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BA vs BA Hons: Which is Better, Top Colleges, Subjects, Jobs, Scope 2023

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Nikita Joshi

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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

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?

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): 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%. CheckBA 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

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 (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

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.

  • 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

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

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

BA vs BA Hons: FAQs

Ques. Which is better, BA or BA Hons?

Ans. The basic difference between them both is that in BA Hons one studies a particular specialization and in BA one has no specializations to study.

Ques. What is the eligibility criteria and admission process for a BA Hons Course?

Ans. One needs to have more than 50% from a recognized board to be eligible for the course. Admission to BA Hons degree is offered both on the basis of merit and entrance exams.

Ques. What is the eligibility criteria and admission process for a BA Course?

Ans. A 10+2 degree with a minimum aggregate of 45-50% from a recognized board is the minimum eligibility. Also, some colleges conduct their entrance exams for admissions into BA courses.

Ques. Is BA Hons a good degree?

Ans. Yes, it is a good degree in terms of job prospects and career options.

Ques. Is BA a good degree?

Ans. Yes, BA is a good degree especially for the preparation of entrance exams such as UPSC.

Ques. What is the duration of the BA and BA Hons course?

Ans. Both of the courses are of 3 Years.

Ques. Which are the top colleges offering BA Hons course?

Ans. Miranda House, St. Stephens College, Hindu College, LSR New Delhi are some of the top colleges offering BA Hons courses.

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?

Ans. Some of the BA Hons jobs are Content Writer, Primary School Teacher, Political Analyst, Graphic Designer, Communicator, etc. After completing a BA Hons degree, one can go with various MA courses for higher studies.

Ques. What course should I do after BA?

Ans. You can pursue a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed), and many other professional diploma courses after doing a BA course.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

SB

Shivani Bhat

21 Nov 22

The passing marks at IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) are

  • Theory - 30 out of 100 / 18 out of 50

  • Assignments - More than 50%

If you fail to score 50% in assignments, you will have to resubmit them. If you score above 30 out of 100 or 18 out of 500 in theory, then you will pass without having submitted assignments.

Percentage Calculation - Assignments- 30% weightage and Term End Examination- 70% weightage for FST (Foundation Course in Science & Technology) and FHS (Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences).

...Show More

JS

Jagriti Singh

16 Nov 22

The BA (Hons.) entrance exam at BHU is quite easy. You can crack the exam by following these simple tips:

  1. Update yourself on the latest GK

  2. Solve all previous year's questions 

  3. Lucent’s GK is the best to prepare for this exam

  4. Go through the pattern of the paper and know your weaknesses and strengths.

  5. Get the BHU UET Social science guide (Arihant publication) and study it thoroughly.

Keeping these tips in mind, score above 170 and you will get a decent rank.

...Show More

SA

Samar Ali

21 Nov 22

Whether your life at JNU is hectic or not, depends mainly on your course. It’s you who has to find the balance between career, friends, fun and yourself.

JNU is exceptionally safe for girls and girls can enjoy their college life by roaming around at night. Some other fun activities at JNU are:

  • DJ parties for freshers almost every weekend

  • During the winter semester you get hostel nights every weekend. It's a 2 day event celebrated by each hostel. First day is a cultural program, students irrespective of their hostel can take part in singing, dancing, music, band and drama to be performed on the same stage and get facilitated. On the second day the hostel throws a dinner party followed by a DJ.

  • JNU facilities extracurricular toba great extent. Clubs like dance, drama, painting, music, mountaineering, photography and other sports make the experience a thrill.

  • The campus is surrounded by many eateries, especially dhabas that provide the best food.

The best part of the university has to be its no minimum attendance rule. You are assessed on the basis of your performance only. So life at JNU can be both hectic and fun depending on how you balance it.

...Show More

AR

Akanksha Rai

16 Nov 22

There are two ways for a BA degree from BHU. One through the faculty of Arts and another one through the faculty of Social Sciences.

The following subjects sone under a BA Social Science (Hons.) in BHU:

Faculty of Arts-

  • Economics

  • History

  • Political Science

  • Sociology 

  • Psychology 

  • Mathematics

  • Statistics

  • Geography 

  • Tourism and Travel Management 

Faculty of Social Sciences-

  • Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology 

  • Arabic

  • Archaeology and Museology 

  • Applied Statistics

  • Bengali

  • Chinese

  • Dance

  • Education 

  • English

  • French

  • Geography 

  • German

  • Hindi

  • Home Science 

  • History of Art

  • Japanese

  • Linguistics

  • Marathi 

  • Music Instrumental

  • Music Vocal

  • Nepali

  • Office Management and secretarial practice 

  • Pali

  • Persian

  • Philosophy 

  • Physical Education 

  • Painting 

  • Psychology 

  • Russian

  • Sanskrit 

  • Statistics 

  • Telugu

  • Tamil

  • Travel and Tourism Management 

  • Urdu

...Show More

MV

Mayank Verma

18 Nov 22

Almost 30-40% of the students got placed. The highest salary package offered is 10 LPA, and the lowest salary package offered is 2 LPA. Top recruiting companies of our college are TCS, etc. Almost 50-60% of the students got an internship in firms, Sai & Associations, etc.

...Show More

DM

Devraj Mehta

03 Nov 22

The eligibility criteria for various universities vary. Because IGNOU is a recognized university, you can certainly apply for admission to pursue LLB if you take the CET.

The Bar Council of India does not recognize law degree programs completed through distance education, so IGNOU does not offer 3-year LLB, BA LLB, BBA LLB, or LLM programs. It should be noted that no entrance exam is required for IGNOU law programs (except for Ph.D. in Law). Candidates must simply register for IGNOU law programs by completing the application form and submitting their application fee, as well as the course fee.

...Show More

AR

Anika Ramteke

16 Oct 21

The rules for ATKT at Mumbai University are simple and easy to follow. 

  • If you have more than 2 KT in each semester, then you will not be promoted to the next year. You will have to drop a year from college and appear for the exams again.
  • Keep a close eye on the notifications related to the exam and fill the form accordingly.
  • If you have 2 or less KT in each semester, then you will be promoted to the next year.
  • To appear for 3rd year examination, you must clear either your 1st or 2nd year.

You would not be allowed to continue your term in the third year if you fail in any of the subjects of the first year and second year (cross ATKT). 

...Show More

AT

Alok Thakkar

21 Oct 22

The full form of BPP is Bachelor Preparatory Programme. Some important details of the course are as follows:

Maximum duration 

6 months

Minimum duration

2 years

Course fees

INR 1000

Minimum age

18 years

Maximum age

No limit 

The best part about the program is that it is eligible for almost everyone. No formal qualification is required for this course.

BPP at IGNOU is specially designed for the ones who are willing to get a Bachelor's Degree from IGNOU but lack the required qualification i.e., passing 10+2. Because of this lack of qualification the students who haven’t passed 10+2 cannot apply for higher education anywhere. This programme has been designed to give such students an opportunity to enter higher education. Please note that this is just an enabling programme and not equivalent to 10+2.

...Show More

AK

Anil Karki

28 Oct 22

No, there is no semester system in IGNOU for BA courses. In IGNOU students are enrolled in two cycles (January and June). The submission of assignments and TEE (Term End Examination) is scheduled once a year.

Although assignments can be submitted only once a year, there is a high chance that if you fail to appear in May or December TEE, you can appear for that particular subject on another cycle.

For example, you enrolled in this course in 2021. If you wish to appear for June 2022 TEE, you are required to submit the assignments by March 30 2022. If you fail to appear or pass the TEE, you can appear for the same exam in December 2022.

...Show More

DR

Diksha Roy

12 Sept 22

Consider what you want as the optional in UPSC and choose it as your honors subject. Public Administration is a good option. Otherwise, you can choose basic BA from IGNOU. The course includes subjects from Social Science, Literature, Community Services, etc.

...Show More

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