Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA): Course Details, Fees, Colleges, Admission, Eligibility, Salary

BVA, or Bachelor of Visual Arts, is a four-year undergraduate Fine Arts programme in which students major in any of their chosen disciplines. Creative writing, painting, film-making, technical arts, applied arts, sculpture, television production, photography, stage management, animation, and film production are some of the popular BVA specialisations in which candidates can major.

Any candidate with a creative instinct and a desire to build a career in the field of art can enrol in a BVA course. A Visual Arts course appeals to students’ aesthetic senses and helps them develop their imaginative abilities. Furthermore, the course provides students with all of the theoretical and practical knowledge required to build a successful career in the field.

Everything you need to know about the Bachelor of Visual Arts programme, including eligibility requirements, course curriculum, job opportunities, and more, is provided below.

Overview of Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

BVA has a variety of scopes. Because of the growth of the media and entertainment industries, the course is currently in high demand. The following table summarises the course’s basic information:

Full-Form	Bachelors of Visual Arts
Course level	Undergraduate
Duration of Course	4 years
Examination Type	Semester
Eligibility Criteria	10+2 with a minimum of 50%
Process of Admission	Entrance Exam
Average Course Fees	INR 50K – 6 lakh
Average Salary	INR 2 – 20 lakh
Job Profiles	Art Conservator, Art Critic, Art Teacher, Associate Art Director, Audio Visual Artist, Costume Designer, Graphic Designer, Visual Designer, etc.
Areas of Employment	Art Studios, Auction Houses, Photography Studios, Educational Institutes, Film Industry, Hospitals, Libraries, Museums & Galleries, etc.
Top Recruiters	Prime Focus, Red Chillies, HT Media, Reliance Mediaworks, etc

Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA): Introduction

• It is a four-year undergraduate degree in fine arts. It is specifically designed for students with creative instincts who want to pursue a career in the arts.
• Ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, video, filmmaking, and architecture are examples of visual arts.
• The course appeals to the students’ aesthetic sense and assists them in expanding their artistic imagination.
• Students interested in BVA can specialise in one of three traditional branches of visual media: painting, sculpture, or architecture.
• Many other art forms, such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts, incorporate elements of visual arts. As a result, BVA can be combined with courses such as product design, furniture design, textile design, interior design, music, theatre, film, dance, animation, and so on.
• Students will be given both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field in which they wish to specialise, allowing them to build a successful career.

Relevant Links
Bachelor Of Science [B.Sc] (physics)	Bachelor Of Arts [BA] (multimedia)	Bachelor Of Arts [BA] (media Studies)
Diploma In Art And Craft	Diploma In Performing Arts	Diploma In Public Relations

Eligibility Criteria for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

To be admitted to BVA courses, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• They must have completed their 10+2 from a recognised board in any stream (arts, science, or commerce).
• They must have received a minimum of 50% in their 12th grade. This may differ depending on the institute. Some institutes also provide relaxation to candidates from the reserved categories.

Admission Process for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

Admission to BVA courses is typically based on an entrance exam administered by the respective institute. The institutes administer aptitude and creative tests, followed by a personal interview.

The following is the admission procedure followed by the top institutes:

• Step 1: Application: Candidates must apply to the institutes by completing an application form.
• Step 2: Entrance exam: Candidates who have applied can download their admit cards and take the exam. The purpose of the examination will be to assess the student’s aptitude as well as his or her creative ability.
• Step 3: Create a meritocracy: Candidates who meet the minimum cut-off will be shortlisted for further consideration.
• Step 4: Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend a personal interview in which they will be asked questions about the field of study they have chosen. They may also be required to show evidence of their creativity, such as a portfolio of drawings, photographs, crafts, and so on.
• Step 5: Offer Letter: The selected candidates will be sent an offer letter with all fees and housing information included.

Skills Required for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

Some of the skills and characteristics that candidates interested in BVA should have are as follows:

• Ability to focus & concentrate
• Creativity
• Passionate
• Visualisation skills
• Observant
• Ability to express
• Critical thinking ability
• Imaginative skills
• Innovation
• Organisation skills
• Attention to detail
• Artistic ability

Benefits of Pursuing Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

• Visual arts education allows students to express their ideas and emotions while also teaching them how to communicate visually.
• Visual arts aid in an individual’s aesthetic, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development.
• Creativity, artistic ability, organisational skills, ability to focus and concentrate, observant, visualisation skills, imaginative skills, innovative skills, ability to express, and so on are among the skills that students will learn during the course.
• Visual arts education contributes to the preservation of our diverse cultural heritage and allows us to visualise our origins and history. Painting and sculpture in museums are more than just forms of art; they tell stories about our past. Today, BVA graduates use movies, videos, dance forms, paintings, and sculptures to share stories and news from around the world.
• BVA graduates will be able to find work in areas such as art studios, museums and galleries, the film and television industries, photo studios, the clothing industry, etc.

Entrance Exams for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

Candidates seeking admission to BVA must pass an arts aptitude test administered by the respective institutes. Some institutes conduct a standard entrance test to assess aptitude, and creativity is assessed during the personal interview through questions and portfolios.

The following are some of the BVA entrance exams:

• Arts Aptitude Test (AAP) – The World University of Design administers this exam for admission to UG and PG visual arts programmes.
• LPUNEST – Lovely Professional University’s LPUNEST is a university-level entrance exam for admission to various courses offered by the institute, including visual arts courses.
• JMI Entrance Exam – Jamia Millia Islamia offers admission to a variety of courses via a national level entrance exam.

Preparation Tips for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

• The BVA entrance exam question paper is divided into three sections: still life, questions based on the subject chosen, and theory questions. The first two sections are typically 1.5 hours long each, with the theory section lasting 2 hours.
• In the still life section, a few objects will be placed in front of the candidates, and they must draw those objects using a graphite pencil. The candidates must ensure that the texture and proportions of the objects are perfect. This section is the easiest of the three and can only be mastered with practise.
• The questions in the specialisation subject section will be based on the subjects chosen by the candidate. Illustrations for applied arts, compositions for painting and printmaking, storyboards for visual communication, and clay modelling for sculpture will be provided. Candidates must prepare according to their subject.
• Theory questions will include MCQs from current events, art history, art & culture, movies, and anything else related to visual arts.
• To prepare for the theory section, candidates can use Dr. Paromita Basu’s book “A Composition Guide to BFA Theory Entrance Examination.”

Syllabus for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

The BVA curriculum includes Art History, an introduction to all forms of visual arts, and a specialisation course to specialise in a particular field. The following courses are covered over the course of four years:

For First Year

Semester 1	Semester 2
Elements & Principles of art	Communication Skills
Introduction to Art History	Graphic Tools
Introduction to Drawing	History of Indian Art
Introduction to Painting	Introduction to Photography
Introduction to Sculpture	Material Construction
–	Nature Study
–	Printmaking

For Second Year

Semester 3	Semester 4
Basic Sketching	Anatomy Sketching
Communication Skills	History of Western Art
Discipline Minor Elective	Portfolio
Modern Indian Art	Specialization Elective
Specialization Elective	–

For Third Year

Semester 5	Semester 6
Flora & Fauna Sketching	Flora & Fauna Sketching
Indian Aesthetics	Portfolio
Modern Western Art	Western Aesthetics
Specialization Elective	Specialization elective

For Fourth Year

Semester 7	Semester 8
Architectural Sketching	Contemporary Art & Practices
Introduction to World Civilization	Portfolio
Virtual Portfolio	–
Specialization Electives	–

Top Colleges for Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

The table below lists some of the top colleges that offer Bachelors of Visual Arts degrees:

Name of the Institute	Location	Admission Process	Average Course Fees
Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi	Entrance Exam	INR 7,100
Alagappa University	Karaikudi	Merit-based	INR 9,500
Amity School of Fine Arts, Amity University	Noida	English language test + Creative Test	INR 54,000
KL University	Guntur	Entrance Exam	INR 60,000
Symbiosis School of Photography, Symbiosis International University	Pune	Creative Visualization and Personal Interaction	INR 4,40,000
Bangalore University	Bangalore	Entrance Test	INR 21,000
Lovely Professional University	Jalandhar	LPUNEST	INR 58,000
Chandigarh University	Chandigarh	CUCET	INR 76,000
World University of Design	Sonepat	Aptitude Test + Interview	INR 84,000
Vogue Institute of Art and Design	Bangalore	Direct admission	INR 2,28,000

Job Profiles and Career Opportunities in Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

• BVA graduates have a wide range of options. They can work in places such as art studios, auction houses, photography studios, educational institutes, the film industry, hospitals, libraries, museums and galleries, and so on.
• Art Conservator, Art Critic, Art Teacher, Associate Art Director, Audio Visual Artist, Costume Designer, Graphic Designer, Visual Designer, and so on.
• After BVA, the average starting salary is expected to be INR 4.5 lakh per year.

The table below lists some of the job opportunities available to BVA graduates:

• Art Director: An art director is in charge of the overall visual style in a magazine, newspaper, film, or television production. The overall design is created by the director, who also directs other staff members who create artwork.
• Visual Artist: A visual artist is a professional who creates artwork that conveys an idea, information, or emotional messages. A visual artist can specialise in a variety of disciplines such as painting, sculpture, graphic design, photography, and so on.
• Visual Designer: A visual designer’s job responsibilities include creating branding projects from the ground up, developing campaigns, providing quality art direction, and leading a team of designers.
• Art Conservator: A professional who restores, preserves, and analyses various works of art is known as an art conservator. An art conservator typically focuses on one type of object, such as paintings, sculptures, textiles, or books.
• Art Critic: An art critic visits a location where any form of art is displayed (such as galleries, studios, or museums) and evaluates the work by judging its vision, style, and technique. Following that, the critic’s articles are published in newspapers, magazines, journals, blogs, and so on.
• Painter: A painter creates various artworks in the form of paintings by combining creative ability with drawing, sketching, and colouring skills. A painter can create various types of paintings such as water colour painting, oil painting, ink wash painting, acrylic painting, and glass painting, and he or she can exhibit or sell his or her work at art galleries.
• Graphic Designer: A graphic designer is a professional who creates visual concepts by hand or with computer software. A graphic designer creates complete layout and production design for advertisements, magazines, brochures, and other printed materials.  
• Cartoonist: A cartoonist is a professional who creates cartoons for various print publications (such as newspapers and magazines) as well as television and film, where they prepare model drawings and sketches of characters. A cartoonist may also create special effects for animated projects.

Some of the top visual artist recruiting firms include:

• Red Chillies
• Reliance Mediaworks
• HT Media
• Prime Focus

Future Scope in Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA)

• Graduates of the BVA programme are in high demand in the media and entertainment industries. The entertainment industry is growing, and there is a high demand for creativity and visual effects. As a result, they hire such talented professionals.
• They can work for marketing or advertising firms. BVA graduates are expected to come up with innovative ideas.
• BVA graduates can work as independent contractors from the comfort of their own homes as freelancers.
• After completing the BVA course, candidates can continue their education and pursue MFA, MVA, MA Visual Arts, or any other fine arts specialisation.

Frequently Asked Questions