BA Admission 2025 is conducted based on both merit and entrance test processes, subject to the university or college. Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a commonly sought 3-year undergraduate program (or 4 years as per NEP 2020) that deals with the basic areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts.
Popular specialisations at BA are Economics, Political Science, History, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, English, Philosophy, and others. Students can opt for general or honours streams based on the college and their career aspirations. The eligibility criteria for BA Admission are that candidates should have passed Class 12 from a respective board in any stream with at least 45-60% aggregate marks (varies as per college). The top universities admit students through national and institutional entrance tests, while the majority of others provide direct admission on the basis of Class 12 merit.
Some of the known and recognised BA entrance exams are CUET UG (Central Universities, DU, BHU, JNU, etc.), IPU CET, SAT India (for international curriculum candidates), LPU NEST, JMI Entrance Exam (Jamia Millia Islamia). Some of the top BA colleges in India include the University of Delhi (DU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Christ University, Bangalore, and Amity University, among others. The course fee for a BA program varies from INR 1,000 in government colleges to INR 4.3 lakh per annum in private universities.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Name | Bachelor of Arts (BA) |
| Admission Authority | CUET |
| Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 with a minimum of 45-60% (varies according to the university or college) |
| Minimum Age Requirement | 17 years (may vary) |
| Admission Criteria | Merit-based or Entrance-based |
| Application mode | Online |
| Average Course Fee | INR 5,000-1,50,000 per year |
| Course Duration | 3 years (or 4years under NEP 2020) |
| Top Entrance Exams | CUET, SET, IPU CET, JMI Entrance |
| Counselling Authority | Universities or Central admission portals |
| Starting Salary | INR 2.5-5 LPA |
| Top Recruiters | Government Departments, NGOs, EdTech, MNCs, Content and Media Houses |
To secure admission in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in 2025, candidates must meet a few basic academic and age-related requirements. Students should have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board in India, such as CBSE, ICSE, or any state board. While the minimum qualifying percentage is usually 50%, some institutions accept 45% or even 40%, especially for reserved category candidates. One of the major highlights of the BA course is its stream flexibility, meaning students from Arts, Science, or Commerce backgrounds are eligible to apply. For entrance-based admissions like CUET UG 2025, students must also appear for the respective entrance test and meet the required cutoff scores. Although most universities do not impose an upper age limit, the minimum age is generally expected to be 17 years at the time of admission. Additionally, colleges may follow reservation policies as per government norms, offering relaxations in marks or seat quotas to eligible candidates.
Whether a student is applying through CUET UG or directly to an individual college on the basis of Class 12 marks, knowing the complete admission process will help a student plan better and avoid any last-minute hassles. This is how the BA admission process generally works in India:
| Steps | Details |
|---|---|
| Meet Eligibility Criteria | Class 12 percentage should meet university requirements |
| Select Colleges and Courses | Choose between General, Honours, or Honours with Research |
| Take the required Entrance exam | Appear for exams like CUET UG (if applicable) |
| Fill Out Application Form | Apply through the respective university portal or centralized platform |
| Attend Counselling | Register for online counselling, fill in the preferences, and upload documents |
| Seat Allotment and Fee Payment | Check the allotment result, confirm the seat, and pay the fees |
| Orientation and Enrollment | Complete documentation and attend orientation |
Merit-based admission is a known route to enter BA courses without appearing for entrance exams like CUET UG. Many universities, especially at the state level, private or autonomous colleges, admit students based purely on merit and the whole board examination score. This is ideal for many students who have done well in their 12th examination and prefer to receive admission without having to go through the process of a competitive examination peripheral to their degree.
Colleges such as Fergusson College, Pune; Mount Carmel College, Bangalore; Presidency College, Chennai; and Loyola College also use the merit-based approach to admit students. Students must apply to enter a college’s official admission portal, fill out the admission application, upload the required documentation, and await the merit list announcements from the college. The merit cut-off percentages depend on the college and are specific to different specializations—BA in English, BA in Psychology, BA in Political Science, BA in Journalism tend to be higher due to market and demand.
A student has to go through a certain process to get direct admission in BA courses:
The BA Entrance Exam is important for students to get into the top central and private universities in India. The most widely accepted entrance test is the CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test), which is taken at a national level by the NTA, and is a requirement for admission through competitive exams in many leading institutions, including Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and others. Besides CUET, several private universities (Christ University, Ashoka University, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, etc.) also conduct their own entrance and interview processes or aptitude tests for admissions. These entrance tests typically ascertain students’ abilities in language use, reasoning skills, general knowledge, and sometimes subject-specific knowledge, depending on the student’s BA choice of specialization. Preparing for BA entrance exams not only increases the possibility of high-ranking institutions but is also advantageous for students to be competitive against merit or academic-based applicants in course areas such as English, Psychology, and Economics.
| Exam Name | Colleges Accepting | No. of Seats |
|---|---|---|
| CUET UG | DU, BHU, JNU, AMU, Allahabad University | 3,50,000+ |
| IPU CET | GGSIPU and Affiliated Colleges | 2,000+ |
| BHU UETÂ (NOW CUET) | BHU | 8,000+ |
| TISS BAT | TISS (BA Social Sciences) | 60 |
| PU CET | Punjab University | 1,200 |
The BA Entrance Exam Syllabus largely depends on the entrance test being taken. CUET UG (The Common University Entrance Test), is considered the most popular among the central universities, such as Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Allahabad University. However, despite that, you should be familiar with CUET’s syllabus:
For other BA entrance exams (such as IPU CET, PU CET, or Christ University Entrance Test), the same format exists as above, especially with the focus on more language skills, logical reasoning, and general awareness. Most of the tests are mostly objective-type (MCQ type format), and tests your academic and cognitive skills at the 12th grade level.
| College Name | Admission Mode | Eligibility Criteria | Entrance Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu College, DU | Entrance -Based | 10+2 with min. 50% marks ( CUET Score required) | CUET UG |
| Lady Shree Ram College, DU | Entrance Based | 10+2 with min. 50%; specific cutoffs for different subjects | CUET UG |
| Miranda House, DU | Entrance Based | 10+2 with min. 50% marks; CUET score | CUET UG |
| St. Stephen’s College, DU | Entrance+ Interview | 10+2 with 60% or above; subject-specific marks may be required | CUET UG + Interview |
| Christ University, Bangalore | Entrance+ interview | 10+2 with min 50% in any stream; Christ Entrance Test | CUET ( Christ) + Interview |
| Presidency College, Chennai | Merit Based | 10+2 with 45-50% in any stream; Tamil Nadu Board marks considered | No |
| Jadavpur University, Kolkata | Merit Based | 10+2 with 60% as per subject cutoff | Jadavpur Admission Test |
| St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai | Merit Based | 10+2 with 50-60% : entrance exam for some honours subjects | College Entrance (for selective subjects) |
| BHU (Banaras Hindu University) | Entrance Based | 10+2 with 50% and English as a subject for most Honours | CUET UG |
For students searching for quality higher education at a low cost, quite a few government and state-run colleges in India have started offering BA courses with very few fees, often less than INR 10,000 per year. The total course fee in some of these colleges is between INR 1,500 to INR 6,000 for the entire 3-year BA program, thereby catering to people from economically weaker sections of the society or rural students.
These government colleges can provide quality education at low cost, whilst maintaining the required academic standard, constituting experienced faculty, engaging campus student life, etc. That is, if students decide to join these colleges, this would provide a good investment (ROI) and students may graduate with minimal financial burden.
| College Name | Total Fees |
|---|---|
| Presidency College, Chennai | INR 1,540 |
| Jadavpur University, Kolkata | INR 4,800 |
| BHU, Varanasi | INR 5,000 |
| Miranda House, DU | INR 14,000 |
| Fergusson College, Pune | INR 12,000 |
