After their Class XII board exams are over, students reach a stage in life where they have to decide their future course of study on the basis of their aptitude and interests. The first question that comes to mind is “Which course is best after 12th Non-Medical in India?” Non-medical areas of study are the most popular as they offer a lot of brilliant options. Students who opt for the Science stream will basically have two options: they can either choose Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) or Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB). Here are some options for study for Science students after Class XII given below.
Which Course is Best After 12th Non-Medical in India?
Bachelor of Science (BSc): This is one of the most popular degree courses among Science students. The duration of a BSc degree course ranges from three to five years, depending on the country. Students from PCM groups can choose or complete this course in two levels with honours.
Bachelor of Engineering: Engineering is a well-planned career option for students with PCM in Class XII. Students who are interested in engineering can choose any one of the disciplines of engineering. Some popular engineering disciplines are:
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electronics and Communication Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
Apart from the above mentioned disciplines, there are many other popular engineering courses available in this field, such as Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, Biomedical/Bioengineering, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Energy Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, Automobile Engineering and many more.
There are two types of Engineering courses:
- Diploma courses for a duration of three years (two years for graduates) leading to a Polytechnic Diploma in Technology
- Undergraduate degree courses for a duration of four years (three years for diploma holders) leading to a BTech (Bachelor of Technology) degree
Admission to Polytechnic Diploma courses is done on the basis of the marks obtained in the Class XII board exams. Some of the colleges allow admission into the diploma course through the JEEP entrance test.
Admission to degree courses (BTech) is done through the JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced) entrance tests and on merit of the marks obtained in the Class XII exams.
Bachelor of Architecture (BArch):
This is a five-year undergraduate programme. Students can take admission in a BArch course by clearing an all India entrance exam conducted by the Council of India. Exams include NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture), JEE (Mains) paper 2, AMU BArch Exam, KECT for Architecture, etc. However, some private colleges have their own criteria and norms.
Defence: Those who wish to serve the nation can pursue the three-year full time defence course. To secure a place in the course, students have to first clear the entrance exam conducted by the National Defence Academy (NDA).
Commercial Pilot: Those students who love adventure and want to be a commercial pilot can choose to study this course. To become a commercial pilot, students have to pass the entrance exam and must be physically fit as per the standards of the aviation industry. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducts a national-level entrance test every year, which is known as the IGRUA Entrance Test.
Bachelor of Computer Application: Students who have cleared Class XII from any discipline with Mathematics as one of their subjects, and have obtained a minimum of 45 percent to 55 percent marks in aggregate, can pursue the BCA. Like BSc, BCA too is a three-year full time course.
Fire and Safety: This includes various fire and safety courses such as certificate courses, ITI courses, diploma courses and bachelor’s degree courses that one can opt for after Class XII. Apart from the above mentioned courses, students with PCM can also opt for many other courses, like Business Administration, and various design courses such as fashion design, accessory design, textile design, etc.