20+ UGC Approved Vocational Courses

Skills or expertise in a particular trade or profession is very important to get a good job now as there is high competition in the job market. Every job candidate will be holding a degree or another with less practical experience and thus, to be unique you need to have practical adeptness or skill in one particular area. Skill development courses or vocational courses in India will be very helpful in acquiring a vocational skill.

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There are some Vocational Training Courses approved by the UGC. UGC approved vocational courses are in high demand as the millennials are keen to learn new skills. The Vocational Courses validate that the students enrolling for the UGC approved vocational courses are effectively skilled in their particular profession. These UGC approved vocational courses are essentially responsible for shaping candidates as they are industry-friendly and job-oriented, thereby qualifying candidates for a dedicated career ahead.

Candidates can attempt Vocational Training Courses after 12th, graduation, and even post-graduation as there are vocational courses after 10th, vocational courses after 12th, and vocational courses after graduation. These UGC approved vocational courses include a B.Voc (Bachelor of Vocational Studies) and M.Voc (Master of Vocational Courses) depending on their course and sector. These degrees are coupled with diploma and certification courses just like other academic courses. With the advancements in technology, Vocational Training can also be completed by pursuing online UGC approved vocational courses as well. Here Careers360 enlists some of the online vocational courses in India.

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UGC Approved Skill Development Courses

UGC has initiated a scheme for the skill development professional courses approved by UGC that leads you to a degree and jobs in a specific industry. This scheme was earlier pitched in 2011 and was implemented by 2014 with some revisions in 2015. The best part about these online vocational courses approved by UGC is they do not require any basic qualification. Even if you are a school dropout and wish to have practical knowledge about a particular course you can enrol yourselves in the training. But primarily it assures a career to those who are 10th pass or with a qualification of 10+2 and more. There is no age restriction for admission to these professional courses approved by UGC.

(Note – There are certain considerations and allowances for the reserved categories and may vary for all institutes.)

Here are some of the vocational courses list after 10th, 12th and degree programmes.

Vocational Courses after 10th

UGC has approved certain professional courses approved by UGC that are necessary for the industrial field such as -

1. Stenography- Stenography is a professional skill that can transform normal messages into code. During the Second World War, British officers used stenographic code to send letters to British intelligence. It was especially given to the officers who were captured. These codes are particularly known as Shorthand.

Before someone ends up in this course, they should be required to appear in 10+2 or any equivalent from a recognized Board/University. The candidates should be between the ages of 18 to 27 as per government rules.

A country like India where everyone dreams of getting government jobs. This course will land you exactly on government services and other private sectors who want stenographers.

2. Typewriting - Typing is the ability to memorize physical tools and use them simultaneously without even looking at them except you can use cheat time to look twice or thrice on your keyboard. Touch typing makes you productive and makes your brain work even faster.

3. Game designing - With gaming as an industry taking rapid strides in India, becoming a game designer is a good career option. Game designers are known to design video games and a vocational course in game designing covers the technical aspects of the process. In-game designing, popular streams such as animation, graphic and multimedia design, and sound and music production are quite in demand. Knowledge of 2-D and 3-D art is a plus, and a vocational course can give your career a definite direction.

As a game designer, you can expect a monthly salary of up to INR 3 lakhs to INR 8 lakhs per annum, at the entry level.

Apparently, the typing course is offered with certificate programmes. Conversely, they can be offered a bachelor’s degree programme. If someone has a 10th certificate then they still learn typewriting through online professional courses approved by ugc or local typewriting classes.

The job selection is wide in this field. Typewriters can do typing jobs from home. Some other careers available after vocational courses after 10th are Data entry or back office executive, copy editing, freelance transcription, Customer service executive and the like.

4. Food and Beverage activities – Anyone who is passionate about food and beverages, and wants to pursue a career in this field? Then it will be the greatest opportunity to step in and show my talent for making food and organizing management.

Maintaining the quality of service, and keeping the food inventory safe with proper hygiene. Basically, this field requires 10+2 and a specific hotel management course to get into it. But on the other hand, it has tremendous growth and job prospects such as Chef, bartender, waiter, Manager, and Assistant.

5. Tailoring – Many courses correspond to fashion and trending designs. Graduates would be hired as Designers either by companies or clothing lines. This course is also helpful to commence your own brand in the industry.

Whether you graduate from a specific course or not this particular skill requires uniqueness and creativity to work on the clothes.

6. Technicians (Electronics, Plumbing, and Refrigeration) – This course enables vast knowledge about the particular field and its whereabouts. A technician basically has the job to repair, maintain, and fix the systems which cannot be dealt with by a non-specialist.

Just to make sure, this course can be done either by taking a Diploma or doing ITI (Industrial Training Institute) which is offered by a state university.

7. Courses in Makeup or Stylist – Skincare and makeup courses are highly in demand and have grown over the years. With this specialization, one can level up their career unaffected by being hired by the skincare companies or the advertising and film industry.

Vocational Courses after 12th or Graduation

Here are some of the best vocational courses after 12th:

1. Mobile Communication – There is a course in the mobile communication sector that enables you to work in MNCs as a mobile operator, telecallers in the back office, and executive.

One to make sure that, after 12th or graduation it depends on your stream. If you choose IT or computer engineering, you have a better chance to get into govt. Sectors by preparing for exams and landing into BSNL or any private telecommunication company.

2. Software Development - One of the job-oriented skill development courses after 12th is Software Development. Once you have completed your engineering or BCA from the university, you can easily get a job in the IT sector. Apart from that, there are still government affiliate programmes and online UGC vocational courses list available by Udemy and Coursera.

From the secondary option you do learn about software development but not in the context. Nevertheless, they are still likely to get a well-paid job in small IT sectors.

3. Interior Designing – A course in interior design can be efficient to work in the construction industry as an Interior Designer. This is one of the best fields in the coming years and has a plethora of career options in the MNCs or private firms.

There is no other way to get Interior designing-related education except to take a full-time course for it. But quick learning programmes help you to get information about interior design from scratch.

4. Marketing – The duration of this course is similar to the other UGC approved vocational courses of 1-2 years and gives vast knowledge about the marketing world as a Salesman, Product Manager, or Marketing Specialist.

5. Healthcare – This field is considered to be one of the most important ones and is always in demand by the industry. A course in healthcare would earn a student the place of a Nurse, Ward Boy, Assistant, and intern.

In this field, you still need to know the basic rules about the human body as it connects with the person’s life though. You can’t simply call yourself a nurse by learning for 23 years and falling into the job.

6. Graphic Designer and Website Designer – There are several certification courses queued up in the UGC vocational courses list for this field. Launching your own website or freelancing turns out to be a better idea in this generation. There is also high demand by the MNCs and private web developers.

7. Photography – A photography course is one of the vocational courses after 12th arts and would ensure a career in freelancing or publication houses such as newspapers, magazines, and advertising agencies. Also, this course would enhance more knowledge in the field of lighting techniques and video graphics.

8. Retail Management – One of the most common fields is retail management. Many colleges offer UGC-approved vocational courses which are lined up in UGC vocational courses listed in these criteria. Apart from colleges, it has 6 monthly courses available from the certified classes. The criteria are perfect and if you are enthusiastic about management then you shouldn’t stop yourself from gaining knowledge by doing a 3 years college/university course.

9. Printing and Publishing – There are certain UGC-approved vocational courses related to journalism and mass communications. These courses include anchoring, writing articles, editing, and printing. Graduates completing this course would have ample opportunities in the Digital World.

10. Building Technology – The Building Industry has advanced over the years hence it is necessary to have practical knowledge about this field through a course. It would land you a job either as a Contractor or a Skilled Labourer.

11. Theatre and dance – This field is in the list of vocational courses after 12th and has always been an entertaining one and will never be outdated. The industry is always in high demand for new talents and new faces. Gaining insights in this course would lead the student to be a dancer, actor, or technician in backhand services.

India’s well-known academy NSD (National School of Drama) offers the opportunity but the admission rates are so low that you have to become keener on your acting or any theatre or dance-related skills.

12. Commerce – This is one of the vocational courses for commerce students. Being aware of accounts and economics would gradually be convenient for job opportunities as a clerk, accountant, or cashier.

Accounts are very vulnerable stuff. One mistake and everything will fall apart. After 12th commerce, you can simply take B.com or if you graduated from an engineering background then you can do an MBA for sure to end up in banking-related jobs.

13. Computer and hardware Management – One of the most technical and advanced fields which have UGC-approved vocational courses in nearly all colleges. There has been a sudden rise in these courses and jobs in almost all fields.

14. Artificial Intelligence - Artificial Intelligence, widely known as AI is a branch of science and technology typically related to building smart machines that are/will be capable of performing tasks that are typically performed by the human brain. This course guarantees that the students will develop a sense of curiosity, creativity, analytical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

15. Robotics - Robotics is one of the vocational courses after 12th science and a branch of science and technology that focuses on producing, and creating machines, mainly called robots, that have been proven to be a good substitute for human work.

Like any other software-related course, it is quietly rough enough. It takes knowledge of detail about hardware technology and a Master will be the better option after pursuing a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field.

Candidates can choose from the UGC vocational courses list and apply for the same. When a 12th pass candidate applies for a vocational training course and completes the entire 3-year course he will graduate with a B.Voc. Like an academic course, the candidate can also pursue post-graduation in Vocational Training Courses. The eligibility criteria for a master's degree is the B.Voc degree.

Admissions for Vocational Training Courses

Admission into vocational skill courses is generally merit-based or through entrance exams depending on the college and university, you are applying to. The common procedure for application is as follows –

Step 01 (Application) – Candidates will have to fill up an application form for the institute they are applying by checking the eligibility criteria. Along with this form, there is an additional process to pay the application fees and submit the required documents.

Step 02 (Evaluation) – This process is conventionally conducted by the institutes. They evaluate candidates based on their application form and academic background. If the institute is conducting entrance exams then the evaluation will be carried out based on the marks scored in the exam.

Step 03 (Merit List) – Once the institutes are through with their evaluation process they release a merit list that has the names of all shortlisted students who have passed the minimum cut-off.

Step 04 (Counseling) – The shortlisted candidates are called to complete the admission process and choose the course of their choice.

Step 05 (Offer Letter) – When you are through with all the college formalities they will send an offer letter stating that the admission has been confirmed. Students are then required to pay their initial college fees for the course.

Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria and appear for the entrance exams. The academic score also plays a vital role in ensuring they get admission to the desired college. Strategic and deliberate efforts are all you need to complete the admission process.

Entrance Exams for Admissions

Here are some of the basic entrance exams

1. IPU CET – A university-level entrance exam conducted by Indraprastha University, and is usually conducted for programmes such as Engineering, Medical, Dental, Law, and Management. The minimum qualification for undergraduate courses _ is 10+2 and equivalent, whereas, for postgraduate courses, you must have completed your undergraduate degree in any of the aforementioned disciplines.

2. MHT CET – A state-level entrance exam for admissions into all Vocational Training Institutes in Maharashtra. This exam is relevant for programmes like B.Tech/B.Sc and B.Pharma among others in the state of Maharashtra.

3. BHU UET – An entrance exam conducted by Banaras Hindu University for admissions into courses offered by the institute. All the candidates should have cleared the 12th or equivalent examination. Moreover, they should have obtained at least 50% of the marks in the qualifying examination. 12th-passed candidates are able to apply for a BA in economics or social science, BA LLB, BSC in maths or biology, B.Ed, BPEd, and BCom in Financial Markets and management as well.

The basic syllabus for these entrance exams is similar to the 12th-class syllabus but varies according to the field of specialization. To prepare thoroughly for the exam candidates should practice mock tests and refer to the previous exam pattern.

Colleges for Vocational Training Courses

There are more than 200 affiliated colleges that grant you a valid degree in the skilled courses and their overall ranking in the country. Many colleges have a huge list of professional courses approved by UGC. And the average course fees are around Rs.3000 to Rs 2,00,000 per annum. The following table suggests the top colleges for Vocational Training Courses after 12th and their ranking.

• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
• National Institute of Fashion Technology
• Central Footwear Training Institute, Agra