Courses in Canada after 12th arts for Indian students

Canada continues to be a popular study destination for many Indian students waiting to study abroad. Its institutions offer a variety of arts and humanities majors and other joint degree programmes, which are sought after by international students.

With Canada’s globally recognised academic institutions, an inclusive and multicultural environment, and easy post-study work opportunities, the country offers an ideal setting for students aiming to build a successful future. The country's welcoming environment and strong support for international students are another plus.

Let’s explore the different opportunities available for students who completed their 12th grade in India and are exploring arts/humanities courses in Canada.

• World-Class Universities: Canada is home to top-ranked institutions offering high-quality education in a variety of Arts and Humanities disciplines such as literature, sociology, psychology, history, and fine arts.
• Diverse Course Offerings: Students can choose from a variety of specialised programmes that combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning experiences.
• Multicultural Environment: Canada’s inclusive and culturally diverse society provides a welcoming atmosphere where international students can thrive both academically and socially.
• Student-Friendly Policies: Supportive immigration rules, part-time work options during studies, and generous post-study work permits make Canada a convenient and practical choice for international students.
• Scholarships and Financial Aid: A variety of scholarships, grants, and financial aid programs are available to help international students manage tuition and living expenses.

Top courses after 12th arts/humanities in Canada

If you are keen on studying an undergraduate degree in arts or humanities after your 12th, you have plenty of course options, including:

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology: As a liberal arts discipline, sociology provides students with knowledge, abilities, and skills. This “toolkit” can be applied to life and a range of careers.
  Graduates gain insights into how experiences differ based on race, class, gender, and age. They learn how social institutions affect individuals, how to build evidence-backed arguments, write clear reports, use statistical software, and evaluate research methods.
  They go on to work in fields like human resources, journalism, policy analysis, school counselling, market research, public relations, social work, etc.
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Provides deeper knowledge about different fields in Psychology, along with research exposure.
  These graduates often work in diverse fields and go on to specialise in sports psychology, human resources, career counselling, forensic psychology, teaching, psychotherapy, social work, etc.
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science: Offers students a strong foundation in all of the main areas of the subject and discusses political ideas, visions, transforming events, workings of political organisations, and governments. These graduates can work in civil services, policy making, political analysis, international affairs, diplomatic jobs, political scientist roles, or teaching.
• Bachelor of Arts in History: As a history major, you examine the rich variety of human experience across time and place, understanding multiple perspectives, diverse cultures, and ideas. You become a critical and independent thinker who can analyse complex issues and communicate your findings clearly and persuasively.
  These valuable skills can lead to business, public service, teaching, and administration careers. History majors are also a preferred route to professional degrees in law, education, museum and library studies, and public policy.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): Provides artistic practice along with knowledge and expertise in majors, such as arts and culture management, studio arts, music, theatre performance, production, etc. 
  These graduates can further specialise as graphic designers, photographers, animators, art directors, illustrators, art historians, fashion designers, artists, etc.
• Bachelor of Journalism: These courses teach a combination of fundamental skills in writing, presentation, and production while keeping abreast of changes in the media to offer classes on podcasting, documentaries, and digital journalism.
  Graduates work as reporters, producers, publishers, and commentators in professional media houses.
• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW): Focuses on the ways social, environmental, and economic issues interrelate, and how all of us fit into the larger community. Sustainability and social work practice with indigenous people are also discussed.
  Graduates work in a diverse range of health, mental health, child and family, community, and human service settings.
• Bachelor of Design (Fashion, Interior, Graphic):
  • Graphic design: Students receive hands-on training in a state-of-the-art learning environment with instruction from top graphic designers. Graduates gain knowledge of design and sustainable fundamentals, as well as an understanding of core values and emerging trends. This course is perfect for creatives who want to spend their days working on high-impact visual campaigns that resonate.
  • Fashion design: Students study the fundamentals of fashion design, including tailoring, flat pattern drafting, draping, textiles, and computer pattern drafting. The programme focuses on sustainable design principles and provides the opportunity for students to work directly in the industry. Graduates go on to become fashion designers, textile designers, apparel and accessory designers, and more.
  • Interior design: The program explores universal design, human factors, environmental and sustainable design, and business aspects of the profession. Graduates develop the technical and creative skills to design interior spaces that meet not only aesthetic, but also safety, accessibility, and sustainability requirements.
    They can work as interior designers, space designers, architects, etc.
• Bachelor of Hotel Management: Builds professional credentials in areas such as leadership, digital communication, finance, marketing, and revenue management in the hospitality industry.
  Graduates can find roles as food and beverage managers, event managers, hotel managers, housekeeping managers, chefs, tourism and cruise managers, etc. 

Here are the top-ranking universities in Canada for humanities and art programmes.

Eligibility criteria for Indian students

While the entry requirements vary between universities in Canada and the programmes offered, here are the general requirements for Indian students.

Educational requirements:

• Class 12 (10+2 years of schooling), high school diploma, or equivalent from a recognised school board
• 80% or higher pass percentage in relevant subjects like language, arts, and social sciences
• Academic transcripts and mark sheets
   

English language proficiency:

• IELTS 6.0 or higher
• TOEFL (paper-based) 580 or higher
• TOEFL iBT 80 or higher
• CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment) 70 or higher for some Canadian universities
• PTE and MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) scores in some cases

Other required documents:

• Statement of Purpose (SOP) or personal statement
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Resume or CV
• Portfolio and writing samples as applicable (for fine art, journalism, and design courses)

Application process

Broadly, the application process includes researching universities and courses, checking eligibility, completing the application, and paying the application fees.

Here’s a step-by-step process to submit your application:

1. Identify your areas of interest in the arts and humanities.
2. Research Canadian universities for arts and humanities courses that align with your interests, and go through their curriculum, faculty, programmes offered, etc.
3. Check entry requirements and apply directly on the university website.
4. Fill in the application form and upload the required documents. Make sure you have the English language proficiency test scores and other relevant documents handy. 
5. Provide portfolio link or samples for creative courses.
6. Pay the application fees and submit your application.
7. Once you get the acceptance, apply for the Canadian student visa or study permit.

Cost of studying and living in Canada

The cost of studying arts or humanities courses in Canada depends on the university and the programme of your choice.

On average, here are the approximate tuition costs for arts and humanities courses in Canada:

Living costs in Canada

In addition to the tuition expenses, you will also need to budget for housing, healthcare, living, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Here are some of the indicative living expenses you may incur in Canada:

Scholarships and financial aid

There are several ways to finance your studies abroad. Scholarships are a great option to start with.

Canadian universities offer several scholarships to deserving Indian and international students. Explore our extensive database of scholarships in Canada for Indian students. You can also check out the list of undergraduate scholarships in humanities and creative arts on our Hotcourses India website.

Once you arrive in Canada, you can explore part-time job opportunities and find ways to manage and reduce your living expenses. Take a look at our popular article on the topic of studying abroad with less money.

Post-study work opportunities

Canada’s post-study visa is known as the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). This visa allows graduates to work and live in Canada for 3 years after their studies. International students can work up to 20 hours per week during their studies and more during breaks or holidays.
 

Most arts/humanities students follow career paths like teaching/professorship/research, or more advanced degrees. These graduates can work in areas such as journalism, management, public relations, policy analysis, business, fine art, music, theatre, and more.

They can also work in museums, art galleries, or cultural centres as art directors, curators, cultural coordinators, etc. Graduates in media and communication can work in publishing houses and media production. Humanities graduates can work in government agencies or NGOs for community outreach, policy, international, and social development.

On average, humanities and arts graduates in Canada earn in the range of CA$ 35,000 and CA$ 2,111,00 per year. [Source: Indeed] Some high-paying jobs for arts and humanities graduates include:

For a successful student visa or study permit application to Canada, follow these tips:

1. Do your research thoroughly, select the right course and the institute in Canada.
2. Carefully go through each shortlisted university’s eligibility criteria and prepare accordingly.
3. Always maintain a good academic track record with a high GPA in relevant subjects. Have enough relevant samples ready in writing and design for arts courses.
4. Take English language tests to show proof of language proficiency and aim to meet the scores set by the institution.
5. Estimate the expenses you will need and plan your finances well in advance.
6. Gather all the required documents like personal statement, LORs, bank statements, scholarship documents, etc.
7. Seek expert guidance and support services. 

Art is gaining respect across the world now more than ever before. Yes, it is possible for arts and humanities students to study and get jobs in Canada. All the best for your study abroad journey!

Editor's note: Originally published in September 2016 by Doodle Nandi, this article was updated in 2024 by Roshna Mohan. It has now been thoroughly revised and updated for accuracy and relevance by Aparna Sridar on 24 May 2025.