Top 10 Liberal Arts Courses in India - Eligibility, Entrance Exams, and Universities

Much earlier than the creation of the more technical fields like engineering and IT, higher education in the arts has existed for millennia. There are two main categories of education in the arts: fine arts and liberal arts. In the humanities and social sciences such as history, political science, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, liberal arts courses cover the arts as a taught skill.

Since ancient times, the various liberal arts fields have evolved in India thanks to the mingling of various cultures made possible by interactions with eminent academics like Marco Polo, Albiruni, Fa-Hien, and Francois Bernier. With increased support for study into its numerous areas, India's liberal arts have a wider range now. Here's a list of the top 10 liberal arts courses in India and how to apply for them.

1. Major in sociology or social studies

In India, the minimum qualification for Sociology undergraduate studies is a passing grade 12 with main humanities subjects or any such equivalent. It is preferable to take sociology as a subject in high school (10+2). Some of the entrance tests that grant admission into the following universities are the Flame University Aptitude Test (FEAT), Shiv Nadar University Entrance Exam (SNUEE), Ashoka Aptitude Test (AAT), and Krea Immersive Case (KIC). The universities that offer quality courses in Sociology are:

Flame University

Ashoka University

Shiv Nadar University

Krea University

2. Philosophy Major

This programme, one of the most popular liberal arts programs in India, requires applicants to have completed Grade 12 or the equivalent, preferably with humanities courses. Regarding the entrance tests, colleges hold their own entrance exams for Philosophy Major courses. The colleges that offer some of the most comprehensive programmes are:

Krea University

Azim Premji University

Karnavati University's Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts and Mass Communication

3. History Major

Programmes in history as a major subject need applicants to have passed the Grade 12 level exams with humanities subjects (including History), which is a requirement for other liberal arts programmes in India. Students can choose to take the SNUEE, AAT, KIC, or the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) to qualify for admission to Indian universities that offer history courses, including:

Shiv Nadar University

Ashoka University

Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts

Krea University

Azim Premji University

4. Political Science/Political Studies/International Studies

Courses in political studies and international studies require applicants to have completed high school with humanities subjects. It would be preferable if you had political science as one of your grade 12 subjects. Each university has its own set of entry exams, even though there isn't a single national entrance exam for political science studies. The top colleges that provide these courses are:

Shiv Nadar University

Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts and Mass Communication

Karnavati University's Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts and Mass Communication

5. Bachelor of Arts in Economics

The BSc Economics courses are not the same as the BA Economics courses offered in India. For the former, you must have completed at least Grade 12 of high school, or its equivalent, in either the Science, Humanities, or Commerce courses. Some of the admission tests that candidates attempt to pass for this course include the AAT, Jindal Scholastic Aptitude Test (JSAT), FEAT, and SET. Candidates can gain admission to some of the most prestigious colleges by passing these entrance exams:

Shiv Nadar University

Ashoka University

OP Jindal University

Flame University

Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts

Krea University

6. Business Studies

In India, business studies fall under the umbrella of liberal arts courses, and the minimal requirements for qualifying are comparable to those for other liberal arts courses. The entrance requirement for this course may be satisfied by passing a Grade 12 exam or its equivalent. Students can enroll in the following colleges that offer business studies programs by taking the Symbiosis Entrance Test and the KIC round of the Krea University admissions process:

Krea University

Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts

7. English Literature

To be eligible for undergraduate English and English Literature courses, a student must have completed Grade 12 in an English-medium school where English is taught as the primary language. Candidates for postgraduate programs must at least have a BA in English. Students can enroll in the following colleges that offer English classes by completing university-specific entrance tests, the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exams, or both.

Symbiosis University's Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts

Shiv Nadar University

Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts and Mass Communication

8. Journalism and Mass Communication

Students who have either the science, commerce, or humanities stream in their Grade 12 level or its equivalent are eligible to apply for these courses because they are a broad subject that incorporates knowledge of numerous subjects and current affairs. Exams for applicants in journalism include the JSAT, AAT, and the Karnavati University Aptitude Test (KUAT). Candidates who pass these tests can enroll in the following colleges:

Karnavati University's Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts and Mass Communication

Symbiosis University's Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts Ashoka University

OP Jindal University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication

9. Entrepreneurship

Counseling in the liberal arts can frequently point students into entrepreneurial courses. The prerequisites for these programs are mainly open-ended because India supports entrepreneurs in all fields. Candidates who have passed the Vijay Bhoomi Scholastic Aptitude Test (VSAT), SNUEE, KUAT, and FEAT can enroll in the following colleges for entrepreneurial courses in order to further hone their eligibility:

Vijay Bhoomi University's Jagdish Sheth School of Management

Shiv Nadar University

Karnavati University

Flame University

10. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

The minimal requirements for admission to BBA programs are a Grade 12 passing certificate from any educational board and graduation from any high school stream, including science, business, and humanities. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) entrance exams at schools like Atria University consist of five rounds, including written subject matter tests, general aptitude tests, rounds of group discussions, and even rounds of personal interviews. The universities in India that provide BBA liberal arts programs are:

Atria University

FLAME University

Vijay Bhoomi University's Jagdish Sheth School of Management

Karnavati University's Unitedworld School of Business

OP Jindal University

Choose the best course for yourself

It is not surprising that even international students view India as a potential education destination given the large variety of universities from which to pick when thinking about pursuing liberal arts courses in India. Additionally, these private schools and universities offer the most modern educational infrastructure, ensuring that students develop holistically in both their academic and practical lives.

Due to the promising employment prospects in India for these fields, several of the best colleges in the country, including Flame University and Krea University, offer liberal arts courses such as social sciences, business studies, and languages.