BA Journalism is a 3 years undergraduate degree course in Arts discipline that admits more than 70 Lakh candidates in India every year. It provides a holistic idea on the news, media and entertainment industry. The average duration for a part-time and dual integrated courses, can go upto as long as 5 years. The minimum eligibility for BA Journalism courses is, candidates should have a minimum of 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA in 10+2 exam from recognised board. The desired scores might increase based on the admission mode and admitting institution.
Also Check the full list of BA Journalism Colleges in India.
Admission to this course may be either merit-based or entrance based. Many universities like Chandigarh University, Christ University, etc conduct their own entrance examinations. On the other hand, colleges like Madras Christian college Chennai admits students on the basis of marks obtained by the candidates at 10+2 level. Check: How to Become a Journalist
The average BA Journalism fees ranges from INR 30,000 – 4.50 Lakh. BA Journalism is a specialized course concentrating on the news and media industry in particular. Some of the major subjects that are taught during the entirety of the course includes Functional English, Communicative English, Fundamentals of Computer, Newspaper management and Creative Journalistic Writing.Read More: Salary of a Journalist
Few highlights of the Bachelor of Arts BA Journalism are tabulated below.
| Course Name | BA Journalism |
| Course Level | Undergraduate Degree |
| Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism |
| Duration | 3 years for regular candidates. |
| Examination type | Semester wise |
| Eligibility | Scoring a minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any recognizable institution in India |
| Admission Process | Entrance Based or Merit-based followed by PI round. |
| Average Annual Fee | INR 20,000 to 1,00,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3,50,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | HT Media, Zee Entertainment Enterprise, Times of India Group, India Today Group, Reliance Media & Entertainment, Dainik Bhaskar Group, etc. |
| Top Recruiting areas | Publishing House, Broadcasting Corporations, News Agencies, Newspapers, E-Magazines and Websites, Advertising Agencies, Press Information Bureau, etc. |
| Job Positions | Columnist, Business Editor, Photojournalist, Feature Writer, Sub Editor, Reporter, Screenwriter, Investigative Journalist, Correspondent, etc. |
Few interesting points about BA Journalism are mentioned below:
- BA Journalism is a specialized course under arts concentration on the news and media industry in particular.
- This course gives the expertise and skills required to get placed in the news and media industry anywhere in India.
- Some basic subjects taught are Development of Journalism; Governance and Politics; Fundamentals of Computer; and Introduction to Electronic Media, etc.
- This course is designed to enrich practical skills much more by adding practical sessions in all its semesters in most cases.
- One will be exposed to professionalism and accurateness needed to become any news reporting personnel.
Why study BA Journalism in 2024?
Some underlying reasons for choosing BA Journalism are listed one by one below:
- Editor level job scope: Doing a bachelors in Journalism could place you in the topmost job role of the editor if you have the passion and expertise into it.
- The demand for this course will never decrease: It is one of those rare courses which will always stay in demand. So, the job opportunities will also remain constant.
- A variety of job opportunities: A Journalism student can not only work in the media houses, but they are also recruited in Advertising firms, Various Websites, and NGOs.
- Exciting Work Environment: Curious minded people can choose this kind of bachelor degree since there are more areas to look after and explore the various happenings and events around us.
- Passion to bring out the truth: One who dreams to work for the news and media industry is generally passionate to bring out the truth.
BA Journalism Admission Process 2024
The admission process to BA Journalism course may differ from one college to another, but some of the most common admission modes are described below.
Entrance-based Admission
- This admission mode includes institutions admitting candidates based on the entrance exam score.
- The institutions falling under this category of admission include Christ University, Bangalore; Chandigarh University (CU), Chandigarh; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
- However, there might be subsequent counselling sessions after the publishing of entrance exam lists depending upon the college.
- The successful candidates will be called for document verification. The candidates found eligible will be granted admission to the course.
Merit-Based Admission followed by Personal Interview
- This admission mode includes institutions admitting candidates based on the marks obtained at 10+2 level with the additional rounds like an interview and Group Discussion.
- The institutions falling under this category of admission include Lovely Professional University [LPU], Jalandhar; and St. Xavier’s College [SXC], Kolkata.
Basic steps towards getting admitted into BA Journalism are as follows:
Step 1 - Create the login ID and login into the official site of the chosen institution.
Step 2 - Also Create account and login into the official site of the chosen entrance exam conducting body. If you choose multiple institutions and entrance exams, do remember to register in all of them individually.
Step 3 - Upload all the required documents into every intended site.
Step 4 - Post clearing the entrance score lists and merit lists, you should prepare for the interview or Group Discussion rounds as and when required.
Step 5 - The candidates qualifying all the rounds will be granted admission to the course.
Read more on Top BA Journalism Colleges in Karnataka
BA Journalism Eligibility
Common eligibility criteria for BA Journalism degree include:
- The aspirant should possess around 50% in 10+2 exam in any stream of study.
- The aspirant should have completed his/her higher secondary schoolings from any recognizable institution in India.
- He/she should clear the entrance exam if the admitting institution needs it.
BA Journalism Entrance Exams
Few of the entrance exams conducted by Indian institutions both at the national level and institute include:
- CU CET : CU CET stands for Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test. It is conducted annually by Chandigarh University for admitting the candidates into all UG and PG courses.
- CUET : CUET stands for Christ University Entrance Test. This entrance exam is being administered by Christ University, Bangalore towards the admission of all UG categorical courses.
- LPUNEST : LPUNEST stands for Lovely Professional University National Eligibility and Scholarship Test. This test is administered every year by Lovely Professional University towards professional admission.
- SET : SET stands for Symbiosis Entrance Test which is conducted throughout the year by Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune towards the UG, PG, and PhD courses under many disciplines.
- BHU UET : BHU UET stands for Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test. BHU CET is conducted by Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi towards the admission of plenty of disciplined courses.
- IPU CET : IPU CET could be abbreviated as Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test. This is conducted and administered by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi for admitting the candidates into both UG and PG categorical courses under many aegides.
These entrance exams are tabulated as follows:
| Exam Name | Application Period (Tentative) | Exam Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| CUET | February 2024 – March 2024 |
May 15 - 31, 2024 |
| NPAT | December, 2023– May, 2024 |
January, 2024 – May, 2024 |
| IPU CET | March 2024 – April 2024 | April 2024 |
Check out the full list of Top BA Entrance Exams in India
How to Prepare for the BA Journalism entrance exams?
Any entrance is not a big deal with the kind of efforts and preparation strategy that one imparts into it. The first step in cracking the exam involves knowing all the sections revolving in it (syllabus). Some of the sections of all BA Journalism entrance include:
- English
- Current Affairs
- General Knowledge
- Theoretical part (might be social studies in majority of the cases)
- Reasoning
Points to remember before any entrance exam:
- Only the basics of the English language is required. So, the simple grammatical parts and writing skills will do for this section.
- For the current affairs part, be sure to be well aware of all the national happenings in the last 3 months at least.
- For the General Knowledge part, you have to be well versed with Indian history in all periods like ancient, medieval, and Modern.
- For theoretical parts, be sure to be thorough with the social studies syllabus of at least till 10th level of schoolings.
- For the Reasoning part, improve your analytical skills. Practice some aptitude questions every day to improve your speed.
How to get admission to a good BA Journalism college?
Some tips for getting admitted into any of the good Indian institution offering BA journalism are as follows:
- For entrance mode of admission, give preference to the GK part if opting for entrance-based admission since it might reduce your score to a considerable extent.
- Check and be ready with all the mandated educational and non-educational documents.
- Go for many mocks that could be improvised in many ways before the actual entrance exam.
- If the college conducts additional rounds like Group Discussion and Interview, then be prepared for it mentally with an adequate amount of practice.
- Keep yourself updated regarding the admission results.
- You will finally get the admission call if you perform well in all mandated rounds of admission.
BA Journalism Syllabus
The subjects taught under this bachelor degree in Journalism are distributed among the 6 semesters. The semester wise syllabus for most of the colleges is shown in the table below:
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Development of Journalism | Understanding News |
| Functional English | Communicative English |
| Introduction to Mass Communication | Creative Journalistic Writing |
| Political Science (Theory) | Governance and Politics |
| Basic Economics | Economic Development and Macro-Economic Issues |
| Hindi: Sanrachna aur Vikas | Hindi Patrakarita aur Bhasha |
| Practical | Practical |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| News Gathering and Correspondents | Interview Theory & Practice |
| Fundamentals of Computer | Writing for Electronic Media |
| Introduction to Electronic Media | Newspaper Editing & Photo Journalism |
| Indian Economy – Problem and Policy | International Trade and the World Economy |
| International Politics | Public Administration, Society and Media |
| Hindi aur Angreji Anuvad | New Media & Web Journalism |
| Practical | Practical |
| Semester V | Semester VI |
| Advanced Reporting | Communication for Development |
| Media Laws & Ethics | Crime & Court Reporting, Parliamentary News, Art& Culture Journalism, Entertainment, and Sports Journalism |
| Advertising and Public Relations | Newspaper management |
| Communication Research | Project Report |
| Practical | Practical |
BA Journalism Books
A candidate pursuing a BA Journalism bachelor degree will require the following books listed here in the below table.
| Name of the book | Author |
|---|---|
| Theory and practice of journalism | B.N.Ahuja |
| Successful Freelance Photo Journalism | Mcintosh |
| Journalism in India | R.Parthasarathi |
| Reporting and writing the News | Emery, Adult & Ages |
| The Newsroom: A manual of journalism | Frank Barton |
| Professional Journalism | Patanjali Sethi |
BA Journalism Top Colleges
Here we have provided the list of some top colleges and universities providing the BA Journalism course.
Top Universities
Below are the top Universities in the nation offering BA journalism course:
| University Name | Location | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamia Millia Islamia [JMI] University | New Delhi | INR 10,000 | INR 6,00,000 |
| Chandigarh University (CU) | Chandigarh | INR 90,000 | INR 4,50,000 |
| Lovely Professional University [LPU] | Jalandhar | INR 1,37,000 | INR 3,00,000 |
| Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya | Indore | INR 45,211 | INR 3,00,000 |
| Christ University | Bangalore | INR 70,000 | INR 6,80,000 |
Source: College Websites and NIRF Database
Top colleges
Below are the top colleges in the nation offering the BA journalism course:
| College Name | City | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| St. Xavier’s College [SXC] | Kolkata | INR 32,600 |
| Madras Christian College [MCC] | Chennai | INR 18,791 |
| St. Albert's College | Ernakulam | INR 18,000 |
| Kristu Jayanti College | Bangalore | INR 53,000 |
| Jyoti Nivas College | Bangalore | INR 20,492 |
BA Journalism College Comparison
A comparison is depicted between the government and non-government institutions offering BA Journalism as follows:
| Parameters | St. Xavier’s College [SXC] | Jamia Millia Islamia [JMI] | Madras Christian College [MCC] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | It is a private autonomous cadre college providing arts and science categorical courses. | It is a central university under the Government of India offering many professional courses. | It is a private autonomous cadre college providing arts, commerce, and science categorical courses. |
| Rank | NIRF College Ranking -7 | NIRF College Ranking -16 | NIRF University Ranking -16 |
| Location | Kolkata | New Delhi | Chennai |
| Eligibility | Scoring a minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any recognizable institution in India | Scoring a minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any recognizable institution in India | Scoring a minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any recognizable institution in India |
| Admission Process | Merit-based with interview | Entrance-based | Merit-based and Entrance-based with an interview |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 32,600 | INR 10,000 | INR 18,791 |
| Average Package Offered | INR 9,50,000 | INR 6,00,000 | INR 2,30,000 |
| Top Recruiting companies | Reliance, ICRA, NDTV, etc. | Newgen, CMC Limited, Innovaccer, etc. | ABN AMRO Group, Sify.com, DXC technology, etc. |
Source: College Websites
Course Comparison
BA Journalism vs BA Journalism and Mass Communication
Both courses have a lot of value in the media industry, but they have minute differences. Here, a comparison is made between BA Journalism and BA Journalism and Mass Communication.
| Parameters | BA Journalism | BA Journalism and Mass Communication |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | This degree imparts skills and knowledge on the Journalism sector alone. | This degree imparts skills and knowledge on Journalism, media, and entertainment industry, along with technical knowledge in mass communication. |
| Examination Type | Semester wise | Semester wise |
| Average Course Fees | INR 3.5 Lakhs | INR 5 Lakhs |
| Duration | 3 Years for regular | 3 Years for regular |
| Eligibility | Scoring a minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any recognizable institution in India | Scoring a minimum of 50% in 10+2 exam from any recognizable institution in India |
| Admission Process | Entrance Based or Merit-based followed by PI round. | Entrance Based or Merit-based followed by PI round. |
| Job Roles | Columnist, Editor, Photojournalist, Copy Editor, Reporter, Screenwriter, Journalist, etc. | News Analyst, Video Jockey, Radio Jockey, Freelance Writer, Journalist, Public Relations Officer, TV Correspondent, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 3.5 LPA | INR 7 LPA |
Source: College Websites and Payscale
Also, read about top BA Mass Communication Colleges in India.
BA Journalism Job Prospects and Career Options
- BA Journalism degree holders could widely be placed in the arena of news, magazines, and media industry.
- Their common roles are Reporter; Photojournalist; Editor; Journalist; and Screenwriter.
- They draw a salary of around 3.5 Lakhs INR annually depending upon their role played.
- Zee Entertainment Enterprise, Times of India Group, India Today Group, and Press Information Bureau of India, etc. are the ones to place these graduates.
Following table discusses the roles and its related info after completing BA Journalism.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Reporter | He/she is responsible to gather and write reports pertaining to the various happenings and events in the whole nation, sometimes across the globe. | INR 3 LPA |
| Photojournalist | He/she is responsible for taking photographs and write his/her article on the basis of the taken photographs. | INR 3.5 LPA |
| Editor | They will be keen on editing the contents created by the reporters and writers pertaining to the various happenings and events around us. | INR 4 LPA |
| Journalist | He/she is responsible for investigating and creating meaningful news from the happenings and events. | INR 3.5 LPA |
| Screenwriter | They are responsible for curating the screen directions and dialogues for aiding the compiler and actors pertaining to any programs. | INR 5 LPA |
Source: PayScale
BA Journalism Future Scope
Few scopes after taking up your BA in Journalism are given below.
- Opportunity to work as an Investigative Journalist: You get an excellent opportunity of working as an Investigative Journalist if you have the passion and curious mind in dealing with different varieties of scenarios and people.
- Scope for higher studies in different domains: You can have a go at any allied master degree related to the BA Journalism like MA in Sociology, Social Work, etc.
- Scope for starting your own media business: After completing a BA in Journalism, one can start his/her own media channel or newspaper house.
- Opportunity to work as a blogger: Since you develop many skills with respect to your writing and editing, you can even work as a blogger in many social sites available these days.
- Opportunity to go into Social Services: A candidate working in the journalism arena can easily go into social services and help others using their connection in the government.
BA Journalism: FAQs
Ques. How good is BA Journalism for earning just after graduation?
Ans. For a fresher, the payscale is not great and ranges between INR 15,000 to 25,000 in a month. But the salary increases with experience. The average salary of a journalist with an experience of 5 - 10 years may go as high as above INR 5 lakhs per month, depending on the expertise of the candidate.
Ques. How to start a career in Journalism after completing a BA Journalism course?
Ans. Most of the colleges do provide placements. But if you don't get placed, then you can start working as a freelance columnist or Web content writer. You can also join different news startups which usually search for journalism freshers.
Ques. Which is the top government institution that offers a Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Journalism)?
Ans. Jamia Millia Islamia [JMI] University, New Delhi is the top government university offering Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Journalism).
Ques. Any chance of having options for a dual degree while pursuing a BA in Journalism?
Ans. Yes, there are options for you to select some of the dual degrees integrated with BA Journalism.
Ques. Is it possible to pursue vocational master courses after BA journalism?
Ans. Yes, it is possible to take up any allied vocational master degree post completion of BA journalism degree.
Ques. Which is the top private institution that offers Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Journalism)?
Ans. St. Xavier’s College [SXC] is the top private university offering Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Journalism).
Ques. When will the SET entrance exam take place?
Ans. SET is scheduled tentatively on 19th July of .
Ques. What are the top-paying jobs after BA Journalism?
Ans. As a screenwriter and editor, you could fancy your chances of drawing a higher salary package.
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