Commerce is a very promising field, if someone wants to make their career in it. Here are the top 10 courses for commerce students after 12th.
How commerce is being preferred can be seen from the 2021 seats available for FYJC, Maharashtra board, in Mumbai colleges. The FYJC is class 11th equivalent of CBSE or ICSE. Seats for Commerce were over 1.7 lacs, seats for Science were over 1.1 lacs and seats for arts were over 70000.
This data is relevant because Mumbai is the economical hub of India, the finance capital. The availability of jobs and opportunities are numerous and very visible in this city. Higher number of seats is an indication of the demand for commerce. This is because the students must be seeing many opportunities with commerce here.
The story of rest of India, however, is very different. People are crazy after JEE and NEET. The parents want their kids to go for these competitions without even finding their interests. So commerce gets a second preference. Most students choose commerce because they find science either difficult or boring. Remaining others choose this stream because they are unaware of the scope in humanities. Students who opt commerce by choice, with a clear career goal in their mind, are in single digit percentage.
This blog is written for those students who are always confused after choosing commerce in class 12th . They find themselves in a fix as to which course to choose in their college. This blog is to give some amount of clarity on what graduation options are available and what is the difference between the various options.
This blog may not serve purpose to those who want to go for careers like Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretaryship (CS) and Cost and Work Accountancy (ICWA). However in case they miss, they may check the below options.
The top 10 courses at the graduate level are as follows:
- Bachelor Of Commerce (B.Com.)
- Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF)
- Bachelor of Banking and Insurance (BBI)
- Bachelor of Economics (B.Eco.)
- Bachelor of Financial Markets (B.FM.)
- B.Com. LLB
- Bachelor Of Business Studies (BBS)
- Bachelor Of Management Studies (BMS)
- Bachelor Of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor Of Business Management (BBM)
There is a BONUS Option also in the end. So total 11 courses are mentioned. I call it bonus because it comes with differencial benifits and the best out of all according to me.
1. Bachelor of Commerce (B.COM.)
The Bachelor of Commerce course gives students a general idea of buying and selling of goods, provision of services, productions and property, and much more. This includes, accounting practices, assets, liabilities, balance sheets, Profit and losses, terms like EBIDTA, PAT, PBT etc.
However, the Bachelor of Commerce programme itself offers a plethora of specialisations.
The B.Com. Degree can help establish a career in finance, taxation, operations, etc, depending on the course specification opted for.
Course Duration: 3 years
Top Institutes:
- Shri Ram College of Commerce (New Delhi)
- St Xavier’s College (Kolkata)
- Loyola College (Chennai)
- Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics (Mumbai)
- Christ College (Bangalore)
There are more than 50 specialisations which can be opted for across colleges all over India. Listed here are some of the most widely picked choices which are commonly available as an option in most colleges in the country.
Below are all B.Com. degrees with specializations.
B.Com. is a course which is available in most colleges across the country but the specialisations may vary from institute to institute.
Accounting and Finance
Specialising in accounting and finance trains students who are looking to pursue a career in banks, insurance companies and industries.
The University of Mumbai has also created a separate course in accounting and finance for those students who are focused on getting into the fields.
Some of the subjects studied here include financial accounting, cost accounting, auditing, taxation, business law, economics, business communications, etc.
Economics
For an overall view of the subject, some students opt for a major in economics. This may not train students for a particular career path but it provides an overall view of the commerce stream and students can choose to follow a career path or pursue further studies on completion of the course.
Auditing
For those who want to find a career as a Certified Public Accountant, Finance Manager or Chief Financial Officer, majoring in the field of Auditing is a good idea.
Subjects studied under this specialisation are advanced financial accountancy, auditing, financial markets, corporate financial policy, financial service, etc.
Taxation
Subjects studied under the specialisation of taxation include financial accounting, economics, business mathematics and statistics, direct and indirect taxation, public finance and taxation, and more.
This course prepares students a career as a business tax consultant or a property tax consultant. Other job roles include Manager of Accounts and Direct Taxation, Manager of Employment Taxation, Manager of Corporate Taxation and others.
Advanced Accountancy
Advanced accountancy prepares a student for work in the areas of accounting operations, patterns, merger of public holding companies, foreign currency operations, etc. It also helps provide an understanding in advanced financial accounting issues such as lease contracts, pension funds, end of service severance payments, etc.
After completing this course, it is possible to have a career as a public accountant or a financial consultant.
Banking and Insurance
Majoring in banking and insurance will enable a student to be well equipped to follow a career in one of these two growing fields.
The University of Mumbai introduced it as a special course to train students so as to provide the banking and insurance sectors with competent people for their workforce.
The course subjects include life insurance, legal framework, non-life insurance, etc.
Marketing Management
Specialising in marketing management can provide multiple job opportunities starting from Marketing Executive up to Marketing Manager. It is also possible to start a consultancy firm that advises corporate companies on marketing strategies.
The subjects covered are a range that includes communication, financial accounting, business regulatory framework, consumer behaviour, sales management and more.
Travel and Tourism Management
B.Com. Tourism & Travel Management is specific to Tourism industry. This course trains students in theoretical and practical aspects of the industry. Apart from business operation and other core commerce subjects, the students are taught financial relevance of tourism, impact on world economy, environmental laws and regulations, customer-care and servicing, international travel laws and tourism management.
Career Steps: B.Com. can be a stepping stone for further degrees like Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary ship (CS) and Cost and Work Accountancy (ICWA).
More specialisations in B.Com.:
- Accountancy & Statistics
- Banking & Business Economics
- Banking Law and Practice
- Business Economics
- Business Entrepreneurship
- Corporate Affairs and Administration
- Corporate Secretary ship
- Cost Accounting
- Direct and Indirect Taxation Cost and Management Accounting
- E-Commerce
- Finance
- Financial & Investment Analysis
- Home Science
- Human Resources Development
- Indian Financial System and Financial Market Operations
- Insurance
- Income Tax
- Office Management
- Tax Procedure
While a B.Com. degree is seen as having good value in today’s industry, it provides a base for a CA or MBA course. Its advised to complete a PG after B Com, either M. Com or MBA depending upon the career goals.
2. Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF)
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance is a bachelor degree course with duration of 3 years which offers comprehensive study in theory and applications in finance and accounting.
The course offers a broader understanding of financial instruments, institutions, markets and systems that involve the study of financial decision making which is applicable to banking, funds management, stock broking, treasury and merchant banking. The objective of the course is to create a source of self-employment by providing training in the field of Accounting & Finance by means of projects, seminars, industrial visits and practical training.
The graduate with this course will be qualified in specialized areas such as budget analysis, investment analysis, auditing, mergers & acquisitions, risk analysis and taxation strategy.
Top Colleges are:
- Gujarat University
- Mansarovar Group Of Institution
- B.Institute Of Communication And Management
- Teresian College
- Aloysius Evening College
- A. College Of Commerce
- Hindu College
- Shri Ram College of Commerce
- Stella Maris College
- Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics
3. Bachelor of Banking and Insurance (BBI)
This is six semesters comprising a three-year undergraduate program for students after 12th Commerce who want to make a career in the banking, finance, and insurance sectors.
The curriculum focuses on the theoretical as well as practical aspects of banking procedures, management, insurance speculations, law, and regulations. Moreover, it also covers communication skills along with exposure to new banking policies and reforms through case studies, projects, presentations, and seminars, which form a part of the course curriculum.
The admission is merit-based or entrance test-based. Some of the entrance tests include the Chandigarh University test, the Mumbai University test, etc. However, students do need to have maths in their 10+2 for pursuing BBI.
Colleges that offer the BBI course are:
- Jai Hind College
- Rizvi College of Arts, Science, and Commerce
- Mithibai College of Arts Commerce and science
- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management.
4. Bachelor of Economics (B.Eco.)
Bachelor of Economics is a 3 years undergraduate degree course that analyses the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Students who wish to make it big in Banking and Finance and other major corporate industries can take up a Bachelor of Economics.
For learners having an interest in economics, this is a desiring option to secure knowledge and skills in understanding the underlying concepts and principles governing the subject. Subjects included in this course along the lines of economics are microeconomics and macroeconomics, econometrics, statistics, history of economics, political economy etc make this one of the best career options in commerce.
Top Colleges in India are:
- Jain University, Bangalore
- LNCTU, Bhopal
- SPJain School of global management, Mumbai
- Silver Oak University, Ahmedabad
- Lady Shriram College of women, Delhi
- HITS, Chennai
- Acharya Bangalore B School
- Loyola College, Chennai
- Madras Christian College, Chennai
- Fergusson College, Pune
5. Bachelor of Financial Markets (BFM)
Bachelor of Financial Markets (BFM) is a three-year undergraduate degree that specialises in the nuances of financial markets and covers various related fields like economics, financial risks, investments, etc. It also involves the practical fields of study like organizing, planning and managing capital resources. If you are interested in the intricacies of how the market functions and to want to build a career around it then BFM is a course that might interest you.
If you are someone interested in stock market, you must pursue this course.
Best colleges are below.
- ICLES Motilal Jhunjhunwala College of Arts and Commerce.
- Jai Hind College, Mumbai
- Mithibai College ,Mumbai
- KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce
- Kandivali Education Society BK College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai
- Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai
- Maharshi Dayanand College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai
- MMK College, Mumbai
- Hinduja College, Mumbai
- Narsee Monjee College of commerce and economics, Mumbai
6. B. Com. LLB (Law)
B.Com. LLB is a professional law programme which is of five years duration. Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.Com. LLB) is an integrated course wherein aspirants are taught both commerce and law subjects. Some Commerce subjects that aspirants study as part of B.Com. LLB course are Business Statistics, Business Communication, Auditing, Economics, etc. Apart from these candidates are also taught law subjects which include Law of Contract, Consumer Protection Law, Constitutional Law, Law of Crimes, Legal Language, Interpretation of Statutes, Constitutional Law and the likes.
B.Com. LLB course comprises of 10 semesters and candidates need to clear all the papers in eight years which is the maximum duration to complete this law course. As part of an integrated B.Com. LLB course, aspirants are taught various topics by means of classroom teaching, case studies and moot courts.
Course Duration- 5 years, Eligibility- 10+2 , National Law colleges and some other top colleges require clearing CLAT exam. Some colleges have their own exam and few others don’t have any entrance exams.
After completing an integrated B.Com. LLB course, candidates are offered many job opportunities. Some popular job profiles that candidates can pursue after securing a B.Com. LLB degree are as mentioned below:
Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Advocate. Solicitor
7. Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)
The Bachelor of Management Studies degree was started to give students a hands-on experience so they can connect theories learnt during classroom sessions with its application in real-life situations in organisations.
This course concentrates mainly on analytical and logical oriented studies and to help students develop their analytical and logical skills that are required. Students can specialise in Marketing, Finance, HRM, Management of Services, and Management of global Business & Tourism Management etc. The subjects that are studied are Finance & Cost Accounting, Industrial Law, Business Law, Computer Application in Business, and Quantitative Methods for Business, Business Environment, Principles of Management, Production Management, Export – Import Procedures, Managerial Economics, Econometrics, International Finance etc .but may differ from college to college.
It has a more practical outlook as compared to other courses. The course was started by University of Mumbai for Mumbai-specific colleges. Some of the subjects studied in this discipline include business mathematics, managerial economics, business ethics and corporate social responsibility, human resource management, etc.
Course duration is 3 years.
Top Institutes:
- St Xaviers College, Mumbai
- SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai
- HR College, Mumbai
- SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai
- Sydenham College, Mumbai
Career Steps: Completion of the BMS degree offers careers in human resource management, sales and marketing, finance, research and development, etc.
8. Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS)
The Bachelor of Business Studies provides students with a broad knowledge of business combined with specialist knowledge of a particular area of business, the choice of which is at the discretion of the student.
Although it is fairly similar to the B.B.A. course but its focus is majorly in practical exposure rather than a theoretical study. In this degree various business courses are integrated with a realistic and industry-based focus in order to build sound business ideas within the aspirants. Aspirants can specialize in management, accounting, marketing and information systems.
The course focuses on developing the ability to think critically and analytically.
It also teaches students to relate classroom ideas to practical business situations which they will face while working in the industry.
Most of the subjects covered in the course are from the fields of accounting and economics so having a prior background in these fields is helpful.
The course was introduced by the University of Delhi to give students a competitive edge in the business world.
Course Duration: 3 years
Top Institutes:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, New Delhi
- Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi
- Keshav Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi
- Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, New Delhi
9. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
The BBA program usually includes general business courses and advanced courses for specific concentrations. As the name suggests it deals with Administrative studies. It is basically designed to give students a basic knowledge of all the functions that are involved in a company for example marketing, finance, human resource management, etc. the subjects that are studied are Accounting, Business law and Ethics, Economics, Financial management, Human resource management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations management, Organizational behaviour. Quantitative techniques (business statistics, financial mathematics, operations research) and Strategic Management. It too has various specialisations namely Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Real Estate, Human Resource Management, International Business, Information technology, Legal management, Design Management, Management, Management information systems, Marketing, Operations management, Supply chain management, Public Relations, Aviation Management.
Some of the specialisations offered under the program are air travel management, finance and accounting, marketing and sales, hotel and tourism management, banking and insurance, information technology and international business.
Top Institutes:
- Christ College, Bangalore,
- Shri Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai,
- Madras Christian College, Madras
- MS Ramaiah College of Law, Bangalore
- SRM University, Chennai
Career Steps: Students can follow up a BBA degree with a postgraduation in Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other career options depend on the specialising subjects.
10. Bachelor of Business Management (BBM)
Bachelor of Business Management is a programme that is aimed at providing knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of business. the main focus is diverted to studies at a managerial level. It aims at developing the individual’s managerial skills and creating well rounded individuals by educating them in a range of diverse subject areas that provide an integrated view of managerial issues and be able to apply the knowledge imparted in real life situations. Some of the specializations in BBM are Finance, Operations Management, and Management Information Systems and so on.
Some of the subjects in this course are economics, marketing, agriculture business, business laws and ethics, project management, etc.
Course Duration: 3 years
Top Institutes:
- Ness Wadia College of Commerce, Pune
- Institute of Business Management and Technology, Bangalore
- New College, Chennai
11. The 5-year Integrated MBA or BBA/BBM/BMS + MBA
Now this is the bonus option. This is not very known still and has many great benifits. Since it is not very known, the number of candidates who apply for this are low. And some of the top B Schools are offering this option.
The 5-year Integrated MBA or BBA/BBM/BMS + MBA is a comprehensive management programme that aims to prepare a candidate for managerial job profiles from Class 12 onwards. Integrated MBA is a combined course of management studies from undergraduate to postgraduate level.
Students have a very big advantage of a five-year integrated MBA. It saves the candidate from appearing for entrance exam and selection process twice (at UG and PG level), saving one year that goes into preparation of CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, etc.
Students who want to opt must be very clear about their career goal and interest from the beginning, as Integrated MBA is a five-year course; and for five years they will study only business administration. So in case a candidate has interest in a specific field like Finance or IT/Operations, he/she should opt for B.Com. at UG level.
Following Top Colleges offer the integrated BBA+MBA program. The important exam for IIM Indore is IPM.
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Bodhgaya
- IIM Indore
- IIM Rohtak
- IIM Jammu
- Nirma University
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- NIIT University
- Kurukshetra University
Students should make a note that every institute has its own entrance exam and eligibility criteria. It is advised to check the institute sites and take the appropriate decisions.
Conclusion
So it is clear that there are huge number of options for the students of commerce after 12th class. In 11th and 12th, the schools give some idea about these concepts and students start developing their likings and interests. Based upon the likings , students should choose the course which serves a direction to their interests. Commerce is the backbone of all industries and economies and there is no dearth of career options. So even if you chose commerce because you wanted to avoide sciences and humanities, you have taken a wise decision. What is more important is try and learn the subjects and take right decisions.
If you are not sure about the career best fit for you, we have a complete system to help you in this very important decision of your life.
Please fill your details in the below form and we shall connect with you at earliest.
