whatsapp

Undergraduate Courses in India

A student who is pursuing a degree after high school, at the first level of higher education at a college or university is an undergraduate student. Undergraduate students are typically those working to earn a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree. An undergraduate degree is sometimes called a first degree outside of the US. There are other types of undergraduate degrees as well outside of the US like foundation degrees.

India’s higher education system is the second largest in the world; it comprises more than 550 institutions and universities, along with 16,000 other colleges offering undergraduate courses in an array of academic disciplines. Approximately 85% of the 20-million-student community in India are undergraduates, with undergraduate enrolments increasing by around 15% yearly.

 

Undergraduate Education Structure in India

  • Regular degree programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, and Social Sciences are three-year programs; professional programs in Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy range from four to five-and-a-half years
  • Academic performance is measured on a 10-point scale with “10” implying ‘Outstanding’ and “4” implying ‘Pass’
  • Individual semester average is called SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average); the average of all the semester grades is called CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average)
  • A credit system based on majors and minors is slowly gaining popularity; the required credits for UG course completion range from 120 to 140
  • An undecided major is not allowed
  • A minimum of 75% attendance is mandatory for most universities

Related Blog: GPA: The Foremost Part Of Your College Application

 

Latest Trends in UG Courses in India

Several new UG Courses are offered in Indian universities:

Advertising, Arts, Banking, Commerce, Design, Film, Finance, Foreign Languages, Healthcare, Hotel Management, IT, Law, Mass Communication, Media, etc., and soft skills are some of the excellent newer career opportunities available for UG Students in India.

 

Online Undergraduate Courses in India

Indians have seen a sudden rise in online courses in recent times. Thousands of students in India move to different countries for higher education and professional opportunities; however, with universities providing online courses, students can gain world-quality education within the comfort of their homes.

Online education is considered one of the most useful methods for students interested in doing their UG Courses in India. Due to intense competition for regular UG Courses in India, online education and distance learning are becoming popular alternatives for students. Though the method is very effective, the online teaching methodology may differ from institute to institute. Some universities encourage students to physically attend college and perform laboratory experiments while others do not. This flexible approach allows students to pursue and complete their UG degree from home in India.

Some Indian Universities that offer online undergraduate courses are as follows:-

  • Amity University Online
  • IIT Madras
  • NMIMS Mumbai – Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
  • Jain University, Bangalore
  • Aligarh Muslim University

 

Top 10 Undergraduate Popular Degrees in India After 12th

  • BBA
  • Engineering – BE, B.Tech, and B.Arch.
  • Computer Application – BCA
  • Designing – Fashion/Interior/Web
  • Mass-Communication/Journalism – BJMC
  • Hospitality (Hotel) – Hotel Management
  • Medical – BDS and MBBS
  • Finance – B.Com/CA
  • Arts Psychology and Sociology
  • Law – BA LLB/LLB

 

List of Most Common Types of Bachelor’s Degrees

Let us look at the list of specialized undergraduate/bachelor’s degree programs offered in India:

Bachelor of Arts Courses Offered: 

Advertising, Archaeology, Computer Science, Cinema Sciences, Economics, History, Journalism, Languages, Literature, Mathematics, Music and Fine Arts, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration

Top Colleges: 

Lady Shri Ram College for Women, St. Stephen’s College (New Delhi), Loyola College (Chennai)

Bachelor of Science Courses Offered: 

Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics

Top Colleges: 

St. Stephen’s College (New Delhi), Loyola College (Chennai), St. Xavier’s College (Mumbai)

Bachelor of Commerce Courses Offered:

Fewer specializations are available within this stream. Some of them include Advertising and Sales Management, Business Economics/Law/Finance, Cost Accounting, E-commerce, Foreign Trade, Marketing, Office Management, and Taxation. Commerce graduates generally progress to higher degrees such as CA, CWA, and CSS and can also pursue management studies.

Top Colleges:

Sri Ram College of Commerce and Lady Shri Ram College for Women (New Delhi), Loyola College (Chennai)

Bachelor of Engineering/Tech Courses Offered:

Automobiles, Biotechnology, Civil, Computer Applications (also offered exclusively as BCA), Electrical and Electronics, Information Technology, Mechanical, Software

Top Institutes:

IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Delhi, and IIT-Kharagpur; Christ University (Bangalore) is ranked high in Computer Applications

BMS/BBA/BBS Courses Offered:

Finance, Human Resource Management, Management of Global Business, Management of Services, Marketing,  Tourism Management

Top Institutes: 

Delhi College of Advanced Studies, IP University, Delhi

Bachelor of Law Courses Offered:

Civil Law, Criminal Law, International Law, and Labour Law. The curriculum includes seminars, tutorial work, moot courts, and practical training programs.

Top Institutes:

National Law School of India, Faculty of Law, Delhi University

Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) The course duration ranges from four to five-and-a-half years; the program includes a 12-month-long internship.

Top Medical Colleges:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Lady Hardinge Medical College

IIM 5-year Integrated Mgmt. Program The program is suited for young aspirants who wish to become management professionals. The curriculum includes Humanities, Liberal Arts, Management, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and soft skills.

 

Bachelor’s Degree in India vs Abroad

Bachelor’s Degree in India  Bachelor’s Degree Abroad 
Intense competition in the admissions process Intense competition though lesser than India; meritocracy, in a largely supportive way
Familiar study environment; focus on theoretical learning Intellectually stimulating environment; emphasis on practical learning
Affordable costs; Local currency and value-for-money  Higher costs yet value for money
Limited research, innovation, and support framework Research-driven education; Unfamiliarity with university names and their value or degrees or pedagogy
Campus placements and job security; Decent ROI A life-altering experience and an early start of a professional journey; high ROI
Limited support to develop personality & other soft-skills Strong support and environment for forging personality and other soft skills
Easy access/proximity to home; Home advantage Homesickness, lesser cultural support & familiarity, climatic variations

 

Top Reasons for Pursuing an Undergraduate Degree in India

Affordable Cost of Education

Pursuing an undergraduate degree in India is much cheaper than pursuing a 3-year or a 4-year undergraduate degree abroad. Tuition and living costs are very affordable.

International Rankings

In the 2023 QS University Rankings, three prominent Indian institutions, crucial for those considering study abroad options, have earned spots among the top 200 universities:

  1. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Rank #155)
  2. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay (Rank #172)
  3. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi (Rank #174)

Quality of Education

All degree-granting universities in India require accreditation by institutions authorized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Several educational reforms and enhancements in the quality of degrees and institutes are now influencing students from abroad to consider India a study-abroad destination.

Wide Variety of Courses

With hundreds of universities offering diverse programs, India is getting noticed as an excellent destination for students from various social, economic and cultural backgrounds. There is a vast list of UG Courses in India across disciplines in arts, science and commerce that students can consider. Though medicine and engineering are still in demand as usual, UG Courses in newer disciplines are fast emerging in India.

Acquisition of Relevant Skills to Boost Career Prospects

The traditional concept of education in India has completely transformed with newer trends and diverse career options. Undergraduate courses in India offer the perfect grooming for students before they embark on their careers. Opting for UG Courses in India not only enables students to earn a degree but also helps them hone their practical skills. Pursuing a UG Course in India equips students with strong interpersonal and presentation skills. Project-based learning gives them tremendous experience plus knowledge for later use. Career-oriented UG Courses in India have been fostering industry-ready students.

Check Your Score Now with a Free Practice Test

See where you stand with our practice tests. Find the right way to improve with our strategy sessions.

Digital SAT Acceptance in Indian Universities

Since 2018, nearly 35 premier Indian universities and more than 50 institutes have started accepting Digital SAT scores as part of their admission process; this list of institutions is growing.

 

Top Higher Education Institutes that Accept the Digital SAT Score

  • Ashoka University
  • IIIT Allahabad, Delhi
  • IIITDM Jabalpur, Kancheepuram
  • BITS Pilani, Vidya Vihar Campus
  • NIT Agartala, Arunachal Pradesh, Calicut, Uttarakhand, Tiruchirappalli, Jalandhar, Goa Srinagar, and more
  • School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, Bhopal, Vijayawada
  • Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal
  • SP Jain School of Global Management
  • Mahindra Ecole Centrale College of Engineering
  • PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat
  • SRM University
  • National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT), Ranchi
  • Indian Maritime University (IMU)
  • MNNIT Allahabad
  • International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad

Know more about Digital SAT Scores Acceptance in India

 

Note

Competition for Admission in India

In JEE, an estimated 1.2 million students compete for about 50,000 seats in Tier-1 engineering colleges in India. Altogether, 1.5 million seats are up for grabs, while the enrolment is a shade short of 80,000, which means only 50% of seats get filled; the rest are the number of quality seats with just 4% of total test-takers! These admission percentages (1% in Medical & 4% in Engineering) turn out to be stiffer than that in the hallowed Ivy League colleges of the United States.

 

Placements & Job Assurances

In India, the top universities have placements for highly active students and are involved with corporates. About 40% of the students get placed in India.

Manya Admissions Consulting

icon

Ultra Premium

Most popular and premier admission consulting service* by distinguished Ivy League mentors.

icon

Exclusive

Our accomplished study abroad industry veterans will enable you to maximize your chances of admission to your dream university.

icon

Premium

Meet our experienced advisors who will counsel you on the best-suited options

icon

Partner

Our advisors will advise & assist you in applying to universities from our partner universities bucket.

Study Abroad Destinations

About Study Abroad

Our Top Admissions

  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Shivangi Misra
  • Guwahati | GWT171811E0005
  • Concordia University Montreal
  • Rohith R
  • Bangalore | CAND26766
  • University College London
  • Sakshay Malik
  • New Delhi | CAND15480
  • Esslingen University of Applied Sciences
  • Mohamed Furqan
  • Bangalore | CAND22423

Our Partners

AIRC certified through 2021 Universities of Applied Sciences Europe San Jose State University The University of kansas Colorado State University University of Cincinnati njit University Illionis Chicago University at Albany kent_state Florida International Sp Jain School Singapore Management University Tiffin University West Virginia State tiffin_university Northern Arizona University pittsbury-state-logo sacramento university University of North Texas

Trending Articles

Top 5 Countries for Undergraduate Studies in 2024

It is a dream for many students to pursue their undergraduate studies in a foreign country. ... Read More >

FAQ's

What is an undergraduate degree?

A student pursuing a degree after high school or studying in the first level of higher education at a college/university is an undergraduate student. An undergraduate degree is called a first degree outside of the US. There are other types of undergraduate degrees too outside of the US like a foundation degree.

Why are there so many different types of UG courses in India?

When a student reaches the 11th grade, he/she gets to choose from one of the three streams: Science, Commerce, and Humanities. These fields provide different career opportunities, and the choice of the field depends on the student. Students study a range of subjects in a particular field which is why there are various types of Bachelor’s degrees in India.

How to choose an online UG degree in India?

Some tips that you can keep in mind while choosing an online UG degree:

  • Decide on and choose your major
  • Verify that the program and classes offered are entirely online
  • Check admission requirements and application fees
  • Compare tuition fees and financial aid
  • Keep an eye out for expenses above tuition costs

Upcoming Webinars/Events

  • 27-Apr-24
  • Delhi
  • 4:00 - 5:30 PM

Still Skeptical about UG Abroad?: Hear from Our Students at Top Global Universities

Join us for an exclusive webinar to dive into the extraordinary journeys of our students who have carved their paths at some of the world\\\'s most prestigious universities.

Address: PAN INDIA

Book Your Slot >