Top Trending Courses in 2024 for Students and Professionals

The key to choosing the right course for you is to understand and assess your skills, analyze your creative and academic drive, and look at the courses that suit your situation. Choosing the perfect course from among a plethora of available options can seem exhausting, but looking up trends, and evaluating the scopes of various disciplines in the coming years can be a great way to start.

Top Trending Courses in 2024

We have shortlisted select 10 courses that are highly rated, and known for their blended and flexible curriculum and project-focused syllabuses that would help you become industry-ready. These programs increase your employability, help you land high-earning jobs, and learn skills with which you can keep up with the constantly shifting trends.

1. Data Science

To pursue a degree in Data Science, you have to complete 10+2 (50% aggregate) from a recognized board with PCM as core subjects, or complete graduation (10+2+3 or 10+2+4) or equivalent degree. You could then take entrance tests conducted by independent institutes (UG and PG degree/diploma) or CUET (PG degree).

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in data science are a 3-year and 2-year program respectively. Students are trained in relevant programming languages, AI and ML, Data mining, database development, big data storage, and ethical data acquisition and management.

Throughout the course, students are encouraged to develop a variety of essential skills including cloud computing, understanding advanced data structures, business and forecasting analytics, and data visualization techniques.

Shorter Diploma and certificate courses (8 weeks to 1 year) are brief and comprehensive and offer a specialization in advanced programming languages, generative AI, data analytics, Cloud Computing, and other industry tools.

Professionals working as Business Analysts can earn up to 3.5-6 LPA, Network architects around 6-7 LPA, SQL developers between 3-5 LPA, and so on. With a Data Science degree, you can expect to earn an average of 4-7 LPA depending on various parameters.

2. Fashion Design

If you are looking forward to a career in fashion, or want to upskill for a better job, there are a number of courses available.

A 3-year B.Sc. or a 4-year B.Des in Fashion design is a perfect choice who want to understand the discipline in detail. If you have completed your graduation, M.Des/M.Sc (2 years) could be a great option too. After completing your +2/graduation, you can appear in DAT/PI conducted by different institutes.

These courses are designed to improve your technical skills in terms of fashion illustration, pattern making, garment construction, forecast study, and styling. You will get to know the fundamentals of fashion and the elements and principles of design. Training in CAD, digital pattern-making, accessing material libraries, 3D printing, and other areas would help you get an idea of how the industry functions.

Certificate courses (3-6 months) based on specialized areas like styling and Makeup are great for professionals who want to venture into different niches.

While Jobs in Apparel design can earn you up to 3.4-6 LPA, MUAs and stylists can expect a range between 3-5 LPA and 3-4 LPA respectively.

3. Interior Design

B.Des or B.Sc. in interior design is a 4-year/3-year program that would take you through the fundamentals of interior design, evolution of architectural styles, basics of Vaastu Shastra, and domestic and commercial space design. You will also get an understanding of how to create accessible functional spaces and work with the latest software.

M.Sc./M.Des is a 2-year course focusing on advanced design research, ergonomics and materials in furniture design, and eco-conscious designing. With a comprehensive knowledge of state laws surrounding building spaces, and CAD and 3D drafting technology, you will be able to create a strong and impactful portfolio.

To be eligible for an undergraduate-level course you would need to clear a DAT after completing 12th with a 50% aggregate (any stream), while a postgraduate degree would require you to clear a DAT and/or PI in addition to a graduation or equivalent degree (minimum 10+2+3).

There are various fields you can work in with an Interior Design degree, with varying salaries. However, you can approximately earn between 3-5 LPA as an Interior Designer.

4. Animation and VFX

B.Sc. and M.Sc. in animation design are a 3-year and 2-year course designed to cater to the ever-evolving industry requirements. The syllabuses provide an introduction to the fundamentals of animation and visual effects, and an understanding of vector and raster graphics and 2D and 3D animation. You can get acquainted with 3ds Max, Maya, and other advanced software, learn simulation, and build characters, storyboards, and compositions.

1-year Diploma courses in animation and VFX are perfect for graphic designers and game developers who want to venture into animation. It will familiarize you with story-building, character design, and advanced 3D modeling.

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You could enroll in a formal UG/PG course after clearing a DAT and/or PI. As someone who’s starting out, you can expect a salary of about 4-5 LPA.

5. Journalism

Having a high employment rate, journalism is one of the most highly rated career choices. If you have just completed schooling (10+2), or graduation (minimum 10+2+3), GMCET, CUET (UG and PG), and Independent Eligibility Tests/PIs would allow you to pursue a career in journalism in India.

B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication is a 3-year program that introduces you to writing news and press releases, conducting interviews, documentary-filmmaking, and news publishing in audio-visual/print media. You can explore different niches and learn the basics of advertising, PR, photojournalism, and optimizing social media for journalistic requirements. Being familiar with relevant software and fluent communication skills would help you land jobs with some of the leading media houses.

M.A. in journalism is a comprehensive course providing insights into the different niches in journalism, and the nuances of various mediums, and equips you to conduct extensive journalistic research and investigations. With industry exposure and skill-oriented projects, this prepares you for a successful career in journalism.

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There are a number of jobs you can take after studying journalism, and the pay varies depending on the complexities. For example, documentary filmmakers/photojournalists can make around 4-5 LPA while sports/entertainment journalists can make around 3-6 LPA, and so on. You can, on average expect a salary of around 3-5 LPA.

6. Hospitality and Tourism Management

BHM or B.Sc in Hotel/Tourism Management is a 4-year/3-year course that provides a holistic understanding of the industry and prepares you to work in any sector. The curriculum takes you through the technicalities of the travel and tourism industry, regulatory frameworks and legal aspects, and provides knowledge of F&B services, front desk management, and so on. Hands-on training, internships with leading hotels, and the development of soft skills would help communicate with clients and companies globally.

If you already work in the industry and are looking for better opportunities, you could specialize in different niches through short-term courses offered by different institutes.

You can opt for a course of your choice after you complete 12th (in any stream) from a recognized board and clear NCHMCT-JEE or other eligibility tests. New professionals in F&B can expect a salary of 3-5 LPA, around 3.5-5.5 LPA in Front Desk Management, and between 3 and 4.5 LPA in managerial posts.

7. Game Development

You can pursue a UG or PG course in Game Design and Development after completing your +2/graduation and clearing a DAT or other Independent Eligibility tests.

B.Des (4-year)/B.Sc (3-year) and M.Des/M.Sc (2 years) courses provide a detailed knowledge of the fundamentals and principles of game design, sound, and animation. Through projects varying in their complexity levels, you can learn game UI design and create plots, layouts, and characters for basic and advanced 2D/3D games. By the end of the course, you will be familiar with the integration of AR-VR and Mixed Realities to design and produce high-quality, engaging games. Producing prototypes would enable you to get an idea about the subtleties of game development and get familiar with the industry requirements.

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If you’re just beginning your career as a game designer, you can expect a salary between 2.5 and 4.5 LPA depending on the nature and complexity of the role.

8. Advertising

Advertising is usually studied as a niche or specialization under BBA, Mass Communication, and similar courses. While UG courses provide an idea of the field, they don’t delve too deep into the details of advertising.

For professionals or students who have completed their graduation (a minimum of 10+2+3), there are PG degree and diploma courses available. You would be eligible for these courses upon clearing  Independent eligibility tests/Personal Interviews conducted by different institutes. These 2-year/1-year programs are aimed at providing an introduction to the basics of marketing – segmentation, targeting, positioning, 6Ps, and so on. You will get an idea of camera angles, photography, and videography, and a detailed understanding of media and means of communication, emphasizing social media and other promotional tools.

Learning about consumer behavior, studying purchase patterns, conducting in-depth research and brand studies using SWOT and PESTEL analysis, and optimizing the latest software in producing effective ads are integral to this course. If you are looking for a job in the advertising industry, this is your go-to course. With a specialization in advertising, you could earn anywhere between 3.5 and 6 LPA.

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9. PR and Event Management

PR and Events is a course that is distinct from the more mainstream Event Management courses. As opposed to the latter, this is a specialized discipline focusing more on the ABCs of Public Relations.

If you have completed a UG degree, you can apply for a post-graduate degree or diploma in PR and Events anywhere in India. You might have to appear in an eligibility test or a personal interview depending on the university.

The 1-year (diploma)/2-year (degree) course touches upon the basics of marketing and communications and introduces you to the elements of public relations and event planning. Through various case studies, you will get an understanding of image creation and branding and get acquainted with the global marketing scene.

In-depth knowledge of legal frameworks, Corporate Social Responsibility, and the importance of planning, promotion, and working with a budget are some of the key components of the course. In addition to these, training with experts and leading PR firms would equip you to navigate the industry without any hassle. PR executives can earn up to 4-6 LPA in entry-level positions in India.

10. Digital Marketing

Anyone with a UG or equivalent degree can apply for a digital marketing course in India. Reputed institutes in India offer Diploma and online/offline Certification courses in digital marketing and related niches.

Spanning between 8-12 weeks and 1 year, these courses take you through the process of digital marketing and equip you with the knowledge and skill to master different tools. You would get acquainted with WordPress and other such platforms, understand SEO and its implications in digital marketing, and learn how to manage ads and increase engagement on social media.

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You would also learn how to track visitors on specific websites, convert traffic into leads, copywriting, and get familiar with the various forms of digital marketing. Concluding in Industry training and developing a strong portfolio, these comprehensive courses would help you upskill yourself and increase your employability.

If you want to specialize in website copywriting, you might expect a salary of 2.5-4 LPA, while roles like social media manager and digital marketing specialist can earn you up to 3-7 LPA and 4-6 LPA respectively.

End Note

Now that you have an idea about some of the most high-rated courses, make sure you assess what is best suited for you. If you are a working professional looking for better opportunities, make sure you choose a niche/discipline that adds value to your resume and enhances your skillsets.

AAFT offers a range of expert-designed courses facilitated by highly acclaimed academicians and industry professionals. At our Noida campus, we value individual creativity and drive for artistic pursuits. Our courses are structured to help you keep up with the ever-evolving industry requirements and make a mark in your chosen discipline.