Fine and applied arts after 12th: Drawing test, CUET-UG, fees, salary and scope

You study: Painting, sculpture, printmaking, or applied art for advertising
Open to: Any stream, usually 45 to 50 per cent
Total cost: 2,000 to 30,000 a year public; about 3 to 5 lakh private

What it is really like

At 2 pm in a Mumbai art college, first-years draw the same clay pot for the third hour. After that shared first year, you choose a specialism. Applied art, covering advertising, illustration and branding, takes the most students; painting, sculpture and printmaking lead to galleries and teaching. Later, work means client briefs and deadlines, often freelance.

How you get in

CUET-UG plus a practical
CUET-UG is a common entrance test for central universities. Delhi, BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and others add a drawing practical.
State tests
Maharashtra's covers object, memory and design drawing.
College tests
A drawing test and interview.

Where to study

Top, government

College of Art Delhi; Sir JJ Mumbai; MSU (Maharaja Sayajirao University) Baroda

A few thousand rupees a year

Other, government

State art colleges

Under 1 lakh for the degree

Private

IIS University; Manipal Jaipur

About 3 to 5 lakh

After the degree

Pay over time: Artist or illustrator

~2.5 lakh

~5 lakh

~5.5 lakh

Start

5 years

10 years

Yearly pay in rupees. Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Leads to

IllustratorArt directorBrand designerArt teacherMFA (master's)

The ladder is flat for most. Pay rises mainly for art directors, at about 10 lakh, or those who move into UX (app design) or their own studio. AI image tools have already cut freelance illustration work.

Top colleges and what it takes

BFA admissions are decided mainly by a practical, drawing-based test and a portfolio or viva, so there is no national rank. Where CUET counts, it is only one part of the score. Focus on a strong portfolio and on practising observational drawing.

College of Art, Delhi
New Delhi · Government
CUET-UG + practical entrance test (via DU CSAS)
No closing rank: CUET-UG 2025 merit is used to call about 7 times the seats in each specialisation to a practical entrance test, which decides admission(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BFA (Painting, Applied Art, Sculpture, Printmaking, Visual Communication)No closing rank: CUET-UG 2025 merit is used to call about 7 times the seats in each specialisation to a practical entrance test, which decides admission
Sir J.J. School of Art, Architecture and Design
Mumbai · Deemed
Own entrance test (earlier via Maharashtra AAC-CET)
No national rank: selection is by entrance test and portfolio, with about 60 BFA seats across painting, sculpture, textile and other studios. It became a deemed university in 2024-25, so check the current prospectus.(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BFA / B.DesNo national rank: selection is by entrance test and portfolio, with about 60 BFA seats across painting, sculpture, textile and other studios. It became a deemed university in 2024-25, so check the current prospectus.
Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University of Baroda
Vadodara · Government
MSU's own Fine Arts entrance (theory + practical drawing) + portfolio interview
No closing rank: you need 50% in Class 12 and must clear MSU's practical entrance and interview. Seats are few, so the portfolio matters most.(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BVA (Painting, Sculpture, Applied Arts, Graphics, Art History)No closing rank: you need 50% in Class 12 and must clear MSU's practical entrance and interview. Seats are few, so the portfolio matters most.
Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati
Santiniketan · Government
CUET-UG + departmental aptitude test
No closing rank: the 2025 BFA merit list weights CUET 50% and Kala Bhavana's practical/viva aptitude test 50%(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BFANo closing rank: the 2025 BFA merit list weights CUET 50% and Kala Bhavana's practical/viva aptitude test 50%
Faculty of Fine Arts, Jamia Millia Islamia
New Delhi · Government
Jamia's own entrance (written + practical) test
No national rank: BFA seats go on Jamia's own written and practical drawing test(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BFA (Painting, Applied Art, Sculpture, Graphic Art, Art Education)Jamia entrance (theory + practical); no published cut-off
Faculty of Visual Arts, Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi · Government · NIRF 2025 University #6 (BHU)
CUET-UG + BHU departmental aptitude/practical where applicable
No closing rank: BFA admission uses CUET-UG (Visual Arts / relevant papers) through BHU's own counselling, and practical skill counts(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BFA (Painting, Applied Arts, Sculpture, Pottery & Ceramics, Textile Design)CUET-UG via BHU counselling; no published cut-off
Rabindra Bharati University, Faculty of Visual Arts
Kolkata · Government
University's own admission test (theory + practical)
No national rank: selection on RBU's own practical-heavy admission test(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BVA (Painting, Sculpture, Graphics, Applied Art)Own admission test; no published cut-off
Government College of Art
Chandigarh · Government
College's own entrance test (drawing + aptitude)
No national rank: BFA admission on the college's own drawing and aptitude test(approx.) source
1 programmes
- BFA (Painting, Applied Art, Sculpture)Own entrance test; no published cut-off

Cut-offs move every year and differ by category, quota and home state. Use them to judge the level, then check the official counselling data.

How to prepare

Take Fine Art in Class 11 and 12 if offered.
Draw from life daily, and practise timed memory drawing.
Learn one digital tool, since most applied art is done on screen.

Is it for you?

Good fit if

you draw well from observation
you want a low-cost degree

Think twice if

you are counting on jobs arranged by the college, which few colleges offer

Official links and free study material

Fine and applied arts: common questions

How do I get into Fine and applied arts after 12th?

CUET-UG plus a practical: CUET-UG is a common entrance test for central universities. Delhi, BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and others add a drawing practical. State tests: Maharashtra's covers object, memory and design drawing. College tests: A drawing test and interview.

Which stream do I need for Fine and applied arts?

Any stream: PCM, PCB, Commerce and Humanities are all open. Any stream, usually 45 to 50 per cent.

How much does Fine and applied arts cost in India?

2,000 to 30,000 a year public; about 3 to 5 lakh private. By college: College of Art Delhi; Sir JJ Mumbai; MSU (Maharaja Sayajirao University) Baroda: A few thousand rupees a year; State art colleges: Under 1 lakh for the degree; IIS University; Manipal Jaipur: About 3 to 5 lakh. Fees change every year; confirm in each official notice.

What is the salary after Fine and applied arts?

Artist or illustrator: about 2.5 lakh to start, about 5 lakh after 5 years and about 5.5 lakh after 10 years (yearly, in rupees). Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Is Fine and applied arts a good career for me?

A good fit if you draw well from observation, and you want a low-cost degree. Think twice if you are counting on jobs arranged by the college, which few colleges offer.

Source: Chapter 8 of the book. Notes and sources