Best Courses After +2 Arts in Nepal (2026) Career Options for Students

Last updated: June 21, 2026

After (+2) Class 12 Arts in Nepal, students can choose from academic degrees like BA, BSW, and BA Shastri, creative arts degrees like BFA, BCD, and BMus, media programs like BMS and BA Film Studies, professional fields like Law, Journalism, Teaching, Psychology, and Social Work, plus vocational diplomas in animation, fashion design, interior design, photography, and filmmaking. Arts is genuinely one of the most flexible streams in Nepal, and this guide goes deep into every realistic path so you can choose based on what actually excites you, not just what sounds familiar.

After checking your SEE or +2 GPA, use our NEB GPA calculator to confirm your eligibility before applying to any college.

If you want to learn more, you can read our guide on What Can I Study After +2 in Nepal. For more detailed information, you can also explore separate guides for Science, Management, Humanities, and Law.

Academic Bachelor’s Degrees After (+2) Arts

BA (Bachelor of Arts) is the most common and most flexible degree for Arts students. It is a 4 year program under Tribhuvan University allowing majors in subjects like English, Nepali, History, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, and Rural Development. TU’s restructured BA program covers core subjects in English, Nepali, and Nepal Studies alongside two chosen majors. Admission requires +2 from any stream with at least D plus in each subject. Public TU affiliated colleges charge approximately NPR 10,000 to 20,000 per year, while private campuses charge more. Career outcomes include civil service, teaching, journalism, research, and further study through MA or PhD.

Bachelor in Social Work (BSW or BASW) is a 4 year professional degree offered by TU, KU, and Purbanchal University. Admission requires +2 from any stream with D plus grades. The curriculum combines social work theory with mandatory field practice. Public TU fees run approximately NPR 20,000 to 30,000 per year while private colleges charge more. BSW leads to careers as Social Worker, Counselor, Case Manager, Community Organizer, Child Welfare Officer, and Human Rights Advocate, and is a thoughtful choice for Arts or Humanities students passionate about addressing social issues in Nepal.

BA Shastri in Sanskrit is a 3 year degree offered by Nepal Sanskrit University through its constituent campuses across Nepal. It suits students with a Nepali or Sanskrit background and covers classical languages, literature, and Vedic studies, with government funded minimal tuition. It leads to academia, priesthood, or further study through Acharya (MA equivalent) at NSU.

Creative Arts and Design Courses After (+2) Arts in Nepal

For students with a genuine creative flair, Nepal offers several formal pathways into fine arts and design, though options are more limited than countries like India.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at Tribhuvan University’s Lalit Kala Campus in Bhotahity is Nepal’s oldest art college, established in 1948. It offers majors in Painting, Sculpture, Graphic Communication, Classical Music (Tabla and Vocal), and Classical Dance (Kathak and Odissi). Admission requires +2 from any stream plus an entrance exam involving sketch work, typically held in February or March. Fees are low at approximately NPR 20,000 per year. Fine arts is a perfect career option if you have a creative flair, and graduates become professional artists, art teachers, curators, and illustrators.

Kathmandu University’s School of Arts at Hatiban, Lalitpur offers BFA in Studio Art, an interdisciplinary program blending theory and practice with strong technology integration and entrepreneurship focus. Admission requires +2 with at least 40 percent and passing KU’s own entrance test (KUSAAT) along with a portfolio review. Fees are significantly higher at approximately NPR 530,000 per year, reflecting KU’s position as a top private university.

Bachelor of Craft and Design (BCD) is KU’s newer 4 year, 135 credit program blending traditional Nepali craft traditions with modern design studios covering furniture, product, fashion, and interior design, plus material studies in metal, wood, textiles, and digital fabrication. Admission requires +2 with at least 40 percent. Fees are approximately NPR 530,000 per year. Career outcomes include industrial designer, craft designer, curator, and artisan entrepreneur.

Nepal currently has no dedicated standalone Bachelor of Design degree separate from BCD, so students interested in product or industrial design have BCD as their primary formal pathway, alongside related routes through architecture or engineering for those wanting interior or product specialization.

Media, Film and Journalism Degrees After (+2) Arts

Bachelor in Media Studies (BMS) at Kathmandu University is a 4 year, 126 credit interdisciplinary program covering journalism, film and video, new media, public relations, ICT, and media research. Admission requires +2 with at least 45 percent plus KUSAAT and an interview. Fees run approximately NPR 646,000 per year. Graduates become journalists, filmmakers, multimedia producers, and public relations officers.

BA in Journalism and Mass Communication is offered through Tribhuvan University at colleges including Ratna and Kaiser campuses, plus Pokhara University’s BJMC program at various private colleges. This is a 3 to 4 year program admitting students with +2 from any stream, generally through TU’s CMAT or the respective university’s own entrance test. The curriculum covers news writing, reporting, media law and ethics, photojournalism, broadcasting, and public relations. Private college fees run approximately NPR 60,000 to 120,000 per year. Career outcomes include reporter, editor, broadcaster, and copywriter, with major employers including Kantipur, Gorkhapatra, NTV, and various FM and online media houses.

Bachelor in Film Studies is offered through TU affiliated private colleges including Oscar International College and Nepal Film Campus, both in Kathmandu. These are 4 year programs with specializations in Acting, Direction and Screenwriting, Cinematography, Sound, and Editing. Admission requires +2 with at least 40 percent plus an entrance test and interview. Total fees run approximately NPR 500,000 to 600,000 for the full program. Graduates become film and TV directors, cinematographers, editors, and sound designers, with Oscar International College in particular known for alumni working in Nepali cinema.

For shorter, faster entry into the film industry, Kantipur Film Academy offers 6 month diplomas in Cinematography, Directing, Editing and VFX, and Acting, while Everest Film Academy offers 6 to 12 month diplomas in similar specializations plus a dedicated photography diploma. These accept +2 graduates with no additional prerequisites and cost approximately NPR 150,000 to 400,000 depending on duration and specialization.

Music and Performing Arts After (+2) Arts

Bachelor of Music in Ethnomusicology at Kathmandu University’s School of Arts is a 4 year program covering Nepali musical traditions, instrument and vocal training, and research methods. Admission requires +2 with at least 40 to 50 percent plus an audition or entrance test. Fees run approximately NPR 530,000 per year. Graduates work as musicians, music teachers, ethnomusicologists, and cultural program curators.

BFA in Music and Dance through TU’s Lalit Kala Campus offers a more affordable alternative at approximately NPR 20,000 per year, covering Classical Music (Tabla and Vocal) and Classical Dance (Kathak and Odissi), leading to careers as performing artists and dance instructors.

Shilpee Theatre in Kathmandu offers Nepal’s first formal Theatre Arts Diploma, a 1 year intensive course run jointly with Commedia School in Denmark. It requires +2 plus at least 3 years of acting experience and covers acting, directing, and stagecraft, leading directly into professional theatre work.

Beyond these formal programs, various dance academies, theatre schools, and music workshops across Kathmandu offer shorter certificate courses of 1 to 6 months for students wanting to build specific performance skills without committing to a full degree.

Creative Career Pathways in Detail

Several creative fields are accessible to Arts students primarily through vocational diplomas and short courses rather than full bachelor’s degrees, reflecting Nepal’s still developing formal creative education infrastructure.

Graphic Design career paths run through TU’s BFA in Graphic Communication at Lalit Kala Campus, KU’s Bachelor of Craft and Design with a design focus, or CTEVT diplomas of 1.5 to 3 years. Entry level graphic designers earn approximately NPR 14,000 to 20,000 per month, rising to NPR 30,000 to 40,000 at mid career, working in advertising agencies, media houses, NGOs, and IT firms.

Fashion Design in Nepal centers around Purbanchal University’s BFDM (Bachelor of Fashion Design and Management), a 4 year, 8 semester program at Namuna College in Kathmandu, currently the only 4 year fashion bachelor’s degree in Nepal. A shorter 3 year BFD is also available. Admission requires +2 from any stream with at least 35 percent marks. Total fees run approximately NPR 800,000 to 950,000. The curriculum covers sketching, pattern making, textiles, and garment technology. Many fashion graduates end up freelancing or starting their own boutiques given Nepal’s relatively small formal fashion industry, with entry salaries around NPR 15,000 to 25,000 per month.

Interior Design pathways include Purbanchal University’s BID, a 4 year program at colleges like Kantipur International College requiring +2 with at least second division marks plus an entrance exam, group discussion, and interview. Fees run approximately NPR 500,000 to 700,000. KU’s Bachelor of Craft and Design also covers interior design within its curriculum. Given Nepal’s ongoing urban development and real estate growth, demand is genuinely strong, with entry salaries of NPR 20,000 to 35,000 per month rising to NPR 70,000 to 100,000 or more for senior designers.

Photography has no standard dedicated bachelor’s degree in Nepal. Students typically combine BFA programs that include some photography training with CTEVT diplomas or private academy courses from institutions like Kantipur Film Academy and Everest Film Academy, which run 6 month to 2 year photography focused diplomas costing roughly NPR 40,000 to 200,000. Building a strong personal portfolio matters more than formal credentials in this field, with skilled freelancers in commercial and wedding photography able to earn NPR 30,000 to 75,000 or more per month.

Animation and Multimedia is one of the strongest vocational paths for creative Arts students. Institutes including Maya Animation Academy, Animax, iDream Animation, and Axis Animation in Kathmandu offer 6 to 18 month diplomas in 2D and 3D animation, VFX, and game design using industry standard software like 3ds Max and Maya. Entry is simply +2 from any stream with fees typically NPR 50,000 to 150,000 total. Nepal’s animation industry has grown steadily, and graduates find work as animators, 3D modelers, and visual effects artists in film, advertising, and gaming studios.

Law After (+2) Arts in Nepal

Law remains one of the most respected and structured career paths for Arts students who enjoy debate, reading, and analytical thinking. Long gone are the days when you need to first complete a bachelor’s degree to pursue a law course. Now, you could begin your law journey right after the 12th.

The main route is a 5 year integrated B.A. LL.B offered through TU’s Nepal Law Campus in Kathmandu, Pokhara University’s Institute of Law, and Kathmandu University’s School of Law (which runs a combined BBM-LL.B). A shorter 3 year LL.B is also available for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree.

Admission requires +2 from any stream with typically at least 50 percent marks, plus a faculty entrance exam such as TU’s law entrance or KU’s KULSAT, which combines a written test with an interview. The curriculum covers Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Civil Procedure, Contract Law, Property Law, Family Law, and International Law, with strong emphasis on moot courts and legal clinics for practical training.

After graduation, aspiring lawyers must register with the Nepal Bar Council and pass its bar examination to practice professionally, along with a short advocates’ training certificate. New lawyers typically start at approximately NPR 15,000 to 30,000 per month, while experienced corporate lawyers can earn NPR 100,000 or more per month, with senior judges earning even higher. Career progression typically moves from associate to senior advocate, then potentially to partner or judiciary roles. Law graduates also find strong opportunities as corporate counsel in banks, telecom companies, and NGOs.

Teaching Career After (+2) Arts

Teaching remains one of the largest and most stable employment sectors for Arts graduates in Nepal. The standard route is now an integrated 4 year B.Ed where students specialize in two teaching subjects, typically chosen from their +2 Arts background such as English, Nepali, or Social Studies. A 2 year B.Ed track also exists specifically for primary level teaching.

Major institutions include Tribhuvan University’s Faculty of Education through its constituent and affiliated colleges nationwide, and Kathmandu University’s School of Education. Admission generally requires a +2 pass, sometimes with subject specific grade requirements matching your intended teaching specialization.

The curriculum blends subject matter expertise with pedagogy, covering Educational Psychology, Curriculum Development, Teaching Methodology, Child Development, and a substantial classroom teaching practicum. For government teaching positions, recruitment now happens through the Teacher Service Commission examinations, while private schools generally hire directly based on the B.Ed qualification itself.

Government secondary school teachers at the first grade level earn approximately NPR 68,000 per month gross based on recent fiscal year figures, while entry level primary teachers start around NPR 31,000 to 55,000 per month depending on grade level. Promotions to higher service grades roughly double salary over a career. Teaching offers genuine long term stability and a clear path to leadership roles like Head Teacher or curriculum developer, with further study through M.Ed opening doors to education administration and policy work.

Psychology After (+2) Arts

Psychology has grown significantly in interest among Nepali Arts students as mental health awareness increases nationally. The standard route is a 4 year BA or BSc in Psychology offered through TU’s Central Department of Psychology and various affiliated colleges, plus Kathmandu University’s School of Arts.

Admission requires +2 with generally suggested marks of 50 percent or above, plus the relevant university’s entrance test such as KUSAAT for KU. The curriculum covers Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Research Methods, and Psychosocial Counseling, with strong emphasis on statistics and field based research work.

There is no statutory license required to practice as a psychologist or counselor in Nepal, though organizations like the Nepal Psychological Association and Nepal Clinical Psychologists Association offer professional membership and credibility. Most hospitals and serious counseling roles prefer candidates with at least a master’s degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.

As awareness about psychology grows in Nepal, psychologists will be needed in schools, hospitals, and counseling centers. Career outcomes include school counselor, HR specialist, market researcher, and clinical or counseling psychologist after further study. Entry level salaries start around NPR 25,000 to 40,000 per month, with experienced professionals holding an M.Sc earning NPR 70,000 or more, and specialized leads in clinical or industrial organizational psychology reaching approximately NPR 100,000 per month.

Social Work After (+2) Arts

Social Work is a deeply meaningful path for Arts students drawn to community development and human welfare work. The standard route is a 4 year BSW offered at approximately 20 TU affiliated colleges nationwide, plus Kathmandu University, Purbanchal University, and Mid Western University. Admission is straightforward, requiring just +2 from any stream with at least D plus grades and generally no additional entrance exam.

The curriculum covers Social Work Theory and Practice, Human Behavior and Development, Community Development, Social Policy and Advocacy, Social Research Methods, Ethics, and a mandatory field practicum in NGO or community settings.

There is no formal licensing requirement for social workers in Nepal, though the Social Workers’ Association Nepal serves as the national professional body offering networking and training. Demand is genuinely strong across NGOs and INGOs working in child welfare, poverty alleviation, health, and women’s rights, plus government social welfare departments, hospitals, and schools.

Entry level social workers earn approximately NPR 20,000 to 30,000 per month at NGOs or government positions, with mid level program officers earning NPR 40,000 to 75,000 and senior managers reaching NPR 80,000 to 100,000 or more, particularly at well funded international NGOs. A BSW also opens pathways into further study through MSW, Master of Public Administration, or Public Health programs.

Comparison of Career Paths After (+2) Arts

For students who genuinely enjoy reading, writing, and analytical debate, Law or BA with a strong major offers the most intellectually structured path with clear professional licensing through the Nepal Bar Council.

For those passionate about creative expression, BFA, BCD, or vocational diplomas in animation, graphic design, or photography offer genuine creative careers, though they generally require more entrepreneurial hustle and portfolio building than salaried corporate paths.

For students drawn to storytelling and current events, Journalism or Film Studies offers a direct route into Nepal’s growing media and content industry, with film specifically offering higher prestige but more competitive and irregular income, especially early in a career.

For those wanting stable, respected, lifelong employment with clear government pay scales, Teaching through B.Ed remains one of the most secure choices in Nepal’s entire education to career landscape.

For students who want to understand and help people directly, Psychology or Social Work both offer growing demand as Nepal’s mental health and development sectors expand, with Social Work offering more accessible entry requirements and Psychology offering stronger earning potential after a master’s degree.

For those drawn to performance and the arts as a lifelong craft, BFA in Music or Dance, the Theatre Arts Diploma at Shilpee, or KU’s Bachelor of Music in Ethnomusicology provide formal training, though income in these fields is often supplemented by teaching alongside performance.

Study Abroad After (+2) Arts in Nepal

For students with strong +2 results who want an international degree, Arts students have genuine options across multiple countries, though pathways and requirements vary significantly.

The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand typically require approximately 60 to 65 percent in NEB +2, often supplemented by a 1 year International Foundation program if your specific subject background does not fully align with the target degree. IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 is standard across all four countries.

The United States accepts NEB +2 as equivalent to a high school diploma, with TOEFL iBT 80 or above commonly required, though some colleges now accept Duolingo English Test scores or have moved to test optional policies. US tuition for Arts programs ranges widely from approximately $15,000 to $65,000 per year, making total costs the highest among popular destinations.

India remains one of the most accessible and affordable destinations for Arts students, with NEB +2 widely recognized and entry cutoffs ranging from 45 to 60 percent depending on the institution. Notably, the Government of India provides the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme supporting Nepali undergraduates including Arts students at prestigious Indian universities, and the Lata Mangeshkar Dance and Music Scholarship specifically for fine and performing arts degrees.

Germany requires non EU secondary graduates including Nepali students to typically complete a 1 year Studienkolleg preparatory program before starting a degree, though public university tuition itself is largely free, with living costs of approximately €10,000 to €14,400 per year being the main expense.

The Netherlands offers strong English taught creative arts and design programs at both research universities and universities of applied sciences, with entry requirements of approximately 50 to 60 percent depending on the institution type and tuition of approximately €9,000 per year.

For all destinations, students should research scholarships actively since dedicated Nepal specific undergraduate scholarships for Arts students remain genuinely limited outside India’s specific arts and culture schemes, university merit awards, and education loans from Nepali banks. Planning at least 6 to 12 months ahead, securing English test scores early, and gathering apostilled academic documents are essential steps regardless of destination.

Final Thoughts

After (+2) Class 12 Arts in Nepal, the genuine range of paths is far wider than most students and parents assume. Academic routes through BA, BSW, and law lead to stable, respected careers in civil service, education, and the legal profession. Creative routes through BFA, BCD, film studies, and vocational diplomas in animation and design open doors into Nepal’s growing creative and media industries, even though they often require more individual hustle and portfolio building than traditional corporate paths. Helping professions like Psychology and Social Work offer increasingly strong demand as Nepal’s mental health and development sectors mature.

The right choice depends entirely on matching your genuine interests, your financial situation, and your tolerance for either structured stability or creative risk. Whatever direction you choose, building real practical experience through internships, volunteer work, or a personal creative portfolio alongside your formal studies will matter more for your career outcomes than the name of your degree alone.

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