Arts Colleges in Dehradun: Eligibility, Admission Process, Rankings & Courses Offered

If you’re searching for an arts college in Dehradun, you’re probably juggling a lot of questions: BA vs BFA? Government vs private? Liberal arts vs fine arts? And of course – fees, placements, and career scope. Dehradun has a dense arts ecosystem with around 100 arts colleges in the city, ranging from historic government colleges to modern private universities and specialised fine arts institutes.

This guide talks about eligibility, admissions, rankings, courses and career paths, with a special focus on both fine arts (BFA) and liberal arts / humanities (BA). We’ll also look at how an interdisciplinary option like the UPES School of Liberal Studies and Media fits into this landscape.

When people say fine arts college in Dehradun, they usually mean institutes that focus on visual arts – painting, applied art, sculpture, illustration, and related creative disciplines – often through a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).

A BFA is ideal if:

• You enjoy studio work – sketching, painting, digital art, illustration, storyboarding.
• You want a portfolio-driven career in advertising, design studios, galleries, animation, gaming, or independent practice.
• You are okay with a career path that is less “fixed salary” at the start and more dependent on skill, networking and portfolio strength.

Key Fine Arts-Focused Institutes in Dehradun (Snapshot)

Here are some of the prominent fine arts options in and around Dehradun:

• Dehradun College of Art (DCA) – A specialised fine arts institute offering BFA, MFA, diplomas and certificate courses in painting and applied arts; fees across programmes range roughly from a few thousand to about lakhs, depending on duration and level.
• Graphic Era Hill University (GEHU) – Offers a 4-year BFA with focuses on applied and visual arts with modern facilities.
• Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University (DBUU) – Runs a 4-year BFA under its School of Journalism & Liberal Arts 
• Ras Bihari Bose Subharti University – Has a School of Fine Arts & Fashion Design aimed at nurturing students’ creative potential in fine arts through structured training.
• Institute of Technology & Management (ITM), Dehradun – Offers BFA in Applied Art and Painting, with strong emphasis on advertising, graphic design and visual communication.

Colleges in Dehradun for Arts (BA, Liberal Arts & Humanities)

If you’re not looking only at studio-based visual arts but also at humanities, social sciences, languages, psychology or media, you’ll be considering BA, BA (Hons) or Liberal Arts programs.

Types of Arts Degrees You’ll See

Most arts colleges in Dehradun will offer variants like:

• BA (General) – A 3-year degree with a combination of subjects such as History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Hindi, English etc.
• BA (Hons) – Deeper specialisation in one subject (e.g., Economics, Psychology, English) – often better if you’re considering research, UPSC, or high-level postgraduate study later.
• Liberal Arts / Interdisciplinary BA – Combines humanities, social sciences, sometimes media and data-oriented subjects with strong emphasis on critical thinking and communication.

Leading Arts & Liberal Arts Colleges in Dehradun (Indicative)

Below is an overview of some prominent arts providers in Dehradun. Fees are indicative and can change every year.

Eligibility & Admission Process for Arts (BA / Liberal Arts)

While each college has its own specifics, the broad pattern for BA / Liberal Arts in Dehradun is:

Basic Eligibility

• Qualification: 10+2 from a recognised board.
• Stream: Typically any stream (Arts/Commerce/Science) is allowed.
• Minimum marks: Often 45–50% aggregate; more competitive colleges and honours programs may demand higher cut-offs. 

Admission Routes

1. Merit-based admissions – Many colleges (Doon University, DAV (PG)) rely on Class 12 marks, sometimes with a short counselling/registration process.
2. University-level application + shortlist – Private universities (UPES, Graphic Era, DBUU, IMS Unison, DBS Global) generally require an online application and may use profiles + Class 12 performance; some run their own aptitude tests or interviews.
3. Entrance tests for specialised courses – BA in Journalism, psychology-heavy tracks or global programs may include written tests, portfolio components or interviews to judge communication and analytical skills. 

Tip: For BA / Liberal Arts, look closely at:

• Course structure (Is it mostly theory or does it include research projects, internships, fieldwork?)
• Exit options (Is there a 3-year exit and a 4-year honours/research track as per NEP?)
• Language and skill courses (Foreign languages, writing labs, data literacy, etc.)

Bachelor of Fine Arts Colleges in Dehradun: Courses, Fees & Careers

Now let’s zoom in on BFA, since this is where “fine arts college in Dehradun” searches usually land.

What is a BFA?

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a 4-year undergraduate degree focused on visual arts and design. It typically includes Core studio courses (drawing, painting, composition, colour theory), Specialisations such as Applied Art, Painting, Sculpture, Animation, Graphic Design, Art history, aesthetics and sometimes electives in photography, film, digital media, etc. The goal is to build a strong portfolio and technical skills for creative careers.

Career paths after BFA include:

• Illustrator, concept artist, graphic designer, art director
• UI/UX or interaction designer (with upskilling)
• Gallery artist, curator, art educator
• Animation and gaming artist, storyboard artist
• Freelance visual artist/creative entrepreneur

Starting salaries for BFA graduates in India can range widely from ₹2.5–5 LPA in structured roles, with the potential for much higher earnings in design agencies, product companies or as independent artists as your portfolio and network grow.

BFA College in Dehradun: How to Select the Right Institute

When comparing one BFA arts college in Dehradun with another, look beyond the brochure and focus on how much real creative work you’ll actually do. Prioritise colleges that offer strong studio time, regular critiques and exhibitions, portfolio reviews, and solid exposure to digital tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, digital painting and basic 3D. 
Pay attention to whether faculty are active practitioners, not just academics, and whether the college has real connections with design studios, agencies, media houses and galleries for internships and guest sessions.

Finally, consider the wider campus ecosystem: a multidisciplinary setting where you can collaborate with tech, media and business students, and access entrepreneurship cells or incubation support, is especially valuable if you want to build an independent creative career.

Where Does UPES School of Liberal Studies and Media Fit In?

UPES is not a pure “fine arts” institute. It’s better understood as a liberal arts + social sciences + media ecosystem. For many students, that is exactly the bridge they want between the humanities and the creative industries.

Programs and Structure

The UPES School of Liberal Studies and Media offers:

• BA (Hons) in English, History, Political Science, and related specialisations. 
• BA in Journalism & Mass Communication (Digital) and BA in Digital and Mass Media (Broadcasting)– spanning print, digital, and broadcast media; students report, edit and produce multimedia content. 
• BSc (Hons) in Psychology & Behaviour, Economics & Finance, Economics with Data Science, blending quantitative analysis with social science.

UPES is particularly suitable if you:

• Enjoy arts and humanities, but also want data, policy, psychology or media woven in.
• See yourself in careers like journalism, content, public policy, behaviour research, communications, market research, UX writing, analytics or development sector roles.
• Value global exposure (exchange programs, international collaborations) and a campus with strong linkages to industry and media.

The School emphasises critical thinking, research skills, communication and digital literacy – all of which are becoming baseline requirements even for classical arts graduates.

If you want an arts college in Dehradun that combines humanities with media, data and global exposure, it’s worth exploring the detailed program list and syllabus at the UPES School of Liberal Studies and Media and talking to a counsellor about fit.

FAQs on Arts Colleges in Dehradun

1. How many arts colleges are there in Dehradun?

Local listing platforms mention around 90–100 arts colleges in Dehradun, depending on whether you include small institutes and coaching-linked colleges. Practically, most students shortlist 5–10 serious options based on budget, course type (BA vs BFA), and campus reputation.

2. Is Dehradun a good city to study arts?

Yes. Dehradun combines a large student population, multiple universities (UPES, GEU/GEHU, DBUU, Doon University, IMS Unison, DBS, etc.) and a growing ecosystem in media, education and tourism, which creates demand for writers, designers, media professionals and researchers.

3. Do I need a portfolio to get into a BFA college in Dehradun?

Many BFA colleges strongly prefer a portfolio or at least an aptitude test. Institutes like DBUU, GEHU, ITM and DCA mention creative aptitude and practical training as central to the programme, and may evaluate basic drawing or composition ability during admission counselling.

4. What are the career prospects after BA from an arts college in Dehradun?

BA graduates from strong institutions typically move into postgraduate study, competitive exams, corporate roles (HR, marketing, research), media, NGOs, EdTech, policy or analytics. You can earn around ₹4–6 LPA as freshers for some humanities and social science programmes at good universities, especially when combined with internships or integrated pathways.

6. How do I choose between BA, BA (Hons), BFA and Liberal Arts?

Choose a BFA if your core passion is visual arts and studio practice, a BA (Hons) if you want depth in a single subject and are aiming for academia, research or UPSC, and a Liberal Arts / interdisciplinary BA (such as at the UPES School of Liberal Studies and Media) if you want a mix of arts, media, data, psychology and policy that can lead to flexible careers in media, consulting, research or corporate roles.

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Conclusion

Dehradun offers everything from low-fee BA programmes in government colleges to industry-linked liberal arts schools and studio-focused BFA institutes. Decide what you actually want: reading/research vs visual creation, what budget and lifestyle you can sustain, and whether you prefer a broad BA/liberal arts base or an early commitment to a BFA studio path. If you’re drawn to humanities, social sciences and media with a global, interdisciplinary flavour, exploring the UPES School of Liberal Studies and Media can be a smart next step, as it blends liberal arts, media training and industry exposure.