PCM Career Options Beyond Engineering: List of Courses 2023

Choosing what to study after class 12th is one of the critical and career-defining decisions. Unfortunately, we can see that candidates begin career planning at the last minute and end up choosing paths that are popular. There are lots of career options to choose from but one should know what they want to pursue. The most common career choice left for a candidate with PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MATHS (PCM) in class 12th is engineering but, there are many other good options that students may be unaware of. Candidates completing their class XII must be aware of all the courses and options so that he/she can make a good decision. Some of the many career options and courses for PCM students after class 12th other than Engineering are discussed below.

CBSE Class 12 Time Table 2023

Variety of PCM career options beyond engineering

As you can see, there are a variety of PCM career options beyond engineering. These careers offer good job prospects and require a variety of educational degrees. With hard work and dedication, you can pursue a successful career in any of these fields.

PCM career options beyond engineering

Career Option	Description	Educational Requirements	Job Prospects
Architecture	The design and planning of buildings and structures.	Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)	Good job prospects in the construction and real estate industries.
Data Science	The extraction of knowledge from data.	Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Data Science, Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Data Science, or equivalent	Good job prospects in the IT and analytics industries.
Artificial Intelligence	The creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously.	Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Artificial Intelligence, Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Artificial Intelligence, or equivalent	Good job prospects in the IT and technology industries.
Robotics	The design, construction, operation, and application of robots.	Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Robotics, Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Robotics, or equivalent	Good job prospects in the manufacturing, healthcare, and defense industries.
Biomedical Engineering	The application of engineering principles to medicine and biology.	Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (B.B.E.), Master of Biomedical Engineering (M.B.E.), or equivalent	Good job prospects in the healthcare and medical device industries.
Microbiology	The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.	Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Microbiology, Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Microbiology, or equivalent	Good job prospects in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and environmental industries.
Nautical Science	The study of navigation, shipboard operations, and marine engineering.	Bachelor of Nautical Science (B.N.S.), Master of Nautical Science (M.N.S.), or equivalent	Good job prospects in the maritime industry.
Investment Banking	The provision of financial services to corporations and governments.	Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent	Good job prospects in the financial services industry.
International Marketing Management	The planning, execution, and control of marketing activities across national borders.	Bachelor of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent	Good job prospects in the international business industry.
Aviation Management	The management of airlines, airports, and other aviation-related businesses.	Bachelor of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent	Good job prospects in the aviation industry.

Architecture

Being an Architect is also considered the best career option after class XII. In this, professionals have to work on projects that need planning, designing and architects. Architects have to work closely with their clients to customise designs according to specifications. They are mainly involved in the creation and restoration of buildings, such as residential complexes, malls, commercial spaces, restaurants, etc. For a career in architecture, the candidate needs to have keen observational skills, critical thinking, aesthetic sensitivity, efficient use of space, and an eye for detail.

Career Opportunities in Architecture

There are many career options in Architecture that candidates can opt for. Some of the best career options include Sustainable Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning, Architectural Conservation, Urban Design, Industrial Design, etc.

Some Top Colleges for Architecture

List of top colleges offering a career in the field of architecture:

• School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee
• Sir JJ College of Architecture
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur
• National Institute of Technology, Thiruchirapalli
• Vogue Institute of Art & Design, Bangalore
• School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi
• Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Gujarat
• National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut

Aviation

If anyone doesn’t want to pursue a career in research or desk jobs, then Aviation would be the best option for candidates interested in the sky-high ride. This profession is a mixture of science, technology and travel, a career in Aviation provides you with an opportunity to let enjoy life with open arms.  Candidates must have command of a flight’s controls, and ensure that passengers and cargo are carried safely around the globe for being a Commercial Pilot.

Top Aviation course after class 12th

• Bachelor of Business Administration [BBA] (Aviation)
•  Bachelor of Business Administration [BBA] (Airport Management)
•  Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] (Aviation)
•  Diploma in Aviation
• Private Pilot License (Certificate)

Career Opportunities in Aviation

As a Commercial Pilot, one can work with major international or regional airlines, fly cargo planes to transport goods/cargo, work as a corporate pilot to fly corporate jets, and also operate medical or air emergency planes. Candidate can find opportunities with major international and domestic airlines, airport authorities and aircraft manufacturing firms with a career as Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

Some Top Colleges for Aviation:

• University Of Mumbai, Mumbai
• Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur
• Noida International University, Gautam Buddha Nagar
• NIMS University, Jaipur
• VELS University, Chennai
• Singhania University, Jhunjhunu
• IIKM Business School, Chennai
•  Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai
• The IIS University, Jaipur
• Western India Institute of Aeronautics, Ahmedabad

Journalism

There are different courses in the field of Journalism that depend on the objective of the programme and the university that is providing the admission. Media has-beens considered as an integral part of India either through newspapers or through television. There are various career options that can opt for pursuing journalism courses.

Courses to pursue Journalism

Given below are the list of courses that a candidate can pursue in the field of Journalism:

• Diploma in Journalism (DJ)
• Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication (DJMC)
• B.A. with Journalism
• Bachelor in Journalism (B.J)
•  BA in Convergent Journalism

See Top Mass Communication Entrance Examination: List of Colleges

Ethical Hacking

Hacking mainly deals with the profession related to a computer network, system or internet entity by exploiting its weaknesses and/or loopholes. Hacking is divided into two types– ethical hacking and black hat hacking (regular hacking). A career in Ethical Hacking is fast becoming popular for students because of the advancements in the technology space. Ethical Hackers are mainly responsible for the company’s network security by preventing the leak of sensitive information.

How to become Ethical Hackers?

There are various academic programs i.e. Diploma and Certificate by which candidates can pursue their career in ethical hacking.

Ethical Hacking Degree courses in India

Following Bachelor’s Degree courses, PG Degree courses and Certification courses are the options that candidate can opt for:

•  B.Tech. Cyber Security and Forensic
•  B.Sc. in Networking and Security
•  B.Tech. IT & Cyber Security
•  M.Tech. CSE (Information Security)
•  M.Tech. Computer Science and Information Security
•  M.Tech. Information Security
•  M.Tech. Cyber Laws and Information Security
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) course
•  SSCP course
• CISSP course
• CISA course
• CISM course
• OSCP course

Career Opportunities in Ethical Hacking

Ethical hackers have to protect the company from cyber-attacks. As an ethical hacker, the candidate is responsible for various roles, such as Network Security Engineer, Penetration Tester, Network Security Administrator, Security Consultant, etc.

Some Top Colleges for Ethical Hacking

There are no degree programs in Ethical Hacking, candidate have to opt for only certification courses. Some top certification bodies are:

•  Indian School of Ethical Hacking (ISOEH), Kolkata
•  EC Council (Online)
• Indian Institute Of Hardware Technology Ltd. ( IIHT) , New Delhi
• Dharamjeevi Institute Of Professional Education ( DIPE) , Kurukshetra
•  Ankit Fadia Certified Ethical Hacker (Multiple Locations/Online)
•  NIIT Ethical Hacking (Multiple Locations)
•   Arizona Infotech, Pune

Merchant Navy

If anyone wants to have an opportunity to travel around the world and the lure of adventure on the high seas, then you can opt for a career in the Merchant Navy. It is different from the navy as it offers commercial services, as opposed to the navy, which is largely involved in the defence of a nation.

Merchant Navy courses in India

After class 12, the candidate can opt for the following merchant navy courses:

• B.Sc. Nautical Science
• B.E. Marine Engineering
• B.E. Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering
• B.E. Petroleum Engineering
• B.E. Mechanical Engineering
• B.E. Harbour & Ocean Engineering
• B.E. Civil Engineering
• B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• B.Sc. Marine Catering
• Electro-Technical Officer Course

Some Top Colleges for Merchant Navy courses

•  C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar
•  AMET University, Chennai
•  Centre for Maritime Education and Training, Dehradun
•  CMC Maritime Academy, Chennai
• Cosmopolitan Technology of Maritime, Chennai
•  Hindustan Institute Of Maritime Training Post Sea Training CentreKilpauk, Chennai
• NUSI Maritime Academy, Goa

Computer Applications & IT

If you are a computer lover or interested in programming languages and coding but doesn’t want to pursue engineering. Then the field of computer applications can also be considered as one of the best career options. Professionals in this field have a brief knowledge of computer hardware, programming languages, operating systems and software concepts.  For having a successful career in this field, the candidate must have good command over programming languages.

Career Opportunities in Computer Applications

• Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) {Hons.}
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) (Computer Technology)
• Bachelor of Computer Applications [BCA]
• Diploma in Computer Application [DCA]
• Bachelor Of Computer Application [BCA] (Data Analytics)
• Some Top Colleges for Computer Applications
•  Christ University, Bangalore
•  NIT Trichy, Tiruchirappalli
• St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
• St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
• SRM University, Chennai
• Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR)
• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), Delhi
• Madras Christian College, Chennai

See Computer Applications Course: Eligibility, Syllabus, Application process

Fashion Technology

For candidates who want to pursue a career in Fashion Technology,  they must have knowledge of design and development of fabrics, and the manufacturing process to ensure quality and efficiency of fabrics and garments. During the course, you learn about textile fibres, fabrics, garment manufacture, and garment design through Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. It is one of the most glamorous and fast-growing professional field growing nowadays in India. The fashion industry provides candidates with a huge amount of Fame, Money & Name opportunities. Candidates with creative minds & have a passion for making good looking things have tremendous job opportunities in this field.

Career Opportunities in Fashion Technology

The following 3 to 5 years of courses are available for a graduate degree in the field of Fashion Technology.

• B.Des in Fashion Design
• B.Sc Hons. In Fashion Designing
•  Bachelor of Fashion and Apparel Design
• B.Sc. – Fashion Designing
• BBA – Fashion Design
• BFA – Fashion Design
• Bachelor of Fashion Design
• Diploma + B.Design in Fashion (Dual Programme)
• B.Sc + M.Sc (Design) in Fashion Design

Some Top Colleges for Fashion Technology

• National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi
•  Graphic Era Hill University (GEHU), Dehradun
•  CT Group of Institutions, Jalandhar
• Himalayan Institute of Technology, Dehradun
•  Amity School of Fashion Technology, Noida
•  Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology, Ludhiana
• The IIS University, Jaipur
•  National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Kolkata
• JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Meerut
•  Vidya Institute of Fashion Technology, Meerut
• AP Goyal Shimla University (AGU), Shimla
• Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
• Sharda University, Greater Noida
• IEC University (IECU), Baddi
• Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur
• IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar

Defence

A career in defence is considered as one of the prestigious and respected positions in the country. Youngsters who want to choose a career of excitement, challenges, and adventure can definitely choose a career in Defense. Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of India which are divided into four professional uniformed services: The Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

Career Opportunities in Defense

The Indian Army offers the opportunity to work in various areas, like Air Defense, Engineering & IT Unit, Combat Unit, Army Services Corp, Education, etc. The Navy allows one to work in the Executive, Engineering, Medical, Electrical and Educational branches. Opportunities in the Air Force include working in the Flying Branch, Technical Branch, or the Ground Duty Branch.

List of qualifying exams for a career in Defense after 12th class

For Male Candidates:

• UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA)
• Indian Army Technical Entry Scheme
• Indian Navy Btech Cadet Entry Scheme
• For Female Candidates
• Military Nursing Services

Some Top Colleges for Defense

Given below are some main defence training institutions in India:

•  Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC)
•  Army Cadet College (ACC)
• Indian Military Academy (IMA)
• National Defence Academy (NDA)
• High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS)
• National Defence College (NDC)
• Officers Training Academy (OTA)

Graduation in Physics

Graduation in Physics can provide a candidate with countless opportunities. Physicists have to study a wide range of physical phenomena, such as matter, gravitation, energy, optics, etc. Candidates can for specialisation to advance research in various fields. For having a career in Physics, the candidate must have problem-solving capability, strong logical thinking skills, a methodical approach, and must have an interest in topics related to Physics.

Career Opportunities in Physics

Candidate can choose their career in various fields such as Econophysics, Healthcare, Medical Physics, Biophysics, Computational Physics, Defense, Aerospace, Geophysics, High Energy Physics, Data Science and Nuclear Physics. Interested candidates can also opt for research or teaching in these areas.

Some Top Colleges for Physics

List of colleges offering courses in the field of Physics:

• IISc, Bangalore
•  Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupati)
•  St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
•  Hansraj College, Delhi
•  Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
•  St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
•  St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
•  Presidency University, Kolkata
•  Fergusson College, Pune
•  National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Odisha

Industrial Design

As opposed to the traditional fields of design, such as apparel and fashion design, which a candidate from any stream can pursue. There are certain sub-fields of design that require the technical expertise of science candidate. Product Designers (a sub-field of Industrial Design) are involved in the manufacture and design of products, Bluetooth headphones, smartwatches, to wheelchairs, ranging from mobile phones, furniture, and home appliances. 

Career Opportunities in Industrial Design

Candidates can explore opportunities as an Industrial Design Researcher in the manufacturing sector, information technology companies,  research institutes and companies that deal with the design of innovative products. 

Top Colleges for Industrial Design

Given below is the list of the colleges offering Industria Design:

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Guwahati
• IIITDM, Jabalpur
•  National Institute of Design (Multiple Locations)
•  Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore
•  Indian School of Design & Innovation, Mumbai
•  Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune

The candidate must note that now Engineering is NOT the only career option available for a PCM student. There are many other professions such as Aviation or Defense, can continue their career in Journalism and Media too!

Check Popular Courses After 12th Class, Options for Science, Arts, Commerce