Career Options After 12th PCM [ 2025 ]

Introduction

Class 12 is considered to be quite an essential benchmark in academics where a student’s future mostly gets into shape. If you are an aspirant and have passed your 12th or are preparing for your 12th board exams, then there’s a point of worry. Usually, people believe that the only career options for students after class 12th PCM is engineering and medical. And if you are a PCM student, then it’s the trend that engineering is the best solution. So much money and pressure are put on students that they leave their passion and dreams. Peer pressure is the reason why students are admitted to different engineering colleges.

Need to explore Career Options after Class 12^th PCM

There might be several reasons why students behave in such a manner. It might be because they don’t feel like exploring other options. They have stopped studying. Another reason, as stated, might be peer pressure. Students often face pressure and think that the next option is not engineering. It is true that if a student has pursued PCM, his only aspiration is getting him into an engineering college. Families have been seen to continuously pressure their child to go for engineering and build up a thought that there are no other options after 12th other than engineering. That’s why it has become a huge matter of concern that failure in JEE or other engineering exams does not necessarily mean the road towards a bright future is blocked.

The majority of people will agree that there are no options left out if one fails in each or doesn’t get a good rank. Let’s check out various career options after 12th science PCM.

Career Options for Students after Class 12th PCM

A student has a lot of options if one has a background in PCM. This is where the article comes in handy and is helpful. It will explore the various options open for students who have opted for PCM in their 12th and the scope of courses after class 12th PCM. We have compiled varied courses that a student can try to opt for after class 12th in PCM and also the various career options after 12th PCM.

Let us begin with the most popular course for students after class 12th PCM, engineering.

Engineering:

Engineering is one of the most demanding careers a student can aim for after class 12th. However, students can pursue their Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.E). Different engineering colleges provide different degrees for PCM career options.

• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science Engineering
• Electronics and Telecommunication
• Civil Engineering
• Information Technology

All these degrees are offered in the form of a Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology. Apart from these mentioned engineering streams, many specializations have been formed. These are mainly formed considering the interest and necessity of these specializations. The courses specialize in the following:

• Marine Engineering
• Automobile Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Agriculture Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Biochemical Engineering
• Biotechnology Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Bio Instrumentation Engineering
• Bioinformatics Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Food Technology Engineering
• Fire Engineering
• Leather Engineering
• Mining And Metallurgical Engineering
• Nanotechnology Engineering
• Printing
• Plastic And Polymer Engineering
• Rubber Engineering
• Genetic Engineering

Textile Engineering

A lot of choices have been developed based on the students’ interests. Even if students are interested in medical technology but have no interest in medical science, they can specialise in biomedical engineering or its allied fields. Therefore, it’s not only the age-old mechanical, computer science, civil, electronics, or electrical engineering available for the 12th pass with PCM.

This is another course after 12 PCM. Eligibility for these courses is a 12th pass with PCM. The admission procedure is at the national level. Exams like BITSAT, IIT-JEE, UPSEE, or any other exams are at the state level. The designated institutes or the college/university conduct the admission test for certain specialization courses.

The course of engineering is of the duration of 4 years.

The options do not stop here. Even after getting a degree in engineering, further options can be tried. Students pursuing these courses can plan to pursue higher studies in these specializations. They can pursue their master’s degrees, like Master of Technology (M.Tech), in these specializations. Some may also prefer to opt for further higher education, like doctorate studies.

Once a degree is pursued, several career options open up. Students can work in multinational companies, several IT sectors, and private companies. They can also prepare for state-level competitive examinations or even civil service examinations.

Architecture

The next option for students is pursuing the Bachelor of Architecture course, i.e., B. Arch. This is also one of the best courses after 12th PCM. The course lasts five years and is mainly for students who dream of reaching the heights of architectural marvels. The world has several unique architectural marvels, like the Burj Khalifa and Petronas Tower. The construction of these Marvels took a lot of planning and designing, ultimately forming the beautiful structures.

This is what an architect does. He plans, designs, and then creates the structures. Based on the clients’ demands, architects can customize the designs to fulfill their requirements. He can then recreate a whole building or create a new one. The person who pursued the course and is involved in these designs is generally known as an architect.

The architect mostly defines large buildings like residential complexes, malls, or even restaurants. The course will help the students master their design skills. They will learn how to use the space provided effectively and have a keen eye for detail.

Once an architecture course is pursued, several options open up. The architect can work in urban design, sustainable architecture, industrial design, etc. These divisions are based on the required structures to be constructed according to the landscape and surroundings.

A few IITs provide Bachelor’s degrees in architecture, such as IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur. Other than the IITs, NITs also provide a degree in architecture at the undergraduate level. The NITs are the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, and NIT Calicut in the architecture department.

Other than these institutes, colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in architecture are the Sir JJ College of Architecture, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Gujarat, and School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. So, if any students are interested in pursuing this degree, they may explore the details on the university page. An exam at the national level is conducted to select the students to get admitted into these colleges. These are the IIT-JEE, BITSAT, UPSEE, GATE, and some state-level entrance tests.

Higher courses, such as diploma courses, can also be pursued once the bachelor program is completed. The diploma courses offered in architecture include landscape design, interior design, and others.

Aviation

For all those students who dream of flying high into the sky, this career should be the Main focus. With the perfect blend of knowledge from both science and technology and the addition of traveling, this career is perfect for all those who don’t want to get engaged in the regular 9 to 5 jobs or sit continuously within a room experimenting with things. By pursuing the course, they can become commercial pilots.

The main responsibility of a commercial pilot is to take up the commands of the controls of the flight. The pilot has to ensure the safety of the people or other cargo the flight carries across the globe.

The benefit of graduating in aviation sciences is that one can be a commercial pilot working for major airlines both at the international and regional levels. Being a pilot will offer the opportunity to fly cargo flights that deliver goods, fly a private jet, or be a commercial pilot who flies emergency or medical emergency planes.

Other than being a pilot, aviation studies offer the course for becoming an engineer for aircraft maintenance too. He will get a chance to work with domestic and international airlines. A few colleges that provide a Bachelor’s degree in sciences of aviation are the IGRUA, in Rae Bareilly; Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Delhi/Patna, Rajiv Gandhi Academy of Aviation Technology, Kerala; Bombay Flying Club, Mumbai; and National Flying Training Institute, Gondia.

Bachelor of Sciences

Apart from the engineering programs, students can pursue the core subjects of sciences such as physics, chemistry, or mathematics. The degree offered is the Bachelor of Sciences, i.e., B.Sc. Students who have a genuine love for their respective subjects can take B.Sc courses such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

These skills can be applied to various fields such as healthcare, aerospace, near physics, data science, etc. Strong logical thinking, problem-solving, and a methodical approach are required for a career in physics.

 

Courses	Career Options	Institutes
B.Sc Physics	These skills can be applied to various fields, such as healthcare, aerospace, nuclear physics, data science, etc. They can also be applied to Econophysics, Computational physics, Defense, High-Energy Physics, Medical physics, and Biophysics.   Students can also pursue further higher studies, such as a Master’s, i.e., M.Sc, or even a Ph.D. It depends on the students whether they want to go into research or teaching.	IISc Bangalore, Universities in Delhi like St. Stephen’s College and Hansraj College, a few institutes in Kolkata like St. Xavier’s, and Presidency University, Kolkata. Other institutes offering the course are Banaras Hindu University, St. Xavier’s, Mumbai; Fergusson College, Pune; a few of the IISERs, central universities, and NISER, Odisha, state universities.             .
B. Sc Mathematics	St. Stephen’s College and Hansraj College in Delhi; Christ University, Bangalore; Madras Christian College, Chennai; Loyola College, Chennai; St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai; Fergusson College, Pune; St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore; IISERs, central universities, and state universities.	Indian Statistical Institute is present in several locations across the country. ; IITs like IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati; IISERs, IISc, Bangalore; Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai; St. Stephen’s College, Delhi; Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi, NISER, Odisha; Central universities across the country.
B.Sc Chemistry	Opportunities can be explored across Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, the chemical industry, and organizations of educational importance.   Students can further specialize in subfields of chemistry, such as Analytical Chemistry, Food chemistry, Organic chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Surface chemistry, Flavour chemistry, Environmental chemistry, and Metallurgy.	St. Stephen’s College, and Hansraj College in Delhi; Christ University, Bangalore, Madras Christian College, Chennai; Loyola College, Chennai; St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai; Fergusson College, Pune; St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore; IISERs, Central universities, state universities.

 

Merchant Navy

The course is specially designed for those who love the sea and are willing to spend months at sea. The Merchant Navy’s main responsibility is facilitating commercial goods and international trade worldwide.

• Both monetarily and professionally, the career is a highly rewarding one for those who dream of being in the sea with no frequent contact with the family.
• The graduate course in the Merchant Navy will allow working in the merchant ships across different departments. These departments include the engine, catering, deck, and architecture departments. However, the educational requirements for each department vary.
• Colleges offering the Merchant Navy course include Indian Maritime University, International Maritime Institute, Delhi; International Maritime Academy, Chennai; Coimbatore Marine College, Coimbatore; Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin; and Vels University, Chennai.

UPSC NDA

If anyone has the passion of serving the nation at the forefront, then they can opt for appearing in the entrance exams conducted by the NDA (National Defense Academy). The NDA is a joint service of three fields, i.e., the Air Force, the Indian Army, and the Navy.

 

Indian Army	There are opportunities to work in the Army Services Corp, including the Air Defense, Engineering, IT, Education, and Combat units.
Indian Navy	Opportunities to work in Executive engineering, Educational, Electrical, and Medical branches.
India Air Force	Opportunities of working in Technical branches, Flying branches, Ground Duty Staff.

BCA

Due to the growth of the IT sector, IT professionals or professionals with knowledge or experience in the IT field are in most demand. The BCA course is especially for those who want to go in-depth into computer science applications. It is a three-year course, after which graduates can be hired into the IT sector.

The course also offers options for pursuing higher education, like MCA. Or, if they want, they can go for the MBA or MCS.

Animation and Graphics

Apart from all these sectors, there are a few fields that provide opportunities to work in the television industry. If that is your dream, then studying animation and graphics would be the best choice. This field is becoming increasingly popular due to the increased demand for talented individuals in animation.

 

Knowledge	The professionals have a sound knowledge of 3D animation, Graphic design, Multimedia production, Animation VFX, etc.   Strong creativity and aesthetic sense; compatible with working with technology and computers; and also love for multimedia and design.
Career opportunities	Opportunities include graphic designing, Flash design, 3D modeling, Cartoon design, Story writing and composition, Character animation, texturing, etc.
Colleges	NID, Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Digital Arts and Animation, Kolkata; Arena Animation, IIT Bombay, MAAC, Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, Birla Institute of Technology, Noida;

 

Physical Sciences

The area of physical sciences includes studying the broad domain of the earth, atmosphere, and space. The fields of Astronomy, Meteorology, Geology, Disaster management, Cartography, etc., are encompassed within this domain. Professionals mostly analyze scientific phenomena through experimentation and the use of complex instruments.

Field	Career	Colleges
Astronomy	Astronomy professionals have an opportunity to work in fields like astrobiology, astrometeorology, astrochemistry, astrometry, etc.	Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
Geology	Geology professionals can work in marine geology, seismology, geohydrology, mineralogy, etc.	IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi
Meteorology	Meteorological professionals work in fields such as aviation meteorology, climatology, etc., to predict weather and climatic conditions.
Cartography	Cartographers are responsible for developing maps that represent geography. These professionals work in the fields of digital cartography, construction companies, town planning, etc.	IIT Bombay, and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.
Disaster management	These professionals work towards the prevention of disasters, recovery, relief, and preparedness.	National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), and Delhi Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

 

Fashion Technology

 

Apart from the basic engineering courses the applicants prefer, the technological field has also been seen to be implemented in the areas of fashion too. And that’s where fashion technology comes into play. It blends the technology and manufacturing principles into design. Professionals in this field are found to be working in fabric development, its designing, and also in manufacturing processes for quality assurance.

• The course will help you learn about textile fibers, garment manufacturing, designing, and fabrics through the use of Computer-Aided design software. So, whoever has a passion for technology and fashion is welcome in the field.
• The professionals can find opportunities to work with brands, retail chains, fashion magazines, boutiques, and the television industries.
• National Institute of Fashion is one of the prestigious institutes offering a degree in fashion technology.

 

Bachelor of Law (LLB)

 

The LLB course is mainly designed for students to pursue their dreams of working in the field of law. However, students need to clear the entrance examinations for a law such as CLAT, LSAT, AILET, or TS—LAWSUIT. The course lasts five years. In this course, students are trained to become legal professionals.

Students who want to pursue a legal course are required to have the skills of analytics and logic. The aspirant should also have communication skills, creative ability, reasoning, and research perseverance. Subjects offered in the course are property law, Banking law, constitutional law, etc.

LLB graduates can start their careers as interns, where they can practice law under the supervision of any senior lawyer. Other options include legal advisor, attorney, prosecutor, lecturer, solicitor general, or tax lawyer. The degree offered will be a Bachelor in Law.

The minimum eligibility criteria for getting admitted into the law course is 50% marks in the 12th exams with either PCM or PCB subjects. Also, to be admitted into reputed law colleges, they should have a good rank in national exams. A few of the subjects offered in law are Family law, constitutional jurisdiction, etc. The average salary for a law graduate is INR 5 to 8 Lakhs per annum.

 

High Salary Courses after Class 12th PCM

The exams of class 12^th are a crucial phase for all students. It is during this stage that a student’s future is relied upon. Students can appear in the 12 board exams by selecting either Physics, Chemistry, And Mathematics or physics, chemistry, and biology.

It is a general norm that students generally follow two areas: engineering and medical sciences. Those who opt for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics seem to be going for engineering. At the same time, those who opt for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology go for medical science. Even if they do not succeed, they are at least found to be preparing for such career fields.

The grade exams lay a foundation for higher studies and, ultimately, the future. Considering this fact, only the subjects with a high future scope and those that are in demand must be pursued. Usually, students study science if they pass their 12th in PCM. Even though science is a demanding field, other areas offer a bright future and a good salary.

PCM is the most opted-for stream in science in most education systems. Studying these subjects can also help one seek high-paying courses after 12th science PCM.

The article will discuss the various options that a student can pursue after the 12th PCM which will result in a high salary. Listed below are the high-salary courses after class 12th PCM that a student can opt for.

B.Tech for Engineering

Engineering is one of the most opted courses after the class 12 exams in PCM. There are no second thoughts for a student who studies PCM in class 12^th. In India, around 15 Lakh engineers are produced from different colleges and institutions per year.

Students who have passed out of class 12th in their PCM can go on to pursue their course of engineering. There are various specializations that the student can choose from in engineering. The degrees offered in engineering are the Bachelor of Technology and the Bachelor of Engineering. A list of specializations that can be pursued based on the interests of the students is available. Engineering is not only a popular course in India but also across the globe.

Eligibility for the course includes passing the class 12th exam in PCM. Also, along with the clearance of the higher secondary exam, the student should clear the national-level entrance exams conducted by the institutes. A few national exams are conducted to get admission into some of the reputed engineering institutes. These exams are the IIT-JEE and other state-level admissions. These state-level entrance tests are conducted to select students for engineering programs in the respective states.

In India, the BE or B.Tech course lasts four years. In the final year of the program, the student is to carry out a project.

Initially, there were only a few engineering specializations, such as electronics and communication engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, and civil engineering. But with the development of technologies, the field of engineering has been further divided into various specializations.

Placement opportunities for the graduates vary. If the students use their course from good colleges or institutes, good placement opportunities are higher. Based on the degree the student pursued, the job opportunities vary. Mostly the graduates get a chance of getting hired by top IT companies or multinational companies. They might also get a chance if working as a software engineer.

The salary varies according to the specialisation. The initial salary for an engineering graduate is around 2.5 to 6 lakhs per annum.

BE	The course revolves around theory-based approaches, engineering, experimentation which form the basis of the subject.   There is more focus on the theory-based study of engineering.   Major streams of BE are Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical, IT, Instrumentation, Mechatronics, and Electrical, which is of the duration of four years in India consisting of 8 semesters and a final year project.   Five-year integrated courses are also offered in certain universities.	The students should have a minimum of 50% marks in class 12th exam with PCM as the main subjects.	Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Physics, Programming, Electrical Engineering, etc.
B.Tech	Most offered engineering degree in India.   The course revolves around the practical study of engineering that forms the subject’s core.   Similar streams of courses are offered in B.Tech like that of the BE course.     The duration of the course is four years.   Also, five-year integrated courses are offered for the different specializations.	The students should have a minimum of 50% marks in class 12th exam with PCM as the main subjects.	Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Physics, Programming Lab, Electrical Engineering, etc.,

 

 

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

BBA is another career option that seems to capture the students’ interest. Even recruiting companies are hiring BBA graduates. The eligibility criteria for joining the BBA course are that a student should clear the 12th board exams with physics, chemistry, math, and English. However, students from other streams are also capable of applying for the course for BBA. The colleges that provide BBA courses have a specific cut-off. A student should meet the required cut-off to get admission into that respective college.

Other universities or a few colleges conduct entrance examinations for their courses. Students have to clear those exams to get a chance of getting admitted into the BBA course offered by the college. They might also conduct interviews sometimes, which the students might clear.

Students graduating from a BBA course can pursue higher studies like the MBA. Most of them go for MBA, while others search for job opportunities. A graduate with a BBA can get a salary of 3 lakhs per annum. The career has a high salary expectation because the companies hire MBAs with quite a high package.

The BBA course is three years in duration. Students who have an interest in business and want to plan their businesses or work in business organizations should try the course.

The subjects that the students are taught during their course are marketing, accounting, finance, business economics, statistics, etc. However, to get a high salary in this field, the students should pursue an MBA due to its demand in organizations. Most organizations or companies hire MBAs. One can choose different specialisations while going for their MBA course. Also, the job opportunities vary as per the specializations, such as marketing, HR, finance, operations, and entrepreneur.

Subjects Offered	Eligibility	Average Salary
Logistics, Marketing, Finance, etc.,	Minimum marks of 50% in class 12th exams with mandatory subjects of PCM or PCB.   High rank in any national level entrance examination	INR 4.5 to 7 lakhs per annum

 

Statistics

Another most sought-after career option for students after class 12th PCM is statistics. The field of statistics has seen increased growth, and the job sector continuously demands statistics professionals. Due to this reason, most students nowadays join the course of statistics. The course of statistics suits students who have a keen interest in mathematics and data science.

The eligibility criteria for pursuing the course are that the student should clear the 12th pass exam with mathematics or statistics as one of the subjects along with subjects of physics, chemistry, and English. Different colleges have different criteria for cut-off marks. Students can be admitted into the college if they meet the desired cut-off. The prestigious statistical institutes conduct national-level exams for their courses. The applicants can try to clear those exams to get a chance to study in those institutions.

The graduate degree in statistics is known as the B.Stats or the Bachelor of Statistics. The main parts of the B.Stats course are computer science, mathematics, and statistics itself. The course lasts three years. One of the best institutions in India for statistics is the Indian Statistical Institute, located in multiple locations across the country. The college even offers opportunities for placement in the government and the private sectors.

A few subjects that a student studies during a bachelor of statistics are business stats, applied maths, actuarial science, probability, psychological indices.

Statistics have become an integral part of almost all sectors, be it scientific research or marketing organizations. Statistics is always a much-needed field.

After passing the course exam, students work as statisticians in reputed scientific organizations or laboratories. They might also opt for teaching jobs. Students also have the option of pursuing higher studies in any of the subjects of statistics.

Subjects Offered	Eligibility	Average Salary
Basics of Statistics, Mathematical Model, etc.,	Minimum marks of 50% in class 12th exams with mandatory subjects of PCM or PCB.   High rank in any national level entrance examination	INR 8 lakhs per annum

 

Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA)

The BCA or the Bachelor in Computer application is another option for high-salary courses after class 12th. PCM is open for all students after the class 12th exam. The eligibility criteria laid down for this course is to have a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in the higher secondary examinations. The student has to decide which college he wants to study. Different colleges have different cut-off marks. Based on the cut-off marks, a student can select his college for pursuing the course.

The course is three years long. As the name suggests, it is the study of the application of computer science. Most universities in India, as well as private universities, offer this course.

The subjects mostly taught in the BBA are advanced programming, networking and hardware, mathematics, C++, DC, Data Structure, software engineering, database administration, and the worldwide Web.

Most organizations, such as software companies, hire and search for students with a background and knowledge of computer applications. A few IT companies, such as Infosys, Work, Tata Consultancy Services, and HCL, are considered top recruits for BCA graduates. A few roles BCA graduates offer are software developer, system specialist, system analyst, network designer, and hardware and networking engineer.

Subjects Offered	Eligibility	Average Salary
C++ Programming etc., Java Programming,	Minimum marks of 50% in class 12th exams with mandatory subjects of PCM or PCB.   High rank in any national level entrance examination	INR 5 to 7 lakhs per annum

 

Degree in Hotel Management

Because of the placement opportunities offered by the hospitality industries, most science students are seen to be shifting their attention towards hotel management. The bachelor’s degree in hotel management is a Bachelor of Science in hotel management. The only eligibility condition for the hotel management course is having a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in the 12th pass exam. Even for hotel management, the college has its cut-off marks. It should be checked carefully, and once the cut-off condition is met, the student can be admitted into that college.

A few national exams are also conducted for the hotel management course. Institutions like the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) conduct the exams.

A student of BHM (Bachelor in Hotel Management) can work in the following roles offered to them:

• Customer relations executive
• Front office manager
• Administrative officer
• Event manager
• Food and beverages manager

More Resources : 

Career Options After 12th PCB	Career Options After BA
Career Options After BCA	Career Options After Btech