BBA (Hons) vs Regular BBA: What’s the Difference?

Listen to this blog

0:00 / 6:00

You have just finished your 12th class and are now torn between what to choose for your future. With a plethora of UG courses available at your fingertips, it can get a little distracted on what suits you the best. At least you can keep that worry aside for your choice between BBA Honors vs BBA.

This blog is going to give you an idea about everything a learner needs to know about the BBA Hons vs BBA scope.

What is BBA

One of the most popular UG courses, Bachelor of Business Administration, is a three-year undergraduate program that focusses on business fundamentals, operations, industry exposure and so on. This course works best for learners who are looking to pursue a career in business management and is a starting point for several disciplines such as accounting, finance, education, marketing, and so on.

With a BBA degree in hand, learners have access to skills such as leadership and communication. This course also includes training, case studies, and a course structure that helps students to get a complete hold of the expertise it offers. BBA is of different types such as full time, part time, online and distance.

What is BBA Honors

Unlike a regular BBA, Bachelor of Business Administration (Honors) is a 4-year undergraduate degree that also pertains to the field of business management. It is a course where learners can specialize in one subject and hold a strong expertise in it. Alongside, it also prepares the learners to be smart decision makers, manage or start an enterprise, help them prepare for research and so on.

The BBA Hons is a higher quality degree than the conventional bachelor’s degree. This higher level of competence helps learners to pursue research opportunities and higher academic standards. BBA Hons also can be pursued in different types such as full time, part-time, online and distance.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for BBA Hons vs BBA

As every course/program locks in an eligibility criterion for students to get admitted to them, BBA Hons and BBA also follows one as below:

Students should hold a minimum 50% marks in their 12^th board exams in any stream.

Based on this eligibility, some universities might require an entrance exam score while others offer direct admission.

What is the Admission Process for BBA Hons vs BBA

The admission process for both BBA Hons vs BBA is almost the same. An entrance exam needs to be passed to be enrolled in both courses. And the admission process differs from college to college. Below are the steps to be followed for getting into either BBA Hons vs BBA.

Students who have at least 50% in their 12^th class can fill out the application forms for entrance exams through their desired university/college portal. There are also universities that offer direct admission to candidates with the above eligibility.

The entrance exams can be chosen from national-level (IPMAT, CUET etc.) or university-level (Symbiosis Entrance Test, IPU CET, UGPET, etc.).

Based on the scores of the entrance exams and the qualifying merits (12^th class), candidates are shortlisted.

Further, the counselling process will take place as per the rankings attained by students.

Following this, students can select the colleges they receive through counselling and secure their seat by paying the fees which complete the admission process.

BBA vs BBA Hons Course Structure

The BBA vs BBA Hons course structure is very similar expect with a few changes towards the end of the program completion. As discussed, BBA provides students with a wide range of subjects to specialize in whereas BBA Hons focuses in-depth on one subject.

The first and second year will remain the same for both of the courses. The third and fourth year will have subjects pertaining to BBA Hons and the specialization chosen by the learner. BBA Hons is a four-year program in some universities.

Here is the curriculum of online BBA (Hons) offered by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).

Year 1	Semester 1 1. Principles of Management 2. Business Communication 3. Accounting for Managers 5. Statistics for Managers 6. Managerial Economics	Semester 2 1. Managing People and Organization 2. Marketing Management 3. Cost and Management Accounting 4. Analytics using Computer Applications 5. Environmental Studies 6. Media Literacy and Critical Thinking
Year 2	Semester 3 1. Operations Management 2. Corporate Finance 3. Research Methods in Management 4. Business Law 5. Health and Wellness 6. Open Elective (Coursera/Swayam)	Semester 4 1. Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystem 2. Enterprise Resource Planning 3. Design Thinking and Innovation 4. Emerging Technologies and Applications 5. Strategic Management 6. Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Year 3	Semester 5 1. Project Management 2. Business Taxation 3. Specialization subjects a. Healthcare Management b. Business Analytics c. Marketing Management d. Financial Technology e. Human Resource Management	Semester 6 1. Corporate Governance and Business Ethics 2. International Business Management 3. Major Project 4. Specialization subjects a. Healthcare Management b. Business Analytics c. Marketing Management d. Financial Technology e. Human Resource Management
Year 4	Semester 7 1. Behavioral Economics and Decision Making 2. Business Analysis 3. Sustainable Business Models and Circular Economy 4. Specialization subjects a. Healthcare Management b. Business Analytics c. Marketing Management d. Financial Technology e. Human Resource Management	Semester 8 1. Artificial Intelligence 2. Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Organizations 3. Dissertation /Capstone 4. Specialization subjects a. Healthcare Management b. Business Analytics c. Marketing Management d. Financial Technology e. Human Resource Management

Key Differences Between BBA Hons vs BBA scope

Apart from their similar admission process and eligibility criteria, there are other major differences to be noted for BBA Hons vs BBA. Let us dive into them in detail.

Depth of Study

One of the major distinctions lies in the depth of the curriculum. While BBA offers a broad overview of business and management fundamentals, BBA (Hons) gives more perspective into the core concepts of one or two subjects, permitting students to analyze topics with greater academic rigor.

Specialization Options

BBA is often more holistic in approach, with a narrow focus for specialization. On the other hand, BBA (Hons) typically includes focused specializations such as Fintech, Marketing Management, Human Resources, or Business Analytics, having students build skills in a chosen domain.

Curriculum Structure

The BBA (Hons) program usually is 3-4 years depending on the university as it provides additional credits in contrast with the regular BBA. This paves way for more advanced subjects, research projects, and industry exposure, making the curriculum more robust and demanding.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from both programs can find junior positions in the corporate world, but BBA (Hons) graduates are more suitable for domain specific roles due to their advanced knowledge of the field. The honors tag on the resume also adds more validation in competitive job markets.

Preference in Higher Studies

Candidates looking forward to higher education like an MBA or even a Ph.D. usually get more advantage from an educational background of BBA (Hons). Its robust academic foundation, focus on reasoning, and aspects of research components make it a more effective launchpad for advanced education.

Industry Recognition

Though both degrees are well-regarded, BBA (Hons) usually grabs wider acceptance among recruiters, notably for roles that require critical thinking and domain specialization. It signals a more rigorous academic background to employers.

Global Acceptance

BBA (Hons) is often more preferably looked at in international settings, mostly for applications to foreign universities or corporate firms. Its specialized and academically intensive nature aligns more closely with global education standards when compared to BBA.

Research Orientation

A BBA (Hons) program may include components like research methodology, projects, and dissertations. These academic elements are usually not part of a standard BBA program, which focuses more on practical and functional business skills.

Course Difficulty Level

The BBA (Hons) course tends to be more demanding due to its deeper content, additional coursework, and specialization requirements. BBA, on the other hand, is more accessible and suitable for students looking for a general business education.

Long-Term Career Growth

In the long run, BBA (Hons) graduates may find themselves climbing the corporate ladder faster, especially in roles that value analytical ability and domain knowledge. Their early exposure to specialization often results in stronger resumes and better growth trajectories.

Career options after BBA vs BBA Hons

Students have promising career opportunities once completed with BBA Hons vs BBA. With the evolving industry needs, graduates can find promising careers with BBA or BBA Hons. But with the weightage of BBA Hons, establishing a deeper understanding of a single subject fetches more domain specific roles.

Career options after BBA

Job Role	Average Starting Salary (INR/Year)
Sales Executive	₹2.5 – ₹4 LPA
Marketing Associate	₹3 – ₹4.5 LPA
Customer Relationship Executive	₹2.5 – ₹3.5 LPA
Business Development Executive	₹3 – ₹4.5 LPA
Operations Assistant	₹2.5 – ₹4 LPA
Administrative Executive	₹2 – ₹3.5 LPA
HR Assistant	₹2.5 – ₹4 LPA
Retail Manager	₹3 – ₹5 LPA
Banking Associate	₹2.5 – ₹4.5 LPA
Social Media Coordinator	₹3 – ₹4.5 LPA

Note: All salaries deduced from Ambition Box and other sources

Career Options after BBA Hons

Job Role	Average Starting Salary (INR/Year)
Financial Analyst	₹4 – ₹6.5 LPA
Marketing Strategist	₹4 – ₹6 LPA
HR Executive	₹3.5 – ₹5.5 LPA
Business Analyst	₹4 – ₹6.5 LPA
Operations Manager (Entry-Level)	₹4 – ₹6 LPA
Investment Advisor	₹4.5 – ₹7 LPA
Supply Chain Coordinator	₹4 – ₹6 LPA
Research Associate (Business)	₹4 – ₹5.5 LPA
International Business Executive	₹4.5 – ₹6.5 LPA
Management Trainee (Specialized)	₹5 – ₹7 LPA

Note: All salaries deduced from Ambition Box and other sources

Final Thoughts

Learners can choose between BBA vs BBA Hons as per their scope, requirements, and where their interests lie. Both are one of the most preferred courses for fresh graduates as they are a perfect launchpad for their future.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education has launched an online BBA Honours degree program through Online Manipal. This comprehensive course begins as a three-year course. Upon completing their three years with a CGPA of 8 or above, learners can choose to continue another year to graduate with a BBA Honors degree.

Either way, with Online Manipal, this course from MAHE is going to be a great boon to students who are open to graduating from a remote setting and looking forward to flexibility.

Explore more and take your first step towards a successful career with Online Manipal’s endless possibilities.

Become future-ready with our online MBA program

View All Courses