Top Professional Courses in India after 12th and Graduation

Top Professional Courses in India after 12th and Graduation: Are you looking for a list of top professional courses in India after 12th or graduation to choose from based on your interests? If yes, then this article is your one-stop solution for all types of professional courses irrespective of stream. Professional courses, also known as vocational courses, prepare students for jobs in specific industries. These courses depart sharply from the academic-oriented approach of traditional courses and emphasise more on practical aspects such as skill development, gaining hands-on experience, learning the latest industry methods and trends, and so on. Professional courses, in contrast to general courses, are designed to meet the unique needs of a subject matter and place a strong emphasis on the practical application of concepts.

The top professional courses in India include Animation and Multimedia, Architecture, Chartered Accountancy (CA), Company Secretary (CS), Cost and Management Accountant (CMA), Data Science and Analytics, Fashion Design, Hotel Management, and more. In this article, we will discuss different types of professional courses for all streams, their eligibility criteria, course duration, top colleges, etc. for class 12 and college graduates.

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Types of Professional Courses

As discussed, a professional course is a type of educational programme designed to improve a student's training, knowledge, and abilities in a particular field of work. The list of top professional courses in India is set up to give students the professional and practical skills necessary for a given field. These courses, which are typically shorter than regular courses, allow students to start their professional endeavours sooner and, upon completion, advance in their careers. There are mainly four types of professional courses as shown in the infographic below:

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Certification: These are quick courses that give students training and foundational knowledge in a specific field. While certification courses help develop skills, starting a career in a field based only on them is more difficult.

Training: These courses are more practically focused and are intended to give students the specialised skills needed for a career in a given field. These courses are designed for students who wish to advance their professional careers or become more proficient in a particular field.

Diploma: Even though these courses are shorter than degree programmes, many students choose them after completing their secondary education. In a shorter amount of time, these courses assist students in developing the skills and prerequisites needed for a professional field.

Degree: These courses are full-time professional education programmes that give students all the information and preparation they need to pursue a career in that field. To start and advance their careers in their chosen fields, students greatly value and prefer these courses.

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Professional Courses in India: Diploma & Certificate Level

For students who wish to start their careers early, there are a lot of options for diploma courses after 12th or certificate courses after class 12. These courses offer excellent prospects for professional growth and can form a solid base before one pursues a degree.

Top Professional Degree Programs in India

If you have the time and resources to pursue a professional degree course, it is highly recommended that you take admission into one of the colleges offering vocational degrees in India. A professional degree course will not only open more pathways for you to find a job but it will also keep the door open for you to pursue a master's degree. Plus, a degree course covers multiple subjects and widens the scope for the future. The following table highlights the degree-level list of top professional courses in India:

Stream-wise List of Top Professional Courses in India After 12th

Professional courses imply that students will be taught industry-specific skills along with hands-on experience. Following completion of these courses, students become job-ready. A degree programme, on the other hand, aims to provide students with a solid academic foundation and expertise in a single subject. The following table highlights the 10 best or a list of top professional courses in India after 12th grade:

Top Professional Courses After 12th in Science Stream

Top Professional Courses After 12th in Commerce Stream

If you are still undecided, you can take this psychometric test to choose the best career option! Career Compass is an intuitive test that will answer a very important question - can career counselling help?

How to Choose the Best Professional Course in India?

Not every student can feel equally comfortable pursuing the same trade. A top-tier student in a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) programme may suffer if they have to sit through a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme. The following steps can help you simplify things if you are confused about which course should you go for after school.

1. List Areas of Interest: Your interests may be shaped by factors such as your surroundings, family businesses/trades, city/place of growth etc. and your priorities may include pursuing higher education, research, getting a job as early as possible, building a career in a particular organisation such as Banks, Civil Services etc.

2. Research: The internet can be your best friend here. Use it to find courses related to your interests and note down attributes such as:

• Type (Degree/Diploma/Certificate or Full-Time/Part-Time/Distance Learning etc.)
• Duration
• Broad Curriculum
• Average Fees
• Career Prospects

3. Opt for Career Counselling: Match the courses that you find with your interests and priorities and shortlist the best courses for you. Once you have shortlisted the courses, talk to a career counsellor and professionals in the field. These are experienced people who can help you find your way to your goal but for that, you will have to realise what your goals are.

4. Consider Other Factors: Entry requirements, availability of seats, cost of education (and return on investment) are all valid concerns that may also shape your choice but these should not be the defining factors in your decision.

Also Read: Top Vocational Courses After 10th and 12th

Top Professional Courses in India with Highest Salary

The following is a list of top professional courses in India that pay well after graduation:

Note: The figures mentioned above are subject to change.

Top Recruiters after 12th Grade and Graduation

Here’s a broad overview of top recruiters for professional courses after 12th and after graduation, based on fields of study:

After Class 12

1. Engineering (B.Tech/B.E.)

• Core Sectors: Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata Steel, ONGC, Indian Oil, DRDO.
• IT Sector: Google, Microsoft, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant.
• Automotive: Tesla, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Ashok Leyland.
• Consulting/Analytics: Deloitte, KPMG, Accenture.

2. Medicine (MBBS, BDS, B.Sc Nursing)

• Hospitals: Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, AIIMS, Max Healthcare.
• Research: ICMR, WHO, Novartis, Biocon.
• Medical Companies: Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic.

3. Management (BBA, Hotel Management, Event Management)

• BBA: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Aditya Birla Group, Reliance Industries.
• Hotel Management: Taj Group, Marriott, Oberoi Hotels, Hyatt.
• Event Management: Wizcraft, Percept, E-Factor Entertainment.

4. Design & Arts (Fashion, Interior, Graphic Design)

• Fashion Design: Raymond, Titan, FabIndia, Zara.
• Interior Design: Livspace, IKEA, Godrej Interio.
• Graphic Design: Adobe, BYJU’s, Swiggy, Canva.

5. Law (Integrated BA/BBA LLB)

• Law Firms: Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
• Corporate Houses: Reliance, Tata Group, Infosys (Legal Teams).
• Government Sector: Judiciary exams, Public Prosecutor roles.

After Graduation

1. MBA

• Consulting: McKinsey & Co, BCG, Bain & Co, Accenture.
• Finance: Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley.
• FMCG: Hindustan Unilever, Procter & Gamble, ITC.
• E-commerce: Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato.

2. Data Science/AI

• IT Companies: Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon.
• Startups: Paytm, Zomato, Ola.
• Finance: Citibank, Wells Fargo.

3. Engineering (M.Tech/MS)

• Tech Giants: Intel, Nvidia, Samsung R&D, Qualcomm.
• Research Institutions: ISRO, DRDO, BARC.
• Automotive & Robotics: Tesla, Boston Dynamics, GE.

4. Law (LLM or Corporate Law)

• Law Firms: AZB & Partners, Trilegal, JSA.
• MNCs: Amazon (Legal), Apple (Compliance), Shell (Contracts).

5. Medicine (Post MBBS, MD, MS)

• Hospitals: AIIMS, Medanta, Apollo Hospitals.
• Pharma Companies: Pfizer, GSK, Sun Pharma.
• Research: NIH, WHO.

6. Media & Mass Communication

• Media Houses: Times Group, NDTV, BBC, Zee Media.
• Advertising: Ogilvy, Dentsu, Leo Burnett.
• Digital Media: Google, Netflix, Facebook.

7. CA/CS/CFA

• Audit Firms: Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG).
• Finance: BlackRock, UBS, HDFC Bank.

After the 12th grade or graduation, a professional course places a greater emphasis on the acquisition of workplace-relevant skills and practises. It bridges the gap between an employee's current skill set and what is required on the job. As discussed in this article, the list of top professional courses in India after 12th as well as after graduation is the clear choice among today's youth because employees are rewarded with extraordinarily generous packages in exchange for meeting industry demands.

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