The main courses after graduation fall into four routes: a postgraduate or professional degree (MBA, M.Com, MA, M.Sc, MCA, LLB, B.Ed), a professional qualification (CA, CMA or CS), a government exam (UPSC, SSC CGL, bank PO), or a job-oriented skill course of one to eighteen months (accounting, taxation, Excel, computers, data). Choose a degree if you know your field, an exam if you can give it two or three years with a backup, and a skill course if you need a job within a year.
This guide covers graduates of every stream: BA, B.Com, BBA, B.Sc, BCA and B.Tech. It lists each option with its duration, entry rule and first jobs, then gives a pick-by-goal table for anyone still unsure. Entry rules come from the official bodies (ICAI, ICMAI, UPSC, SSC, IBPS, NCTE, the Bar Council of India and the IIMs’ CAT notice), checked in November 2026. Rules change every year, so read the latest notice before you apply.
Courses after graduation: the complete list
Courses after graduation: four routes at a glance
- MBA or PGDM, M.Com, MA
- M.Sc, MCA, M.Tech
- CA, CMA, CS
- LLB (law), B.Ed (teaching)
- UPSC, State PSC
- SSC CGL, bank PO and clerk
- Accounting, Tally, GST, Excel
- Computers, data, digital marketing
The table lists the options graduates most often weigh, including many that IPA does not teach.
| Option | Duration | Entry rule after graduation | First jobs it leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA or PGDM | Usually 2 years | Any graduate; CAT needs 50% (45% for SC, ST, PwBD) | Management trainee, sales, HR, marketing, finance, operations |
| M.Com | 2 years (1 year after a 4-year honours B.Com) | Usually B.Com or BBA; merit or entrance | Teaching (with NET), accounts and finance roles |
| MA or M.Sc | 2 years (1 year after a 4-year honours degree) | Merit or entrance; CUET-PG for many central universities; IIT JAM for M.Sc at the IITs | Teaching, research, specialist and lab roles |
| MCA | 2 years | Graduation; many colleges also want maths at 12th or degree level | Software developer, tester, IT support |
| M.Tech | 2 years | B.Tech or B.E.; GATE score for most IIT and NIT seats | Engineer, R&D, PSU roles |
| LLB | 3 years | Any graduate; university entrance or merit | Junior advocate, legal assistant, compliance |
| B.Ed | 2 years | Any graduate; state or university entrance | School teacher (with CTET or a state TET for classes 1 to 8) |
| CA | Several years: Intermediate, practical training, then Final | Direct entry to Intermediate: commerce graduates 55%, others 60% | Articled assistant, then chartered accountant |
| CMA or CS | Several years: Intermediate or Executive, then Final | CMA: graduates (not Fine Arts) enter at Intermediate. CS: graduates join through CSEET unless ICSI exempts them | Cost and finance roles (CMA), company secretarial work (CS) |
| UPSC Civil Services, State PSC | Preparation, often 2 to 3 attempts | Any graduate; age limits and attempts in each notice | IAS, IPS, state administrative posts |
| SSC CGL, bank PO and clerk | Preparation, 6 months to 2 years | Any graduate (a few SSC posts need maths or statistics) | Central government and public sector bank posts |
| Accounting diploma (ADFA type) | 12 to 18 months | Direct admission | Junior accountant, accounts executive |
| Short skill course (Tally, GST, Excel, payroll, SAP FICO) | 1 to 3 months | Direct admission | Accounts assistant, MIS, payroll or GST roles |
| Data analytics, programming, cloud, cybersecurity | 3 to 12 months | Direct admission; projects matter more than the certificate | Junior analyst, developer, support engineer |
| Digital marketing, design, content | 3 to 6 months | Direct admission; a portfolio matters most | Social media executive, junior designer, writer |
The sections below explain who each route suits, what it needs and what to check before you pay.
Not sure after graduation? Pick by your goal
Most graduates who ask “what next” have not fixed a goal yet. Start from your situation, not from the course your friends chose.
| Your goal or situation | Best route | Typical time | Where it leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| You want a job within a year | A job-oriented skill course or a one-year accounting or computer diploma | 1 to 12 months | Accounts assistant, junior accountant, MIS, office or IT support roles |
| You want to study and earn together | A short skill course, then a job, with a distance MBA, M.Com or exam preparation alongside | 2 to 3 months to start earning | An entry-level job now, a higher degree or exam later |
| You want a professional title | CA, CMA or CS; LLB for law; B.Ed for teaching | 2 to 3 years or more | Chartered or cost accountant, company secretary, advocate, teacher |
| You are weak in maths | MA, LLB, B.Ed, MSW, journalism, or a practical accounts course that starts from zero | 1 month to 3 years | Law, teaching, media, social sector, or accounts work (arithmetic, not higher maths) |
| You want a government job | UPSC, State PSC, SSC CGL or bank exams, with a skill as a backup | Often 1 to 3 years | Central and state government posts, public sector banks |
| You can’t afford a long course | A 1 to 3 month skill course (Tally, Excel, payroll, computers), or free SWAYAM courses | 1 to 3 months | A first job; study further once you earn |
| You started CA, CS or CMA and stopped | An accounts diploma or Tally, GST and TDS for an accounts job; or re-enter CA at Intermediate as a graduate (55% commerce, 60% others) | 2 to 12 months to a job | Accounts executive, tax assistant; the professional route stays open |
Courses after graduation by your degree
Your degree decides which doors open directly and which need a bridge. Use this table to find your column, then read the full guide for your degree where one exists.
| Your degree | Routes that build on it | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| BA (arts) | MA, LLB, B.Ed, MSW, journalism, civil services, CA with 60%, accounts and computer skills | Courses after BA |
| B.Com | CA with 55%, CMA, CS, M.Com, MBA (finance), bank exams, accounting and tax diplomas | Courses after B.Com |
| BBA | MBA, CA, CMA, CFA, HR and payroll, digital marketing, SAP and Excel | Courses after BBA |
| B.Sc | M.Sc (IIT JAM, CUET-PG), B.Ed, MBA, MCA, data analytics, SSC posts needing maths or statistics | Covered below |
| BCA, B.Tech | MCA, M.Tech (GATE), MBA, cloud, data and security skills, software jobs | Covered below |
Courses after graduation in arts
Arts graduates have the widest spread of options and the fewest automatic job routes. Law, teaching, journalism and the civil services build on the reading and writing a BA trains. If you need income first, an accounts or computer course starts from zero and does not need a commerce background. Our guide to courses after BA covers each option by subject.
Courses after graduation in commerce
B.Com and BBA graduates are closest to accounts, tax and finance work. The professional titles (CA, CMA, CS) are the long route; a job-oriented accounting diploma or GST and TDS training is the short one. The B.Com guide and the BBA guide compare them with pay data.
Courses after B.Sc
Most B.Sc graduates choose between three paths: an M.Sc for research, teaching or lab work, a B.Ed for school teaching, or a switch into data, IT or management.
- M.Sc: the IITs and some other institutes admit through IIT JAM (organised by IIT Kharagpur for 2027); many central universities use CUET-PG. College teaching later needs UGC-NET or a state SET.
- B.Ed: a science degree lets you teach science subjects in schools. Add CTET or a state TET to teach classes 1 to 8.
- Data analytics: a maths or statistics degree is a strong base for Excel, SQL and a reporting tool such as Power BI.
- MBA or MCA: both accept science graduates; MCA usually wants maths at some level.
- Government: a few SSC CGL posts, such as Junior Statistical Officer, need maths or statistics, which most B.Sc maths graduates have.
Courses after BCA or B.Tech
BCA and B.Tech graduates are usually choosing between more study and a first IT job. An MCA (after BCA) or an M.Tech (after B.Tech) adds depth; GATE scores decide most M.Tech seats at the IITs and NITs and are also used by some public sector companies for hiring. GATE is open from the third year of a bachelor’s degree onward, so you can sit it before you graduate.
If you want to work straight away, short courses in cloud, cybersecurity, data analytics or a specific programming stack add a skill an employer can test. Choose courses with real projects, and put those projects on GitHub or a portfolio. Many MBA programmes and recruiters prefer candidates with two or three years of work experience.
Professional courses after graduation
Professional courses lead to a title that the law or a statutory body controls. They take longer and the exams are harder, but the title stays with you for life.
CA, CMA and CS
- CA: under ICAI’s direct entry route, commerce graduates with at least 55% and other graduates with at least 60% can register directly for CA Intermediate, skipping Foundation (ICAI FAQs on the new scheme). Practical training and the Final follow.
- CMA: ICMAI admits graduates in any discipline other than Fine Arts directly to the Intermediate course.
- CS: graduates join the Executive programme through the CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) unless ICSI exempts them; check ICSI’s current rules before you register.
Many graduates first take a practical accounts course, work for a year and then decide. Our CA vs CMA vs CS comparison sets the three side by side.
LLB and B.Ed
A three-year LLB, under Bar Council of India rules, is the route to practise law after any degree. A two-year B.Ed, under NCTE’s 2014 regulations, is the main route into school teaching. Both are open to graduates of every stream, with entrance tests that differ by state and university.
Global finance titles
CFA, ACCA and US CMA attract commerce and BBA graduates who want finance or audit roles in multinational firms. They are self-study heavy and charged in dollars or pounds, so check the body’s own enrolment rules and total cost before starting.
Post graduation courses: MBA, M.Com, MA, M.Sc, MCA
A master’s degree suits you if you know your field and want depth, teaching or research. Under UGC’s postgraduate framework, a two-year master’s after a three-year degree becomes one year after a four-year honours degree, where the university offers it.
| Degree | Who it suits | How you get in | Check before you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA or PGDM | Any graduate aiming at management roles | CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT or the college’s own test | The placement report in writing |
| M.Com | Commerce graduates heading for teaching or finance | Merit or university entrance | Whether you will add a practical skill alongside |
| MA | Arts graduates heading for teaching, research or civil services | Merit, CUET-PG or university test | NET or SET for college teaching |
| M.Sc | Science graduates heading for research or labs | IIT JAM, CUET-PG or university test | Lab facilities and research output |
| MCA | BCA and B.Sc graduates heading for software jobs | NIMCET (NITs), state or university tests | Recent placement record |
| M.Tech | B.Tech graduates heading for specialist or PSU roles | GATE | Stipend and project quality |
An MBA’s value depends almost entirely on the college. The IIMs admit through CAT, which needs a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% (45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates). For lower-ranked colleges, ask how many students were placed, where and in which roles, before you pay. If you plan a distance or online degree, check that the university is approved by UGC’s Distance Education Bureau for your session.
Government exams after graduation
A degree in any subject makes you eligible for nearly every graduate-level government exam.
| Exam | Posts | Conducted by | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Services Examination | IAS, IPS, IFS and other central services | UPSC | Any graduate; final-year students may apply |
| State civil services | State administrative and allied posts | Each state’s Public Service Commission | Usually any graduate; see the state notice |
| SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) | Inspector, assistant, auditor, accountant and other central posts | Staff Selection Commission | Any graduate; a few posts need maths or statistics |
| Bank PO and clerk | Officer and clerical posts in public sector banks | IBPS and SBI | Graduation in any discipline |
| Combined Defence Services (CDS) | Officer entry to the services’ academies | UPSC | Graduates; some academies need specific subjects |
| Teacher recruitment | School teacher posts | State boards, KVS, NVS | Usually B.Ed plus CTET or a state TET |
Under the SSC CGL 2026 notice, posts run from Pay Level 4 (₹25,500 to ₹81,100 basic a month) to Pay Level 8 (₹47,600 to ₹1,51,100 basic) of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, before allowances. Age limits and post-wise rules change every year, so read the current notice on ssc.gov.in, ibps.in or upsc.gov.in rather than any guide, including this one.
Most candidates need more than one attempt. Keep a skill or a part-time income going so that one result does not decide your next three years. If tax posts interest you, our guide on becoming an income tax inspector explains the SSC CGL route.
Job oriented courses after graduation
If you need to earn soon, a focused skill course is the quickest route into work. For accounts, office and data roles, employers test what you can do on a computer more than your degree subject. These are the job oriented courses after graduation that IPA teaches in Laxmi Nagar and online, with durations and entry rules from IPA’s course pages:
| Course at IPA | Duration | Which graduates it suits | Typical first roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADFA diploma | 12 months | Graduates of any stream who want the full accounts cycle from zero | Junior accountant, accounts executive |
| 15-month or 18-month diploma | 15 or 18 months | Those who want more modules, software (including SAP FICO) and projects | Accounts executive, tax and banking support roles |
| BAT course | 8 months | B.Com graduates who want accounts and taxation practice | Accounts and tax assistant |
| Diploma in Taxation (DTL) | 5 months | Graduates of any stream drawn to income tax and GST | Tax assistant, ITR filing executive |
| Tally course | 1 month (basic) or 2 months (advanced) | Anyone who wants one core accounts skill fast | Accounts assistant, billing executive |
| GST course | 2 months | B.Com graduates, or anyone after Tally | GST executive in an accounts team |
| SAP FICO | 2 months | B.Com and BBA graduates who know accounting basics | SAP end-user roles in finance teams |
| Advanced Excel | 2 months | Any graduate heading for MIS, data or reporting work | MIS executive, data and back-office roles |
| Payroll course | 3 months | Graduates heading for HR or payroll operations | Payroll executive, HR assistant |
| Computer course or ADCA | 3 months to 1 year | Graduates who need MS Office and office software | Computer operator, office assistant |
IPA’s ADFA, BAT and the 15- and 18-month diplomas carry a 100% job guarantee: IPA arranges interviews until you are placed, subject to your performance and IPA’s criteria. The Diploma in Taxation, the short courses and the computer courses come with placement assistance. Fees are shared on request: know the fees. Classes run at Laxmi Nagar and live online, on weekdays or weekends.
Short term and diploma courses after graduation
If you can give only a few months, these lead most directly to an entry-level job:
- 1 month: basic Tally, basic computer skills, data entry.
- 2 months: advanced Tally with GST, Advanced Excel, GST, SAP FICO (after accounting basics).
- 3 months: payroll with PF and ESI, a computer course with MS Office.
- 5 to 6 months: Diploma in Taxation, ADCA, digital marketing, a data analytics course.
- Free: the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM courses are free to study; a certificate needs a proctored exam with a fee.
IPA does not run a separate programming, cloud, cybersecurity, digital marketing or design course. For those, compare the written syllabus, hours of hands-on practice, who teaches and work produced by recent students before you pay. For a year-long programme, see our one-year courses compared.
Courses after graduation for high salary: what the data shows
The routes with the highest pay ceilings, CA, a top MBA, the civil services and specialist tech roles, also take the longest and have the hardest selection. Most lists of high-salary courses print figures with no source. These are the published figures we could verify:
| Measure | Published pay | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Legal floor: graduate clerical staff, Delhi | ₹24,356 a month | Delhi minimum wages order, from 1 Apr 2025 |
| Junior accounting roles, Delhi-NCR, 0 to 5 years | ₹4.49 lakh average CTC | Randstad Salary Trends 2024-25 |
| Junior taxation roles, Delhi-NCR, 0 to 5 years | ₹5.23 lakh average CTC | Randstad Salary Trends 2024-25 |
| Junior HR generalist, Delhi-NCR | ₹4.47 lakh average CTC | Randstad Salary Trends 2024-25 |
| Junior digital marketing, Delhi-NCR | ₹5.32 lakh average CTC | Randstad Salary Trends 2024-25 |
| SSC CGL posts | Pay Level 4 to 8 (₹25,500 to ₹1,51,100 basic a month) | SSC CGL 2026 notice |
| Newly qualified CA | About ₹13.3 lakh average CTC | ICAI campus programme, Apr to May 2026 |
These figures measure different things and are not directly comparable. The minimum wage is the lowest lawful pay for office staff in Delhi (Delhi Labour Department). Randstad’s junior band covers up to five years at larger employers, so a fresher at a small firm usually starts lower. ICAI’s average covers only those who passed CA Final and joined its campus drive.
No 2- or 3-month course raises pay on its own. Pay rises with the scope of work you can handle, for example taxation, TDS, payroll and SAP on top of daily entries. For accounts roles by experience and city, see our accountant salary guide.
How soon each route leads to income
Time before you start earning, by route
If money is tight, the order matters more than the choice. Many graduates take a short skill course, start earning, and then study for a degree or exam alongside the job.
How to decide in three steps
Choosing a course after graduation in three steps
- Fix the deadlineWhen must you start earning: in 3 months, a year, or can you wait 2 to 3 years?
- Match your degreeUse the by-degree table to see which routes open directly.
- Check the proofAsk for the syllabus, the entry rule and placement terms in writing.
- Fix your earning deadline. This one answer removes half the list. If you must earn within a year, long exams and two-year degrees can wait.
- Match the route to your degree. A route that builds on what you studied is faster than a full switch.
- Check the proof before you pay. Read the official notice for exams, the approval status for degrees, and the written syllabus and placement terms for courses.
- Keep a backup. If you choose an exam, learn one practical skill alongside it.
Mistakes to avoid after graduation
- Spending years on one exam with no backup. Keep a skill or part-time work going.
- Taking an MBA because friends did. Start from your goal, and check the college’s placement record.
- Trusting salary claims with no source. Ask where a figure comes from and what year it is.
- Paying before seeing the syllabus and terms in writing. This applies to every institute, including ours.
- Ignoring Excel, typing and English writing. Almost every office job tests them.
Still unsure which route fits you? Call IPA – Institute of Professional Accountants on 9213855555 or WhatsApp 9213855555. A counsellor will talk you through the options, including the ones we don’t teach.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the best courses after graduation?
There is no single best course. An MBA suits future managers, CA or CMA future accountants in senior roles, LLB future lawyers, B.Ed future teachers, and a job-oriented skill course anyone who needs to earn within a year. Start from your goal and your degree.
Which course after graduation gets a job fastest?
Skill courses of one to twelve months, such as Tally with GST, Advanced Excel, payroll, computer applications or a one-year accounting diploma, lead to entry-level jobs fastest.
Can I do CA after graduation?
Yes. Under ICAI’s direct entry route, commerce graduates with at least 55% and other graduates with at least 60% can register straight for CA Intermediate. Below those marks, you start from Foundation.
Can a non-commerce graduate do an accounting course?
Yes. Practical accounting courses such as ADFA and Tally start from the basics, so BA, B.Sc and BCA graduates can join. Accounts work uses arithmetic and logic rather than higher maths.
Can I do an MBA after any graduation?
Yes. MBA programmes accept graduates of any subject. The IIMs admit through CAT, which needs a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% (45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates).
Which government exams can I take after graduation?
Any graduate can sit the UPSC Civil Services exam, State PSC exams, SSC CGL and the IBPS and SBI bank exams. Age limits, attempts and a few subject rules are set in each year’s notice.