BArch vs BDes: Which is Better?

BArch vs BDes: Which is Better?

4 mins readComment
Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Dec 18, 2025 16:31 IST
B.Arch is an undergraduate programme that focuses on developing the knowledge and skills required to design buildings and structures, whereas B.Des is also an undergraduate programme, which is concerned with fashion, creativity and design principles. Read on to know the difference between them.

B.Arch is an undergraduate programme that focuses on developing knowledge and skills required to design buildings and structures, whereas B.Des is also an undergraduate programme, which is concerned with fashion, creativity and design principles. Read on to know the difference between them.

BArch vs BDes

BArch vs BDes

B.Arch and B.Des are both undergraduate programmes in the field of design, but they focus on different career aspects. B.Arch is a five-year undergraduate programme and B.Des is a four-year undergraduate programme.

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Table of contents
  • What is B.Arch?
  • Eligibility Criteria for B.Arch
  • What is B.Des?
  • Eligibility Criteria for B.Des
  • Difference between B.Arch and B.Des
  • Top B.Arch Colleges in India
  • Top B. Des Colleges in India
  • B.Arch or B.Des: Which is Better?
View More

What is B.Arch?

B.Arch stands for Bachelor of Architecture. It aims at designing buildings, bridges, skyscrapers, etc. Candidates study architectural design, construction and materials, urban planning, environmental studies, etc. The career options here are Architect, Urban planner and Interior consultant.

Eligibility Criteria for B.Arch

Eligibility criteria are almost the same for all the institutes offering B.Arch.

Criteria

Details

 Qualifications 

The candidates must have completed Class 12 and studied Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry as compulsory subjects.

OR They should have completed Class 10 and a 3-year Diploma. They should also have studied Mathematics as a compulsory subject.

Marks 

They should have secured at least 50% marks in aggregate.

Age 

There is no prescribed age limit.

Year of Completion 

JEE Main: Candidates who are/have the following are eligible to apply for B.Arch.

  • Appearing for the Class 12 board exam in the present year
  • Passed Class 12 last year
  • Passed Class 12 two years ago


NATA: There are no such criteria.

What is B.Des?

B.Des stands for Bachelor of Design. It aims at designing products, visuals, apparel, jewellery, etc. It has many specialisations like Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Animation, etc. The career options after pursuing B.Des are Fashion Designer, Fashion Stylist, Design Consultant, Jewellery Designer, etc.

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Eligibility Criteria for B.Des

The eligibility criteria for B.Des is given below.

Particulars

Details

Qualifications

The candidates should have completed Class 12 from any stream (Science, Arts, or Commerce) or equivalent qualification.

Marks 

They should have secured at least 50% aggregate marks in Class 12 or an equivalent qualification.

Appearing or Passed Criteria

Those students appearing for Class 12 board exams and those who have already passed Class 12 are eligible.

Age Limit

Those who are not more than 24 years of age on 1st August of the year of BDes admission.

Difference between B.Arch and B.Des  

Difference between B.Arch and B.Des is given below.

Feature B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) B.Des (Bachelor of Design)
Duration The duration is 5 years The duration is 4 years
Stream The stream here is Architecture, Built Environment. The stream here is Design, Arts, Creativity.
Eligibility Candidate must have passed 10+2 with PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Math) Candidates must have passed Class10+2 (any stream, depending on specialisation)
Entrance Exams NATA, JEE Main (Paper 2), and some state-level exams UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT, SEED
Key Subjects Architectural Design, Building Materials, Structures, History Product Design, Fashion, UI/UX, Graphics, Visual Arts
Focus It focuses on designing buildings, spaces, and sustainability It focuses on Visual, spatial, user-centred design
Career Options Architect, Urban Designer, Interior Designer, Planner Product Designer, Fashion Designer, UX/UI Designer
Higher Studies After B.Arch, candidates can pursue M.Arch, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture. After B.Des, candidates can pursue M.Des, MBA Design Mgmt., Animation.
Top Colleges SPA Delhi, IIT Roorkee, CEPT Ahmedabad NID, NIFT, IIT Bombay (IDC), Pearl Academy
Average Starting Salary INR 4 – 7 LPA INR 4 – 10 LPA (varies by field)
License Requirement Yes, CoA registration is required to practice. No license required

Note- This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

Top B.Arch Colleges in India

Some of the top B.Arch Colleges in India are given below.

B.Arch Colleges

B.Arch Course Fees (approx.)

Jadavpur University INR 26.05 K
Jamia Millia Islamia INR 96.63 K
School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal INR 2.5 L
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi INR 4 L
MANIT - Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology INR 6.25 L
IIEST, Shibpur INR 6.25 L
NIT Calicut INR 6.25 L
NIT Trichy INR 6.25 L
IIT Kharagpur INR 10 L
IIT Roorkee INR 10 L

Top B. Des Colleges in India

Some of the best B.Des colleges in India are given below.

National Institute of Fashion Technology are considered one of the top colleges in India to pursue B.Des. Here are some top NIFT institutes for interested candidates:

NIFTs in India BDes Course Fees (approx.)
NIFT Patna INR 90.2 K - 12.96 L
NIFT Kolkata INR 5.45 L - 12.96 L
NIFT Bangalore INR 5.63 L - 12.96 L
NIFT Mumbai INR 5.63 L - 12.96 L
NIFT Hyderabad INR 6.07 L - 12.96 L
NIFT Gandhinagar INR 6.07 L - 12.96 L
NIFT Shillong INR 8.58 L - 11.74 L
NIFT Chennai INR 9.02 L - 12.34 L
NIFT Jodhpur INR 12.34 L
NIFT Delhi INR 12.96 L
NIFT Kannur INR 12.96 L

Note: The information is taken from the official website of the institute and may differ.

B.Arch or B.Des: Which is Better?

Both B.Archa nd B.des are the top choices for candidates in the field of Design. If a student is interested in building bridges, roads, then they must study B.Arch, but if a student is interested in fashion walks, clothes, jewellery, then he/she should go for B.Des. The competition is almost the same in both exams. Top institutes conduct their entrance exam and admission is granted on the basis of merit and rank. So, both fields are equally career oriented and offer a good salary. So candidates must choose the path they like.

 

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About the Author
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Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager

Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s

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