Top Career Options After 12th Science: What Course To Do After 12th Science

Updated on 16 April, 2024

361.47K+ views
32 min read
Career Options After 12th Science

Summary

In this article, you will learn the Top Career Options After 12th Science. Take a glimpse at the below fields

  • Medicine
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Humanities

Read the full article to know more in detail about the courses offered in each field.

Class 12 is an important milestone in a student’s life. It is the year after which you search which course is best after 12th, go off to college and venture into adulthood. It is also the time when you start thinking about possible occupations that you could pursue. You may have a number of prospects to consider and analyze if you are a student from the science stream. Students generally wonder which are the best courses to do after 12th science. Continue reading this blog for detailed answers on the same.

Meanwhile, you can also check out our free courses.

After 12th science courses list comprises countless options for learners to choose for a fruitful career. However, these multiple choices can become overwhelming for young learners as they might not know which is the best-suited courses after 12th science PCMB. 

Although students have three options to specialize in (arts, commerce, and science), science streams can branch out into the most lucrative and exciting career opportunities. Even people from non-technical fields can take up bioscience after 12. No wonder why the field attracts so many candidates searching for best jobs after 12th!

Particularly because career options after 12th science are not limited to technical fields alone. Besides the core science disciplines, you can look at courses in Commerce and Humanities as well. This multiplicity of alternatives may complicate the decision-making process. If you are wondering which course is better after 12th science, we have consolidated a list of different tracks to guide you towards your career goals! 

What is Science Stream?

It is crucial to understand what constitutes Science before moving on to the particular subjects that students pursuing an education in the scientific stream might choose to study. 

It is often known that students in India choose the scientific stream over all others when it comes to higher education. Students who want to work in non-medical or professional medical professions frequently choose science side career options.

A science stream consists of a combination of best career options after 12th science that teach you how to explore related fields like biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics from a scientific perspective. These best science courses after 12th disciplines apply an analytical method to cover the components of scientific ideas and practical notions.

What are the steps to choose the right career course after 12th Science?

Choosing the right course after 12 science career options is an important decision to shape your career and future. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed choice:

1. Self-Assessment

Begin by assessing your interests, strengths, weaknesses, and long-term goals. Consider what subjects and activities you enjoy, your skills, and what work environment you see yourself thriving in.

2. Research

Research various career options and courses available after 12th Science. Look into both traditional and emerging fields. Consider job prospects, salary potential, satisfaction, and work-life balance.

Completed your BSc and wondering what’s next? Explore career options after BSc to discover the diverse paths your science degree can lead you to.

3. Explore Your Options

  • Engineering

Engineering might be a good fit if you are interested in technical subjects and problem-solving. There are various branches like mechanical, electrical, civil, computer science, etc.

  • Medical Sciences

If you’re passionate about healthcare and biology, you can consider pursuing medical, dental, or paramedical courses.

  • Pure Sciences

If you enjoy theoretical studies and want to delve deeper into physics, chemistry, or mathematics, you can pursue B.Sc. programs.

  • Computers and IT

If you have an affinity for technology and programming, you can explore courses in computer science, information technology, or software development.

  • Architecture

Architecture could be a suitable choice if you’re interested in design, construction, and aesthetics.

  • Biotechnology

A combination of biology and technology, biotechnology offers research, healthcare, and more opportunities.

  • Environmental Sciences

If you’re concerned about the environment and sustainability, you can consider courses related to environmental science and ecology.

4. Course Curriculum

Study the curriculum of the courses you’re interested in. Make sure they align with your interests and career goals. Also, check for practical components, internships, and industry exposure.

5. Job Prospects

Research the job opportunities and demand for professionals in your chosen field. Moreover, consider the career path’s growth potential, stability, and employability.

Considering your next steps after B.Com? Explore the variety of career options after BCom to navigate your future with confidence.

6. Skills Required

Identify the skills and aptitudes required for the chosen course and career. Compare them with your skills and strengths to determine if they match.

7. Duration and Costs

Consider the course duration and associated costs, including tuition fees, study materials, living expenses, and other related expenses.

8. Entrance Exams

Some courses, such as engineering and medicine, require entrance exams. Research the exams required for your chosen course and start preparing in advance.

9.Talk to Professionals

Reach out to professionals in the field you’re interested in. They can provide insights into the profession’s daily work, challenges, and rewards.

10. Counseling

Seek guidance from career counselors or teachers who can provide personalized advice based on your interests, strengths, and career aspirations.

11. Flexibility

Keep in mind that your choice isn’t set in stone. Many people switch fields or careers later in life. Choose a course that offers flexibility and transferable skills.

12. Passion

Ultimately, choose a course that aligns with your passion and interests. A career you’re passionate about is more likely to bring long-term satisfaction and success.

Before taking any decision, keep in mind this decision is all about your personal growth and fulfillment. Take your time, do thorough research, and consider seeking advice from mentors and professionals to make the best choice for your future.

Why Science?

From science experiments to coding workshops in schools, STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) initiatives are at the forefront of the education conversation. But why is the teaching of science so important? It is prioritized because scientific thoughts, methods, and inquiry seep into our everyday decisions. Also, it is human nature to solve problems, whether they arise out of curiosity or necessity. And teaching and learning methods are integral to keeping the inquisitiveness alive. Check out our Java Bootcamp course from upGrad if you are interested in coding.   

We can observe applications all around us. It is embodied in the systems of roads, lights, and other infrastructures designed by city planners and civil engineers, and the smartphone in our hand, which is a marvel of computer engineering. Scientific processes are inherent in the trees that turn sunlight into stored energy and produce oxygen, and also in our own internal biology and bodily functions. 

Therefore, science is much more than memorization of facts, theory, and formulas. It is up to the educators to make young learners think about science as more than an academic discipline. In the classrooms, science should be portrayed as something that helps them acquire skills and discover truths. This approach is key to creating an engaged student community. Let’s discuss the best courses after 12th science in detail below, you can also enrol on our Python Bootcamp course if your interest lies in coding and data science. 

Read: 12 Top Career Options After Computer Engineering

What To Do After 12th Science?

1. Medicine

The medical field encompasses everything from diagnostic practice to other related activities undertaken across the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech-based industries. It is arguably one of the most popular courses after 12th science. If you have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB) at the 10+2 level, you can think about the following courses: 

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy
  • Bachelor of Medical Lab Technology
  • Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (BVSc. AH)
  • Physiotherapy (BPT) or Occupational Therapy (BOT)
  • B.Tech/BE in Biotechnology
  • B.Sc. in Agriculture and Environment Science
  • B.Sc. Home Science/Forensic Science
  • Diploma courses in operation theatre technology, medical laboratory, x-ray technology, etc. 

If you have a bio-math combination of subjects, various interdisciplinary options open besides basic sciences and its allied fields, including the following:

  • Biomedical engineering
  • Healthcare data mining
  • Cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence
  • Nanotechnology
  • Robotics
  • Internet of things and smart wearable technology 

Those with PCBM students who are not interested in these medical occupations can also go for architecture, computer application, and pilot training, etc. 

Read: Data Science in Healthcare: 5 Ways Data Science Reshaping the Industry

2. Engineering

The engineering profession offers a vast range of career options after 12th science. Some of them are listed below:

  • Mechanical Engineers: They apply principles of physics and mathematics to design, produce, and operate machinery. 
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineers: They are responsible for designing, building, testing, and supervising the manufacture of electrical systems and electronic equipment, such as electric motors, navigation, and communication systems. 
  • Computer Engineers: Their work is concerned with computer programming, software development, mobile, and web applications.
  • Civil Engineers: They conceive, supervise, and maintain infrastructure projects in the public and private sectors, including buildings, dams, bridges, airports, water supply, and sewage systems.
  • Chemical Engineers: They design and develop chemical manufacturing processes. These skilled experts solve problems related to production or use of chemicals, drugs, fuel, food, and other products. 
  • Aerospace Engineers: They take on specialized areas of aircraft and spacecraft development.
  • Marine Engineers: They are in charge of the internal systems of ships, oil rigs, and other overseas structures.

With continued digital transformation, we are also observing a shift in the knowledge-orientation across academia. Today, colleges and universities are offering job-centric courses that allow participants to upskill while gaining industry exposure. These programs are also available in online formats with unique opportunities to undertake projects. Engineering is one of the most popular courses after 12th science.

You can supplement your B.Tech. education with certifications in emerging technologies like data science, artificial intelligence, blockchain, software development, etc. The Advanced Certification in Machine Learning by IIT Madras is a prime example of such qualifications. Some online postgraduate degrees provide dual credentials – for instance, Master of Science in Data Science accredited by IIIT-Bangalore and the Liverpool John Moores University.

According to the global research and advisory firm Gartner, about two million AI-related jobs will be created in the tech industry by 2025. So, the demand for data analysts, systems engineers, cloud engineers, ML specialists, cybersecurity experts, and others will cross into the positive territory in the foreseeable future.

3. Business

Traditionally, commerce stream jobs revolved around Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Chartered Financial Analyst, Actuarial Science, Banking, etc. Although these career choices remain popular to this day, they now have the company of other lucrative professions. We have mentioned a few of them below:

Science graduates can pursue these career paths by combining their technical and conceptual strengths with an understanding of the business world. Leading institutions and industry experts have come together to facilitate this transition via job-oriented courses. Let us take a glance at some of these master’s level credentials. 

Online education has many advantages, from lower investment requirement PG Certification in Digital Marketing and Communication certified by MICA and Facebook’s to flexibility in learning. You can complement your undergraduate degree with the above qualifications to attain a competitive advantage in the job market. The academic and practical exposure can also contribute to your overall personality development, helping you to get a promotion and salary raise. 

You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

4. Humanities

Science students can go into diverse careers, even in humanities and the arts. The roles that explore such connections are commonly known as STEAM jobs. Here is a list of some popular trans-disciplinary fields:

  • Product Designing
  • Graphic Designing
  • Fashion Technology
  • Media/Journalism
  • Animation Filmmaking
  • Photography 
  • Video Creation and Editing
  • Sound Engineering
  • HR Training, School Teaching, etc.

Another emerging humanities-centric job profile is that of techno-legal advisors and government relations experts. These individuals explain the functionality and uses of innovations like drones, driverless automobiles, robots, 3D printers, etc. and navigate conversations with different stakeholders to implement these technologies. 

If you are interested in creative domains, you will have to integrate the arts—humanities, linguistics, visual arts, design thinking, soft skills—to conventional scientific disciplines. Moreover, research suggests that future employers would prefer talent with multiple capabilities that fit together. 

Additionally, it is vital to incorporate activity-based approaches in training successful candidates for these jobs. For example, a PG certification digital marketing can help you master things like content marketing and SEO while refining your knowledge of branding and public relations. If you are a science teacher or professor, you can glean insights about how to integrate social media into your classroom. 

With a product management course, product designers can become well-versed in building effective roadmaps – covering everything from user research to prototyping and analysis. 

At upGrad, we have mentored thousands of students from across the globe for different courses and careers. Checkout our degree courses offered by upGrad in association with top universities for motivated students like you looking for state-of-the-art BBA courses after completing their 12th.

Some students may want to jump up the career ladder with a management degree. There exist several online programs to assist this personal and professional growth. For instance, top international institutes like the Deakin Business School and the Liverpool Business School offer online MBAs in collaboration with upGrad. Check out the best MBA courses.

Where can science education take you?

The courses you take after 12th science can help you improve your critical thinking, problem-solving abilities and help you with knowledge you will need to succeed in your life.

You will apply the things you learn in a classroom to your life and work, utilizing your scientific competence and expertise in different roles. So, let us look at the general transferable skills of an education in science.

  • Constructing a hypothesis, i.e., combining a scientific question with research
  • Finding answers and substantiating those answers via experimentation
  • Evaluating the results to draw conclusions 
  • Communicating evidence-based explanations 

This process can help develop critical thinking skills that will come in handy for every other subject. Your analytical abilities will also percolate into how you handle challenges in any of the career options after 12th science that you take up. 

In this article, we explained how scientific thought and inquiry pervade our everyday decision-making. We also delved into the different areas where students can apply this learning, from the traditional fields of medicine and engineering to business and the arts. In this day and age, career trajectories are also influenced by how we adapt and grow with the changing environment. So, it is essential to stay curious and sharpen our tools from time to time. 

Since students have a broad scope of opportunities before them, it can seem daunting to decide what to do after 12th science or to find best jobs after 12th. But with the above information, you can identify where your interests lie and move towards a profession of your choice!

What are the different highest paying jobs in the Science stream after 12th?

The science stream offers many high-paying career opportunities, particularly when combined with advanced degrees, specialized training, and experience. Here are some of the highest-paying jobs within the science stream:

1. Medical Specialist

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 14.3 Lakhs

Source

Medical Specialist Salary Based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 7.2 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 15.3 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 8.3 Lakhs

2. Dentist

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 3.6 Lakhs

Source

Dentist Salary Based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 3.6 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 3.7 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 3.7 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 3.6 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 3.6 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 3.7 Lakhs

3. Pharmacist

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 2.6 Lakhs

Source

Pharmacist Salary Based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 2.7 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 2.6 Lakhs

4. Physician

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 7.2 Lakhs

Source

Physician Salary Based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 7.3 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 6.2 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 9.2 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 11.8 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 3.5 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 3.5 Lakhs
Ahmedabad ₹ 10.0 Lakhs

5. Orthodontist

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 6.3 Lakhs

Source

Orthodontist Salary Based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 5.4 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 7.5 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 7.1 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 4.7 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 7.2 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 4.7 Lakhs

6. Data Scientist

Average Annual Salary:₹ 14.4 Lakhs

Source

Data Scientist Salary Based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore 15.5 Lakhs
New Delhi 13.6 Lakhs
Mumbai 12.9 Lakhs
Hyderabad 14.6 Lakhs
Pune 12.9 Lakhs
Chennai 13.1 Lakhs
Noida 13.3 Lakhs
Gurgaon 14.9 Lakhs

7. Information Security Analyst

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 6.9 Lakhs

Source

Information Security Analyst Salary Based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 6.9 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 6.7 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 6.4 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 6.9 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 6.7 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 6.2 Lakhs
Noida ₹ 7.1 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹ 7.4 Lakhs

8. Computer and Information Systems Manager

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 20.9 Lakhs

Source

Information System Manager Salary Based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 16.8 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 18.9 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 12.3 Lakhs
Noida ₹ 12.6 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹ 18.9 Lakhs

9. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Average Annual Salary: ₹ 4 Lakhs

Source

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Salary Based on Locations:
 

City Salary
New Delhi ₹ 4.4 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 3.1 Lakhs

What to do after 12th science? There are several diploma best course after plus two science are available following the 12th-grade Science PCMB. A diploma can be pursued by students who wish to specialise in a particular field. Depending on the student’s interests, a diploma after the 12th grade may be awarded for a brief or extended period of time. Programme durations range from six months to a year and even up to two years. Popular diploma career options after 12th science that are offered after 12th Science are as follows:

1. Diploma in Nursing  

Those with a high school diploma can enrol in an entry-level nursing diploma programme.

2. Diploma in Digital Marketing  

There are several subfields within the significant topic of digital marketing. It is best suited for pupils who possess both analytical and creative thinking skills.

3. Diploma in Project Management

Students who complete this science stream career options will be well-prepared for careers in project management and planning in both the public and commercial sectors of the economy. It also serves as a basis for undergraduate degrees in related subjects. Additionally, you might want to sign up for our PMP course—which are the finest professional courses after 12th science.

4. Diploma in Any Foreign Language  

Following your 12th-grade Science, there are a number of diploma programmes in foreign languages if you’re interested in learning new languages and using them to learn about other people’s cultures and history.

5. Diploma in Medical Lab Technology  

With this education, a career in the pathology industry does not appear to be unattainable. A DMLT specialist administers the required tests to a patient.

6. Diploma in Animation  

Video games, movies, and social media are all changing because of animation. For students seeking one-year scientific diploma career options after 12th science, the Diploma in Animation is a compelling option.

7. Diploma in Biotechnology  

A diploma in biotechnology is a short-term programme. Research and development in technology and biology are included in the foundational course.

8. Diploma in Advertising  

The advertising industry has expanded dramatically. Businesses are always on the lookout for creative individuals with an aptitude for advertising.

9. Diploma in Education Technology  

A certificate-level teacher training programme called the DEd, or Diploma in Education, prepares candidates to work as nursery school teachers.

Best Career Options After 12th Science (PCM) With Salary

We can all agree on one thing by now: there are a tonne of job opportunities available for pure science courses after 12th graders! However, what are the top occupations with the most demand? Which ones guarantee the best Salary? To answer all of these queries, we’ll talk about PCM career options after 12th science or career opportunities after 12th science and salaries in this part.

1. Chemical Engineer 

The role involves turning synthetic and natural chemicals into finished goods. They are used across many industries, but particularly in manufacturing, energy, and research. In order to generate chemical goods that are utilised as fuel, medications, food, healthcare, and agricultural products, chemical engineers often conduct research and experimentation.  

Before being hired, chemical engineers must finish a four-year bachelor’s degree in the field.  

Average Annual Salary – ₹5 lakhs per month.

Source

Chemical Engineer Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Ankleshwar ₹ 4.3 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 4.7 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 5.1 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 4.3 Lakhs
Surat ₹ 5.0 Lakhs
Ahmedabad ₹ 4.3 Lakhs
Bharuch ₹ 4.6 Lakhs

Source

Source
 

2. Software Engineer

They are responsible for developing digital solutions, apps, and tools. Software engineers develop programmes to find and fix bugs as well as design, evaluate, and enhance virtual solutions to meet organisational objectives. Before choosing their career options after 12th science, software engineers often get a four-year bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering.

Average Annual Salary – ₹8.6 lakhs per month.

Source

Software Engineer Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 8.8 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 8.2 Lakhs.
Mumbai ₹ 7.5 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 8.3 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 7.5 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 7.8 Lakhs
Noida ₹ 7.8 Lakhs

Source

Source
 

3. Data Scientist 

To examine data and develop models that anticipate, categorise, and cluster data, they employ numbers and algorithms. In addition, data scientists verify both structured and unstructured data and assist in spotting trends so that business choices may be well-informed. 

A four-year bachelor’s degree in data science is required to pursue career options after 12th science as a data scientist. Completing a master’s programme such as Data Science Certification might enhance your CV with additional qualifications.

Average Annual Salary – ₹14.4 lakhs per year.

Source

Data Scientist Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore 15.5 Lakhs
New Delhi 13.6 Lakhs
Mumbai 13.2 Lakhs
Hyderabad 14.8 Lakhs
Pune 12.8 Lakhs
Chennai 13.3 Lakhs
Noida 13.7 Lakhs
Gurgaon 14.1 Lakhs

Source

Source
 

4. Machine Learning Engineer

ML engineers collaborate with administrators, data scientists, analysts, and engineers. Creating artificial intelligence systems to automate prediction models is their primary responsibility. They also create models and evaluate a variety of data sources.

A four-year degree in computer science or data science is required to become a machine learning engineer. Furthermore, having an industry-recognized AI ML Certification will guarantee that you’re prepared for the position, which is a highly valued attribute among the best recruiters in the field.   

Average Annual Salary – ₹10 lakhs per year.

Source

Machine Learning Engineer Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹10.5 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹9.2 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹8.6 Lakh
Hyderabad ₹10.1 Lakh
Pune ₹8.4 Lakh
Chennai ₹8.8 Lakh
Noida ₹9.0 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹10.6 Lakh

Source

Source
 

5. Mathematician 

Their primary responsibility is to apply mathematical theorems and principles to a variety of applications, such as business operations, computer graphics, and architecture. They could also create theorems and enhance mathematical research in academia. Getting a PhD can help you develop in your profession as a mathematician by increasing your employability and future possibilities.

Average Annual Salary – ₹953,931 lakhs per year.

Source

6. Pharmacist 

A chemist conducts research, develops and produces medications, and oversees the quality of such medications. They can also become professors or operate in pharmacies. 

You must finish a three-year pharmacy degree programme in order to work as a pharmacist.

Average Annual Salary – ₹2.6 lakhs per year.

Source

Pharmacist Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 2.7 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 2.6 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 2.6 Lakhs

Source

Source
 

7. Aeronautical Engineer 

An aeronautical engineer works on the research, development, and production of spacecraft, missiles, and aeroplanes. They carry out research and development to advance space exploration, defence systems, and commercial aviation. 

To begin their profession, an aeronautical engineer must obtain a four-year bachelor’s degree in the field.

Average Annual Salary – ₹10.4 lakhs per year.

Source

Aeronautical Engineer Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 11.5 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 6.6 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 4.2 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 2.7 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 4.1 Lakhs
Ahmedabad ₹ 5.0 Lakhs

Source

Source
 

8. Product Designer 

A product designer creates goods that benefit customers by researching market trends and customer needs. They supervise product quality as well.

Typically, they choose their career options after 12th science as product designers after completing a four-year bachelor’s degree in design.

Average Annual Salary – ₹2,63,309 per year.

Source

Product Designer Salary based on Locations:
 

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 14.3 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 10.8 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 11.2 Lakhs
Noida ₹ 12.0 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 9.2 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 9.3 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹ 10.8 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 11.3 Lakhs

Source

Source
 

Career Options After 12th Science PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)

Some of the pure science group courses list are: –

B.Sc. (Bachelor in Science)

A common three-year undergraduate degree the best field after 12th science offered by many Indian schools and universities is the Bachelor of Science or BSc. After completing their 12th-grade year, students who are passionate about Science and who want to learn calculative and research methods based on an established systematic approach enrol in this course. Since you may pursue your BSc degree in a number of subjects, it is considered to be one of the most outstanding courses to take after 12th-grade Science. BSc is the pinnacle of applying principles both conceptually and practically.

B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology)

A four-year academic programme leads to the awarding of a professional undergraduate engineering degree known as a B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology). Additionally, one can obtain a respectable compensation package upon completion of the degree as this is one of the most popular after science which course is best in India and among the greatest job prospects for scientific students.

B.Arch (Bachelors in Architecture)

Students can start a five-year bachelor’s degree programme in architecture as soon as they graduate from high school. This undergraduate course covers a variety of subjects, including building architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and rural and urban planning. Students may choose to specialise in the subject of their choosing in subsequent years of study.

B. FTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology)

A design school called BFTech combines technology and creativity in a novel way. Due to its four-year duration, the BFTech programme is split into two semesters annually.

As part of a BFTech programme, candidates learn how to create, design, execute, and market fashion items. After completing a BFTech degree programme, students may decide to pursue further study in the fashion industry or work in this field.

Career Options After 12th for PCB Students

MBBS

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is abbreviated as MBBS. Those studying PCB most frequently choose this degree. These career options after 12th science lasts for approximately five and a half years, and it is available at all medical facilities that have received MCI approval. You will graduate from this programme with a variety of skills and requirements needed to practise surgery. You can select from a variety of specialisations in MBBS. In addition to becoming a physician or surgeon, you can work as a researcher to create a variety of therapeutic approaches.

BDS

If you want to work as a dentist or dental surgeon, you must complete the five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme. For students who want to be doctors but don’t feel pressured to become surgeons or medical doctors, these are the greatest career options after 12th science. After completing the course, you will be a licenced physician with the option to open your clinic or work for a hospital.

B.Pharma

A bachelor’s degree in pharmacy is called B.Pharma. After completing the four years of coursework, you will be qualified to work as a practising chemist. Additionally, this degree will support your research endeavours in the area of novel, cutting-edge medications, and therapies for both deadly and non-fatal illnesses.

Paramedics

After your 12th grade, you can engage in a variety of paramedical career options after 12th science, such as lab technician, anaesthesia, ECG technology, etc. Experts in this domain are highly sought after. Completing all of these courses and earning a paramedic certification takes four years.

B.Sc Nursing

The Indian Nursing Council has authorised a 4-year programme leading to a B.Sc. in Nursing. To get admission into these career options after 12th science, you must pass the admission test of the relevant colleges.

Future for Science Graduates

With rapid technological advancements continuously moving forward to simplify human lives with digitization, the future seems bright for science students. STEM, being one of the most widely opted for courses is also pretty lucrative within the 12th science courses list. STEM careers are also reported to rank higher in the highest-paying occupations

Besides exploring traditional courses for science students, learners can dive into the developing world of digital technology and search for jobs after 12th science, which keeps skyrocketing through rapid digitization and reliance on the internet. From a decentralized digital currency to IoT, scientific developments surround all aspects of our life now. Hence, online platforms and academic institutions are rapidly creating pioneering courses to help science aspirants upskill, gain digital proficiency and search for jobs after 12th science. 

Here are the spaces experiencing a surge in opportunities for science students:

  • Artificial intelligence: Courses after 12th science PCMB can take you to AI. Assisting computers to exhibit human intelligence is the core focus of artificial intelligence comprises. With ample innovations, AI is now capable of assisting routine tasks as well as highly complex scientific operations. Artificial intelligence has penetrated several industries, including eCommerce, retail, healthcare, education, sports, etc.
  • Cybersecurity: Growing digitization continues to bring various real-world aspects online with improved technology and instruments, which are also being used by notorious entities to attack cyber elements for unlawful activities. Rising cyberattack cases are bound to grow even more perceiving the sophisticated methods, which is why cybersecurity is also continually developing and equipping itself with a capable workforce. This is one of the courses after 12th science PCMB
  • Robotics: The vision to create human-like robots capable of sharing workload is now becoming a reality with advanced tech tools and improved software. The potential growth demands competent engineers and programmers to fuel the process, and science students can bring value to the dynamic tech industry. The subject also comes under courses after 12th science PCMB. 

As technology and digitization become an all-encompassing aspect of modern life, science-backed careers derive a huge boost from the growing industry demand for cutting-edge solutions. Hence, science students must begin the career planning journey early on to maximize their opportunities and skills. They must evaluate which course is best after 12th, their final career goals, and research the industries or roles that suit their interests . Essentially, the key is to know one’s options well and make an informed decision.

We hope this helps!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How to not be intimidated by the range of undergraduate options available?

We often tend to get scared of what we don’t know. To avoid that from happening, read about what each course offers. Look into the programme structures and make mental notes of what you find interesting and what you don’t. This way, you can make an informed decision. You might even stumble across something you haven’t considered so far. Revisit the programmes you liked and check out the content material of the subjects online. A good place to do that is YouTube, since it has a plethora of video analyses and live lectures for you to go through. Make use of all these free resources available.

2. What do you do if you’re interested in science, humanities, and business all together?

Liberal Arts is becoming a popular degree amongst highschool students. It is essentially a multidisciplinary course that allows you to study a wider range of subjects and curate your own degree curriculum. You can pick your specialisations and also study multiple electives that don’t belong to the domain of your majors/minors. Explore such courses and find a career pathway modelled for you. A unique intersection between your fields of interest is waiting for you to find it!

3. How do you apply for undergraduate degree programmes?

After you have finished going through the undergraduate programmes available, shortlist a few colleges you like. Make sure to go through their websites and read about their programmes. Check out their admissions procedure and timelines. You will have to make a list of important documents to be submitted, and keep copies of them ready with you. In case they need you to write a Statement of Purpose, it is good to start working on it well in advance. Keeping a checklist of things you need to do will help you to not miss out on the details. Lastly, regularly check their websites for any updates! If you prefer taking online degree courses, check out platforms like upGrad.

4. Why would employers want to hire people with a science education?

A science education shapes students in a different way than that of other disciplines. At an introductory level, science is an interaction with the environment and lets students develop a way of thinking about their surroundings. Students from a science background tend to be curious and understand how to formulate questions and string together the information they have gathered to apply it in real life. They have good problem solving skills along with the ability to think rationally. Also, their understanding of the scientific method and technology makes them important resources for organizations they work with. However, this does not undermine students from Arts and Commerce backgrounds.

5. What is the application process for an MBBS in India?

In order for students to get an MBBS admission in India, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts a standardised test, called the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which the applicants must pass. NEET is conducted every year, usually after the 12th grade final examination has concluded. Students need to have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in grades 11 and 12. For more information, you can check the National Medical Commsion’s eligibility criteria. Students use the NEET syllabus to study for the test, which comprises three sections - Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany + Zoology). The test has 200 multiple choice questions, out of which candidates need to have answered 180 questions within the 3-hour test duration.

6. What skills does a humanities degree teach you?

A humanities degree teaches you some very valuable skills. Creative thinking, for instance, is a common skill. Most subjects don’t have defined, readymade answers, which compels students to think out of the box. This enables the ability to adapt to new situations and also solve problems imaginatively. Critical thinking and analytical skills are also inculcated. This is because humanities courses not only involve active research and writing, but also interpretation to a great extent. Other important skills learnt are interpersonal and communication skills, and teamwork.

Did you find this article helpful?

Kamal Jacob

Kamal is an experienced Online marketing consultant with a high degree of expertise in SEO, Web Analytics, Content/Technical planning and marketing.

See More

RELATED PROGRAMS

Explore Free Courses



SUGGESTED BLOGS

India’s Education Sector needs a new Avatar, a Contemporary Approach

5.18K+

India’s Education Sector needs a new Avatar, a Contemporary Approach

This article was originally published in Economic Times. Everyone seems to be talking about disruption. Like “startup” and “funding”, “disruption” has become a part of our daily parlance and evinces a strong sentiment among entrepreneurial enthusiasts. We are seeing disruption across sectors and levels, all of which is helping us in reimagining the world around us. Education, meanwhile, is crying out for disruption but is going unheard. It is a sector that is brimming with opportunities and waiting to be tapped with an innovative approach. The Need of the Hour The question is, are our institutions and universities imparting knowledge for a world that does not exist anymore in its old avatar? And are all of us, especially our youth, becoming smarter learners? The answer for both these questions is a resounding “yes”. The Idea Called UpGrad: Why Education is Serious Business India has the largest college-age population in the world — close to a staggering 125 million — but it is startling to know that less than one in five of them is doing their post-secondary education. This means only 20% of college-age youngsters are doing their higher education as opposed to 90% in the US. Will India be able to achieve its gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets at this rate? No. Will we need to double our participation rates in higher education in the next five-ten years? Yes Can pure offline, brick-and-mortar college and university models fill this massive gap? Again, the answer is obvious. Look at the challenges. One, it takes four-eight years to set up one campus/university and at its peak it could cater to 5,000-10,000 students. Two, we need to have enough trainers and teachers to feed into these facilities, many of them in remote areas or away from cities. Three, the cumulative outlay at scale for private or public-private partnership (PPP) models to cater to the entire college-going population will be nothing short of $100 billion. Four, over half of this 125 million youngsters, I believe, will have compulsions to take up a job very early in life for socio-economic reasons and may not have the flexibility to go back to college after that. In this scenario, online education can be the big disruptor for India. Of course, there will be myriad challenges, but it offers exponential solutions: it can reach the remotest parts of India, aggregate the best faculty as everyone from the offline world can participate with much less demand on their time and lastly our youth can stay in their jobs while continuing to learn. Kushagra Saran’s Journey while Impacting Education Disruption in online education can be the answer to the gigantic challenge that India, called the youngest nation in the world, is facing. If we do not create equal opportunities and access to the best learning/upskilling/upgrading centres for our ambitious and aspiring youth, our demographic dividend can turn into a demographic debt. Skill India too has a goal to train over 400 million people by 2022 and this audacious outreach can be achieved only by radical disruptive thinking and bold execution. However, online will not succeed if it simply copies traditional teaching methodology. Online education should be more focused on professional education and post-graduation as those demographics look for flexibility and augmentation. For early years and K-12, brick-and-mortar schools will continue to play a big role in the holistic development of the child and online education will only be a supplement. Five-Year Plans For online education to be disruptive and for it to succeed, education will have to be thought through as a digitalfirst medium. Technology will have to be integrated to create a superior learning experience on the online platform. Online education has to move away from being a glorified content library; it has to involve peer-to-peer discussions, alumni chats, group studies and more. It has to shed its reputation of providing isolated, individual learning platforms and evolve into a social platform where you are not learning alone but studying together with a lot of individuals. Let’s come to terms with a few things. In the 21st century, what we learn will have less and less relevance after five years and hence there is a need for constant upgrade. Convergence of new forms of learning will be the fuel for and engine of economic growth. Universities need to develop programmes that are linked closely with employer demands. Otherwise, the results will be disastrous: while job seekers overspend on education programmes that are less likely to result in ideal employment opportunities, employers will be hiring poor fits. We need to change the mindsets of multiple stakeholders — academia, companies, students, young professionals and, most important, families — because how we learn and who we learn from have transformed. Our dependence on experts and figures of authority has diminished while our ability to learn from each other has spiralled dramatically. All I can say is, I wish I was back in college today. If you like to have one-to-one with industry experts, networking with hundreds of entrepreneurs, and bag a seed funding to start your idea, check Leadership & Management program
Read More

by Ronnie Screwvala

11 Mar'16
Working Professional’s Need of Staying Relevant

5.54K+

Working Professional’s Need of Staying Relevant

Online education across segments and students population is emerging as a popular option for individuals. Across age groups, online education is getting adopted. A segment where we at UpGrad feel that online adoption will be rapid, is the working professional segment. And there are multiple reasons for the same – from their ability to pay, their willingness to move up in their career etc. In this piece I want to touch upon a key trend that we are targeting – changing requirements of the industry and the need to continuously upgrade for working professionals. To give an example, a few decades ago – a farmer’s son would be a farmer; a carpenter’s son would be a carpenter. Things changed over time, and a farmer’s son started becoming an engineer. And in today’s world, an engineer goes through 5+ career shifts in his/her career span. There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW! Marketing is not the way it used to be 10 years back. Payment is not the way it used to be 5 years back. Data analysis has undergone drastic changes. And in this digital age, the rate of this change is going to further accelerate. Industry will evolve rapidly, and as working professionals, each one of us has to keep up with this changing requirement. Industry is not going to wait for the individual to get upskilled or upgraded, and a large part of the onus will lie with the individual. Further, the rate at which the needs of the industries are changing; our current university system is not able to cope up. Therefore, individuals have to look for alternate options to add relevant skills to their portfolio. This is where online education comes into the fore. Professionals today do not have the flexibility of leaving their jobs and going to a school to learn new skills. Online education platforms are great options for these professionals who are looking to continuously upgrade, while continuing to stay in their jobs. Unlike offline education, online medium provides the advantage of being able to update the program curriculum and content regularly, and keep it relevant to the industry needs. Online medium also allows real-life problems to come to working professionals learning, where an individual can actually live the real-life situations in the form of case studies. Top 10 Essential Tools For Startup Business in India In the digital age, each individual will have to continuously upskill himself/ herself to stay relevant, and that would provide a large opportunity for edtech startups to create scale platforms. EdTech startups will have to look for opportunities where there is a significant demand supply gap, and look at providing right education programs. The biggest challenge in this will be the ability of edtech startups to design the program content for digital medium, rather than replicate what is being covered in the offline programs. Taking advantage of the digital channel will be key here. So for all edtech startups, keep your ears on the ground, and look for areas and skills that will allow you to build scale learning platform.
Read More

by Mayank Kumar

20 Apr'16
Google I/O 2016 – Day 1 | Recap

5.07K+

Google I/O 2016 – Day 1 | Recap

The most awaited Google I/O 2016 Conference was filled with announcements about improvements in current products and launch of some new products. In this article, we have summarized the biggest announcements from Day 1 of the conference. Google Allo Allo is Google’s new messaging app with resident chatbot. It has features like whisper/shout, expressive stickers, smart replies- which evolve with time and wide range of bot support especially the Google Assistant search bot. One of the most important features of Allo is that all its chats are encrypted but incognito mode offers end-to-end encryption and an option to send messages that self-destruct. Additionally, once you close a chat, the entire conversation is deleted forever. Google Duo Duo is Google’s mobile only companion app for Allo that helps in video calling. One of its special feature is ‘Knock Knock’ which lets users see the incoming video call feed before even answering the call. So, the receiving party can see who’s calling and where they are before they even pick up the call. Google Assistant Google takes search to the next level. Google Assistant supports “conversational understanding” to make search more natural and to better support voice searches. Google Home Home is built on the Chromecast standard, which lets it push media to other Cast-compatible speakers and screens, change temperature or lighting through Nest devices, and integrate with third party services. The entire experience is hands-free, powered entirely by voice. In fact, it doesn’t even have any buttons. Simple voice commands will control every aspect of the Home. Android N Android N comes with new features that include more control over notification size from different apps and a new picture-in-picture mode. Android N uses a new API called Vulkan that lets developers directly control a phone’s GPU for sharper 3D graphics. Android N will also download and install system updates automatically. The name of Android N has not yet been released. It is going to be selected through a crowdsourced contest. Google Daydream Google has a new VR platform built on top of Android N, and the new VR platform is called Google Daydream. It is an optimized virtual reality platform that aims to standardize the mobile-based VR experience. It also spans both software and hardware; Its biggest limitation is that it will be available only in new phones with special sensors and screen. Android Wear 2.0 Android Wear 2.0 can function independently of a smartphone. Apps no longer need a connected smartphone in order to function. Apps can function and even communicate without a phone, as long as the wearable device is connected to the internet via cellular or Wi-Fi. Users can also make data from any app show up on any watch face. Instant Apps One of the most interesting announcement was google Instant Apps. With Instant Apps, users can begin using an app instantly from right within the Google Play store without even having to download and install the app. As we can see, Google has made some big moves in the three hottest areas of tech – virtual reality, messaging, and smart assistants. However it would be interesting to see how these new products will compete with their competitors and how much of market share would they capture after their launch.
Read More

by Dilip Guru

19 May'16
There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW

898.94K+

There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW

This isn’t just a catchy headline meant to shock you, though that would be a justified reaction. If you are 25 years old, have graduated from a reputed institute in a traditional higher education discipline and are looking for a job, you may not be handed one on a platter any time soon. You may be cushioned within the famous Indian demographic that is supposed to yield a “dividend”, but unlike what you’ve been reading everywhere, this does not guarantee you employment. Between 1980 to 2010, 90% of world labour force growth occurred in developing countries and about 500 million new workers emerged in India and China alone (workers went from 260 million to 470 million in India, between this period). India, along with other developing counterparts, is all set to fuel 60% of the global growth in labour in the upcoming years. Keep in mind that enrolment in Indian higher education is only 24% right now. With India attaining almost universal elementary education and increased retention in secondary schools, the projected demand for higher education and jobs thereafter, will only escalate. By 2050, India will be home to more than a billion job seekers. This means providing jobs for over 12 million new entrants annually. There is also the challenge of finding jobs for the backlog, which reached 60 million by 2014. So isn’t this good news? India finally placed on the world map with a solid advantage where labour supply is concerned. Well, it may not all be good news. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable. Currently, only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable. Indian millennials are being touted as the future of jobs and the saviours of the working world. But this won’t hold true if in-demand skills are not imparted to the youth entering the workforce. The world of work is changing and industries are transforming. It’s a fact that we are moving towards a massive labour pool, but we are possibly riding a low-skill, low-wage cycle to get there. The country is on a trajectory that involves a surplus of millions of low-skill workers, whereas most nations, including India, will be increasingly demanding a high-skill workforce. Impacting Education: My Journey and UpGrad Most industries are replacing low-skill jobs with high-skill ones. Skills relating to upcoming technologies like cloud computing, social media, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, etc, are gaining immense relevance. Unfortunately, our education system is not preparing students well enough to enter the workforce as high-skill workers or equipping them with skills in the mentioned emerging domains. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable. Currently, only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The positive connotation associated with our demographic shift has been taken for granted and assigned the term “dividend.” But if we don’t strategically harness this change, we could very easily be faced with a demographic disaster. We don’t want to be stuck in a situation where we have too many job-seekers with inadequate skills, and therefore not enough jobs for them. India is moving workers out of farm jobs at a very fast rate, and this will only add to the burden of providing jobs in other sectors. We need a wake-up call and more concerted efforts towards large-scale skill development and training. We may have a situation of too few high-skill workers and not enough jobs for medium- or low-skill workers. This needs to be rectified by adjusting the education and skilling system to ready ourselves for the jobs of tomorrow. UpGrad develops various programs such as Digital Marketing Certification Program, and Product Management Certification Program in collaboration with IIIT Bangalore, specially designed for working professionals looking to up-skill themselves.  Check out the free courses.
Read More

by Mayank Kumar

20 Jun'16
Only 25% Of Indian Graduates Are Employable, And The Solution Is Obvious

6.57K+

Only 25% Of Indian Graduates Are Employable, And The Solution Is Obvious

Co-authored by: Apoorva Shankar, Business Development Associate, UpGrad The world today has enhanced productivity requirements. Due to this, the demand for highly skilled labour is growing. China and India are set to drive this demand. Globally, the share of low-skill jobs is likely to decline from 74% of employment in 2010 to 62% by 2020. On the other hand, the shortage of highly skilled workers with a tertiary level of education is expected to reach 18 million by 2020, globally. But due to its demographic dividend, India will have a labour surplus of 47 million by 2020. However, this surplus may only be of low-skilled labour. And while the demand for highly skilled labour is increasing, the supply isn’t quite keeping up. The challenge, as well as opportunity, that India faces is how to train such a large reserve of labour and convert low skills to high skills. One solution that immediately comes to mind is providing higher education for all. But at present only 24% of those meant to be participating in higher education, are actually enrolled. Plus, traditional college or university pedagogy has been increasingly criticized for being outdated and irrelevant to the jobs market. If you attended school or college in India, you will have first-hand experience of the ills that plague the system. Some of the reasons for this are: Absence of a customized or personalized approach to education (necessary as different students have different needs and learning capabilities). Restricted resources due to not-for-profit nature of educational institutes and over-regulation. Lack of technology infrastructure. Poor teaching quality. Lack of skills-based learning. Low focus on research and development. Minimal partnerships with industry/foreign academia. Outdated curricula not reflecting requirements of a dynamic market environment. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. Only about 25% of Indian graduates are considered employable by the organized sector. Further, 48% of Indian employers said they were having difficulty in filling jobs, in 2012. Despite employers expressing difficulty in finding employable candidates, in 2009-10 the unemployment rates in India were higher for those who were more educated (graduates had more difficulty finding jobs than secondary or primary level graduates). [b_color background=”#EDFF3D”] Also Read – Technology will surely kill some jobs, but not all of them [/b_color] So Indian education, in its current form, hasn’t proved to be enough training for the incoming workforce. The numbers also prove that just completing higher education in any field is not all it takes anymore. This pinch is being increasingly felt as the world of jobs is turning upside down; which is why we need skill training. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. It’s not just about the potential but also the responsibility we are tasked with — restoring balance to the global supply of labour. The country needs to invest in skill development and training for a large chunk of its population. Exploiting sheer numbers is therefore one major reason to skill our workers. Secondly, the demand for advanced skill-sets in emerging areas is growing. Knowledge-intensive roles such as finance, business, etc, and those related to information technology and entrepreneurship are gaining momentum. The reality that these skills must be acquired will take root for more and more individuals, including drop-outs from the mainstream education system and those who have completed such education. Currently, the actual supply of these workers falls drastically short of matching growing demand. Hence, the gaps in domain knowledge are another reason to scale up the skilling. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea… In China about 47% of the workforce has received some kind of skill training, 52% in USA, 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. Comparatively, only about 10% of the Indian workforce received such training in 2008. India is seventh in the category of countries facing maximum difficulty in filling jobs, i.e., 58% difficulty, where the global average is 38%. These figures reflect that just belonging to the young Indian demographic is not enough. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea etc. To address these imbalances, India needs unprecedented increase in both education and job creation. At this point, there is no guaranteed advantage for India in the contest for high-skill talent. It will be dependent on skilling. Considering the state of higher education and the skill upgrade required to be carried out in the future, the process will not just be about learning for professionals, but rather unlearning and re-learning.
Read More

by Mayank Kumar

13 Jul'16
7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

5.19K+

7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

There is really no secret sauce for success. Provided you have had the opportunity to view the exclusive online tete-e-tete sessions brought to you by UpGrad Talks. With an amazing roster of world-class speakers, some from the top 1000 companies of India such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Sky, Coca Cola, JP Morgan, JWT to start-up poster children such as RedBus, Snadeal, Ola & Zivame and many more, Upgrad Talks provides insights into their formulae for success. The talks also share deep learning from situations that didn’t work out and many valuable nuggets of honest, down-to-earth and practical advice from successful entrepreneurs, experts and industry leaders. While some lip service has been paid to new-age technologies and skill sets, and the evolution of industries because of these, a deeper understanding of what this signifies is missing. Upgrad Talks intends to fill this gap by bringing together thought-leaders from different walks of life and raising the level of discourse in this area, as they share their experiences. Here are the top reasons why you must visit talks.upgrad.com today and make it your daily source of insights and motivation: Get Inspired Inspiration can come from many different sources. You may get inspired when you see a problem that needs a solution, which you are able to ideate, or get inspired when you hear stories of adversity being overcome by sheer willpower. Rarely does the simple existence of wealth inspire us. It may motivate us to work harder, but inspiration stems from a deeper place that needs real stories. Upgrad Talks are stories from the folks who have lived these stories, first hand. Not only does hearing someone’s complete story of challenges, thought process and subsequent outcome inspire, it also gives birth to new ideas and provides impetus to grow in your own space.  Moreover, inspiration also stems from well-put statements such as, ‘attitude will sail you through,’ by Harit Nagpal, CEO of Tata Sky. A key benefit of listening to industry leaders is that it also inspires us to think. ‘What we think, we become,’ is a quote by Buddha that sums up this well. Go ahead, face challenges It does not matter if you are a startup or an established financial organization; challenges, big or small, exist in every level of most businesses. Challenges faced, strategized and overcome is the rite of passage for almost everyone. Not only do Upgrad Talks cover challenges faced by leading industry veterans, it also covers it from various stages of businesses along with discussion of the solutions that helped overcome them. Upgrad Talks speakers’ discuss challenges faced by businesses in different spaces, which makes these talks an interesting listen. Furthermore, is quite motivating to hear the candid conversations of business leaders. So what is the common thought on challenges in the Upgrad Talks? No challenge is too big. It also strengthens the belief that challenges help you grow and become stronger and develops a sense of confidence to take on the next big challenge. Learn from influencers People who can motivate are great influencers. To hear success stories at Upgrad Talks, which have been driven by deep-rooted passion as well as courage of conviction can be a great influence on most people. It is likely to help you push yourself to greater heights and also follow your dreams a bit more diligently. To quote Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl, ‘ there is a fine line between stubbornness and persistence.’ Upgrad Talks is likely to help you define the lines as an excellent selection of influencers talk also about the key soft skills required to make it a significant mark on the industry that you belong to. Mentoring As you listen to entrepreneurs, business leaders and experts on models that have worked, one can also start drawing parallels to one’s one business or profession. Mentoring of this kind is both subtle and effective as it helps you choose some key takeaways from the shared experiences that are most relevant to you. Follow the series to get premium access to the best mentors in the country as they talk about education, the emerging digital age and its impact on businesses, talent shortages and advice to youngsters. A bit of crystal gazing In the series of Upgrad Talks, one is likely to come across a vast amount of business knowledge which has been converted into digestible insights that can also help you choose the next steps in your career. Speakers’ at Upgrad Talks share their business mantras and what the future is likely to be.  This is crystal gazing of the finest variety and yet another reason to tune into the talks. A healthy dash of optimism One of the unique selling points of the Upgrad Talks is that they also brings out the combined optimism in business from key industry leaders. Apart from that one can learn what is next in the industry, and explore potential future opportunities in the workspace. The upbeat and positive nature of these talks makes them a must-listen. Easily available online Just in case you were wondering how far you would need to travel to listen to such a wide range of speakers, you can breath easy. Upgrad Talks are delivered online and you can listen to them at your own convenience. All you need to do is to long onto talks.upgrad.com and you can access high quality, pre-recorded sessions online. Upgrad is making content richer, bigger and better as it kicks off with 15+ talks delivered by entrepreneurs, experts & business leaders.  You definitely do not want to miss out on the educational transformation that UpGrad is fuelling in partnership with some of the greatest minds. Remember, one can never stop learning. So, if you always aspired to hear great advice and insights from the top Indian business leaders on how you can grow your business, choose a career goal or get inspired, do take a look at Upgrad Talks. They are truly the voices that impact. Join us today and be a part of it at talks.upgrad.com.
Read More

by Omkar Pradhan

06 Aug'16
Evolving online education: Learning Together

5.36K+

Evolving online education: Learning Together

Technologies in online learning have been making promises since early 20th century. From radio to present day MOOCs,  multiple new technologies were seen as silver bullet in revolutionising education. These promises were indeed laudable, to make education accessible to everyone, affordable for everyone and more effective. Yet, the same history of unmet expectations has been repeated every time*. Although a lot has happened over the past decade in terms of growth and expansion of online education, there are many challenges yet to be solved before we can say online learning has truly arrived. We, at UpGrad, believe the following three challenges are the biggest hurdles to the success of online education. Isolation: Online learning is solitary experience   Acceptability: Online learning’s validity in the Job Market   Not Engaging: Interplay of distractions and motivations in learning online The dismally low completion rates and high failure rates are reflection of these challenges [1]. Our goal at UpGrad is to fight these challenges and provide an unmatched learning experience for the working professionals. We believe, with the flexibility of online learning, every working professional can “UpGrade” himself without going back to full-time formal education. Hence, we need to to make online learning mainstream. In this article we would be sharing how are setting the online learning as a ‘Social Experience’ for our students, ie the first of the three mentioned challenges. In 2000s, internet surfing was mainly an individual experience and on the other hand, in 2016 almost all of internet time is a social experience. We do not feel alone in 2016 version of internet. We believe online education will have much higher engagement and completion rates once it becomes a social experience. An average student’s e-learning journey is an individual experience making him/her feel isolated. Learners move through the course with limited interactions with both their instructor and classmates. We at UpGrad, are building a new learning platform specifically designed keeping our students and their needs in mind. We believe this would be key to provide the kind of engagement levels the students deserve. The perception of social presence (or lack of) is a big concern among students and teachers in online learning. Teachers develop courses in isolation and the students take the courses in isolation. Researchers have found strong correlation between the sense of social presence facilitated by the course and student’s perceived learning [3,4,5]. Also there is good re correlation between withdrawal in the course and student’s perceived lack of social interaction and instructor presence [3]. Lack of social interaction in e-learning increases the distraction, since a learner would look for social interaction elsewhere which is usually Twitter, Whatsapp or Facebook. If there is another learner doing the same course in my apartment building, there are limited chances that I would know about him. As learners of online courses, we are oblivious of everyone else’s presence except few replies on the discussion forum. They do form Facebook groups or Whatsapp groups organically, yet the whole online learning format ends up being mostly a solo experience. Here are the steps we are taking at UpGrad in making our online programs a social experience.: Profiles : The first step in ‘social’ e-learning is knowing your classmates. We have learner profiles with education and work history along with other details. Almost everyone is encouraged to fill in their full profile along with a descriptive ‘bio’ section. There are multiple points where learners are nudged to click on the profiles. To improve discoverability of relevant profiles we not only leverage cohort social graph but also use interest graph, performance graph, complementary skills graphs. Combined with other semi random** algorithms like who was recently online, learners bump into each other in interesting ways. In the first month of Data Analytics Program, an average engaged learner viewed peer profiles 110 times. Discussions: We have a discussion forum which is contextual and relevant to the course content. We designed it from the ground up to involve learners during the course. They help each other, solve doubts, ask questions, have healthy debates on the forum. Only when there is no consensus a Teaching Assistant gets involved in clearing the doubts. Last 3 months data shows that on a daily basis 50% of the students who are engaged on the platform, also engaged actively on the discussion forum. As most professionals have different backgrounds, sharing of experiences on the forum is much valuable to everyone in the cohort. We have seen learners fall into three buckets on the forum. First is the majority producers, the top 30% of forum content producers are responsible for around 70% of the discussions. The next 50% do the rest of 30% of the content but continue to voice their opinions through upvotes. Rest of the 20% are mere observers. These numbers are highly encouraging and we will be investing more time in finding out how student-student social interactions can help in overall engagement. Figure 1: Forum topic distribution in one of our programs. Share in the pie is (questions * votes) for each topic. Bigger share of the pie is a proxy for doubts. This lead us to start live sessions on those topics. Thought Leader AMAs: Initiating and maintaining engagement on the forum is hard. To set the ball rolling, we started the discussion forum for a new cohort with getting a thought leader to do an AMA on the platform. This way not only the students got a product onboarding experience but also the social expectation was set amongst the peers. In some months, the total content creation during AMAs ended up around 20% of the total cumulative content. We also observed a side benefit of starting the program with thought leader – that learners are more helpful, behave with more civility and show much more respect for each other. This is not very unusual because it is known that a group’s eventual social dynamics are very much impacted by behaviour in initial few days. In a way, it sets the trend which follows upto the end of the course. We also explored bringing in external motivations to see how does it impact on engagement levels. At times, there were small gifts for top forum contributors and at times we included forum participation in the grading. Our primary observations show that this is to be used cautiously. We are working on establishing a balance between extrinsic and intrinsic motivations for social involvement. Facebook Groups: For all cohorts we have Facebook groups for students apart from the platform discussion forum. We were not very confident how much our forum will be used for non academic discussions and generic social sharing. However, we found more and more discussions of generic nature and sharing of articles & blogs also started happening on the forum. Hence facebook group ended up becoming redundant. We are thinking of doing away with a cohort’s facebook group with this expanded use of discussion forum In summary, having a strong sense of community within the students is a big predictor of learning outcomes. This has been researched multiple times [7, 8]. Our platform’s usage data of course progress and social interaction activity strongly confirms this research. At a time, a learner who is socially engaged on our platform has usually completed 4 times (Figure 2) course materials than a learner who does not participate in social discussions. This high correlation has been repeated across multiple cohorts. Figure 2: At a snapshot of time course completion rates for learners active on forum vs non active. Apart from the student isolation e-learning content creators and facilitators tend to work in isolation, reflecting and sharing of best practices is minimal[6]. We at UpGrad are aware of this problem, and making sure different program teams collaborate and share solutions to common problems. We do not have complete solution to isolation in learning yet. We as a company are focussed on solving this problem, we are testing out few ideas and are willing to share the results with the community. With these changes we are expecting online learning experience to be more engaging, more involving and eventually pushing up the low completion rates of online learning. These are early days of online education and we have miles to go. Bibliography [1] http://collegequarterly.ca/2007-vol10-num03-summer/rolfe.html [2] Online Social Networks as Formal Learning Environments: Learner Experiences and Activities, The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Vol 13, No 1 (2012) [3] Tello SF (2007). An analysis of student persistence in online education. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education [4] Herbert, M. (2006). Staying the course: A study in online student satisfaction and retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 9(4). [5] Morris, T. A. (2009). Anytime/anywhere online learning: Does it remove barriers for adult learners. In T.Kidd (Ed.), Online education and adult learning: New frontiers for teaching practices. Hershey, PA:IGI Global. [6] Duncan, H & Barnett J (2009) Learning to teach online. [7] Kaulback, B (2015). Learning Together : Community and Network from the perspective of designers of online learning. (Doctoral dissertation) [8] Bernard, R. M., Abrami, P. C., Borokhovski, E., Wade, C. A., Tamim, R. M., Surkes, M. A., & Bethel, E. C. (2009). A meta-analysis of three types of interaction treatments in distance education. Review of Educational Research, 79(3), 1243–1289.
Read More

by Ankit Mittal

08 Aug'16
Skill deprivation: Education alone won’t guarantee a job, in-demand skills need of hour

898.95K+

Skill deprivation: Education alone won’t guarantee a job, in-demand skills need of hour

If you are 25 years old, hold a degree in a traditional arts discipline from a well-regarded institute and are looking for a job, you may not be handed one on a platter any time soon. You may be cushioned within the famous Indian demographic that is supposed to yield a ‘dividend,’ but unlike what you’ve been reading everywhere, this does not guarantee you employment. Between 1980 to 2010, 90% of world labour force growth occurred in developing countries and about 500 million new workers emerged in India and China alone (workers went from 260 million to 470 million in India, between this period). India is all set to power most of global growth in labour in the coming years. Enrolment in Indian higher education is 24% right now. With India attaining almost universal elementary education, and increased retention in secondary schools, the projected demand for higher education and jobs will only escalate. India has finally been placed on the world map with a solid advantage where labour supply is concerned. Impacting Education: My Journey and UpGrad It’s not all good news though. Indian millennials are being touted as the future of jobs and the saviours of the working world. But this won’t hold true if in-demand skills are not imparted to the youth entering the workforce. The world of work is changing and industries are transforming. It’s a fact that we are moving towards a massive labour pool, but we are possibly riding a low-skill, low-wage cycle to get there. The country is on a trajectory that involves a surplus of millions of low-skill workers, whereas most nations, including India, will be demanding high-skill workers more and more. Most industries are replacing low-skill jobs with high-skill ones. Skills relating to upcoming technologies in advanced areas – think AI, robotics, data science and mining – are gaining immense relevance. Unfortunately, our education system is not preparing students well enough to enter the workforce as high-skill workers nor equipping them with skills in emerging domains. Curricula is outdated and pedagogy poorly-developed. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable (currently only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable). This applies to all sectors of the economy, as most industries and businesses are adopting new-age technologies and going digital within most functions. There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050! The positive connotation associated with our demographic shift has been taken for granted and assigned the term ‘dividend.’ But if we don’t strategically harness this change, we could easily be faced with a demographic disaster. We don’t want to be stuck in a situation where we have too many job-seekers with inadequate skills, and therefore not enough jobs for them. India is moving workers out of farm jobs at a very fast rate, and this will only add to the burden of providing jobs in other sectors. Realising this, even the government has begun focusing on skill development and training. Creating an entirely new Ministry and launching the Skill India Mission are clear indications of this. Another sign that skill training is gaining momentum is reflected in the growth of the Indian education and skills industry at an average rate of 13% over four years. From Rs 1.21 trillion in 2008 to Rs 2.35 trillion in 2012. However, these measures have not been enough to successfully skill India’s young. Only 2% of the Indian workforce has received some kind of formal skills training so far, and 8% have received informal training. Comparatively, 47% of China’s workforce is skill trained, 52% in USA, 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. Almost half of Indian employers find it difficult to fill jobs and a similar proportion of employed youth suffer from some degree of skill deprivation. By 2050, India will be home to more than a billion jobseekers. This means providing jobs for over 12 million new entrants annually. There is also the challenge of finding jobs for the backlog, which reached 60 million by 2014. The pace of accretion to the labour market will keep increasing, given our demographic profile and declining age-dependency ratio. Our working age population (15-64 years) will peak in 2050 and till then pressures for jobs will only become worse. We need a wake-up call and more concerted efforts towards large-scale skill development and training. We may have a situation of too few high-skill workers and not enough jobs for medium or low-skill workers. This needs to be rectified by adjusting the education and skilling system to ready ourselves for the jobs of tomorrow. Article Source: http://www.firstpost.com/business/skill-deprivation-education-alone-wont-guarantee-a-job-in-demand-skills-need-of-hour-3020568.html
Read More

by Apoorva Shankar

08 Nov'16
Why The Growth Of Higher Education In India Hinges On The Private Sector

5.13K+

Why The Growth Of Higher Education In India Hinges On The Private Sector

For the sake of simplicity, let’s say that the public sector’s role in education can be identified as a three-fold one. Firstly, it is tasked with universalizing access to education. Its next responsibility would be to regulate the sector and finally, to ensure quality education for all. In the context of the access provider role, estimates show that just in terms of physical infrastructure, more than a US $100 billion spends would be required in higher education alone, to double enrollment, from where it stands today (24%). Where regulation is concerned, bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other higher education regulators are in-charge but leave much to be desired in terms of quality checks and monitoring, accreditation, etc. In fact, the UGC merely acts as a grants disbursing body now for universities and colleges, rather than a regulator. This is despite the fact that about 16% of the Ministry’s budget (2016-17) was allocated to UGC. Regarding quality, the government struggles to set standards and measure outcomes. Accreditation in the country is irregular and sub-optimal. In addition, unlike school education, where a certain level of learning outcomes may be gauged, this is difficult to do in higher education – especially assessing employability of a student post completing such education. So is there a role the government should prioritise? Further, because the government is entrusted with these roles, does it necessarily mean that they are its exclusive mandate? Or should the government act as an enabler and allow external participation if it means better execution and a higher success rate? The education and training industry is extremely large today and has strong further growth potential. With total educational spending of $2.7 trillion, the industry accounted for about 4.25% of the world’s GDP in 2010. In India alone, the spending on education and skilling has touched approximately Rs 74,000 crore. This may seem like a daunting figure but is still not sufficient. India spends about 4% of its GDP on all of education (about 1% on higher education), whereas globally the minimum recommended expenditure on education is 6% of GDP. Most of the public expenditure on higher education is used upon salaries and maintaining existing institutions, leaving very little to be spent on curriculum, research, and technology. However, spending on education still has enormous scaling to do and this is where the private sector comes in. Private players will have opportunities from rising demand in segments not well covered by the public education system (like adult education and vocational training). They bring in additional capital and are able to make huge investments, especially when government spending is insufficient and results in substantial infrastructure and investment deficit. For instance, the government had set a target of achieving a 30% enrolment ratio in higher education by 2020. The enrolment ratio currently is 24%. Judging by historical trends, and the current pace of rising enrolments, this target seems difficult to achieve. We may need a better, plan to succeed. Plus, the demand for higher education is only set to accelerate with growing population, higher enrolment as well as retention of students in schools. The private sector could play a crucial role in plugging these gaps and matching demand. In fact, it is already capturing the market in a big way, as can be seen in the adjacent graph. Enrolment in, and share of, private higher education institutions has surpassed that of government institutions (data as on 2013). Even the online education market in India expected to grow to US $40 billion by as soon as 2017. Unlike the education sector, which is legally mandated to operate on a not-for-profit basis, for-profit skill training institutes can be set up. This, coupled with initiatives of the National Skill Development Corporation, has encouraged the private sector to set up vocational training institutes. Corporate interest has also increased in the skill development space because of the benefits that accrue to businesses themselves, in the form of adequately trained manpower as a ready pool for future hiring. Majority of institutions offering professional disciplines are now in the private sector. There is a tendency of the public sector to view the private sector’s involvement in the education space with scepticism. But the private sector is necessary because of its ability to match industry demand for superior skilled manpower. It supplements infrastructure, facilities, technology and pedagogy and has an added advantage of escaping bureaucratic control and retaining autonomy to a large extent. Private players often collaborate with reputed international universities for faculty and other benefits which can be attractive to prospective students. They are also heavily investing in research-based education. As consumers of skilled manpower as well, the private sector is in a position to understand what type of skill training is to be imparted, and eventually benefit from it. This makes skill-training more efficient and effective. All three education-related roles of the government are equally important. However, while regulation should remain outside the purview of the private sector, nothing should stop them from assisting the public sector in maximising enrolments and improving quality of education. Public needs to work with private and create a level-playing field, in order to uplift the overall quality of education. Article Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.in/mayank-kumar/why-the-growth-of-higher-education-in-india-hinges-on-the-privat/
Read More

by Apoorva Shankar

08 Nov'16