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The Bachelor of Arts in Defence & Strategic Studies is a 3-years undergraduate course designed for students who are potentially interested in serving the nation in defense services.
BA Defence and Strategic Studies is structured in a way to make the students understand all about nuclear policies, Defence Economics, military Geography, etc. On completion of BA Defence and Strategic Studies, the students are exposed to the various defense management strategies prevailing in the country.
Like any other course, there are cut-off marks for the admission process of Defence and Strategic Studies. The BA Defence and Strategic Studies eligibility for the enrolment is a pass percentage of 50% in 10+2 in any discipline. The marks obtained in the academic curriculum of 10+2 play a vital role in the admission process, as selection criteria are majorly inclined towards the higher secondary marks.
Apart from this merit-based admission, few colleges conduct entrance exams aligned to the institute’s standard. Some of the top BA Defence and Strategic Studies colleges or institutes are Guru Nanak College Chennai, Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College Chennai, Government Nagarjuna Post Graduate College of Science Raipur, etc. The average course fee can be around INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,00,000 which varies according to the college or institutes.
On completion of BA Defence and strategic Studies, the candidates become a valuable asset in the defense services. The graduates are recruited in the Air Force, CISF, CRPF, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, SSC, Railways, DRDO and IDSA, etc.
The job roles are of highly respectable positions. The starting salary for a graduate in this field can vary in the range of INR 1,50,000 to INR 8,00,000.
Check out: Top Defense colleges in India
Table of Content
- BA in Defense & Strategic Studies: Highlights Course Details
- Why Study BA in Defense & Strategic Studies
- BA in Defense & Strategic Studies: Admission Process
3.1 Eligibility
3.2 Entrance Exams
4.1 Full-time course
4.2 Online course
- BA in Defense & Strategic Studies: Syllabus & Subjects
- BA in Defense & Strategic Studies: Top Colleges
- BA in Defense & Strategic Studies: Job Profiles
7.1 Top Recruiters
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Defence & Strategic Studies: Highlights
| Course type | Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Defence & Strategic Studies |
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Course Examination Type | Semester type (6 months per semester) |
| Course Eligibility | A pass mark in all subjects with an aggregate of 50% in 10+2 in any discipline |
| Course Admission process | Merit or entrance exam based (Varies according to institutes) |
| Course Fee | Maximum up to INR 2,00000 (Can vary according to institutes) |
| Course Average Salary | INR 1,50,000 to 8,00000 |
| Top Recruiting companies | Air Force, CISF, CRPF, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, SSC, Railways, DRDO, IDSA, etc., and educational institutes too. |
| Job Position | Sales Manager, Research Officer, Quality Inspector, Ground Duty Officer, Personal Security Officer, Account Manager, etc |
B.A in Defence & Strategic Studies: Course Details
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Defence & Strategic Studies is an undergraduate course that covers all the domestic and strategic issues that influence our defense management strategies. This study helps the candidate to understand Conflict Management and resolution, international law and Relations, Geopolitics and Military, nuclear deals and policies, Science and Technology, etc.
Overall, the candidate can gain immense knowledge on military education involving their history and geographical importance. The students understand the issues related to war and the different policies which help in the management of the defense; this makes the graduates highly eligible in assisting government bodies to tackle any defense-related problem strategically. With the completion of BA Defence and Strategic Studies, the graduates are preferred in the defense of the nation.
Also Read: MBA in Defense Management
Why Study B.A. in Defence & Strategic Studies?
- The graduates can appear for the Public Service Commission examination with less difficulty as the majority of the subjects in Defence Studies are used for exam preparation.
- The course is designed to provide proper guidance on national security problems and potential to citizens of our country.
- A Defence & Strategic graduate can avail various scholarships from the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Defence for their research projects and writing books
- BA Defence and Strategic Studies helps the students who are willing to serve a nation other than on-field military service.
- The study can open up new domains for the students to explore in their Masters’ Degree and research.
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Admission Process
The admission to B.A. degree in Defence and Strategic Studies takes place in the early summer or spring of every academic year. The information about the admission process can be obtained by the official website of the respective college or institute the candidate is interested to study.
The enrolment for this study requires a pass mark in all subjects of (10+2) from any of the recognized educational institutions. Also, an aggregate of 50% marks are necessary for the study. Usually, the marks procured during the academic tenure of (10+2) is highly important, based on this score the candidates are shortlisted for the final interview.
Eligibility
- To be eligible for the course the student should have secured an aggregate of 50% marks in their 10+2.
- Aspirants should have completed their 10+2 from a recognized Board in any stream but Science students are given more preference.
- Also, the student should have cleared all the subjects taken in their higher secondary schoolings.
- For pursuing B.A. degree in Defence and Strategic Studies candidates may also need to qualify the entrance exam conducted by the University or at a National body.
Check: How to qualify NDA exam
Entrance Exams
For B.A. degree in Defence and Strategic Studies entrance exams are prevalent for government-affiliated colleges where the student is given a chance to study and train at Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai, Defence Services Staff College Wellington, and National Defence College New Delhi. Also, some of the colleges might conduct an in-house entrance exam, which might be basic questions in Math and English.
| Exam Name | Exam Date |
|---|---|
| CUET | |
| NPAT | Check NPAT Exam Dates |
| TISS BAT | Check TISS BAT Exam Dates |
| IPU CET | Check IPU CET Exam Dates |
| JNUEE | Check JNUEE Exam Dates |
Bachelor of Arts in Defence & Strategic Studies: Courses Types
B.A in Defence and strategic studies are pursued by various means, where the students get the opportunity to explore the course via offline, online, and distance education. All these different forms of studies cover the same syllabus and deliver substantial knowledge.
Full-Time Course
- The defense and strategic studies are suitable for the candidates who are interested in serving the country in various defense platforms.
- The course molds the students to have skill sets such as high observation, intelligence, team player, logical, practical, and systematic approach.
- BA Defence and Strategic Studies needs the potentiality like an aptitude for analyzing scientific facts, so the graduates are delivered with the skill set of analysis.
- Also, over all this study is designed to give mature guidance regarding national security problems and potential to citizens of our country.
Online Course
Various online platforms are available which offer a variety of courses related to Defence and Strategic Studies. The online mode can help students and working groups climb up the business world with ease in a short time. Some of the courses provided by the different online platforms are mentioned below:
| Course name | Platform | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Basics of Strategic Studies – Concepts and Methods Arthashastra: Indian Strategic Thought Introduction to Policy Analysis |
The Takshashila Institution | INR 30,000 |
| Indian Foreign Policy: Its Crafting and Implementation India's Military Strategy: Its Crafting & Implementation |
Council for Strategic and Defence Research | NA |
| Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defence Analysis | Norwich Online platform | INR17,56,758 |
| Strategic Agility—Virtual Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies |
Harvard university | INR 2,80,000 to INR 7,35,300 |
| Defence And Strategic Studies | The University of Texas | INR 51,500 |
Also Read: MBA in Strategic Management courses
Distance Education
The students who are willing to explore the option of studying BA Defence and Strategic Studies in flexible time for the enlightenment of knowledge of distance learning can be useful. This means of course can be convenient for many students and this program is offered by different institutes and colleges.
Some of the colleges that offers BA Defence and Strategic Studies with their annual fees are mentioned below:
| College Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Punjabi University Patiala | INR 56,484 |
| Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) Rohtak | INR 1,05,000 |
| North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon | NA |
| Panjab University Chandigarh | INR 28,695 |
| Kurukshetra University | INR 81,000 |
| Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University | INR 10,000 |
Bachelor of Arts in Defence & Strategic Studies: Syllabus
The course work is designed in such a way to provide deeper insight and understanding of the defense management and strategies focused on practical aspects of defense management. The subject is comprehensive enough to enlighten the students with the different frameworks of defense strategy and management prevailing in the nation.
Some of the common subjects are Strategic Study of India, Political Science, Fundamentals of War and Peace, Human Rights, Criminology, National Security, International Relations, Economics, Art of warfare, World Military History, Environmental Science, Defence Economics, Defence Management, International Law, Journalism, Reading, and Writing. Apart from the core subject this study also values soft skills like writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Subjects
Some of the different subjects that are taught in different semesters of Bachelor of Arts in Defence & Strategic Studies are mentioned below in the tabular chart:
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Language-I | Language-II |
| English-I | English-II |
| Principles of Political Science – I | Principles of Political Science – II |
| Study of War and Peace | Art of Warfare in India (up to 1947) |
| Independent India (OR) Peace Studies |
World Military History |
| Strategic Study of India | Human Rights (OR) Criminology- An Introduction |
| Listening and Speaking Skills | Reading and Writing Skills |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Language-III | Language-IV |
| English-III | English-IV |
| Fundamentals of National Security | Military Geography and Geo-Politics |
| International Relations | International Organizations |
| Principles of Economics-I | Principles of Economics-II |
| Personality Enrichment | Computing Skills |
| Environmental Science | Environmental Science |
| Semester V | Semester VI |
| National Security of India | International Law |
| Specialized Warfare | Post Independent Wars of India |
| Basics of Defence Economics | Disarmament and Arms Control |
| Higher Defence Organization of India | Limited Wars |
| Fundamentals of Journalism (Elective) | Defence Management |
| Value Education | Part – V Extension Activities |
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Top Colleges
Numerous colleges in India offer these honours programs. All the colleges have structured curriculum on defense and strategic studies. A few of the renowned colleges across the country are listed below:
| College Name | Average Annual fees |
|---|---|
| Guru Nanak College Chennai | INR 20,000 |
| University of Allahabad | INR 1000 |
| Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College Chennai | INR 14,000 |
| Jodhpur national University Jodhpur | INR 16,000 |
| Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kanpur | INR 28,000 |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut | INR 25,800 |
| University of Lucknow | INR 5,050 |
| Hemwati nandan bahuguna garhwal University Garhwal | INR 3,000 |
| Dayanand Anglo Vaidik Mahavidyalaya Kanpur | INR 1,500 |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyay University Gorakhpur | INR 3,000 |
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Top Colleges Abroad
Some students might be interested in pursuing BA Defence and Strategic Studies in other nations to get exposed to the environment and would like to settle in other nations. For such interested students, it is important to appear for general exams like SAT, and GRE.
Also Read: GRE exam
Candidates interested in applying abroad must follow up with language tests like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and Pearson Test of English (PTE). These general and language exams are the basic standards that make one eligible for the application process abroad.
Top Colleges
The top colleges in the QS ranking that offer various courses in this field are given below:
| College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| King's College London | INR 21,08,000 |
| Jacksonville University | INR 28,03,656 |
| University of New South Wales | INR 23,77,717 |
| Johnson and Wales University | INR 25,10,000 |
| Durham University, England | INR 23,60,000 |
| University of Calgary, Canada | INR 6,99,000 |
| University of Malaya, Malaysia | INR 5,06,000 |
| Massey university, New Zealand | INR 15,94,000 |
| Royal Military College of Canada | INR 6,60,924 |
| Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia | INR 3,60,000 |
Check out: How to prepare for IELTS
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Jobs Profiles
The defense and strategic studies are designed efficiently to make a candidate suitable to work in a wide range of defense sectors with different roles. Their job can vary from army officer to academician. Hence, various job opportunities are prevalent with the successful completion of the course are:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Defence Officer | They are responsible for the planned operation, and training with department executives | INR 5,00,000 |
| Army officer | They defend the nation and protect territories, and also help in international peacekeeping. | INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 |
| Ground Duty officer | Their major roles are involved in managing men, material and finance, and making educational facilities for enhanced human resources development. | INR 6,30,000 |
| Academician | They deliver a comprehensive study about the different subjects and provide wide varieties of academic and vocational subjects. Also, they are involved in performing research and publishing scholarly books and papers. | INR 6,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 |
| Defence Intelligence Specialist | They are involved in gathering intelligence information during sensitive army missions which can be lifesaving during wars. | INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 |
| Military Officer | They participate, support, combat in military operations and operate, repair and maintain equipment. | INR 8,00,000 to INR 9,00,000 |
| Research Officer | They help in designing the project goals, variables, research methods and other test parameters. | INR 4,30,000 |
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Top Recruiters
On the completion of the course, the candidates are eligible to serve the different defence sectors. Some of the top recruiters that offers placements for the graduates are as follow:
| Department of State | Department of Energy |
| Army, navy, Air Force, CISF, CRPF, BSF, Coast Guard, SSC, Railway, DRDO, and IDSA | Department of Homeland Security |
| Central Intelligence Agency | Drug Enforcement Administration |
| Office of the Director of National Intelligence | National Security Agency |
| Armed Forces | Central Bureau of Investigation |
| Department of Defence | Defence Intelligence Agency |
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: Scope
There are a variety of options and direction in career on the completion of the defence and strategic studies.
- The graduates can perform as analysts at corporate firms that specialize in international relations and policy research, defence establishments, Army, Navy, coast guard, security officers at private companies.
- The course enables in preparing the students in preparing defence examination, join armed forces as officers, civil services (UPSC/ TNPSC)
- BA Defence and Strategic Studies also directs students to enrol in a master’s degree abroad and they become eligible to serve binational.
- Interestingly, BA Defence and Strategic Studies allows direction to teach children at schools after clearing the TET/ CTET examination.
- The candidate can opt journalism, and can become military Journalist after completing a journalism course succeeding to graduation in Defence Studies.
BA in Defence and Strategic Studies: FAQs
Ques. How is the placement of defense and strategic studies?
Ans. The scope of placement is fair enough after the completion of defense and strategic studies. The graduates get an opportunity to work in different defense sectors such as Army, Navy, Air Force, CISF, CRPF, BSF, Coast Guard, SSC, Railway, DRDO, and IDSA.
Ques. Is BA Defence and Strategic Studies available abroad?
Ans. Yes, one can opt to study defense and strategic studies in a foreign nation too.
Ques. What are the requirements of the course to candidate..and the Age eligible
Ans. Candidates may apply for the mentioned course after completing XII.
Ques. What is the general fee structure for BA Defence and Strategic Studies?
Ans. The fees vary from college to college, however, a minimum of INR 1500 to a maximum of INR 30000 can be found.
Ques. Is there any entrance test conducted for the enrolment of defense and strategic studies?
Ans. Yes, entrance exam like NDA is accepted for admission in some of the affiliated colleges
Ques. What are the placement prospects in defense and strategic studies?
Ans. As per the placement statistics available, graduates are offered the highest salary package of around 14,75,000 per annum and the average package offered was INR 6,50,000 per annum.
Ques. Can I opt for BA Defence and Strategic Studies even if I don’t have a background of history and political science?
Ans. The eligibility for BA Defence and Strategic Studies is an aggregate of 50% in any group of 10th and 12th, so one can opt BA Defence and Strategic Studies even though they do not have a background in history and political science.
Ques. What is the use of studying BA Defence and strategic studies?
Ans. B.A. Defense & Strategic Studies helps the candidate to gain adequate knowledge on the defense of the nation and provides them education on military services in different geographical locations.
Ques. What are the subjects in Defence?
Ans. Overall, the subject covers war, military history, peace and conflict studies, international terrorism, defense economics, and national security studies.
Ques. Can I get into corporate after completion of BA Defence and Strategic Studies?
Ans. Yes, candidates can be analysts at corporate firms that specialize in defense establishments.
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