The Future Of Commerce: Should you choose commerce after 12th?

One of the streams that have been running quite widely, mainly in India, is Commerce. According to research conducted by the educational board in the year 2017, 2.67 lakh students chose Commerce after 10th as their stream of education in Mumbai alone. Commerce After 12th, as a course of education and a discipline, can be interpreted as a study of business and trade pursuits such as the exchange of goods and services from the producer to the final customer. 

However, not many realize that even Commerce plays a major role in every sector of Arts and Science. In today’s digital age, Commerce is being used in every field of technology, and in the contemporary world that we are residing in, it is one of the most lucrative and vast areas of study. Commerce subjects encompass a plethora of courses like Business studies, Accounting, Management, Marketing Analysis, Mathematics, Economics, and Statistics. The diversity that Commerce as a stream provides is one of the main factors why so many students opt for it after Class 10. One of the major benefits that Commerce students have is that they are eligible for both Commerce and Arts courses after completing Class 12.  

However, not many realize that even Commerce plays a major role in every sector of Arts and Science. In today’s digital age, Commerce is being used in every field of technology, and in the contemporary world that we are residing in, Commerce is one of the most lucrative and vast areas of study. It encompasses a plethora of courses like Business studies, Accounting, Management, Marketing Analysis, Mathematics, Economics, and Statistics. The diversity that Commerce as a stream provides is one of the main factors why so many students opt for it after Class 10. 

Having studied Commerce in Class 11th-12th allows candidates to choose from a multitude of courses at graduation level, paving the way for a range of career choices. So, what courses after Commerce 12th can you pursue?

Before we look at the courses that one can do after having opted for the Commerce stream in Classes 11 and 12, let’s understand what Commerce is and the areas that it deals with. Commerce is defined as the exchange of goods and services among individuals and business entities. From a broad perspective, nations are concerned with managing commerce in a way that enhances the well-being of citizens, by providing jobs and producing beneficial goods and services.
Thus, Commerce, as a discipline holds significant importance as it not only helps in the development of nations and their citizens but also facilitates trade between nations or within the nation, thereby enhancing the economy. As a stream, commerce subjects expose students to a wide range of challenges and experiences that will prepare them thoroughly for their careers. Let’s take a look at the courses that we can pursue in these subjects. 

Studying Commerce in classes 11 and 12 can prove to be extremely beneficial when choosing courses for admission to colleges, as there are numerous courses available for us to pick from.

B.Com (Hons.):

Bachelor in Commerce (Honors.) is a Bachelor’s course of 3 years which is the most pursued graduation course in the field of commerce, covering subjects such as Accounting, Taxation, Economics, Financial Management, etc. Anyone with a minimum aggregate of 50% or equivalent with a High School Degree (Class 12) can apply for this course. Admissions are usually done on the basis of marks scored at the Class 12 level or through B.Com Entrance Exams such as Lucknow University Entrance Exam, AMU Entrance Exams, BHU UET, etc. The course also allows one to specialize in a specific domain of commerce. Delhi University is highly known and famous for its B.Com (Hons.) course. 

2. B.A. (Hons.) Business Economics/ B.Com. (with specialization in Business Economics): 

This course is not directly related to commerce but has a promising scope in the field of business and financial management. Candidates applying for this course should have completed their Class 12th with Commerce, having Mathematics and English as mandatory subjects, and should have scored at least 55% in the board examinations held in class 12. Rama University in Kanpur, Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, and, Lakshmibai College in New Delhi are a few of the well-known colleges that offer this particular course. 

3. B.Com –

Bachelor in Commerce is a three-year undergraduate program designed to impart Analytical skills, Financial Literacy, Business Acumen, etc, to the students by focusing more on the theoretical aspects. BCom Admissions for top BCom Colleges in India like Shri Ram College of Commerce, Hindu College, Ramjas College, Loyola College, etc, are done both on the basis of merit and through various entrance exams as well. Some of the top entrance exams conducted for enrolling students in BCom courses are IPU CET, DUET, NPAT, BHU UET, etc. 

4. B.A. Economics –

This 3-year course focuses on all the basic ideas and concepts surrounding the discipline of Economics and can help immensely if one wishes to do something related to Economics in the future. DIT University in Dehradun, Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, and Loyola College in Chennai are some of the renowned universities that have this particular course. 

5. B.A. English:

Bachelor’s in English is a 3-year undergraduate degree that emphasizes the importance of English, as not only a language but a discipline as well. Candidates applying for this course should have completed their Class 12th with any stream, having English as their compulsory subject. Given the versatile nature of English, the scope for job opportunities knows no bounds. Jagannath Community College and Miranda House University College in Delhi, and, Madras Christian College in Chennai are a few well-known universities that offer this course. 

6. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) –

It is a 3-year degree course providing theoretical and practical knowledge to someone who wishes to get into business, management, and administration. Aspirants looking to get into this course should have completed their class 12 having Mathematics and English as mandatory subjects and should have scored at least 50% in Class 12 exams. GNA University in Phagwara, St. Joseph College of Commerce in Bengaluru, and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai are some of the renowned universities that offer this particular course. 

To conclude, these are just some of the courses that the stream of Commerce opens up for us. Even though the Indian economy is moving at a very slow pace, with no clear-cut job opportunities in various fields, most students have been successful in pointing out great career opportunities which are available in our country in jobs like Chartered Accountancy, Company Secretary, and Cost and Management Accountant.