Accorded Institution of Eminence by UGC, AICTE Govt. of India
No. 1 Private University in India by Education World Ranking 2025
A legacy of the field of Higher Education
BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts is an undergraduate degree course that deals with the study of Visual or Performing Arts. The course is sometimes also referred to as Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in which the study of Visual Arts includes subjects such as painting, sculpture, photography, literature, animation, etc. On the other hand, the study of Performing Arts involves subjects such as dance, theater, and music. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree often requires an area of specialization to be chosen by the candidate as per his/her interest. Depending on the candidate’s chosen specialization, BFA is typically a three to four-year duration course that can be pursued as a full-time, part-time, online, or distance-learning program. A BFA course not only educates but reforms the skills of candidates to enable them to become artists in their chosen field. Career opportunities for fine arts graduates are ample wherein they can choose to be an art teacher, writer, fine artist, actor, art director, and a lot more. These days many students are opting for a career in Fine Arts not only to earn high remuneration but also to gain popularity and prestige. Aspirants can choose an area in which they can specialize in subjects that can not only enhance their skills and fine-tune the aspirant’s creativity, but also allows candidates to explore varied options.
BFA Eligibility Criteria
All candidates who have cleared Standard XII in any stream from a recognized board meet Bachelor of Fine Arts eligibility criteria. Although there is usually no other set criteria, some universities/ colleges may also demand a minimum percentage (usually 50 – 60%) that candidates need to secure in Class 12th to get admission to a BFA course.
Apart from this, preference at the time of admission is sometimes given to candidates who have studied Arts/ Humanities in Class 12th and have some basic knowledge of the Fine Arts subject that they are looking to pursue.
Required Skill Set for BFA
A Fine Arts course is usually pursued by students who have an artist hidden in them. However, candidates who have a creative bent of mind and an instinct towards visual or performing arts are a good fit for a BFA course.
The Basic skills that candidates looking to pursue a BFA course should have are:-
The course curriculum for BFA
As mentioned earlier, the duration of a BFA course is between three to four years that are typically divided into six to eight semesters.
Usually, BFA courses are offered in various specializations. Candidates can select any of the specializations of their interest and choose to major in that subject.
The course curriculum of BFA is inclusive of both theoretical as well as practical subjects. Apart from this, some institutions also encourage candidates to publish their artworks in the form of research papers or maintain their journals of artworks.
BFA: Job Profiles
There are a wide variety of jobs available for Fine Arts graduates in India. There is a good demand for BFA graduates in the sectors of cinema, television, advertising, animation, publishing, textile, art studios, boutiques, educational institutes, and so on. However, the types of job profiles for BFA graduates vary according to their chosen specialization.
Have a look at the different BFA job profiles below:
Fine Artist: The main job role of a fine artist is to produce artwork using various techniques. As a fine artist, a candidate may find a job as a painter, sculptor, illustrator, or printmaker in a commercial art studio, design company, publishing house, advertising agency, etc. Fine artists can also choose to work independently and sell their work through art galleries.
Actor: Candidates who possess a BFA degree with a specialization in theater can work as an actor on screen or stage. As an actor, a candidate can express ideas and portray characters in television, film, theater and other performing arts media. An actor can also choose to work at theme parks or live events.
Multimedia Artist: Candidates who pass their BFA course with a specialization in multimedia are responsible for creating animation sequences or storyboards. Such candidates typically work for ad agencies or software, gaming, designing, and television companies.
Art Director: Candidates who clear BFA courses with a graphic or multimedia design specialization usually go ahead to become an art director. The major responsibilities of an art director include guiding the development of visual and written material through the layout and design of artwork and copy. An art director typically works for publishing houses or ad agencies.
Writer: A BFA graduate in creative writing may find a job as a creative writer, technical writer, copywriter, or freelance writer. A writer can work for advertising agencies, broadcast companies, PR agencies, newspapers, or publishing houses.
Painter: As a painter, a candidate can create various artworks such as watercolor painting, oil painting, ink wash painting, acrylic painting, pastel color painting, glass painting, encaustic painting, etc. A painter usually works independently and exhibits or sells his/ her paintings at art galleries.
Graphic Designer: A graphic designer typically creates visual concepts by hand or by using software to communicate ideas that inform as well as captivate consumers. A graphic designer develops an overall layout and production design for advertisements, magazines, brochures, etc.
Animator: An animator has the main job of creating pictures and visuals for movies, video games, books, television, etc. In today’s digital era, most animation is computer-generated but animators still need to create their initial sketches by hand.
Art Conservator: An art conservator, also known as an art restorer, is responsible for preserving as well as analyzing artifacts and works of art. S/he is also responsible for repairing damages done to different forms of artwork such as sculptures, paintings, murals, ceramics, textiles, books, historical artifacts, etc.
Photographer: A photographer is an artist with a camera who uses his/ her technical skills as well as the artistic ability to take pictures of people, places, landscapes, food, and a lot more.
Musician: The main job of a musician is to compose music and write catchy tunes. A musician can work as a solo artist or can also work in bands, choirs, orchestras, etc. A musician can develop music for video games, commercials, stage productions, etc.
The salary of a BFA graduate depends on the specialization that s/he has chosen as well as how reformed his/ her skills are. However, the starting salary of a graduate in fine arts is usually between 2 to 3 lakhs per annum. The salary, however, increases along with the experience and knowledge of a candidate.