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Jagpreet
28 September, 2024
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“Art is the most intense mode of individualism the world has known.”- Oscar Wilde.
Did you know that the global art market was valued at $65 billion the previous year and is believed to grow multitudinous over the coming years, according to Statista reports?
If you have a knack for creativity and an innate interest in fine arts, such as visual arts, dance, and music. Then, going for a degree that helps you transform your creative side into a successful career is what you need! With a BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, take the road less travelled and carve a new path for yourself. Make a career for yourself that is not dominated by society’s guidelines but by your own creative choices.
For creative bones in your body, pursue a BFA degree that helps enhance and polish those skills. It might set you in the right direction of artistic growth and empower your unique voice. This course supports you academically and gives you industry exposure while providing the learners with a dynamic and artistic landscape.
With this blog, let’s dive deep into the full details of the BFA course including its eligibility, BFA entrance exams, admission process, top BFA colleges in India, BFA course fees, salary and more. Let’s get started.
The full form of BFA is “Bachelor of Fine Arts.” It is a 3–4 year undergraduate programme that covers various artistic domains such as painting, sculpture, music, dance, animation, pottery, etc. Remember, people often use the term Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) interchangeably with BFA; however, there are slight differences between the two.
BFA graduates are prepared to take up job roles in the arts industry as professional artists, designers, performers, and educators. They are trained to learn new skills and express their artistic vision. BFA graduates have easy access to lucrative job opportunities in the fashion, marketing, and media industries, along with art studios.
It is undoubtedly a rewarding programme for candidates inclined toward creative arts or a passion for expressing their thoughts through artistic mediums. The degree offers expert guidance and mentorship to the students to bring out the artists in them. Approximately 200 universities in India offer BFA courses in various areas of expertise, including painting, sculpture, and design.
Yes, acquiring a BFA degree is worth it. There is no doubt about it. It is a degree that provides artists with academic recognition. The degree is not only internationally recognised but also provides the most profitable and diverse career opportunities on the market. However, it depends on your personal interests and career goals. It provides the learners with an artistic vision along with a modern and practical approach to making a place for themselves in this highly competitive market. If one is interested in stepping into a field of creation and innovation, a BFA course is the perfect start.
The scope of the BFA course is quite promising. It offers us a range of diverse job roles and multiple freelance careers in domains such as illustration, animation, photography, art direction, etc.
A BFA degree equips you with new-age art subjects such as interactive arts, digital media design, multimedia storytelling, etc.
It offers global work opportunities and exposure to diverse cultural perspectives in various creative industries.
With a BFA degree, you can also pursue freelancing and mentoring jobs as a music director, illustrator, animator, etc.
A BFA degree can help one with entrepreneurial ventures, establish a successful business/firm, or pursue any other independent career.
Must Read: Benefits of Liberal Arts Education in 21st Century
Skill Development
Networking Opportunities
Personal Growth
Diverse Career Opportunities
Professional Exposure
Enhanced Communication Skills
Unique Curriculum
Critical Thinking Ability
BA is Bachelor in Arts, while BFA stands for Bachelor in Fine Arts. Although both are undergraduate courses, the former deals with the arts and humanities and offers a broader academic domain. It involves a more creative approach, and the skills are also transferable to other fields. Let’s take a look over the key differences between BFA and BA below:
| Course Name | Bachelor of Fine Arts | Bachelor of Arts |
| Duration | 4 years | 3 years |
| Curriculum | Creative arts, painting, music, dance, sculpture, pottery | Humanities, social sciences, languages |
| Job Roles | Artist, designer, illustrator, dancer, music teacher | Writer, educator, researcher |
| Average Salary | INR 2-6.5 LPA | INR 1.9-5 LPA |
| Nature of Degree | More domain-specific and in-depth course study related to specific specialisations | General in its nature of degree with an overview of different concepts of subjects related to the field of arts |
| Special Requirements | Facilities like theatres, studios, art rooms, etc., for immersive, hands-on experience for the students | Inclusive classroom learning environment to focus more on academia with no special focus on other facilities |
Must Read: 8 High-Demand Courses After 12th Arts in 2024
Though colleges may have different requirements for admission into the course the general eligibility criteria for admission into a BFA programme is as follows:
To the BFA programme, you must have passed 12th-grade from a recognised board.
You must have scored a minimum aggregate percentage of 40–50% in grade 12 boards. (5% relaxation is given to reserved candidates.)
Students with an artistic background or who studied arts/humanities in the 12th grade are typically given more preference.
A firm grasp of communication skills is an added benefit.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts offers a wide range of specialisation options, allowing students to pursue the creative arts of their choice. The specialisations enable students to gain more knowledge and hone their skills in the chosen subject.
| BFA Specialisations | |
| Painting | Music |
| Sculpture | Dance |
| Graphic Design | Photography |
| Textile Design | Drama and Theatre |
| Illustration | Animation |
| Clay modelling | Advertising Art |
| Printmaking | Calligraphy |
Just like any degree, it is essential that one first researches the programme and the institution one wishes to pursue it from so that it matches one’s academic goals and professional interests. You may consider the following factors before choosing the right college for your BFA course.
Choosing the right BFA college is a crucial step for any undergraduate. It requires a detailed study of the curriculum, specialisation options, campus facilities, and programme fee details. India has some renowned fine arts colleges that offer tailored art programmes for artistic growth and innovation.
Some of the top BFA colleges with BFA course fees are given below:
| Top BFA College | BFA Course Fees |
| Chandigarh University | INR 57,0000 (per semester) |
| Amity University | INR 79,500 (per year) |
| Lovely Professional University | INR 50,000 (per semester) |
| Manipal University Jaipur | INR 1,26,000 (per year) |
The BFA curriculum is designed to offer a comprehensive learning experience in various artistic disciplines such as calligraphy, music, photography, etc. This course curriculum equips students with a stronger foundation in theory and practical assignments. Here’s the full BFA syllabus for you:
| BFA Course – Semester 1 | BFA Course – Semester 2 |
| Design – I | Design – II |
| Drawing – I | Drawing – II |
| Environmental Studies – I | Environmental Studies – II |
| Geometrical Drawing and Perspective – I | Geometrical Drawing and Perspective – II |
| History of Art | History of Arts – II |
| Painting – I | Painting -II |
| Print Making – I | Print Making – II |
| Sculptures – I | Sculpture – II |
| Visual Graphics – I | Visual Graphics -II |
| Anatomical Drawing | Anatomical Drawing – II |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses | Communication Skills |
| Foreign Business Language | |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| BFA Course – Semester 3 | BFA Course – Semester 4 |
| Summer Training – I [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] | Advertising Theory – II (Specialization Elective Courses) |
| Advertising Theory – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Composition – II (Specialization Elective Courses) |
| Composition – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Computer Graphics – II (Specialization Elective Courses) |
| Computer Graphics – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Design – IV (Specialization Elective Courses) |
| Design – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Drawing – IV (Specialization Elective Courses) |
| Drawing – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Drawing and Illustration – II |
| Drawing and Illustration – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Interactive Design |
| Lettering and Typography – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Lettering and Typography – II |
| Painting – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Painting – IV (Specialisation Elective Courses) |
| Painting Methods and Materials – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Painting Methods and Materials – II (Specialisation Elective Courses) |
| Photography (Applied Art) – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Print Making – IV (Specialisation Elective Courses) |
| Photography (Painting) – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Aesthetics – II (Core Subject) |
| Print Making – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | History of Arts – IV (Core Subject) |
| Sculpture – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Introduction to Managing Cultures |
| Aesthetics – I [Core Courses] | Creativity for Team Excellence – Behavioural Science |
| History of Art – III [Core Courses] | Foreign Business Language |
| Individual Excellence & Social Dynamics [Behavioural Science] | Open Elective Courses |
| Foreign Business Language | Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| Open Elective Courses | |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| BFA Course – Semester 5 | BFA Course – Semester 6 |
| Summer Training – II [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] | Advertising Theory – IV [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Advertising Theory – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Composition – IV [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Composition – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Computer Graphics – IV [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Computer Graphics – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Design – VI [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Design – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Drawing – VI [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Drawing – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Drawing and Illustration – IV [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Drawing and Illustration – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Fundamentals of Label Designing & Packaging [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Mural – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Mural – II [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Packaging – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Packaging – II [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Painting – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Painting – VI [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Painting Methods and Materials – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Painting Methods and Materials – IV [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Aesthetics – III [Core Courses] | Aesthetics – IV [Core Courses] |
| History of Art – V [Core Courses] | History of Art – VI [Core Courses] |
| Foreign Business Language | Country Report – I [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Open Elective Courses | Introduction To Managing Cultures [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses | Foreign Business Language |
| Open Elective Courses | |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| BFA Course – Semester 7 | BFA Course – Semester 8 |
| Summer Internship [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] | Major Project [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] |
| Advertising Theory – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Conceptual Art (Installation and Video Art) [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Composition – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Creative Composition [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Computer Graphics – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Graphic Designing for Publication [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Design – VII [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Graphic Designing for Web [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Drawing – VII [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Aesthetics – VI [Core Courses] |
| Drawing and Illustration – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | History of Art – VIII [Core Courses] |
| Mural – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Country Report – I [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Packaging – III [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Introduction To Managing Cultures [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Painting – VII [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Foreign Business Language |
| Painting Methods and Materials – V [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Open Elective Courses |
| Aesthetics – V [Core Courses] | Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| History of Art – VII [Core Courses] | |
| Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility [Professional Ethics] | |
| Foreign Business Language | |
| Open Elective Courses | |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
Make a list of the suitable institutions and select the one that best matches your requirements. Make sure to check that the organisation is recognised and accredited.
Fill out the admission form, fill in all required details, and submit the documents.
After the document verification, pay the fee for the BFA course.
Once the fee for the course is approved, wait for admission confirmation. The university will send you the confirmation letter soon.
As a BFA graduate, you would find diverse career opportunities in the job market. It involves job roles such as illustrators, multimedia artists, interior designers, art educators, art directors, animators, and many more. Top recruiters from media companies and design firms hire BFA graduates for their job roles.
Some of the top recruiters for BFA graduates are shared below:
| BFA Top Recruiters | |
| Fashion Design Council of India | Apple |
| Bristol Hotels and Resorts | |
| Decathlon | Accenture |
| Lifestyle | Cognizant |
| Saregama India Ltd. | Microsoft Corporation |
| Iris Mediaworks | Wizcraft International Entertainment |
| Tata Consultancy Services | Amazon |
| Ogilvy | Disney |
Some of the prominent BFA job profiles and their respective BFA salaries are shared below:
| BFA Job Profiles | Average Annual Salary |
| Technical Illustrator | INR 4.3 LPA |
| Animator | INR 4.6 LPA |
| Photographer | INR 3.7 LPA |
| Fashion Designer | INR 4.3 LPA |
| Art Director | INR 9.3 LPA |
| Video Editor | INR 3.8 LPA |
| Graphic Designer | INR 4 LPA |
| 3D Artist | INR 4.1 |
Progress in society has always been dependent not only on technical jobs but also on the expansion of creative fields. With a plethora of options in career fields such as advertising, fashion, interior design, education, etc., the BFA programme has become one of the popular career choices for students seeking to combine their artistic passions with professional opportunities.
A BFA degree is more than just an academic pursuit; it is the pathway to becoming a celebrated artist. But the truth is, the real value of an artist does not lie in the degree he or she holds but rather in the dedication or passion they bring to their craft. So if you are passionate about fine arts, gear up and start your journey today.
