Moreover, the increasing demand for management and business development professionals has also given rise to commerce graduates.
If you are also interested in subjects like business studies, economics, and finance, you can also opt for a career with a commerce background. It allows you access to many diverse career opportunities. You can pursue various lucrative career options like Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS), investment banking, etc. with commerce as your main subject in 12th standard.
Read on to gain important insights and career options after 12th with a commerce background.
What is Commerce? Definition and Overview
The commerce stream mainly focuses on teaching the basics of financial terms, trading, and business activities. It teaches you about financial structures and business transactions in an organization in detail. Moreover, you can embellish your analytical and logical skills by pursuing a career in the commerce stream.
After pursuing a career in the commerce stream, you can either choose to be a part of the managerial team or start your entrepreneurship journey.
Subjects in Commerce Stream
Commerce stream focuses on teaching the in-depth theories and techniques of the following subjects:
Accounts & Finance
If you like playing with figures, then accounting might fascinate you. It teaches you the basic principles of handling the finances of an organization. You can implement its principles in three different branches - accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping.
Business Studies
Business studies is one of the most interesting and engaging subjects of the commerce stream. It mainly focuses on understanding the basics of the operation and functioning of an organization. It is a complete framework that provides a deep knowledge of various organizational principles and tactics.
Economics
Economics is another valuable subject of the commerce stream. It teaches the intricate details of a country's overall demand and production of goods and services. It is divided into two parts - microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics is concerned with consumer behavior, while macroeconomics is concerned with national and international economics.
Why Should You Choose the Commerce Stream for Higher Studies?
The commerce stream has become one of the most common choices of students after the 10th standard. It offers a wide range of career opportunities with a vast application of commerce principles in various fields.
Here are some of the common benefits of choosing the commerce stream for higher education:
- The commerce stream opens numerous career options in various industries like chartered accountancy, the banking sector, manufacturing units, BPOs, etc.
- The demand for professionals with a commerce background never declines in the market because of its applicability in various sectors.
- The study of commerce and its subjects is also necessary for national growth. No nation can grow without the involvement of commerce principles.
- You can also implement various principles of commerce in marketing techniques for better reach.
What are the Courses at UG and PG Level Under Commerce?
Choosing the right subject and course after pursuing 12th from a commerce background is one of the trickiest tasks for students. You should research various disciplines and subjects of commerce based on your professional interests before choosing any course. Opting for the right course will open numerous career and job opportunities. Moreover, the right course will improve your skill set for professional implementation.
Choose the best UG and PG course based on your interest and career prospect out of the below-mentioned courses:
Undergraduate Courses for Commerce Students
A bachelor's degree in commerce background is a 3-year long undergraduate program for commerce students. It focuses on teaching the basic principles and their implementation of subjects including Economics, Taxation, Accountancy, Business Law, etc. Moreover, it helps the students to develop managerial and decision-making skills in the finance sector.
We have mentioned some undergraduate courses that you can opt for pursuing after 12th with a commerce background:
- B.Com
- B.Com. (Hons.)
- Bachelor of Economics
- Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
- B.Com. in International Business
- B.Com. in Tourism and Travel Management
- B.Com. in Finance and Accountancy
- B.Com. in Banking and Insurance
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- B.Com. in Accounting and Taxation
- B.A. in Business Economics
- Bachelor of Law
- Certified Financial Planner
- Bachelor of Business Studies
- Bachelor of Management Science
- Bachelor of Foreign Language
- B.Com. in Computer Applications
Postgraduate Courses for Commerce Students
Pursuing postgraduation opens many lucrative career opportunities for students with a commerce background. It allows you to understand the principles of handling business and finance. It gives you in-depth knowledge of your subject.
We have mentioned some postgraduate courses for commerce students below:
- M.Com
- M.Com. in Accountancy and Business Statistics
- M.Com. in Accounts and Finance
- M.Com. in Applied Economics
- M.Com. in Banking and Finance
- M.Com. in Business Policy and Corporate Governance
- M.Com. in Computer Applications
- M.Com. in Co-operative Management
- M.Com. in Corporate Accountancy
- M.Com. in E-Commerce
- M.Com. in Entrepreneurship
- M.Com. in Foreign Trade Management
- M.Com. in International Business
- Master of Finance and Control
- M.Com. in Banking, Finance, and Risk Management
- Master of International Affairs
- Master of Investment and Financial Analysis
- Master of Marketing Technology
- Master of Philosophy in Business Finance and Economics
Educational Requirements – Important Exams One Should Appear for Pursuing a Career in Commerce
Students with a commerce background generally opt for finance programs like CA and CS. These programs differ from regular graduate and postgraduate programs, and you have to clear exams like Chartered Accountancy Common Proficiency Test (CA-CPT) and Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CS-EET).
However, if you are planning to pursue a career in accounting, law, marketing, etc., you might need to appear for different entrance exams. We have mentioned the top entrance exams for commerce students for your reference below:
Common University Entrance Test (CUET)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) organizes a common university entrance test for students who want to be a part of 44 central universities. It is a national-level exam held by NTA annually. The qualifying candidates are then allotted seats in their desired undergraduate courses based on their scores.
St. Xavier’s Entrance Test
The students who want to pursue their higher education at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai need to appear for this exam. It is also a national-level exam conducted to select deserving candidates for admission to undergraduate programs like BMS and BMM from St. Xavier's College. It is a computer-based test conducted to test the skills of aspiring candidates.
Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT)
Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore conducts an integrated program in management aptitude tests annually on a national level. IPMAT is conducted to select aspiring candidates for its 5-year integrated course in management.
Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)
Many students from different parts of the country want to be a part of Symbiosis University. The university has a total of 12 institutes for which it conducts the Symbiosis Entrance Test to select deserving candidates for various undergraduate courses. It is a computer-based online test that includes 5 sections – Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, General Knowledge, and Comprehension Reading.
LSAT-India Exam
Law School Admission Council (LSAC) conducts LSAT India on a national level to select deserving candidates for a 5-year law course. It is conducted to assess the general knowledge and analytical skills of aspiring candidates.
Apart from all these exams, you can also appear for various other exams including:
- DU JAT (Delhi University Joint Admission Test)
- NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam)
- CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
- NMIMS NPAT (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies – National Test for Programs After Twelfth)
- NCHMCT JEE (National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology Joint Entrance Examination
Career Opportunities After Doing Commerce Courses
Commerce offers a large scope of future career prospects. It allows you to grab some of the highest-paying job opportunities in the corporate sector. You have varied opportunities, starting from being an accountant to becoming the CEO of the company. However, the position you get depends on your experience, knowledge, and skill set.
Some popular job profiles with their average annual income are mentioned in the table given below:
|
Job Profile |
Average Annual Income |
|
Chartered Accountant |
INR 7 Lac per annum |
|
Company Secretary |
INR 6 Lac per annum |
|
Investment Banker |
INR 4 Lac per annum |
|
Marketing Manager |
INR 6.5 Lac per annum |
|
Auditor |
INR 3 Lac per annum |
|
Business Analyst |
INR 7 Lac per annum |
|
Tax Consultant |
INR 4.8 Lac per annum |
|
Cashier |
INR 2 Lac per annum |
|
Legal Advisor |
INR 4 Lac per annum |
|
Account Manager |
INR 8 Lac per annum |
Conclusion
Commerce is a dynamic field that opens various future job prospects. It provides you the choice to enter various burgeoning career fields. You can either opt for being an accountant, human resources manager, marketing manager, financial advisor, economist, or law professional after pursuing higher education with a commerce background.
However, you should know about job trends and salary distributions before entering any field. Apart from this, graduating with a commerce background is highly beneficial for students who want to appear for various bank exams and enter the banking sector. We hope this article might have provided you with some valuable insights regarding a career in commerce.
