Many parts of India were home to some of the oldest civilizations in the world, giving it a pretty rich history and culture. Its religions, art, dance, literature, and languages are among the most widely studied worldwide. Because of these, prospective students can find several interesting programs under the Faculty of Art, Humanities, or Social Sciences from India’s top universities.

The country has internationally recognized education standards in various fields of Engineering, granting graduates excellent career opportunities at home or abroad. Many top universities have also proactively upped their standards in courses and programs under Humanities to attract more students nationally and globally to study India’s unique and vibrant culture.

Indian universities also widely use English as a medium of instruction and invite globally competent professors and researchers, adding to its appeal to international students. Their technological propensity also allows them to provide state-of-the-art facilities to further aid student learning and experience.

Top Humanities Universities in India

1. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) opened in 1958 and has since become one of the top technical universities worldwide and among the top universities for humanities in India. Its outstanding graduates are highly sought after among multinational companies. It consistently ranks among India’s top five academic institutions in national and global rankings. As such, it attracts many excellent secondary school graduates. Currently, it hosts roughly 11,000 students spread among its 15 departments.

IITB offers a wide range of core and elective courses under the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, ranging from language and literature to philosophy and economics, allowing students to expand their knowledge and experience in the discipline. Its four-year undergraduate program grants a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree. It blends economic, technological, and societal knowledge to help graduate becomes competent professionals who can secure a promising career in private or government offices.

The university also offers a Master of Philosophy in Planning and Development degree and a Ph.D. program that covers five disciplines: Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, English, and Economics. It also has a six-year dual degree program offering a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in Philosophy.

2. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) is another excellent institution for humanities in India that was initially established as the College of Engineering in 1961. Since then, the institute has expanded to 16 departments, 12 centers, and six schools specializing in Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management, and Physical Sciences.

The Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) Department at the IITD offers an outstanding doctorate program covering seven areas: Economics, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Policy, Psychology, and Sociology. Students may study part-time or full-time, and graduates are equipped with the competencies necessary to pursue a career in the academe or research.

In 2020, the university’s HUSS department also started offering two globally competent Master of Science programs: Economics and Cognitive Science. Each program lasts two years of full-time studies and welcomes 25 new students every year.

3. Indian Institute of Technology Madras

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) is an outstanding school for humanities in India that is part of India’s 23 nationally important technological institutes. It currently takes pride as the best technical institute in the country. It was inaugurated in 1959 as part of the country’s agreement with Germany to establish a technical university in Madras.

Despite specializing in engineering and other technical courses, the institute’s Humanities and Social Sciences department offers excellent programs and interdisciplinary courses that could provide supplementary knowledge and skills to help students gain career opportunities in various industries.

IITM’s Master of Arts program lasts five years and grants a degree in Development Studies and English Studies, which allows students to gain global insight and capability to address social, economic, linguistic, and technological issues. The institute’s Ph.D. program in Humanities offers students the chance to conduct research on a wide array of topics, including the literature of various countries, history, linguistics, philosophy, and more.

4. University of Calcutta

Initially modeled after the University of London, the University of Calcutta (CU) is also a leading school for humanities in India that opened in 1857 in Kolkata and became home to four Nobel Laureates, such as the world-renowned Rabindranath Tagore. Nationally, it ranks among the top five universities and is famous for its numerous notable firsts: national college for women, medical school, science college, national museum, and more.

The university’s Faculty of Arts has Master’s and Ph.D. programs in various disciplines of Humanities that have a pretty long history of excellence. It is a great venue for prospective students who are interested in Indian culture. They can pursue a postgraduate program in Ancient Indian History & Culture, Bengali Language and Literature, Sanskrit, and more.

Students may also pursue a more international postgraduate program, such as Economics, Philosophy, Archaeology, and more. Regardless of the program, the University of Calcutta’s remarkable national reputation of excellence guarantees that students receive the best education in these fields.

5. Banaras Hindu University

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi was founded in 1916. Its graduates have contributed to the independence of India and the development and modernization of the country. Banaras Hindu University is a recognized institution for humanities in India and currently ranks among the top five universities in the country.

It is considered the largest residential university in Asia, accommodating almost 19,000 students and staff in its 70 hostels and numerous guesthouses.

It hosts over 31,000 students under its vast range of courses and programs under Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Medicine, Science, and Technology. The university also welcomes international students from more than 50 countries and allots 15% of its program seats for them every year.

BHU’s Faculty of Arts offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs that cover some of the following: History, Culture, Philosophy, Language, and Literature. Domestic and international students can also learn Indian or foreign literature and languages. The department’s faculty members include nationally famous professors, such as former Indian President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who teaches Philosophy, and some celebrities.

 

We hope that this article on Best Humanities Universities in India was helpful. If you are interested in knowing more, check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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