highly competitive.

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 6 days ago

Hi.

Yes — you can choose CUET (UG) domain subjects that are different from what you studied in class 12, even if you want to study BA.
BUT this depends on the specific university's eligibility rules, not CUET alone.

CUET Rule (Official):

CUET allows you to appear for any domain subject, even if you didn

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 6 days ago

The BA LLB fee at MS Ramaiah College of Law depends on whether one is a student from Karnataka or beyond with students of the state having minor fee concessions and an annual fee of INR 2.2 Lakhs while students from outside the state have an annual fee of INR 2.4 Lakhs.

C

Chikat Marchang

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

Hi.

Here are some *good coaching options you can consider for CUET (UG) preparation with a focus on cracking the BA French (JNU + other central universities) path — particularly if you want help with languages (French), General Test, and overall CUET strategy:

1. Modulation Institute (Laxmi Nagar, Del

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 6 days ago

Hi.

Top Colleges in Delhi NCR for BA (Hons) Psychology

1. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), Delhi

 One of the most reputed colleges in India for BA Psychology (Hons). 

 Approx 1st year fees: ~₹23,940 (only tuition; total costs vary). 

 Admissions are through CUET UG + DU CSAS process (usually from M

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 6 days ago

Hi...

1. BA / B.Sc in Cinema (Undergraduate – 3 Years)

AAFT offers a three‑year Bachelor’s degree in Cinema with various specializations such as Acting, Direction, Cinematography, Post‑Production (and related fields) depending on your focus.

General Structure

The BA/B.Sc Cinema curriculum is semester‑ba

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered a week ago

Before applying for admissions students must meet the requirements for studying BA at St Xavier’s College Mumbai which is:

  • Students must have passed Class 10 and Class 12 (or equivalent diploma).
  • Have a valid University of Mumbai Entrance Exam score.

C

Chikat Marchang

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The BA fee at St Xavier’s College Mumbai depends on the chosen specialisation or academic year as well as any fee waivers or concessions that may be extended to the student. But usually the annual course fee for BA ranges between INR 11,951 and INR 15,471.

C

Chikat Marchang

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

In my opinion, CUET is the best exam option that you can go for. It's a national-level exam that is accepted by thousands of top colleges in India. So, you'll have plenty of great college options if you score well in the CUET. 

Also,  you'll get a chance to choose from a list of subjects in the CUET,

...Read more

G

Gunjan Dhawan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

Hi...

Yes — internships are possible for BA Psychology students

Psychology internships allow undergraduates to “apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations” — in clinics, hospitals, wellness centers, research labs, schools, community-service centres, NGOs, etc.

Some mental-health / wellness cen

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered a week ago

Hi.

Christ University offers a B.A. (Honours) in Economics as a full‑time undergraduate degree. 

The programme aims to train students in economic theory, quantitative analysis, social relevance, research methods; students learn to analyze economic problems, policies, and real‑world economic issues wit

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered a week ago

Hi.

  • The programme is officially called BA Economics (Honours) at Christ University. 

  • Eligibility: to apply you need to have passed Class 12 (10+2) with at least 55% marks, and you must have studied Economics or Mathematics or Statistics in Class 12. 

  • Admission procedure typically includes an entrance t

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 2 weeks ago

The eligibility criteria of BA at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi requires the candidates to pass Class 12 from a recognised board. Candidates must appear for the CUET exam to take admission in the college. 

S

Sejal Baveja

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Admission to the BA course is based on merit. This is a three-year course. Students looking for admission must complete Class 12 in any stream. Candidates are selected based on merit. 

N

Nishtha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

There are several specialisations of BA courses available at Amity Bangalore including both honors and integrated courses. The BA courses offered by Amity Bangalore are as follows:

BA (Hons) in Applied Psychology

BA in Journalism and Mass Communincation 

BA LLB (Integrated course

The eligibility criteri

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

No, there are no mandatory entrance exams for gaining admissions into the BA course offered by Amity Bangalore. Candidates are selected for admissions on merit-basis. The eligibility criteria for each BA course offered by Amity Bangalore is the same which is clear Class 12 board exams with a minimum

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

St.Stephen's College, Kollam, gives merit-based admissions to the BA course. Interested students can get admission to the course via the Kerala University centralised admission process. Also, once students submit their HSC scorecards, the university releases the merit list of shortlisted students ac

...Read more

P

Piyush Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

 St.Stephen's College, Kollam, follows the FYUGP stands for a four-year UG programme, i.e., an educational model. Thus, the BA course is offered for a duration of three years, BA (Hons) for four years, and BA Research for four years.

 

I

Indrani Tyagi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

There are number of factors that a person can take into account while comparing St.Stephen's College BA course with other colleges and institutions. One of the majors is St. Stephen's, gives a BA general course, an honours course, and an honours with research. Thus, a student can look for the durati

...Read more

A

Abhishek Hazarika

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

St.Stephen's College, Kollam, gives only two specialisations in the BA course from two different fields. The names of the given specialisations are Economics and English. To get admissions, students just need to secure good scores in their Class 12. 

 

 

 

V

Vishakha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

The eligibility requirements for admission to the BA course at St. Stephen's College, Kollam, are almost the same of other colleges/institutes' BA courses; in which students should complete their Class 12 from any stream and secure decent scores to get selected in the merit list. 

 

 

 

R

Rachit Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, St. Stephen's College Kollam does offer BA courses for a duration of three years and four years, aligning with the FYUG. Then, the course is spread into six to eight semesters and given in full-time mode. Students can get admission to the course via the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP) at Ke

...Read more

K

Krishnendu Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

For J.N.N College of Arts and Science BA admissions, students have to simply pass Class 12. Students must have completed the Class 12 with a minimum of 40% aggregate from a recognised board. Admissions to the course are merit-based.

V

Virajita Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

No you must be pass in all subjects 

a

aditya tiwari

Beginner-Level 1

Answered a month ago

The following specialisations are offered under the BA course at Jain Deemed-to-be University, SDMCA:-

  • Communication Design
  • Fashion Design
  • Film and Media, etc. 

S

Sejal Baveja

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The eligibility criteria of BA at Jain Deemed-to-be University, School of Design Media and Creative Arts requires the candidates to pass Class 12 in Science or Commerce and submit the marksheet for the same. 

S

Sejal Baveja

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

If you passed out 12th standard exam by PCM subject then obviously you can complete you graduation by arts.

For B.A there are two method regular and non regular if you complete your B.A with regular you want to admission with any govt. Or private college and study properly. If you choose non regular

...Read more

D

Deepak

Beginner-Level 1

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