Where to learn Indian languages: Courses, institutes and job roles

There is no better medium than languages to experience the breathtaking diversity of the wonder that is India. Knowing more than one Indian language will enhance your chance to get a job in another region in the country and bring you into close contact with communities other than your own.

Studying Indian languages

• You need to clear your Class XII board exams from any stream to get admission to a BA course in any of the Indian languages.
• After your graduation, you may go for a postgraduate course. Your admission will depend on your score in the undergraduate exam or your score in the university entrance exam, depending on the mode of admission.
• You can also pursue diploma or certificate courses in any Indian language of your choice after graduation.

Where to study Indian languages

University of Calcutta, Kolkata

Courses offered in Bengali: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) degree with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Hindi: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) degree with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.

Courses offered in Urdu: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) degree with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Urdu: Certificate.

• Duration: One year.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) degree with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Urdu: Diploma.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) degree in Urdu with a minimum of 55% aggregate or a Certificate course in Urdu.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  
  
• Check out for more information here.
  

Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Courses offered in Bengali: BA.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to pass Class XII board exams with a minimum of 55% aggregate to appear for the entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance examination conducted by the department concerned.

Courses offered in Bengali: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) degree with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  
• Check out for more information here.
  

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Courses offered in Hindi: MA.

• Duration: Two years
• Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline under 10+2+3 pattern of education with at least 45% marks with adequate proficiency in the language.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Urdu: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline under 10+2+3 pattern of education with at least 45% marks with adequate proficiency in the language.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  
  
• Check out more information here.
  

University of Mumbai, Mumbai

Courses offered in Marathi: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) in Marathi with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Marathi: Certificate.

• Duration: One year
• Eligibility: You need to pass your Class XII board exams with at least 55 % aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Marathi: Diploma.

• Duration: One year.
• Eligibility: Certificate course in Marathi.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Gujarati: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) in Gujarati with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Kannada: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Kannada: Certificate.

• Duration: One year.
• Eligibility: The course is intended only for non-native speakers with at least 10+2 qualifications.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Kannada: Diploma.

• Duration: One year (part-time)
• Eligibility: Any degree course with working knowledge of the Kannada language.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  
  

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Courses offered in Bengali: BA.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 55% aggregate to appear for the BHU entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance exam.
  

Courses offered in Bengali: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) in Bengali with at least 55 % aggregate to appear for the BHU entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance exam.

Courses offered in Bengali: Certificate.

• Duration: One year.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Hindi: BA.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 55% aggregate to appear for an entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance exam.

Courses offered in Hindi: MA.

• Duration: Two years
• Eligibility: BA (Hons) in Hindi with at least 55% aggregate to appear for the entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance exam.

Courses offered in Hindi: PG Diploma.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: MA with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Hindi: Diploma.

• Duration: Two years
• Eligibility: MA with 55 % aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Hindi: Certificate.

• Duration: One year.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.

Courses offered in Urdu: BA.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: 10+2 with 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based through BHU Entrance examination.
  

Courses offered in Urdu: MA

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: BA with 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based through BHU Entrance examination.
  

Courses offered in Urdu: Certificate.

• Duration: One year.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII exams with at least 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  

Courses offered in Urdu: Diploma.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: MA with 55 % aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.

Courses offered in Telugu: BA.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 55% aggregate to appear for an entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance exam.
  

Courses offered in Telugu: MA.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need a BA (Hons) degree in Telugu with at least 55% aggregate to appear for an entrance exam.
• Admission: You need to clear the entrance exam.

Courses offered in Telugu: PG Diploma.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: MA with 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based
  

Courses offered in Telugu: Diploma.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: MA with 55% aggregate.
• Admission: Merit-based.
  
  
• Check out more information here.

Ramakrishna Mission School of Language and Culture, Kolkata

Courses offered: Certificate.

• Choice of subjects: Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, Sanskrit.
• Duration: Six months.
• Eligibility: Anyone with a valid ID can enrol in the courses.
  
  
• Check out for more information here.
  

Job roles after learning Indian languages:

• Academia: You can pursue a career in teaching at school and other higher education institutions. Online tutoring platforms also invite applications for language teachers.
  
• Translator: Regional language translators are in high demand in newspapers, magazines, publishing industry, advertisement industries and consulates. They are also employed by OTT platforms for subtitling and translation jobs.
  
• Interpreters: They are often required in the legal department of the government agencies, consulates and at times during writing examinations.
  
• Online content creators: The content creation industry is booming with the availability of online platforms and resources. Regional content creators are emerging and filling the vacuum caused by heavy content generation in foreign languages.
  
• Tourism sector: You can be a local translator, interpreter or a guide. International and national tourism companies often hire these professionals for guided tours.