BFA vs BDes: Detailed Comparison

BFA vs BDes: Both BFA and BDes programmes are different on various grounds such as specialisation, course curriculum, career prospects and others. In comparison, BDes or Bachelor of Design is a technical degree which is about designing, on the other hand, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is more inclined towards art & sketching. In career prospects, BFA graduates can work across arts management, gallery, and museums and BDes graduates can work in product, graphic, environmental and UX/UI design domains.

This article explores the differences between these two programmes and presents a course comparison between BFA and BDes. Students who are going back and forth with confusion and are unable to decide if they want to be admitted to BDes or BFA can refer to this article to get information and clarity.

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BFA vs BDes: Quick Overview

The table given below provides all the basic information about the courses of BFA and BDes. These small yet significant details help candidates in making up their minds about which course to choose, BFA course or BDes course?:

BFA Vs BDes: Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for BFA and BDes programmes are different in various institutes, however, there are some generic requirements as mentioned below:

BFA Eligibility 

Find the requirements for the BFA programme here:

• Students are required to have passed class 12th with a 50% score from a recognized board. 
• There is no specific requirement for any subject intake in class 12th. 
• They may have to sit for college or national-level entrance exams to get into the BFA programme. 

BDes Eligibility

Check out the eligibility criteria for the BDes programme:

• Candidates must have passed class 12th or equivalent with a minimum of 45-50% from a recognized board. 
• Also, students of any stream in class 12th can apply for this programme. 
• This programme is also eligible for students who have gained an AICTE-accredited design diploma.

BFA Vs BDes: Admission Process

Find the different admission process for BFA and BDes programmes below:

BDes Admission Process 

Check out the steps involved in the BDes admission process:

• Step 1. Fill out the application form in either online or offline mode. Students will also have to upload the documents in the prescribed format by paying the application fee. 
• Step 2. Students who qualify for the cutoff score will be called for the counselling round. 
• Step 3. Then, they will be allotted seats in the counselling session and shortlisted ones will receive an allotment letter. 
• Step 4. Candidates have to be present for the final admission process and verification of documents. 

BFA Admission Process 

Find the steps involved in the BFA admission process: 

• Step 1. Candidates have to fill out the application form available on the official website. 
• Step 2. They also have to appear and qualify for the entrance exam as prescribed by the college. 
• Step 3. The final selection is done for this programme based on the class 12th merit score and entrance exam score.
• Step 4. Based on the entrance exam performance, students will be called for the final interview round.

BFA Vs BDes: Syllabus

One of the best ways to understand the difference between any two courses is to take a look at the syllabus of them both. While some subjects may seem common among these two courses, the difference lies in specialisations and optional subjects.

BFA Vs BDes: Specialisations

Both BFA and BDes specialisations are different from each other. Students must note that the BFA programme is inclined towards visual art abilities, sculpture, drawing, painting and printing while the BDes programme is all about design principles and processes to solve problems in different sectors.  

BFA Specialisations

Check out the popular BFA specialisations below: 

BDes Specialisations

Refer to some of the popular BDes specialisations:

Skills Required for BFA vs BDes

As both BFA and BDes programmes are different, even the skills for them vary. For BFA students must have a strong interest in art followed by skills such as drawing, imagination, visualisation, sketching, artistic ability and others.

For the BDes programme, graduates are expected to have good interpersonal skills, artistic skills, cognitive skills, presentation skills, perseverance, traditional skills, creativity and more.

BFA vs BDes: Career Prospects

The career prospects of BFA and BDes are vastly different from one another. Candidates deciding between these two courses must check the job roles that they can land after pursuing both degrees.

Career Prospects after BFA

Candidates who have a degree in BFA usually pursue a career in the creative field. Some of the most popular career options after BFA have been listed below. BFA opens the doors to many sectors in which students can be recruited for good positions.

• Career as an Artist
• Dancer
• Musician
• Sculptor
• Painter
• Animator Career
• Production Artist
• Actor Career
• Career as a Writer
• Career as a Teacher

On the initial days, an individual can make anywhere between INR 2,50,000 to INR 10,00,000 PA after completing a BFA programme. The salary keeps increasing with time and experience! 

Career Scope after BDes

BDes allows the students to specialise in the field of their choice and then make a career in that field. The job roles that are available for a candidate after he/ she has completed the course of BDes are innumerable. Some common career prospects for BDes have been mentioned below.

• Fashion Designer Career
• Interior Designer Career
• Textile Designer
• Industrial Designer
• Graphic Designer Career
• Career as a Product Designer
• Art Director Career
• Career as a Fashion Director
• Apparel Designer Career
• Entrepreneur Career
• Brand Manager Career

An individual can easily earn a salary of INR 2,00,000 - 9,00,000 per annum, after completing a BDes programme. It may vary depending on the skill set and aptitude of the candidate. The salary keeps increasing with time as well as with experience.

Also Read: Design Career in India

Top BFA Colleges in India

Check the list given below to find the best BFA colleges in India. Candidates can shortlist any college as per their requirements and interest.

Top BDes Colleges in India

Some of the leading BDes colleges in India have been mentioned in the list given below.

This was all about the comparison between BFA and BDes! The choice between BFA and BDes is not difficult once the candidate understands both courses and has an insight into the curriculum and career options available. Both of these programmes give enough exposure to students in the creative field. Stay connected to CollegeDekho for more information regarding BFA admissions in India or BDes admissions in India.

To get personalised help from our admission experts either fill up the Common Application Form or dial the student helpline number 1800-572-9877 (toll-free). The QnA section of CollegeDekho is also open for students who have any queries or doubts.