BA English - Course, Syllabus, Fees and Scope in 2024

Is BA English a good course? Are there any job opportunities after BA English? These are some common thoughts of people who wish to study literature. Literature in the English language is full of aesthetics. The study of it is even more enjoyable. BA English is an exciting course because it allows students to dive into the history and beauty of the English language. Not only that even job opportunities in BA English are abundant. One can choose to become a teacher, a content writer, a journalist and many more.

This article covers all the essential details a student should know regarding this course.

BA English Highlights

Many universities and colleges have an advanced degree program called BA English. It concentrates on English Literature, Cultural Studies, Rhetoric, and Literary History. It is a three-year undergraduate degree program that several national institutions provide.

Students can improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills in English through this course. Not only does it enhance academic performance, but it also sharpens students’ minds. It broadens their appreciation of literature through intense reading and boosts efficiency.

After completing their BA English courses, students can continue their education. They can pursue an MA or Ph.D. in English.

The table below contains BA English Course details:

Course	Bachelor of Arts in English
Duration of course	Three years
Eligibility criteria	Passed 12th standard with at least 50% marks
Admission criteria	Merit-based entrance exams
Course fees	5000 to 1.5 LPA
Career options	Teacher, Content Writer, Journalist, Proofreader, Editor, Copywriter, etc.
Average Salary	1.5 LPA to 6 LPA

Skills Needed for BA English

Pursuing a BA in English is an innovative and exciting choice. Before starting their BA English course, students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s in English must possess specific skills. Some of those skills are:

Interest in Literature

Students who consider reading literature as their hobby can take up this course. They must identify their area of interest. BA English literature syllabus involves various topics.

Knowledge of Grammar

Students who wish to study BA English subjects must possess basic knowledge of English grammar. They should also know about grammatical rules. It will help them to understand the syllabus easily.

Creative Thinking

A creative mind could help people who want to pursue a BA in English. It will help create extraordinary pieces of work during their course. It will also give them different perspectives on subjects in BA English literature.

Good Verbal and Written English

Command over the English language would help students understand the syllabus better. Students must be fluent in speaking English.

They should also have good written skills. Talented writers are essential for businesses that market online. Employers from all career backgrounds know that skilled writers help attract and retain clients.

Research and Writing

BA English course is not just about reading poetries. Companies need staff who can conduct in-depth research, sort material to identify the best sources, use facts to back arguments, and provide information clearly and concisely. Students must possess research skills to excel in this course and future jobs.

BA English Entrance Exam

The BA English Entrance Exam assesses the students’ proficiency in English language skills and literary comprehension for admission to undergraduate programs. We have listed the BA English entrance exams below:

Exam name	Exam Dates
CUET	May 15 to May 31, 2024
NPAT	Jan 1 to May 25, 2024
IPU CET	April 27 to May 12, 2024.

BA English Syllabus and Subjects

The BA English course is made up of core and elective subjects. They may differ slightly depending on the college or university. It is organised into two parts: courses covering all principles of literature and elective courses meant to enhance knowledge and talents for certain occupations.

This course aims to ensure students have access to all the vital information they need. A bachelor in English involves a syllabus of 3 years with six semesters.

BA English First Year Syllabus

The BA English subjects for the first year are mentioned in the table below:

Semester I	Semester II
Communicative English	Professional Communication
Language Paper I	Language Paper II
History of English Literature: The Pre-Chaucerian to the Augustan	History of English Literature: The Pre-Romantic to the Victorian
English Poetry: The Elizabethan to the Victorian	Eng Poetry: The Late Victorian to the Modern
English Prose: The Elizabethan to the Victorian	Eng Prose: The Late Victorian to the Modern
Introduction to Computing	Indian Writing in English: Fiction
Cultural Education I	Cultural Education II

BA English Second Year Syllabus

The BA English subjects for the second year are mentioned in the table below:

Semester III	Semester IV
Communicative English (Advanced)	History of English language and Phonetics
History of English literature: Victorian to the present	Indian Writing in English: Poetry
American Literature	Shakespeare: Comedies
Biography	Elective A
English Fiction: Victorian	Environmental Studies
Life Skills I	Open Elective A
Amrita Value Program I	Life Skills II
Amrita Value Program II	–

BA English Third-Year Syllabus

The BA English subjects for the third year are mentioned in the table below:

Semester V	Semester VI
Elements of Literary Criticism	Literary Criticism: Introduction
English Poetry: Modern	European Fiction
English Drama: Elizabethan to Victoria	English Fiction: Modern
Spiritual Literature	English Drama: Modern
Elective B	Shakespeare: Tragedies
Open Elective B/ Live-in-Lab	Autobiography
Life Skills II	–
Canadian Literature	–

Difference Between BA English And English Honors

There are majorly two major English courses available in the Indian Education System:

BA English

People who seek a graduation degree with good English knowledge can choose this course. It has a simple syllabus and fewer examinations. It is also perfect for people who want to pursue honors in another stream.

English Honors

People who wish to have a career in academics or journalism can choose this course. It is intensively academic as compared to BA English. It allows one to study varied topics thoroughly.

Top Colleges for BA English

There are various colleges in India providing degrees for a bachelor in English among which students must choose the right college to advance their careers in the future. The top colleges offering a BA English course are:

Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune

Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce established in 1983 is affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University. It has been graded A+ by NAAC.

The campus area is spread over around 2 acres of land. It is one of the top institutes which offers a Bachelor of Arts in English. All admissions are based on Merit. The course fee for the same is INR 78,002.

Hindu College, Delhi

Hindu College, Delhi, was established in the year 1899. This college is affiliated with Delhi University (DU) and has been graded A+ by NAAC. And it ranked 9th in NRIF College Rankings 2021.

The campus is spread over 25 acres of land with beautiful infrastructure. It has 18 departments that offer numerous UG and PG courses. The course fee for BA English is INR 52,680.

Stephen’s College, Delhi

St. Stephen’s College is a public college that was established in the year 1881. This college is also affiliated with Delhi University. It has been graded ‘A’ by NAAC. The college has a good infrastructure with 18 departments and more than 58 faculty for various courses.

According to their website, they are committed to pursuing excellence in higher education and the overall personality development of their students. The fee for a BA in English is INR 1,13,769.

Xavier’s College, Kolkata

St. Xavier’s College was established in the year 1860. This college is a private institute affiliated with Calcutta University. It has 20 departments offering UG courses. The institute has also been ranked 4th per the NIRF ranking for colleges in 2021.

The campus is spread over 33 acres of land in Kolkata. The BA English course fee at this institute is INR 58,000.

Hansraj College, Delhi

This institute is one of the most significant constituents of Delhi University. Admissions are given based on higher secondary results. Students need to meet their cut-off requirements to be eligible for admission.

The entrance exam for this college is Delhi University Entrance Exam (DUET). The campus area is spread over 15 acres. It offers UG and PG courses in various streams. The fee for BA English is INR 62,840.

Jobs After BA in English in India

After completing a BA English course, there are vast job opportunities in the market that an individual can pursue. This is due to the vast demand for English professionals today. Almost every industry requires a candidate with good English. Here are some job opportunities after BA in English:

Teacher

Teaching is one of the prestigious professions. People passionate about education and academics can rightly choose teaching as their profession. They can choose to teach at schools or universities. The average monthly salary for the same is 2.9 LPA.

Content Writer

In this digital era, no organisation can survive without a content writer. A career as a content writer may be great for one if one enjoys researching a range of subjects to produce interesting content and has a knack for writing. The average annual salary for the same is 3 LPA.

Related: Content Writing Jobs

Journalist

It is an excellent job option after a BA in English. Journalism requires sound verbal and written English skills. It also requires attention to detail. BA graduates are ideal for this role. The average salary for the same is 3.9 LPA.

Script Writer

People with a good command of English can make promising careers as scriptwriters. They need to have a creative mind and should have good observational skills. This job requires them to create and edit scripts written for varied purposes. The average annual salary for this job is 4.6 LPA.

Proofreader

If you pay close attention to details and enjoy reading, a great job for you could be a proofreader. Their job is to carefully review and correct any mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting, ensuring that the final version is flawless and ready for public release. The average salary for a proofreader is 4.5 LPA in India.

Editor

An editor is a qualified individual who serves as the company’s spokesperson. They guarantee the accuracy and excellence of all written materials. Editors assist authors in refining their work to ensure that it flows naturally. They also instruct them about different writing styles. The average annual salary for the same is 4.6LPA.

Copywriter

They are responsible for producing engaging content for different campaigns. Various advertising agencies hire copywriters to market their products/services. The average annual salary is 5.6 LPA in India.

BA English: Summary

As discussed, the BA English course caters to a wide range of interests and academic pursuits, ranging from literature to creative writing and cultural studies. After completing the course, students have various options available. They can pursue higher studies and acquire a master’s degree or even complete a Ph.D. program. They can also start looking for job opportunities after completing their BA English degree. The options are endless therefore BA English is one of the most interesting and sought-after degrees in India.

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