BA (Bachelor of Arts) and BA Hons (Bachelor of Arts Hons) are some of the most pursued courses in India. In terms of duration, eligibility, admission process and average fee, BA and BA Hons are similar.
The basic difference between BA and BA Hons is that BA Hons offers you to study a particular subject as a specialization in a 3-Year program, while you are expected to study at least 5 subjects in a BA program. BA Hons salary is expected to be higher than BA Salary, as it is a specialization course, so candidates are expected to be a better fit for a particular job profile.
BA vs BA Hons: Course Comparison
Here is a comparison table between BA vs BA Hons.
| Parameter | BA | BA Hons |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | BA course covers aspects of arts broadly with all the basic subjects taught in the course curriculum. | BA Hons specializes in any one subject of interest such as History, English, Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology, Economics, etc. |
| Specializations | No | History, Geography, Sociology, Philosophy, Journalism, Hindi, English, etc. |
| Duration | 3 Years | 3 Years |
| Eligibility | High school qualifying degree. | 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board. |
| Average Fee | INR 10,000 - INR 60,000 | INR 20,000 - INR 80,000 |
| Admission Process | Entrance-Based | Entrance-Based |
| Top Colleges | Miranda House, LSR New Delhi, St. Stephen's College, Presidency College Chennai. | Miranda House, LSR New Delhi, Hindu College, New Delhi, St. Stephen's College, Presidency College Chennai. |
| Average Salary | INR 2,50,000 - INR 4,50,000 | INR 3,00,000 - INR 8,00,000 |
| Job Profiles | Content Writer, Editor, Event Management, Policy Maker, Air Hostess/ Flight Attendant, etc. | Political Analyst, Historian, Public Relations, Primary School Teacher, Graphic Designer, Editor, etc. |
| Eligible for Government Jobs | Yes | Yes |
Check Out: MBA Course
BA vs BA Hons for UPSC?
A Majority of students pursue a degree in arts to crack UPSC. There has been a lot of debate on whether BA or BA Hons is suitable for preparing for UPSC.
The following points shall be taken into consideration while choosing the best program for UPSC:
- On a larger scale, choosing BA is a wise decision if you want to prepare for UPSC because it offers a course curriculum in all the major subjects such as History, Political Science, Sociology, English which will help in preparation.
- Some colleges have a better course curriculum in BA Hons programs in terms of the core subjects and electives offered, and they have better opportunities when it comes to preparation for UPSC.
- For example, top DU Colleges have better BA Hons programs, the most popular being BA Political Science Hons, and English Hons. These two are the most sought after courses for preparation for UPSC.
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Course Overview
- Bachelor of Arts BA is an undergraduate course of 3 Years, available in a wide variety of subjects such as BA Hindi, BA English, BA Economics, BA LLB, BA History, BA Geography, etc.
- Admissions into the BA course require minimum eligibility of 10+2 with a minimum aggregate of 45-50%. Check: BA Admission 2023
- One can pursue a BA Distance Education course from colleges like IGNOU, TNOU, KSOU, etc within a range of INR 6,000 to 20,000, and the duration for BA Course in distance mode is 3-6 years.
- BA Jobs include journalist, writer, author, social activist, historian, etc. The average salary for BA Jobs ranges from INR 3,00,000 - INR 9,00,000.
- The BA Syllabus varies depending on the course taken, but the common subjects include the foundation courses in different disciplines and electives.
Also check
BA Top Colleges
Check the complete list of Top BA Colleges in India
| NIRF Rank | College Name | Average Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miranda House | INR 14,160 |
| 2 | LSR New Delhi | INR 16,390 |
| 3 | Hindu College New Delhi | INR 14,790 |
| 4 | St. Stephen's College | INR 34,000 |
| 6 | Loyola College, Chennai | INR 50,000 |
| 9 | HRC New Delhi | INR 20,545 |
| 13 | ARSD, New Delhi | INR 10,785 |
| 15 | Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, New Delhi | INR 18,545 |
Check:
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Syllabus
Bachelor of Arts has a wide course curriculum but there are some common subjects taught in every BA program, which are mentioned below.
| Foundation Course in English | Indian Philosophy |
| Foundation Course in Hindi | Economic Development |
| Agricultural Development in India | Indian Economic Development: Issues and Perspectives |
| Religions of the World | Social Problems in India |
| Government & Politics in India | Political Ideas and Ideologies |
| Administrative Theory | Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Understanding Prose and Poetry | History of Urdu Literature and Language |
Refer BA Syllabus article to know about subjects, electives, syllabus, and recommended books for each BA Programs.
Bachelors of Arts (Hons): Course Overview
-
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) is a 3 Year undergraduate course offered in various specializations such as BA Hons English, BA Hons Political Science, BA Hons History, and others.
| BA Hons English | BA Hons History | BA Hons Economics |
| BA Hons Political Science | BA Hons Psychology | BA Hons Hindi |
| BA Hons Education | BA Hons Philosophy | BA Hons Sociology |
- Admissions in BA Hons require minimum eligibility of 10+2 examination with a minimum aggregate of 55%.
- Admission to BA Hons is usually offered through merit but some universities like Delhi University and a few more conduct their entrance exams for the same. Read More: BA Hons Admission 2023
-
With an average annual salary ranging from INR 3,00,000 – INR 7,00,000, BA Hons graduates get jobs in leading sectors like Banking, Educational Institutes, Archaeological, and Geological surveys, MNCs, Political groups, etc. Check BA Hons Jobs and Scope
BA Hons Top Colleges
Check the complete list of Top BA Hons Colleges in India
| India Today Rank | College Name | Average Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hindu College, New Delhi | INR 14,790 |
| 2 | St Stephens College, New Delhi | INR 34,000 |
| 3 | Miranda House, New Delhi | INR 14,160 |
| 4 | LSR New Delhi | INR 16,390 |
| 5 | MCC Chennai | INR 20,500 |
| 6 | HRC New Delhi | INR 20,545 |
| 7 | Loyola College, Chennai | INR 50,000 |
| 8 | Christ University, Bangalore | INR 50,000 |
Also Check
BA Hons Syllabus
There are a number of BA Hons courses available, each having its own list of subjects taught. Some of the popular BA Hons courses syllabus is mentioned below.
| BA Hons Subjects | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| BA English | English Literature, Twentieth Century Indian Writing, Qualifying Language, Credit Language, Nineteenth-Century European Realism, Classical Literature, Forms of Popular Fiction, Contemporary Literature, Anglo-American Writing from 1930, Literary Theory, Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Modern European Drama. |
| BA Political Science | Environmental Science, Understanding Political Theory, Constitutional Government and Democracy in India, Generic Elective, Political Theory-Concepts and Debates, Political Process in India, Introduction to Comparative Government & Politics, Perspectives on Public Administration, Perspectives on International Relations, Public Policy and Administration in India, Global Politics, Classical Political Philosophy, Modern Indian Political Thought, Modern Political Philosophy. |
| BA History | History of India, Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World, Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Medieval World, Rise of Modern West, History of Modern Europe, History Of Southeast Asia-The 19TH Century, History of Modern East Asia; Electives. |
Refer: BA Hons Syllabus article to know about subjects, electives, syllabus, and recommended books of each BA Hons Specializations.
BA and BA Hons: Admission Process
The admission process for both BA and BA Hons courses are similar, either on the basis of merit or through entrance exams.
- Merit-Based: The admissions to colleges like Symbiosis University, Amity University, etc. are done on the basis of merit score of class 12 examination. These colleges release a cut-off score of 98% or higher.
- Entrance Exams: For admission to courses like BA Music, BA English, BA Social Sciences, and others, some colleges conduct their own entrance exams.
The list of entrance exams for admission to the BA Course is mentioned below, along with other details like the application date, and date of exam.
| Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| CUET | February 2023 – 4th week of March 2023 | May 21 – 31, 2023 Reserved date: June 1 –7, 2023 |
| NPAT | December 01, 2022 -May 21, 2023 | January 04, 2023 – May 31, 2023 |
| TISS BAT | February 10, 2023 - March 12, 2023 | May 21 – 31, 2023 |
| IPU CET | March 2023 – April 2023 | April 2023 |
| JNUEE | To be Announced | To be Announced |
BA vs BA Hons: FAQs
Ques. Which is better, BA or BA Hons?
Ques. What is the eligibility criteria and admission process for a BA Hons Course?
Ques. What is the eligibility criteria and admission process for a BA Course?
Ques. Is BA Hons a good degree?
Ques. Is BA a good degree?
Ques. What is the duration of the BA and BA Hons course?
Ques. Which are the top colleges offering BA Hons course?
Ques. Which is the most popular course in BA Hons?
Ans. BA English Hons, BA Political Science Hons, BA History Hons are some of the popular courses.
Ques. What are some of the BA Hons jobs? What can one do after completing BA Hons?
Ques. What course should I do after BA?
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