What To Do After 12th Class?
Your comprehensive guide to 100+ career options after 12th. Whether you're from Science, Commerce, or Arts background, discover the perfect career path for your future.
100+ Courses
UG programs available
50+ Exams
Entrance tests
20+ Countries
Study abroad options
Salary ₹3-50 LPA
Based on career choice
Career Options for PCM Students
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics opens doors to engineering, technology, and more.
Engineering (B.Tech/B.E.)
Duration: 4 Years
Bachelor's degree in various engineering branches. India's most popular career choice.
Exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, State CETs
Top Colleges: IITs, NITs, BITS Pilani, IIITs, VIT, SRM
Salary: ₹4-25 LPA (Entry Level)
Architecture (B.Arch)
Duration: 5 Years
Design buildings and spaces. Requires creative and technical skills.
Exams: JEE Main Paper 2, NATA
Top Colleges: SPA Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, CEPT, NIT Trichy
Salary: ₹3-10 LPA (Entry Level)
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)
Duration: 3 Years
Pure sciences degree. Opens doors to research, teaching, and specialized fields.
Exams: CUET, University-specific tests
Top Colleges: St. Stephens, Hindu College, Loyola, Christ University
Salary: ₹3-8 LPA (Entry Level)
Aviation & Pilot Training
Duration: 2-3 Years
Become a commercial pilot or aviation professional. High investment but rewarding.
Exams: IGRUA, NDA (for Air Force), Airline selection tests
Top Colleges: IGRUA, Rajiv Gandhi Academy, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi
Salary: ₹5-50+ LPA (Pilot)
Career Options for PCB Students
Physics, Chemistry, Biology leads to medicine, healthcare, and life sciences.
MBBS (Medicine)
Duration: 5.5 Years
Become a doctor. Most competitive and respected career in India.
Exams: NEET UG (Only exam for MBBS)
Top Colleges: AIIMS, CMC Vellore, JIPMER, AFMC, Government Medical Colleges
Salary: ₹5-20 LPA (After Internship)
BDS (Dentistry)
Duration: 5 Years
Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Shorter than MBBS with good career prospects.
Exams: NEET UG
Top Colleges: DCI Approved Colleges, Government Dental Colleges
Salary: ₹4-12 LPA
Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
Duration: 4 Years
Study drug development, formulation, and pharmaceutical sciences.
Exams: State Pharmacy Entrances, GPAT (for M.Pharm)
Top Colleges: NIPER, Jamia Hamdard, BITS Pilani, ICT Mumbai
Salary: ₹3-8 LPA
Nursing (B.Sc Nursing)
Duration: 4 Years
Healthcare profession with global demand. Excellent abroad opportunities.
Exams: AIIMS Nursing, State Nursing Entrances
Top Colleges: AIIMS, CMC Vellore, NIMHANS, State Nursing Colleges
Salary: ₹3-8 LPA (India), Higher abroad
Career Options for Commerce Students
Accounting, business, finance, and entrepreneurship pathways.
Chartered Accountancy (CA)
Duration: 3-5 Years
Most prestigious commerce career. Audit, taxation, and financial expertise.
Exams: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, CA Final
Top Colleges: ICAI (only authority), Articleship with firms
Salary: ₹7-20 LPA (After CA)
Company Secretary (CS)
Duration: 3-4 Years
Corporate compliance, governance, and legal affairs specialist.
Exams: CSEET, CS Executive, CS Professional
Top Colleges: ICSI (only authority)
Salary: ₹5-15 LPA
B.Com + CFA/CPA
Duration: 3-4 Years
Commerce graduation with international certifications. Finance career path.
Exams: CUET, DU Entrance, CFA Levels
Top Colleges: SRCC, St. Xaviers, Christ University, Symbiosis
Salary: ₹5-25 LPA (with CFA)
BBA + MBA
Duration: 3 + 2 Years
Bachelor's in Business Administration followed by MBA. Management track.
Exams: IPM (IIMs), SET, CAT/XAT (for MBA)
Top Colleges: IIM Indore (IPM), NMIMS, Christ, Symbiosis
Salary: ₹6-20 LPA (Post MBA)
Career Options for Arts Students
Law, civil services, journalism, design, and creative fields.
Law (BA LLB / LLB)
Duration: 5 Years (Integrated) / 3 Years
Become a lawyer. Integrated programs after 12th or LLB after graduation.
Exams: CLAT, AILET, LSAT India, DU LLB
Top Colleges: NLUs, NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR, NLU Delhi, Faculty of Law DU
Salary: ₹5-25 LPA (Top firms)
Civil Services (UPSC)
Duration: After Graduation
IAS, IPS, IFS, and more. India's most prestigious administrative career.
Exams: UPSC CSE (After graduation)
Top Colleges: Any graduation, LBSNAA (Training after selection)
Salary: ₹6-8 LPA + Perks + Power
Journalism & Mass Communication
Duration: 3 Years
Media, journalism, PR, and communication careers.
Exams: IIMC, XIC, ACJ, Symbiosis
Top Colleges: IIMC, ACJ Chennai, Symbiosis, XIC Mumbai
Salary: ₹3-10 LPA
Design (B.Des)
Duration: 4 Years
Product, fashion, graphic, UX/UI design. Creative and lucrative field.
Exams: UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT, CEED
Top Colleges: NID, NIFT, IIT IDC, MIT Institute of Design
Salary: ₹4-15 LPA
International Education Options
Explore undergraduate programs in top destinations worldwide.
USA
Programs: Undergraduate degrees (4-year)
Exams: SAT/ACT, TOEFL/IELTS
Cost: $30k-80k/year
Top universities, OPT work visa, diverse programs
UK
Programs: 3-year undergraduate degrees
Exams: UCAS, IELTS
Cost: £15k-35k/year
Shorter duration, graduate route visa, prestigious universities
Canada
Programs: 4-year degrees, Co-op programs
Exams: SAT (some), IELTS/TOEFL
Cost: CAD 20k-50k/year
PR pathway, work while studying, diverse communities
Germany
Programs: Free public universities
Exams: TestAS, German language (some programs)
Cost: Minimal tuition, €10k/year living
Free education, engineering excellence, EU access
Australia
Programs: 3-year degrees
Exams: IELTS, some require SAT
Cost: AUD 25k-45k/year
Post-study work rights, quality of life, research opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study medicine abroad after 12th?
Yes! Many students study MBBS in Russia, Ukraine, China, Philippines, and other countries. Costs are lower, and NEET qualification is required. After returning, you must clear FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Exam) to practice in India. Some countries like UK, USA, and Australia have different pathways.
Is B.Tech better than B.Sc?
They serve different purposes. B.Tech is professional training for engineering jobs with higher starting salaries. B.Sc is for those interested in pure sciences, research, or academia. B.Sc + M.Sc can lead to research careers. Choose based on your interest, not just salary.
Can I do MBA directly after 12th?
Integrated programs like BBA+MBA (5 years) or IIM IPM (5 years) allow MBA-level education from 12th. For regular MBA (CAT), you need a graduation degree. Integrated programs are good if you're sure about management.
What are the highest-paying careers after 12th?
High-paying careers include: Engineering (IITs) → ₹15-50 LPA, Medicine (Specialists) → ₹20-50 LPA, CA/CS → ₹10-25 LPA, Law (Top NLUs) → ₹15-30 LPA, Design (NID/NIFT) → ₹8-20 LPA, Aviation (Pilots) → ₹30-50+ LPA. However, salary depends on skills, college, and experience.
Is a gap year advisable for competitive exams?
A gap year (drop year) can be beneficial if you're serious about JEE/NEET and need focused preparation. Many IIT and AIIMS toppers took drop years. However, have a backup plan and consider partial drops (attempting exams while studying).
Can Arts students do engineering?
Generally no, as engineering requires Physics and Mathematics in 12th. However, some private universities may have bridge courses. Arts students can explore BCA (for IT), Design, Architecture (requires some math), or other interdisciplinary programs.
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