BA in History: Scope, Best Colleges, and Admission Details

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History is an enlightening academic programme that allows students to delve into the interesting stories of the past.

This article intends to detail the application procedure for prospective history enthusiasts and to provide thorough information about the range of a BA in History, as well as to highlight some of the best colleges in India that offer this programme.

What's the course BA in History all about?

An academic programme that focuses on the study of historical occurrences, civilizations, cultures, and society is the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History. It is intended to give students a thorough understanding of historical developments as well as critical thinking, research, and communication skills.

Ancient civilizations, mediaeval history, contemporary history, political history, economic history, social history, cultural history, and global history are just a few of the numerous topics covered in the BA in History degree curriculum. In order to analyse and evaluate historical events and their effects on society, students delve over primary and secondary sources, historical texts, archive materials, and scholarly research.

Career Scope after pursuing BA in History

Graduates with a BA in history have a wide range of professional options. Some prospective job paths are listed below:

Historian: Conduct in-depth research and interpret historical events and materials while working in research facilities, museums, or archives.

Education: Teach as a history teacher at schools, colleges, or universities to spread knowledge and ignite students' interest in the past.

Journalism and media: Consider a career in journalism, reporting on historical events or examining historical trends for publications such as newspapers, magazines, or digital platforms.

Civil Services: Study for competitive tests and apply to the civil services, where you can use your knowledge of the past to influence governance and policy.

Cultural Heritage Management: Work in heritage organisations, museums, or tourism to contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

List of Best Universities for BA in History

Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in History:

1. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

Establishment/About : Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was established on September 22, 1969. It is a public central university located in New Delhi, India. The university was named after India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a vision of establishing a world-class institution for higher education and research.

Rankings: JNU Overall ranking by NIRF is 10 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 9 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. JNU Overall ranking by The Week is 1 out of 81 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 1 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021. JNU Overall ranking by QS World University is 601 out of 1400 colleges in International in 2023 and it was 1001 out of 5500 colleges in International in 2021. JNU Overall ranking by Times Higher Education is 601 out of 1799 colleges in International in 2023 and it was 601 out of 1201 colleges in India in 2022. JNU Arts ranking by Times Higher Education is 301 out of 400 colleges in International in 2020.

Application Start Date: JNU admission 2023 is open for all UG programs through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). CUET UG exam 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to June 06, 2023.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 648.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Candidates appearing for the CUET will also have to apply separately on the official website of JNU after the CUET result declaration.

Official Website: jnu.ac.in

2. St. Stephen's College, Delhi

Establishment/About : St. Stephen's College, Delhi was established in 1881 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in India. It was founded by Reverend Samuel Scott Allnutt, a Christian missionary, with the aim of providing quality education in arts and sciences. The college is affiliated with the University of Delhi and follows a liberal arts curriculum.

Rankings: St Stephen's College, New Delhi Overall ranking by NIRF is 11 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 8 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. St Stephen's College, New Delhi Arts ranking by The Week is 1 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 2 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. St Stephen's College, New Delhi Arts ranking by Outlook is 4 out of 115 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 4 out of 120 colleges in India in 2021.

Application Start Date: Admissions will be based on CUET scores. CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to May 31, 2023. However, CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been extended to June 1, 2, 5, and 6 in selected cities, due to the large number of applicants.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 20940 per sem.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Once the CUET result is out, Candidates need to register themselves on Delhi University's admission portal - admission.uod.ac.in for all UG and PG courses. Candidates will then be required to fill in the desired course and college preference for seat allocation. Further seat allocation for UG courses will be done on the CSAS portal. St. Stephen's College will give CUET 85% weightage as an eligibility criterion, and 15% weightage to interviews for shortlisted candidates.

Official Website: www.ststephens.edu

3. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), Delhi

Establishment/About : Lady Shri Ram College is a public women's college. It was started in 1956 and was founded by Lala Shri Ram. It provides professional programmes such as a bachelor's degree in mass communication and English journalism. With the help of engaging and entertaining lecturers, students can discover the world of literature at this college.

Rankings: LSR Overall ranking by NIRF is 5 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. LSR Arts ranking by The Week is 2 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 1 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. LSR Arts ranking by India Today is 4 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 4 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021.

Application Start Date: All UG programme admission to Lady Shri Ram College for the class of 2023 will shortly begin via the Common Seat Allocation Portal (CSAS) of Delhi University. CUET scores will be used to determine admission to all UG programmes. Exam CUET UG 2023 will be conducted between May 21 and May 31, 2023. However, due to the high volume of applications, the CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been moved to June 1, 2, and 5 in several cities.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 21290.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The basic eligibility criteria for admission to these programs is 10+2 with at least 45% marks in aggregate. Admission will be based on the CUET marks followed by e-counselling.

Official Website: lsr.edu.in

4. Presidency University, Kolkata

Establishment/About : The UGC has designated Presidency University Kolkata, founded in 1817, as an Institution of National Eminence. In July 2010, the institution became a university after serving for more than a century as a prominent constituent college under Calcutta University. It is accredited by NAAC with a "A" Grade and is recognised by the UGC. The university contains 17 departments that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes with a focus on the arts and sciences.

Rankings: Presidency University Kolkata Overall ranking by NIRF is 151 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 151 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Presidency University Kolkata MBA ranking by The Week is 135 out of 179 colleges in India in 2022. Presidency University Kolkata Overall ranking by Outlook is 17 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020.

Application Start Date: Application process ended during feb and Exam Date is 3rd & 4th May 2023

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 2000 per annually.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The minimum eligibility criteria for admission is 10+2 in the relevant subject group from a recognized university. 5% relaxation will be offered to the candidates belonging to reserved categories. Admission is offered on the basis of candidates' scores in PUBDET organised by WBJEEB. WBJEEB finalises the admission after conducting counselling rounds for the selected candidates as per the PUBDET merit list.

Official Website

5. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh

Establishment/About : Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was established in 1920 as a public institution in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has authorised AMU's programmes, and the university is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). It has earned "A" accreditation from the NAAC. AMU has 13 departments with over 300 course offerings.

Rankings: The university was ranked 11 and 19 under the 'University' and 'Overall' categories, respectively, by the NIRF 2022 Rankings.

Application Start Date: For admission to UG courses, the university also accepts the CUET UG 2023 entrance exams. Date for the same is 21 May '23 - 6 Jun '23.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 29000 for Two to Four Years.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Class 12 with a minimum aggregate of 50% and CUET-UG + Counselling

Official Website: www.amu.ac.in

Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements.