Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com): Types, Courses, Subjects 2024

B.Com stands for Bachelors of Commerce and it is an undergraduate degree course in the discipline of commerce. It covers a variety of subject areas like accounting, finance, business studies, economics, business laws, taxation etc. and helps to strengthen the theoretical bases of students in commerce. 

B.Com is unanimously one of India’s most popular courses and here we have covered the aspects of the course in full detail.  

What is B.Com? 

B.Com is an undergraduate course which stands for Bachelors of Commerce. This course is designed for students who want to obtain higher education in the commerce background. B.Com is offered as a three-year degree course in a number of subjects. The degree is offered both as a regular and an honours course. 

B.Com is a widely pursued course in India and offers students with a strong base in a number of subjects pertaining to commerce. B.Com is offered by almost all reputed and prestigious colleges and universities of India.

B.Com Course Details 

B.Com courses are available as general degrees, honours degrees, online and offline degrees etc. The degree itself is of a duration of 3 years and offers students with theoretical knowledge and hands-on training and experience pertaining to the subject areas of commerce. The basic details about a B.Com course in India are provided here. 

Course	Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Course Type	Degree Course
Course Level	Undergraduate Course
Course Mode	Regular Mode Open Distance Learning Mode (ODL) Online Learning Mode (OL)
Course Duration	3 Years
Basic Eligibility	Candidate should have attained Higher Secondary education (Grade 12) Commerce Background in 10+2 level is needed in some colleges Candidate should have secured at least 50% aggregate marks in HSC
Basis of Admission	Merit or Entrance-Based
Entrance Exam for Admission	DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)  CUET (Common University Entrance Test) BHU-UET (BHU Undergraduate Entrance Test)  NPAT (National Test for Programs After Twelfth)  IPU-CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test)
Course Fees	INR 5000 to INR 4,00,000
Important Subject Areas	Financial Accounting  Economics  Taxation Business Law  Cost Accountancy International Business etc.
Popular Specialisations	General  Banking and Finance  Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) Financial Accounting Accountancy  Finance
Popular B.Com Colleges & Universities	University of Delhi  Christ University  St. Xaviers College, Mumbai Loyola College Chennai  Chandigarh University  Jain University  Madras Christian College Chennai Narsee Monjee College of Commerce etc.
Top Job Domains after B.Com	Banking  Financial Accounting  International Finance  Taxation  Corporate Finance  Entrepreneurship  Company Secretary Chartered Accountancy etc.
Average Salary After B.Com	INR 4 LPA to INR 5 LPA

What is B.Com Hons? 

B.Com Honours is the detailed B.Com course in which students are taught the specific aspects of commerce in-depth. The key feature of B.Com Hons is that it covers a specific area of commerce in a comprehensive manner, with providing detailed knowledge and hands-on experience in practically applying the learnt concepts. 

B.Com Hons courses are one of the nation’s most popular courses at the undergraduate level, and common specialisations taken up by students include banking and finance, finance and accounting, international business, accountancy, business studies, taxation etc. 

B.Com Hons courses are provided by a large number of top universities and colleges across India, and many central and state universities also provide this course,  making it an affordable course to be taken up by the masses. 

Here are a few important details about the B.Com Hons course, as provided in India. 

Course	Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com Honours)
Course Duration	3 Years
Basic Eligibility	Candidate having qualified Grade 12 (HSC or Other Recognised Board)  Candidate Having Secured At least 50% Aggregate Marks in HSC
Course Fee Range	INR 2500 to INR 4,00,000
Mode	Regular Learning Mode Open Distance Learning (ODL) Mode  Online Learning (OL) Mode
Important Specialisations in B.Com Hons	General  Finance and Accounts  Economics Statistics Investment Management Accountancy Banking and Insurance E-Commerce etc.

So, a B.Com Hons course is not only very useful for enhancing one’s knowledge domain in commerce but it is also one of the most highly demanded courses in the professional field today, especially in the contemporary globalised set-up where effective commercial management is synonymous with economic success. 

B.Com Program vs B.Com Hons 

Many students are often conflicted about whether to choose a general B.Com program or a B.Com Hons degree. So, here we have broken down the major differences between a B.Com Hons degree and a general B.Com course. 

B.Com Honours	General B.Com
This is an in-depth in which an area of commerce is taught to students.	This is a course that introduces all the important areas of commerce to students.
This course is quite comprehensive and detailed in that the main emphasis is on exploring and understanding a particular subject domain of commerce.	This course is comparatively less comprehensive and detailed since it does not emphasise on one single area of commerce.
The course fee range of B.Com Hons is generally higher, in the range of INR 5000 to INR 4,00,000.	B.Com program has a comparatively lower fee range than B.Com

In terms of the scope of a B.Com Hons and general B.Com course, the former (B.Com Hons) is more highly valued for both further education and professional options as it trains a student comprehensively in a domain of commerce. A general B.Com may be a more plausible option for those who wish to strengthen their fundamental knowledge of all domains of commerce or want to keep their job opportunities open for the future. 

The fee range and the duration for both the courses- a B.Com Hons degree or a general B.Com degree, are almost similar (although the fee range for B.Com program is slightly lower than a B.Com Hons degree). 

Types of B.Com Courses 

When it comes to picking the B.Com course which is right for your educational and professional needs, it is a good idea to be aware of your options. In India, apart from the various B.Com specialisations, there are also available options pertaining to the depth of the course, the mode in which it is delivered etc. 

Here are the various types of B.Com courses that you can take up after completing HSC education. 

1) B.Com Hons Course

A B.Com Honours course is a detailed and comprehensive degree in which students obtain in-depth knowledge about a selected domain of commerce studies. This is a 3-year degree course which involves a specialisation, and students gain a comprehensive theoretical understanding as well as hands-on learning experience in their chosen domain. 

2) B.Com Program

As already discussed, a B.Com program is also a 3-years degree in commerce, but it does not involve a specialisation in which the students are trained. Rather, students learn about all the major areas of commerce studies in a B.Com program at the foundational level. So, this course is ideal for aspirants who are either not certain about the specialisation they wish to choose or want to strengthen their basic understanding of commerce as a whole. 

3) B.Com: Regular Degree 

A regular B.Com degree is a full-time course at the postgraduate level. This is a 2 year degree, and being a regular course, this includes a physical mode of learning, in which students must regularly visit the college/university campus for lectures, practicals etc. The classes for a regular B.Com degree are held usually on a daily basis, and it has a slightly higher fee range than an ODL B.Com or online B.Com degree. 

The major highlights for a regular B.Com degree are: 

• Regular offline, physical lectures in college
• Offline practical sessions in college 
• Fee range between approximately INR 5000 to INR 4,00,000 (depending on college chosen) 
• Multiple specialisations available 
• Higher placement packages than ODL or online B.Com degree

4) B.Com: Distance Degree

A B.Com course in the distance mode, or the Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode is a degree which is completed through correspondence. For this mode of learning, the students receive self-learning materials (SLM) and resources from the college/university, must study and complete the curriculum and appear for examinations in the physical mode. Some universities also have facilities for Personal Contact Programs (PCPs) during which students can visit the campus, clarify their doubts and interact with peers and faculty. The major highlights of a distance B.Com are: 

• The course is completed through the SLMs provided by the university to students. 
• Some universities may have facilities for some online sessions for doubt clarification and teaching. 
• Some colleges may also conduct practicums in the campus for the course. 
• There are Personal Contact Programs (PCPs) for the course during which students visit the university campus for a period of time to attend offline lectures, clarify doubts etc. 
• The course fee range is approximately between INR 4000 to INR 15,000. 
• The value and credibility of a distance B.Com course is equivalent to a regular B.Com as per the guidelines of the UGC-DEB. 
• The placement packages offered for an ODL B.Com may be slightly lower than those offered to graduates of a regular B.Com course. 

5) B.Com: Online Degree 

A major development in the field of education in recent times is the rising popularity of online learning as an equally viable and valid mode of education. Catching up with this development, many top colleges and universities have now started offering a fully online B.Com course to students. An online B.Com is a full-time course that is completed through virtual mode, through online lectures, discussion sessions, simulation techniques for practicals and online assessment. This course is slightly more affordable than a regular B.Com and offers additional advantages to students. 

Here are the top highlights of an online B.Com course as offered in India.

• The value and educational credibility of an online B.Com is equivalent to a regular B.Com course as per the guidelines of the UGC-DEB.
• An online B.Com is completed fully through the online mode, which includes online live and offline lectures, online practicals, virtual doubt clarification forums, webinars, online assessments etc. 
• The examinations for this course are conducted in the online  proctored mode with AI-driven techniques for monitoring. 
• The course fee for an online B.Com degree ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 1,05,000. 
• The course confers an additional advantage of learning to students through flexible schedules and absence of bars on minimum attendance. 
• While pursuing an online B.Com, one has the chance of exploring other opportunities like jobs, internships or diploma courses. 
• Most online B.Com courses have integrated placement assistance services and students can get top placement offers from reputed firms after completing an online B.Com. 

6) B.Com After Class 12th

While B.Com is unanimously the most popular course in the field of commerce after completing class 12th education, there are other courses pertaining to commerce and closely related to B.Com which can also be taken up after HSC education. Some of these include courses like 

• Professional Course in Chartered Accountancy 
• B.A (Economics Hons)
• BBA 
• BCA
• Certified Financial Planner Course etc. 

Online B.Com vs Regular B.Com: Which One to Choose? 

While online B.Com is gaining recognition, it is still in its budding phases in terms of becoming a mainstream course of college education. On the other hand, there are constraints that a student can face upon choosing a regular B.Com degree. So the question that arises naturally is whether it is better to complete a regular B.Com degree or go for an online B.Com. 

Here we have carefully weighed out all the pros and cons of an online and regular B.Com degree for you. 

Regular B.Com	Online B.Com
Regular B.Com is one of the most popular courses in India.	An online B.Com is also gaining popularity and momentum in the Indian education system.
The fee range of a regular B.Com can start from INR 5000 and escalate up to even INR 4,00,000.	The fee range of an online B.Com is from INR 20,000 to INR 1,05,000.
Regular B.Com graduates are at a leverage in terms of placements.	Online B.Com graduates may not have a leverage in terms of placements, however, as per the mandate of UGC-DEB, a regular B.Com and online B.Com must be deemed equivalent in credibility and value.
It includes rigid timetables and schedules of study in the college.	Students get sufficient flexibility of learning as they can learn at their own pace, revisit lecture recordings and don’t have to adhere to attendance compulsions.
It adds to the additional costs such as accommodation, food, travel, relocation etc.	Pursuing an online B.Com is a more affordable option for UG education, as it has a lower fee range as well as saves costs of accommodation and travel.
Being a full-time offline course, a student may have little to no time left for exploring other areas like internships and jobs alongside the degree.	An online B.Com will allow students to not only learn their concepts but also develop skills and explore other areas simultaneously as they can take up internships, jobs or skill development courses alongside.
It offers a chance of experiential learning as well as interaction with faculty and peers of college.	Although there are online forums and discussion platforms available for interacting with the faculty and peers, the scope for face-to-face interaction is limited in an online B.Com.

So, after weighing in all the pros and cons of online vs a regular B.Com degree, you can select the course which suits your educational needs the best. 

B.Com Specialisations 

When it comes to taking up an honours course in B.Com, there are a number of specialisations relating to various areas of commerce like accounting, finances, taxes, business laws etc. There are a number of specialisation areas, but a student should make an informed decision about the one they choose, considering their area of interest, aptitude and skills, scope for future career development and so on. 

Here are a few of the top preferred B.Com (Hons) specialisations in India along with the major subject areas covered in them. 

B.Com Specialisation	Important Subject Areas
Accounting and Finance	Financial accounting Auditing Commercial law Business organization Banking theory Cost accounting Business finance etc.
Economics	Macroeconomics Indian Economy  Financial Market Operation Financial Accounting Commercial Bank Management Applied Economics Microeconomics Advances of Statistics Auditing etc.
Investment Management	Investment & Wealth Creation Wealth Management Financial Systems Basics of Contract and Corporate Laws Investment Strategists Taxation in Investment Management  Investment Laws Investment Banking Income Analysis International Investment Management Technical Analysis of Investments etc.
Accountancy	Financial Accounting Intermediate Accounting Managerial Accounting Corporate Finance Auditing  Cost Accounting Management Information Systems etc.
Banking and Insurance	Principles of Insurance Business Economics Services Marketing Legal Regulatory Aspects of Banking Company Accounts Income Tax Management Accounting Auditing  Financial Statistics Cost Accounting etc.
E-Commerce	Introduction to Information Technology Object Oriented Programming with C++ Statistic for Business Mathematics for Business Internet and Web Designing Computer Applications E-Commerce Technology Software Development with Visual Basic Brand Management etc.
Statistics	Statistics and Probability Probability Distribution Statistical Methods Inferential Statistics  Statistical Quality and Control and Readability Actuarial Statistics Operations Research etc.

In Demand Online B.com Specialization

Online BCom In Accounting and Finance	Online BCom In General
Online BCom In Auditing and Taxation	Online BCom In Ecommerce
Online BCom In Banking and Insurance	Online BCom In International Finance
Online BCom In Marketing Management

Top 10 Colleges to Pursue B.Com in India

Before we dive into the specific details of the B.Com course, here we have provided you with the list of some of India’s top colleges to take up a B.Com degree from. 

College/University	Accreditations	Course Offered	Course Fees
Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC)	NAAC A++, NIRF Rank 12	B.Com (Honours)	INR 90,000
Loyola College	NAAC A++, NIRF Rank 4, UGC	B.Com Hons B.Com (CS)  B.Com (Computer Applications)  B.Com (CS) B.Com (Accounting and Finance)	INR 1,52,000
Hansraj College	NIRF Rank 14, UGC, MAAC A+ (2022)	B.Com Hons	INR 23,265
Sri Venkateshwara College	NIRF Rank 14, UGC, NAAC A+	B.Com Program B.Com Hons	INR 37,215
St. Joseph’s College of Commerce	NIRF Rank 93, UGC	B.Com B.Com (BPM-Industry Integrated) B.Com (Travel and Tourism) B.Com (Professional - International Accounting and Finance) B.Com (Analytics) B.Com (Professional - Strategic Finance)	INR 2.6 Lakhs
SVKM's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics	UGC, NAAC A	B.Com (Hons) B.Com Program  B.Com Economics and Analytics  B.Com Economics	INR 48,000 to INR 1,25,700
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	NIRF Rank 6, NAAC A	B.Com Hons B.Com Hons (Financial Market Management)	INR 12,000
Aligarh Muslim University	NIRF Rank 11, NAAC A+	B.Com Hons	INR 1,70,000 (Approximate)
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	NIRF Rank 5, NAAC A++, UGC	B.Com  B.Com (Taxation and Finance)	INR 1,33,000 to INR 3,66,000
University of Mumbai	NIRF Rank 45, NAAC A, UGC	B.Com	INR 11,000

So, there are a number of top private and government universities available for students to take up a B.Com from. The top universities and colleges of India provide B.Com courses with a number of specialisations, and affordable education in this domain is available as many public universities provide these courses at reasonably low fee ranges. In many private universities and colleges, students are provided with financial support facilities like educational loans, scholarships, fee concessions etc. Further, with the advent of many top universities providing online B.Com courses now, the options available for completing the course are diverse. 

So, one should carefully research and choose the right college/university for completing a B.Com. (insert link for how to choose right online course)  

Eligibility Criteria to Apply to B.Com 

B.Com is an undergraduate degree course and hence students who wish to apply to this course must have completed a basic level of school education. Most universities and colleges of commercial studies do not mandate the candidate to have a commerce background in school education but having a fundamental knowledge and understanding of concepts of commerce is certainly a leverage in studying and excelling in this degree. So, some of the top universities providing this course also require the candidates to have a commerce background in commerce. 

The basic eligibility that a candidate must meet if they want to apply to a B.Com course in India are listed below: 

1. The candidate should have obtained at least Higher Secondary Education (i.e. HSC or an Equivalent) from a Recognised Board of Education 
2. The candidate should have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate marks/percentage in the qualifying examination (some universities may provide a relaxation of 5% marks for candidates belonging to reserved categories) 
3. Candidates from any stream are eligible to apply. However, some colleges may require the candidates to have a commerce background in their 10+2 education. 

Some higher educational institutions in India select candidates for the course on the basis of their performance in entrance examinations conducted for admission to UG courses. With the mandate of the UGC, all universities are now to select candidates for admission to all UG courses, including B.Com, through their scores obtained in entrance tests like CUET. 

Some of the common entrance tests conducted by various universities on the basis of which candidates are selected include: 

• CUET (Common University Entrance Test)
• DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)
• BHU-UET (BHU Undergraduate Entrance Test) 
• NPAT (National Test for Programs After Twelfth) 
• IPU-CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test)

Subjects and Syllabus of B.Com Course

The course curriculum of B.Com includes theoretical concepts of commerce as well as various practical learning courses. There are hands-on activities and papers, including projects and case studies that are often incorporated into the curriculum by many colleges. 

Here is a common syllabus given for B.Com. 

Semester I	Semester II
Financial Accounting Business Laws Basics of Accounting Business Organization and Management	Corporate Accounting Corporate Laws Entrepreneurship Finance for Non- Finance Executives
Semester III	Semester IV
Human Resource Management  Income- Tax Law and Practice  Management Principles and Applications Investing in Stock Markets Fundamentals of Marketing  E-Commerce Training and Development Digital Marketing Personal Tax Planning  Communication and Documentation in Business Personal Finance and Planning	Cost Accounting Business Mathematics  Computer applications in Business Insurance and Risk Management Project management and Techniques Computerised Accounting System Business Research Methods & Analytics Leadership and Team Development  Collective Bargaining & Negotiation Skills E-Filing of Returns Cyber Crimes and Laws
Semester V	Semester VI
Principles of Marketing Financial Management Management Accounting Organizational Behaviour  Macro- Economics  Entrepreneurship Development  Corporate Tax Planning Financial Markets, Institutions and Services  Advertising and Personal Selling  Business Statistics	Goods and Service Tax (GST) and Customs Law Auditing and Corporate Governance Fundamentals of Investment Compensation Management Business Tax Procedures and Management Consumer Affairs and Customer Care  Financial Reporting & Analysis Banking and Insurance International Business Industrial Relations and Labour Laws

Fees for Pursuing B.Com 

The fee range of the B.Com course you take up depends on a number of factors including

• Whether you choose B.Com Hons or B.Com program course 
• Whether you go for a regular or a distance or online degree 
• Whether you select a government or privately-owned university

Depending upon these factors, the fees for the full course would vary. Here is a summary of the fee ranges for a B.Com course. 

B.Com in Regular Mode	INR 5000 to INR 4,00,000
B.Com in Distance Mode	INR 4000 to INR 15,000
B.Com in Online Mode	INR 20,000 to INR 1,05,000
B.Com from Government University	INR 5000 to INR 40,000
B.Com from Private University	INR 30,000 to INR 4,00,000

Most universities and colleges offering this course have facilities for financial support for students through 

• EMI options of fee payment 
• Scholarships, fee concessions and fee waivers 
• Educational loan facilities at low interest rates 

So, students from a variety of educational backgrounds can take up the course and pursue further education. 

Career Scope After B.Com 

The career scope after completing a B.Com course is huge, since it is one of the most popularly demanded courses in India, and hence, students can venture into diverse areas such as corporate banking, financial management, financial strategy, banking etc. after completing a B.Com degree. 

Here are some of the top in-demand job roles that you can apply to after completing a B.Com, along with the average offered salary packages for the positions. 

Career Option	Average Salary in India
Accountant	INR 11 LPA
Corporate Banker	INR 15 LPA
Account Executive	INR 3.5 LPA
Financial Risk Analyser	INR 14 LPA
Public Sector Banker	INR 8 LPA
Tax Consultant	INR 6 LPA
Investment Manager	INR 6.5 LPA
Stockbroker	INR 4 LPA
Cost Estimator	INR 5 LPA

 Apart from the above mentioned job positions, an excellent career step after B.Com is to take up a degree or course of higher level of education.  So, after graduating, one can venture for a professional course or a postgraduate course. 

Here are some of the top further education options after completing a B.Com degree: 

• Masters of Commerce (M.Com) 
• Masters of Business Administration (MBA) 
• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• Business Accounting and Taxation (BAT) 
• Company Secretary (CS) 
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) etc. 

So, both the options, to pursue higher education or to go for a job role, are open for a B.Com graduate. 

Top Recruiters of B.Com Graduates 

When it comes to the top recruiters of B.Com graduates, it ranges from private to the public sector and from industries to top corporate giants, since trained professionals in commerce are needed to efficiently manage the financial aspects of a business entity. 

Some of the top recruiting companies of B.Com graduates include: 

Deloitte	Capgemini
Goldman Sachs	Cognizant
State Bank of India	HDFC Bank
PwC	KPMG
Ernst & Young	Wipro
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)	Amazon
Genpact	Infosys
Standard Chartered	Kotak Mahindra Bank

B.Com graduates can secure entry-level to mid-level positions in such top companies and brands depending upon their academic records, experience and skill sets. So, not only is the career scope of a B.Com degree huge, there are also many top reputed companies and corporations that hire B.Com graduates.

Conclusion 

Thus, B.Com is not only a very popular degree among students but is also one of the most demanded ones in the professional and corporate domains. There are many options and modes of learning in which a B.Com course is now being offered to students. The educational costs of a B.Com course vary from one university to another, however, there are a large number of public sector universities providing the course at affordable  fee ranges. The career scope of doing a B.Com is bright and there are many top companies and organisations that hire B.Com graduates.