All about studying Fine Arts in India after Higher Secondary

Almost all kids enjoy drawing and colouring. But an artistic sensibility is not just confined to pencils and colours. Kids who love web design, photography, animation, and craft DIY are also artists in their own right. Taking up Arts as a subject for further studies after higher secondary can turn the childhood passion to a fruitful career.  

What are the Fine Arts courses available after higher secondary?  
The prime degree is the BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts. This is an undergraduate degree course which deals with the study of painting, drawing, sculpture, and even a bit of photography. Digital art has been part of standard BFA curriculum for a few years now. In some universities, this course is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts or BVA. A BFA degree programme often requires an area of specialisation to be chosen, such as oil painting, rock sculpture or graphics. Those who wish to study further can opt for a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree after this.  

What is the duration of BFA and who is eligible?  
BFA programmes in India vary between 3 to 4 years, while MFA takes 2 years. Courses can be full-time, part-time, online or distance-learning modules. Any student who has cleared higher secondary in any stream from a recognised board is eligible for an entry to a BFA course. Some colleges / universities also demand a minimum of 60%, while others may have their own admission test to judge the actual artistic capacity of students.  

What are the career opportunities after a BFA degree?  
BFA graduates can be absorbed in the sectors of audio visual media, advertising, gaming and animation, publishing and book illustration, textile design, art studios, boutiques, educational institutes, packaging and product design, and much more.  

Those who excel as artists also have the option to work independently and sell their work through art galleries. Many BFA graduates are venturing into their own online start-ups and selling their art themselves instead of following the traditional approach of depending on exhibition sales in galleries. There are online auction sites that regularly look for new talent.   

Other opportunities include working as art curator or conservator (preserving and evaluating artwork) and art director for audio visual production houses.