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

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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.

Bachelor of Arts [BA] : 31 answered questions

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Ques. What is the minimum passing marks for BA in IGNOU?

● Top Answer By Shivani Bhat on 21 Nov 22

Ans. 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).Read more
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Ques. How do I prepare for the BHU (BA) honors entrance exam?

● Top Answer By Jagriti Singh on 16 Nov 22

Ans. The BA (Hons.) entrance exam at BHU is quite easy. You can crack the exam by following these simple tips: Update yourself on the latest GK Solve all previous year's questions  Lucent’s GK is the best to prepare for this exam Go through the pattern of the paper and know your weaknesses and strengths. 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.Read more
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Ques. How is life at JNU for MA students? Is it only hectic or do students have fun too?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 04 Jul 23

Ans. My friend pursued his M.A. from JNU and according to him, he spent the best years of his life at JNU. He went to many well-renowned colleges and universities in the USA, however, JNU is unparalleled. At JNU, you will learn even when you are having fun. Female students feel safe on campus. Male students are respectful towards their female counterparts. There are no whistles or cat-calling incidents on campus. Females can walk fearlessly from one end of the campus to the other, even at midnight.  Life for M.A. students is very hectic at JNU. It is more challenging than one can expect. If you do not maintain a healthy work-life balance, you will end up spending all your time sitting in a corner with your laptop and books. Even your group discussions will end up being solely about studies. If you feel that it will be difficult for you to create a healthy balance between studies and enjoyment, you can join JNU as a Ph.D. student rather than as an M.A. student, you will then get more time to enjoy and experience life at JNU.Read more
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Ques. Which subjects come under a BA social science (Hons.) in BHU, Varanasi?

● Top Answer By Akanksha Rai on 16 Nov 22

Ans. 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  UrduRead more
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Ques. What are average placements of BHU in LLB?

● Top Answer By Mayank Verma on 18 Nov 22

Ans. 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.Read more
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Ques. Can I apply for LLB after graduating B.A through IGNOU correspondence study?

● Top Answer By Devraj Mehta on 03 Nov 22

Ans. 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.Read more
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Ques. What are the ATKT rules of Mumbai University 2021 BA?

● Top Answer By Anika Ramteke on 16 Oct 21

Ans. 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). Read more
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Ques. What is BPP from IGNOU?

● Top Answer By Alok Thakkar on 21 Oct 22

Ans. 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.Read more
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Ques. Is there a semester system in IGNOU for BA courses?

● Top Answer By Anil Karki on 28 Oct 22

Ans. 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.Read more
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Ques. How was your SCMHRD BA interview experience?

● Top Answer By Bharath Harish on 18 May 23

Ans. My interview process started with registration and submission of the SNAP C form, followed by the written ability test (WAT). The technical WAT had questions related to probability, statistics, histogram, coefficient correlation ratio, and pseudo code. The WAT section had two topics, one related to 'business acumen dependent on data analytics,' and the other involving the creation of a story by connecting two given images. After the WAT section, the interview process moved on to group discussion (GD) and group exercise (GE). The GD topic was whether technology would replace teachers in the future, and the GE task involved forming a political party with given Bollywood stars. The personal interview (PI) consisted of questions related to my academic and professional background, technical skills in Java programming and SQL queries, conflict management skills, and problem-solving abilities. The interviewers also presented a hypothetical scenario where I had to suggest arguments to the CEO for hiring a Business Analyst despite the cost-cutting measures. Additionally, I was asked to draw a graph that compares revenue and vs financial success.Read more
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Bachelor of Arts [BA] Colleges IN INDIA

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19.17 K first year fees
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Amity University
Noida, Uttar Pradesh
1.3 L first year fees
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1 L first year fees
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7.2 K first year fees
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St Stephen's College
New Delhi, Delhi NCR
23.47 K first year fees
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Panjab University - [PU]
Chandigarh, Chandigarh
10.7 K first year fees
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3.74 K first year fees
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Miranda House
New Delhi, Delhi NCR
14.16 K first year fees
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