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BA Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) is a 3-year undergraduate arts degree specifically focusing on the fine arts stream. The minimum BA fine arts eligibility is a 10+2 qualification with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognized university/ board. Admission to the top institutions is primarily offered through entrance exams such as CUET.
BA Fine Arts admissions are conducted through merit, i.e., based on class 12 exam scores, or through entrance exams. Some of the institutes like Jamia Millia Islamia also ask for a portfolio to select students based on their talent.
Table of Content
- BA Fine Arts: Course Highlights
- BA Fine Arts: Admission Process
2.1 Eligibility Criteria
2.2 How to get admission in a good college? - BA Fine Arts Syllabus
3.1 Books - BA Fine Arts Colleges
4.1 Top Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
4.2 Top Colleges in Rajasthan
4.3 Top Colleges in Uttarakhand
4.4 College Comparison - Course Comparison
5.1 BA Fine Arts vs BFA
5.2 BA Fine Arts vs BVA - BA Fine Arts: Jobs
- BA Fine Arts: FAQs
BA Fine Arts: Course Highlights
Check out some of the major highlights of the course tabulated below.
Course Level | Undergraduate |
Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) |
Duration | 3 years |
Eligibility | A minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any stream |
Admission process | Merit-based/ Entrance Examination |
Course Fee | INR 1-3 lakh |
Average Salary | INR 3-6 LPA |
Job Positions | Visual designer, Fine Artist, Art Teacher, Graphic Designer, Painter, Editor, Art Critic, Illustrator, etc. |
Top Recruiting Companies | Design, Film, Theatre, Teaching, Animation, Educational Institutions, etc. |
BA Fine Arts subjects usually include concepts of various forms of performing arts including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry that are developed primarily for aesthetics or beauty rather than a commercial application.
BA Fine Arts Admission Process
- Most colleges and universities consider merit in 10+2 to offer BA fine arts admission. Top universities like Delhi University and BHU offer BA fine arts admission on the basis of CUET scores.
- Apart from this, these colleges may conduct a personal interview or a written test to further assess the candidate.
- After entrance exam result declaration, colleges may further conduct a personal interview round of the qualified candidates to know their interest in the course, skills, and career and might go through their art portfolio as well.
BA Fine Arts: Eligibility Criteria
The common eligibility criteria to be successfully admitted into a college offering BA Fine Arts course are as follows:
- The minimum qualification that the majority of colleges require from candidates is the completion of Class 10+2.
- Each college also further has a set minimum aggregate marks. Overall, it should be 50% or above.
- As part of the core subjects, the candidate must have studied English or Hindi at the High School level.
What are the Top BA Fine Arts Entrance Exams?
The following table lists BA fine arts entrance exams and the latest exam schedule.
Exam Name | Exam Date | Exam Schedule |
---|---|---|
CUET | May 15 – May 31, 2024 | CUET Exam Schedule |
NPAT | January 1 – May 25, 2024 | NPAT Exam Schedule |
IPU CET | May – June 2024 | IPU CET Exam Schedule |
How to Get Admission to a Good BA Fine Arts College?
To get admission in top BA Fine Arts colleges in India, the following points must be kept in mind:
- For colleges that offer admission on merit-basis, having a good score at the senior secondary level is important. Some universities have their cut-offs for aggregate marks for admission. So, students should perform well in Class 12.
- For colleges that have their entrance exams for admission, keep the following points in mind:
- The exams are usually for 2-3 hours duration with MCQ type questions.
- Most exams concentrate on knowledge and skills in art-related subjects. There may be a different section to test student’s Aptitude Skills as well.
The following sections are generally covered in BA fine arts exams syllabus:
- Aptitude Based Questions
- Visual Communication
- Art History
- Indian Art
- Design Techniques
- Famous Art Techniques
- Students should consider buying study material and practice material of BA Fine Arts entrance exams so that they prepare well for the same. Class 11-12 Fine Arts Subject Course Books also constitute a good study material for these exams.
- Candidates should also focus on preparing their Art Portfolio that is usually considered in the Personal Interview Round to check student’s art techniques and skills.
BA Fine Arts Syllabus
Although the BA Fine Arts subjects vary from college to college, most commonly, BA Fine Arts syllabus consists of foundation courses and elective courses that students can select based on his/her interests.
The table below shows common subjects that are included in the structured BA Fine Arts syllabus and subjects included in it:
1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year |
---|---|---|
History & Appreciation of Art | Specialization Courses | Specialization Courses |
Aesthetics | Aesthetics 1 | History & Appreciation |
Illustrations | Composition 1 | Indian Aesthetic, Portrait Painting |
Methods & Materials 1 | Environmental Education | Methods & Materials 2 |
Composition Painting | Graphics Printmaking | Composition Painting 3 |
Press Advertisement | Methods & Materials | Printmaking |
Portrait Painting | Ceramics & Molds | Aesthetics 2 |
Poster Design | Magazine Advertisement | Life Study |
BA Fine Arts Books
Tabulated below are some of the BA Fine Arts subject books that can help students to have a broader and better understanding of the course. The books mentioned below will also help the students in cracking various BA fine arts exams.
Name of the Book | Author |
---|---|
The Art Forger | Barbara A. Shapiro |
The Art Spirit | Robert Henri |
History of Art | H.W. Janson |
American Painting | Donald Letcher Goddard |
The Paintings of Samuel Palmer | Raymond Lister |
Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing | Margaret S. Livingstone |
BA Fine Arts Colleges in India
The table below shows the best BA Fine Arts Colleges in India
Top BA Fine Arts Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
College Name | Fees (INR) |
---|---|
CSJMU Kanpur | 57,143 |
Aligarh Muslim University | 61,770 |
J.V. Jain College, Saharanpur | 1,983 |
DAV College, Kanpur | 4,000 |
R.B.D. Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Bijnor | 3,390 |
DDU Gorakhpur | 2,592 |
J.S. University, Shikohabad | 6,500 |
Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur | 10,200 |
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyanga University, Chitrakoot | 3,305 |
RIMT Bareilly | 5,000 |
Top BA Fine Arts Colleges in Rajasthan
College Name | Fees (INR) |
---|---|
Poddar Group of Institutions, Jaipur | 25,000 |
Kanoria PG Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Jaipur | 15,000 |
Mewar University, Chittorgarh | 33,000 |
Alankar P.G. Girls College, Jaipur | 14,800 |
Sangam University, Bhilwara | 25,000 |
Raffles University, Neemrana | 51,000 |
Bhupal Nobles University, Udaipur | 19,500 |
Sobhasaria Group of Institutions, Sikar | 20,000 |
BIMS Alwar | 63,000 |
Top BA Fine Arts Colleges in Uttarakhand
College Name | Fees (INR) |
---|---|
SGRR Dehradun | 15,000 |
Guru Nanak Girls Post Graduate College, Udham Singh Nagar | 6,000 |
DAV PG College, Dehradun | 1,662 |
Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Garhwal | 8,690 |
Kumaun University, Nainital | 4,105 |
MKP PG College, Dehradun | 2,500 |
SDSUU Tehri | 20,000 |
Shri Guru Nanak Dev PG College, Udham Singh Nagar | 6,000 |
BGI Haridwar | 12,000 |
BA Fine Arts: College Comparison
The tabulation below shows the comparison made among the three top BA Fine Arts colleges in India.
Parameter | Banaras Hindu University | Delhi University | Aligarh Muslim University |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | Banaras Hindu University, a public university from Varanasi is one of the oldest universities in the country. It is one of the best colleges to pursue a degree in Fine Arts. | Delhi University is a public central university in New Delhi. One of the largest and most popular institutes, its BA Fine Arts degree attracts many candidates each year. | Established in 1875, the Aligarh Muslim University has students from around the world. Its BA Fine Arts degree is highly ranked and respected in India. |
Average Fees | INR 3,700 | INR 18,000 | INR 24,000 |
Top Companies Visited | Mother Dairy, Banas Dairy, IDBI Banks, Ujjivan Bank, etc. | ABP News, Amazon, British Telecom, IndiGo Airlines, Infosys, etc. | IBM, TCS, ICICI Bank, ONGC, L&T, Kotak Securities, Genpact, etc. |

Source: Official websites
BA Fine Arts: Course Comparison
The sections below compare the popular arts degree and BA fine arts course.
BA Fine Arts vs BFA
Both the courses deal with the study of art but they also differ from each other. Some of the basic differences between BFA and BA Fine Arts have been illustrated in the table below:
Parameters | BA Fine Arts | BFA |
---|---|---|
Full-Form | Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts | Bachelors in Fine Arts |
Overview | This course consists of theoretical parts of history like the history of art, aesthetics, illustrations, etc. | This is a prestigious course in visual arts for candidates who want practical experience and skills in the field of arts. |
Duration | 3 years | 4 years |
Eligibility | 10+2 with minimum 50% marks from a recognized university. | 10+2 with minimum 50% marks from a recognized university. |
Focus | The areas of study include painting, sculpture, architecture, music, poetry, and performing arts like theatre and dance. | The areas of study include Painting, Sketching, Sculpture, Art History, Design Communication, Printmaking, etc. |
Exam Type | Semester-based | Semester-based |
Average Fees | INR 75,000 - INR 5,00,000 | INR 1,00,000 - INR 3,00,000 |
Job options | Advertising art director, Writer, Fine Artist, Craft artist, Art director, etc. | Visual designer, Fine Artist, Art Teacher,Graphic Designer, Painter, Editor, Art Critic, Illustrator etc. |
Average Salary | INR 3 - 6 lakhs | INR 3 - 8 lakhs |
Areas of Employment | Media and Journalism, Universities, Public Relations, Animation Industry, Music Industry, Video Production and Designing, Publishing Houses | Design, Film, Theatre, Teaching, Animation, Educational Institutions, etc. |

Source: University website and Payscale
BA Fine Arts vs BVA
Both of these are very similar courses, but BA Fine Arts deals more with different mediums of Fine Arts, and BVA deals with Visual Arts. Some colleges even consider them the same degrees, i.e. a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.
Check the table below for more details:
Parameters | BA Fine Arts | BVA |
---|---|---|
Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts | Bachelor of Visual Arts |
Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
Eligibility | A minimum of 50% in Class 10+2 in any stream | 10+2 from a recognized board |
Exam Type | Semester | Semester |
Program Structure | It is an undergraduate degree that focuses entirely to train students about the different aspects, techniques, and processes involved in various mediums of Fine Arts. | BVA, on the other hand, is almost similar to the fine arts course and offers training to improve the existing skills of a candidate through practical, fieldwork, theory classes, etc. |
Average Fees | INR 2 Lakhs | INR 3 Lakhs |
Average Salary | INR 3 – 6 LPA | INR 2 – 10 LPA |
Specializations | Applied Arts, Animation, Painting, Graphic Design, Ceramics, Pottery, etc. | Graphic Design, Photography, Printmaking, Creative Writing, Technical Arts, etc. |

Source: University website and Payscale
BA Fine Arts Jobs and Scope
Post completing the course, most students opt to go for higher education or look for employment opportunities.
- Most of the jobs are in the creative and entertainment field. Media houses, marketing companies, movies, music industry, art galleries, magazines, schools, colleges, etc. are some of the areas where the graduates can find employment.
- There are plenty of BA Fine Arts Jobs available, depending on the specialization chosen. One can work as an Artist, Graphic Designer, Art Director, Musician, Actor, Visual Artist, Screenplay Writer, Animator, Cartoonist, etc.
The table below shows some of the most common BA Fine Arts Jobs and career prospects after completing of BA Fine Arts:
Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|---|
Animator | Animators are in huge demand these days. They are usually employed in the media industry and work for movies, televisions, short films, etc. Their work is to add animation elements to the videos. They can also work independently. | INR 3.30 Lakh |
Fine Artist | Fine Artists usually work to make and produce different art pieces using various forms such as paintings, ceramics, sculpture, 3D art, etc. | INR 4 Lakh |
Graphic Designer | Graphic designers are hired to work for media and marketing companies. Their work includes designing banners, photographs, etc. | INR 3.06 Lakh |
3D Visualizer | They usually work with the art or media team in different areas of 3D visualization services. | INR 4.80 Lakh |
Photographer | As a photographer one can work with a company or privately for events like marriages, corporate events, or for different shoots. | INR 3.90 Lakh |
Art Asst. Professor | They are much needed to provide basic education to the students who are interested to study art at graduate, undergraduate and doctoral studies level. | Varies as per salary scale |
Cartoonist | Cartoonists can work in a wide range of areas from television, to internet short films, movies, or create their productions. | INR 4 Lakh |

Some of the most pursued Master degrees after completion of BA Fine Arts are:
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA): The most popular course that graduates choose to do is the Master of Fine Arts. It is a two-year postgraduate program in visual and performing arts. It is recommended for students who are interested in carving out a niche in a preferred field, like printmaking, ceramics, etc. Check out the top Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Colleges in India.
- MA Fine Arts: MA Fine Arts is a 2-year postgraduate degree program that is designed to help candidates refine their skills and become an artist in their chosen field. The course offers subjects such as Applied Arts, Painting, Art History, Sculpture, Visual Communication, Printmaking, Ceramics, etc. Check out the top MA Fine Arts in India.
This is to note that BA Fine Arts Jobs are available in both private and public sector organizations. Besides getting a job, one can also opt to go for higher education options and increase the chances of earning more from their craft.
After completing BA Fine Arts, if a candidate completes any of the master courses mentioned above, various research opportunities in the field of art opens up as well.
BA Fine Arts: FAQs
Ques. What’s the difference between BA Fine Arts and BA?
Ans. BA Fine Arts is a vocational program that concentrates only on the fine arts while BA teaches about both arts and science subjects. Both are different degrees in terms of the course curriculum, specializations offered, and career prospects.
Ques. What are the top colleges for BA Fine Arts?
Ans. The top institutes and colleges are Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University, Anna University and Amity School of Fine Arts, among others.
Ques. What are the specializations available under BA Fine Arts?
Ans. Some of the popular specializations include pottery and ceramics, graphic design, screenwriting, textile design, applied arts, animation, etc.
Ques. What are the subjects in BA Fine Arts?
Ans. Some of the subjects taught are Portrait and Composition Painting, Press Advertisement, History of Arts, Graphic Design, Animation, Ceramics, etc. In the second year, students can choose from many elective subjects based on their interests and chosen specializations like Applied Arts, Painting, etc.
Ques. Which job profiles are available for a BA Fine Arts graduate?
Ans. Students of BA Fine Arts can work as Artists, Visualizers, Graphic Designers, textile designers, Illustrators, Cartoonist, Animators, Logo Designers, Art Director, Art Critics, Art Teacher, etc.
Ques. What is the annual average tuition fee charged for the BA Fine Arts program?
Ans. The annual average tuition fee at the top BA Fine Arts colleges is between INR 3K to INR 1 Lakh.
Ques. What is the scope after BA Fine Arts?
Ans. Students can choose for higher education like MFA or any other Master's degree. Most jobs are available in the entertainment and media field in both private and public sectors. There are many government jobs as well like Visualizer, Designer, etc.
Ques. What is the difference between BA Fine Arts vs BA?
Ans. BA Fine Arts is a fine arts program while BA teaches about both arts and science subjects. Both are different degrees in terms of the course curriculum, specializations offered, and career prospects.
Ques. What is the average salary in BA Fine Arts?
Ans. The salary ranges from INR 3 – 6 LPA as per the job profile.
Ques. What are the job positions available after BA Fine Arts?
Ans. Job positions like Visual Designer, Fine Artist, Art Teacher, Graphic Designer, Painter, Editor, Art Critic, Illustrator, etc. are available in the BA Fine Arts field.
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