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BFA vs B.Design: Today, the design and fine arts industry is growing at a very rapid pace. It has become mainstream in recent times and has grown into a big industry. According to a report, it is expected BFA course scope to grow by 13% more in a decade. Design is one of the most popular subject choices for many students in the world, with a variety of design specialisations. It's a fun subject to learn and a rapidly growing field. Based on this, the aspirants wants to know as to "which is better BFA or BDes?". Let’s start by talking about the BFA degree, its scope, and how you can pursue it in the long run.
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In India, there is a steady increase in the growth of the design industry and BFA course scope. If we talk about numbers, these industries are growing at a faster rate of about 23 to 25 % annually making the BFA course scope wider. It is a field that is in high demand today. Choosing a career with a BFA degree is the perfect choice.
There are many courses to study to kick-start a possibly extraordinary career in design. In this article, we will talk about two major choice clashes for students, i.e. BFA and B. Design. We will talk about career aspects, B.Design eligibility, duration, course type, fee, and annual expected BFA vs BDes salary. We will be answering all questions related to choosing a career path that best fits you.
BFA full form stands for Bachelor of Fine Arts. There are a lot of BFA courses in top colleges that offer BFA or Bachelor of Visual Arts as an undergraduate degree course that is focused upon the in-depth study of Visual or Performing Arts. It is a career that is in high demand today.
Bachelor of Fine Arts courses are not only meant for learning theoretically but also to make the student enjoy the subject of interest through the practical application of concepts. There are many job opportunities available today for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree holder. Also, there are other courses that you may check after BFA, which course is best?
Duration: About 3 to 4 years
Level of course: Graduation
Stream: Fine arts
Examination types: Per semester examination
Entrance exam: Yes
Admission: Merit-based or through an entrance exam
Starting salary: 2 lakhs to 9 lakhs
The BFA eligibility criteria are given below-
Some universities or colleges may also demand a minimum percentage of 50 – 60% in 10+2 from a recognized board.
There are no strict criteria for the subject in 10+2 for a recognized board.
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Bachelor's fine arts courses are usually pursued by students who have a keen interest in art. They possess skills like sketching skills, Visualization skills, drawing skills, Imaginative skills, Artistic skills, and many more.
We have several notable colleges for doing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Here is a list of BFA courses top colleges in India:
Bachelor of Fine Arts courses are very rewarding. After successful completion of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, you can work at different job profiles, like Art Teacher, Fine Artist, Actor, Multimedia Artist, Art Director, Writer, Painter, Graphic Designer, Animator, Art Conservator, Photographer, Musician, etc.
BFA stands for Bachelor of Fine Arts. It is an undergraduate degree programme that involves about the fine arts, applied arts and the performing arts. This programme is designed to showcase the creativity skills, develop the artistic skills and develop the skills in understanding of art.
The BFA programme is offered for 3 or 4 based on the college/university. The BFA course prepares graduates to enhance their careers in art-related fields such as design and illustration, photography & animation, and more.
BDes full form stands for Bachelor of Design. The B.Des degree is a professional degree given after the successful completion of a course of 4 years. Bachelor of Design (B.Des) or B. Design is a popular degree in the design field at the undergraduate level.
You can do your specialization in a B. Design course in many areas. Some of the professions for a Bachelor of Design degree include Interior Designing, Accessory Designing, Textile Designing, graphic design, product design, jewelry design, and much more.
Also read - List of Design Colleges in India
Duration: About 3 to 4 years
Level of course: Graduation, it is a professional degree.
Stream: Fine arts
Examination types: Per semester examination
Entrance exam: Yes
Admission: Through the entrance exam
Starting salary: 2 lakhs to 9 lakhs
The most popular bachelor of design courses specializations include:
According to B.Design eligibility, students who have passed Class 12th or equivalent qualifying examination are eligible for a Bachelor of Design course.
Students from any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts, and Humanities) at the 10+2 level from a recognized board are eligible, according to B.Design eligibility.
The age limit for admission to the Bachelor of Design College is a minimum of 17 and a maximum of 20 years as specified by the institute.
For admission to Design courses, aspirants have to appear for a Design Entrance test that comprises a written test, a drawing test, and interviews. The entrance exams you can give to get into a Bachelor of Design College are:
You can give the Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED), which is one of the favorite exams given by aspirants.
You can give the Footwear Design and Development Institute All India Selection Test (FDDI AIST) if you are interested in learning footwear design or product design.
You can take the Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED), which is the second-most given exam by the aspirants.
You can give the School of Fashion Technology Common Entrance Test (SOFT CET).
You can also give the National Institute of Design Entrance Exam (NID DAT,) which is another national-level exam.
You can enter the United World Institute of Design, Design Aptitude Test (UID DAT), which is an international-level exam.
According to your interest and aptitude, you can give any of the tests mentioned above.
The scope of a Bachelor of Design (BDes) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) diverges significantly based on their distinct focuses. Candidates can check here as which is better BFA or BDes? BDes programs equip students with skills tailored for applied design fields such as fashion design, graphic design, product design, and UX/UI design. These disciplines are crucial in industries like fashion, advertising, technology, and manufacturing, where there is a high demand for professionals adept at solving practical design challenges creatively. BDes emphasizes hands-on experience, problem-solving abilities, and innovation, preparing graduates for dynamic careers in design-driven sectors.
On the other hand, the scope of BFA in India encompasses diverse opportunities in traditional fine arts disciplines, catering to careers as artists, educators, curators, and arts administrators across cultural institutions and creative industries. A BFA program centers on traditional fine arts disciplines such as painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking. It provides a comprehensive foundation in artistic techniques, studio practices, and art history, cultivating skills essential for careers as professional artists, art educators, curators, and arts administrators. BFA graduates often pursue roles in galleries, museums, education, and freelance artistic endeavors, focusing on creative expression and artistic exploration.
Ultimately, the choice between BDes and BFA depends on individual interests, career aspirations, and whether one is inclined towards applied design disciplines that address contemporary societal needs or traditional fine arts that prioritize artistic expression and cultural exploration. Both degrees offer distinct pathways within the arts and design fields, each contributing uniquely to the creative landscape.
Bachelor's of design degrees require a combination of multiple skill sets. The one who pursues this course is able to acquire many skills in four years, but it is equally important to have a couple of additional skills before entering into such a significant degree. The B.Design course scope is pretty wide in the fashion market.
The skills required to be able to complete the degree are Good communication skills, Presentation skills, Drawing skills, Perseverance, Cognitive skills, Strong artistic skills, Traditional skills, and Creativity.
Candidates can pursue the course in many fields according to the specialization they choose. You can choose from the list of professions this degree offers you.
The specialization in B.Design courses in Fashion Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Communication, Animation Film Design, Industrial Design, Lifestyle and Accessory Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Exhibition Design, Film and Video Communication, Furniture, and Interior Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, Communication Design, Visual Communication and Footwear Designs and Production.
What can be the possible job profiles of Bachelor of Design degree holders?
Fashion Designer
Graphic Designer
Textile Designer
UI/UX Designer
Industrial Designer
Product Designer
Art Director
BFA course top colleges are mentioned below-
Interestingly, you can also pursue an online BFA degree. There are plenty of websites available that give online BFA degrees. Many of the programs offered bachelor of art courses online to teach students how to work with various creative fields such as drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking.
Online courses will give you a similar learning experience in subjects like the history of art. These online courses would also make the application of learned knowledge on various platforms. It is a career that involves balancing creativity with business which can be tricky.
Course Name | Online BFA course |
Level of course | Graduation |
Admission Process | Online / Offline |
Fee Structure | INR 10971 – INR 21252 annually |
Duration | 1 year to 3 Year Course |
Some of the best platforms to learn online BFA courses are listed below:
Bachelor of Science in Animation, Environment & Character Design Concentration by the Los Angeles Film School Online.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Effects by Columbia College Hollywood
Bachelor of Science in Animation, Visual Effects Concentration by the Los Angeles Film School Online.
The Edinboro University of Pennsylvania online fine arts programs.
Also read -
There are many such online BFA courses being offered by a lot of top-level, reputed universities of the world.
Read more -
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
BFA can be very much worthful course in India if a candidate wants to have a growth in the field of design and animation.
The preference between a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelor of Design (BDes) depends on candidates career goals and interests. BFAs typically focus more on fine arts disciplines such as painting, sculpture, and visual arts, while BDes programs emphasize design disciplines like fashion design, graphic design, product design, and more. The "better" option depends on whether candidate is more passionate towards fine arts or design, and which field aligns better with their career aspirations and creative interests.
A BFA program typically focuses on traditional fine arts disciplines such as painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and sometimes includes digital arts. On other hand side, BDes program focuses on applied design disciplines such as fashion design, product design, graphic design, interior design, user experience (UX) design, and more.
Yes, BFA and B.Des are two different degree programs. BFA stands for Bachelor of Fine Arts and focuses on the study and practice of visual or performing arts. On the other hand, B.Des stands for Bachelor of Design and focuses on the study and practice of various design fields such as fashion, graphic, product, interior, etc. These two degrees have different eligibility criteria, entrance exams, course curriculum, and career prospects.
No, NID or national institute of design does not offer a course of bachelors of fine arts. NID does give distinct specialization courses related to bachelors of design.
No, bachelors of fine arts are not a job-oriented course. Moreover, B. Design is a professional course which is job oriented. Bachelors of fine art course are a very rewarding one. After successful completion of bachelors of fine arts degree, you can work at different job profiles, like Art Teacher, Fine Artist, Actor, Multimedia Artist, and so on.
The subjects taught are Animation, Graphic Design, Press Advertisement, Portrait and Composition Paining and so on.
Yes, you can do a Masters in Fine Arts after completing a four years Bachelor diploma in Fine Art. Yes, the admission would be based on the scorecard of your fine art diploma.
Bachelors of Design degree holders get job profiles such as Fashion Designer, Graphic Designer, Textile Designer, UI/UX Designer, Industrial Designer, Product Designer, and Art Director.
On Question asked by student community
Hi dear candidate,
It all depends on your personal skills and study dedication which would nurture your growth in future for your career. An expensive college for BDes does not mean direct success. You can find affordable colleges like DTU Delhi or GGSIPU for BDes course however, the MBA colleges are usually expensive (not every college but most of them) although MBA would help you better in your managerial career.
Know more at:
Top B.Des Colleges in India 2025 – Courses, Fees, Admission, Rank
MBA Colleges in India 2025 – Courses, Fees, Admission, Rank
BEST REGARDS
Hello,
Top colleges in Delhi for pursuing Bachelor in Interior Design are as follows:
1. Pearl Academy
2. Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)
3. Amity University (Noida)
4. JD Institute
These institutions are well known and have good placement rates. So, you can consider among them.
https://design.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-interior-design-colleges-in-delhi
Visit the above website to know more information.
Design entrance exams can be challenging, but focusing on the right areas can make preparation smarter and more effective. You should concentrate on visualisation skills, creative thinking, sketching, design awareness, and basic maths and reasoning. Practicing previous years’ question papers, sample tests, and mock exams helps in understanding patterns and time management. For exam centres near Pune, Nashik, and Mumbai, most national-level design exams conduct tests in these major cities, so you can choose the nearest one during registration.
Hello,
The top colleges to pursue Bachelor's in Design are as follows :
1. National Institute of Design (NID)
2. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
3. MIT Institute of Design (MIT-ID)
4. Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology
5. Pearl Academy
6. Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)
7. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
8. Indian Institute of Art and Design
9. Anant National University
10. Amity University
You can consider any of them as they're all prominent institutions providing Product Design course.
You can also refer the below website to know more.
https://design.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-product-design-colleges-in-india
Hello
Many platforms like Coursera, and Alison offer free graphic design and animation courses with certificates.
You can enroll in beginner-friendly courses covering tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Blender.
These courses teach basics of design principles, animation techniques, and software usage.
After completing the course and assignments, you usually get a free or low-cost certificate.
Free courses are a great way to start learning and build skills without any financial investment.
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