UG · 3 yrs

B.A — History (Hons)

The human past and sharp analytical skills — a classic UPSC, research and teaching base.

Duration3 years (4 with NEP Honours / Honours-with-Research)

EligibilityClass 12 in any stream; admission via CUET-UG or university merit

Typical fees₹10,000–₹2.5 L total

Colleges85

Course overview

B.A History (Honours) studies the human past — ancient, medieval and modern India, world history, and how historians read sources, evidence and change over time. It builds genuinely strong reading, research and argument skills and is a classic, high-scoring foundation for UPSC and academia. Be realistic, though: direct private-sector jobs are limited, so most graduates aim at competitive exams, teaching or a postgraduate degree.

Is B.A — History (Hons) right for you?

✅ Choose it if you…

love reading, narrative and evidence, enjoy connecting past and present, and are aiming at civil services, research, teaching, museums or law.

⚠️ Reconsider if you…

want a directly vocational/technical job, dislike heavy reading and essay-writing, or expect a strong corporate salary right after the UG.

Eligibility & entrance exams

Eligibility: Class 12 in any stream; admission via CUET-UG or university merit.

Entrance exams

CUET-UG → DU, JNU, BHU, central universitiesUniversity entrances (Jamia, AMU, Christ)State merit / university merit lists

What you’ll study

Year 1

Foundations — early/ancient Indian history, introduction to historical method and historiography, plus general electives.

Year 2

Medieval India, early-modern world history, social and economic history, and history of ideas.

Year 3

Modern India and contemporary world, specialised papers, research methods and a dissertation/project.

Core subjects covered

History of Ancient IndiaMedieval IndiaModern IndiaWorld / Global HistoryHistoriography & Historical MethodSocial & Economic HistoryHistory of Modern EuropeContemporary India

Popular specialisations

Ancient Indian HistoryIndus civilisation to early empires through inscriptions, coins and archaeology; feeds heritage and research.

Medieval Indian HistorySultanates, Mughals and regional states — politics, culture and economy of medieval South Asia.

Modern Indian HistoryColonialism, nationalism and post-independence India — highly relevant for UPSC and contemporary debates.

World / Global HistoryRevolutions, empires, world wars and global connections to contextualise India in world history.

Archaeology & Heritage StudiesMaterial remains, conservation and museology — routes into ASI, museums and heritage management (usually post-PG).

Admission process

1 · Clear Class 12Pass Class 12 in any stream with the required cut-off.

2 · Register & take CUET-UGApply on the NTA CUET portal and choose relevant domain/language papers.

3 · Apply to universitiesFill university/CSAS forms and lock college-course preferences.

4 · Counselling / merit allotmentSeats allotted on CUET score and preferences.

5 · Document verification & fee paymentVerify documents and pay fees to confirm admission within the deadline.

🗓️ CUET-UG registration usually opens early in the year, exams around May, results by late June, and university counselling July–August. Confirm exact dates on the official sites each year.

Duration & fees

Duration: 3 years (4 with NEP Honours / Honours-with-Research), full-time.

Institute type	Indicative fees	Examples
Government / central university	₹5,000–₹40,000 / yr	DU/JNU colleges total often under ₹1 L
State / aided college	₹5,000–₹25,000 / yr	state university affiliated colleges
Private university	₹60,000–₹1 L / yr	Ashoka, Christ, Symbiosis ~₹1.5–2.5 L total

📋 Source: official institute fee structures (2024–25). Indicative; confirm with the institute.

Career outcomes & salary

Role	Indicative fresher CTC market
Content / Editorial Associate (entry)	₹2.5–4.5 L
Research / Archival Associate	₹2.5–5 L
Teacher (post B.Ed)	₹3–5 L
Civil Servant (post-UPSC)	₹7–12 L (entry pay band)
Museum / Heritage Curator (post-PG)	₹3–6 L

📋 Source: indicative market ranges (AmbitionBox, Glassdoor, 2026) — not official figures. Official institute placement averages are shown on each college below. Actual outcomes vary by college, skills & year.

Top recruiters

UPSC / State Public Service CommissionsSchools & coaching institutesUniversities & research institutesArchaeological Survey of India (ASI)Museums & heritage trusts (e.g. INTACH)Archives & librariesPublishing & editorial housesNews & media organisationsNGOs & cultural organisationsTourism & heritage-travel firmsDocumentary & content studiosGovernment cultural departments

📋 Source: companies reported by institute placement cells (2024). Recruiters vary by college & year.

Scholarships & funding

Central Sector Scheme of ScholarshipsMerit-cum-means support for top Class 12 performers from lower-income families.

State Post-Matric Scholarships (SC/ST/OBC/EBC)State-funded fee and maintenance support based on category and income.

University / college merit scholarshipsFee waivers and stipends for high CUET scorers.

ICHR / research stipends (PG level)Indian Council of Historical Research fellowships support history scholars at higher levels.

Scope & future

A rigorous, respected foundation — best monetised through UPSC, teaching or a PG rather than the UG alone.

📈 History remains an excellent analytical and UPSC foundation, but direct hiring is limited — strong outcomes come via competitive exams, teaching or a master’s. Heritage and content niches are slowly growing.

Source: UGC/NEP · ICHR

Where this degree can take you next

Higher studiesM.A History, then M.Phil/PhD for research and college/university teaching.

Civil servicesHistory is a popular, high-scoring UPSC/State-PSC optional with strong GS overlap.

TeachingB.Ed for school teaching or NET-qualified PhD for higher education.

Heritage & museologyPG in archaeology/museology/conservation for ASI, museums and heritage bodies.

Law & mediaLLB or a journalism/mass-comm PG leverages strong reading and writing skills.

Top colleges offering B.A — History (Hons)

85 colleges · ranked by NIRF

Savitribai Phule Pune University

📍 Pune, Maharashtra · Public (State)

NIRF #NAAC A+

Median*—

View profile →

Banaras Hindu University

📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

Christ University

📍 Bengaluru, Karnataka · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

📍 Vadodara, Gujarat · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

Panjab University

📍 Chandigarh, Chandigarh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

University of Calcutta

📍 Kolkata, West Bengal · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

Sharda University

📍 Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

📍 Bhubaneshwar, Odisha · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

Shivaji University

📍 Kolhapur, Maharashtra · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#10

Bundelkhand University

📍 Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#11

University of Lucknow

📍 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#12

Bangalore University

📍 Bengaluru, Karnataka · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#13

Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya

📍 Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#14

University of Madras

📍 Chennai, Tamil Nadu · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#15

Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya

📍 Haridwar, Uttarakhand · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#16

Pondicherry University

📍 Kalapet, Puducherry · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#17

University of Kalyani

📍 Kalyani, West Bengal · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#18

Mahatma Gandhi University

📍 Kottayam, Kerala · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#19

NIMS University

📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#20

Mizoram University

📍 Aizawl, Mizoram · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#21

Acharya Nagarjuna University

📍 Guntur, Andhra Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#22

Mody University of Science and Technology

📍 Sikar, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#23

Jiwaji University

📍 Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#24

Himachal Pradesh University

📍 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#25

Dibrugarh University

📍 Dibrugarh, Assam · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#26

Integral University

📍 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#27

Gautam Buddha University

📍 Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#28

Kakatiya University

📍 Hanamkonda, Telangana · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#29

Indraprastha College for Women

📍 New Delhi, Delhi · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#30

University of Burdwan

📍 Bardhaman, West Bengal · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#31

Pt Ravishankar Shukla University

📍 Raipur, Chhattisgarh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#32

University of Calicut

📍 Malappuram, Kerala · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#33

Amity University

📍 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#34

Amity University

📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#35

Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya

📍 Sagar, Madhya Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#36

Chaudhary Charan Singh University

📍 Meerut, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#37

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University

📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#38

University of Kerala

📍 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#39

Noida International University

📍 Noida, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#40

Gauhati University

📍 Guwahati, Assam · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#41

University of Mysore

📍 Mysuru, Karnataka · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#42

SNDT Womens University

📍 Mumbai, Maharashtra · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#43

Ranchi University

📍 Ranchi, Jharkhand · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#44

Utkal University

📍 Bhubaneshwar, Odisha · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#45

Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

📍 Naur, Uttarakhand · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#46

University of Kashmir

📍 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#47

Amity University

📍 Chandla Dungerwas, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#48

Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University

📍 Amravati, Maharashtra · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#49

Mahatma Gandhi University

📍 Nalgonda, Telangana · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#50

Amity University

📍 Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#51

Adamas University

📍 Kolkata, West Bengal · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#52

Lingaya's Vidyapeeth

📍 Faridabad, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#53

Bharathidasan University

📍 Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#54

Jai Narain Vyas University

📍 Jodhpur, Rajasthan · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#55

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

📍 Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#56

Swami Vivekanand University

📍 Sironja, Madhya Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#57

North Eastern Hill University

📍 Shillong, Meghalaya · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#58

Sambalpur University

📍 Burla, Odisha · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#59

Aliah University

📍 Kolkata, West Bengal · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#60

Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University

📍 Patan, Gujarat · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#61

Singhania University

📍 Rasoolpur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#62

Yogi Vemana University

📍 Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#63

Dr CV Raman University

📍 Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#64

Mangalayatan University

📍 Beswan, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#65

Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University

📍 Madhepura, Bihar · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#66

Nagaland University

📍 Thizama, Nagaland · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#67

Mohammad Ali Jauhar University

📍 Rampur, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#68

Fakir Mohan University

📍 Balasore, Odisha · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#69

Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University

📍 Kalwad Kalan and Khurd, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#70

University of Kota

📍 Kota, Rajasthan · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#71

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University

📍 Ajmer, Rajasthan · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#72

Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University

📍 Ballari, Karnataka · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#73

Rajiv Gandhi University

📍 Rono, Arunachal Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#74

Career Point University

📍 Aalniya, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#75

Tripura University

📍 Bikramnagar, Tripura · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#76

Global Open University

📍 Dimapur, Nagaland · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#77

Nagaland University

📍 Lumami, Nagaland · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#78

RIMT University

📍 Gobindgarh, Punjab · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#79

Kuvempu University

📍 Shankaraghatta, Karnataka · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#80

Al Falah University

📍 Faridabad, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#81

OPJS University

📍 Churu, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#82

Royal Global University

📍 Guwahati, Assam · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#83

Government Maharaja College

📍 Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#84

Arunachal University of Studies

📍 Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#85

Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University

📍 Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

*Median = institute-level NIRF median salary (official — institutes publish median, not average), where branch-specific data isn’t published. Fees from official institute structures (2024–25).

B.A History vs B.A Political Science

	History	Political Science
Focus	The past & sources	Power & current governance
UPSC fit	Strong optional + GS overlap	Strong optional + GS overlap
Best for	Research, teaching, heritage	Policy, IR, law, civil services

Frequently asked questions

What is the eligibility for B.A — History (Hons)?

Class 12 in any stream; admission via CUET-UG or university merit.

What is the fee for B.A — History (Hons)?

Indicative fees are ₹10,000–₹2.5 L total. Always confirm the current fee with the institute.

How long is B.A — History (Hons)?

3 years (4 with NEP Honours / Honours-with-Research).

What can I do after B.A — History (Hons)?

Common paths include Civil-services aspirant (UPSC/State PSC), Teacher / Lecturer (after B.Ed/PG), Researcher / Archivist, Content / Editorial Associate.

Which colleges offer B.A — History (Hons)?

85 colleges in our list offer it, including Savitribai Phule Pune University, Banaras Hindu University, Christ University.

Interested in admission?

Share your details and we’ll send admission info, fees and updates for B.A — History (Hons) colleges. Free, no obligation.

📋 Sources & data vintage

Fees: official institute fee structures (2024–25).
College placements (avg / highest): NIRF 2024 & institute placement reports.
Role-wise salary ranges: indicative market estimates — AmbitionBox, Glassdoor (2026). Not official.
Eligibility & approvals: UGC · AICTE · official college websites.

Figures above are drawn from the official releases listed — they are indicative, not quotations. Official data typically runs 1–2 years behind the current admission cycle; that is the publishing rhythm of the source, not an omission here. CourseLane is a data reference point, not the issuing authority — for the fee, seat or placement figure that applies to you, please contact the institute's admission or placement cell directly.

CourseLane Editorial

Compiled and fact-checked by the CourseLane editorial team from official sources. Figures are indicative and may lag the current admission cycle by 1–2 years — always confirm the detail that applies to you with B.A — History (Hons) or the authority below. Gaps are shown, never guessed.

Verify against: UGC·AICTE·NIRF · the institute's official website

Is B.A — History (Hons) the best-fit for you?

Treat everything above as a starting point rather than a verdict. What decides it is what you want the qualification to do — the fee you can commit to, the place you can move to, and the outcome you are actually after. Where a figure here is blank, it is blank because we could not source it officially, and we would rather show you the gap than fill it with a guess. Weigh B.A — History (Hons) against your own shortlist and decide whether it is the best-fit for you.

Disclaimer. Course details, fees, eligibility, salary and career information on this page are for general reference only, and may vary by location, institution, company, experience and market conditions. Figures are indicative and are not a guarantee of admission, employment or earnings — always verify with the official institution before deciding. CourseLane is an independent information platform and shall not be responsible for any decision made based on the information on this page.

Written by the CourseLane Research Team · reviewed by a senior counsellor · Last updated June 2026.