DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BBA AND B.COM

BBA vs. BCom

BBA or Bachelor of Business Administration is a three-year undergraduate program focusing on the fields of business and management. While BCom is Bachelor of Commerce, a course which is offered by many universities across India and can be studied as an Honours course for three years.

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)

A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree housing all the domains of commerce and related subjects like finance, accounting, economics, taxation, and insurance, designed to intensify the communication, analytical and problem-solving skills of commerce students. BCom is also offered as a specialised programs such as BCom Accounting and Finance, BCom Marketing Management, and BCom Finance. After graduation, students may pursue an MCom or Masters of Commerce or pursue different fields such as MBA, Chartered Accountancy, and Cost Accountancy. BCom is usually pursued by students from commerce streams and science streams as Mathematics is an important eligibility criterion for admission. Admission to the universities for BCom is based on merit or admission tests.

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

A Bachelor of Business Administration is an undergraduate degree in commerce and business administration that allows a student to derive fundamental knowledge of the core concept of business and its applications in the physical world. It is a professional course that prepares the students to enter a career in management with the necessary skills like managerial skills, operational and marketing knowledge and related expertise. BBA is known to be a cornerstone for MBA aspirants. The best part, there are multiple streams to pursue in BBA itself such as Family Business and Business Analytics. Further, apart from the general BBA degree program, there are a plethora of specializations offered such as:

• BBA in Marketing – Global Marketing Management
• BBA in Finance
• BBA in Marketing Management
• BBA Logistics
• BBA (Honors) in Hospitality Management
• BBA in International Business Management
• BBA in Entrepreneurship
• BBA in Travel and Tourism

BBA vs. BCom: Top Reasons to Pursue

Both BBA vs BCom are different in terms of their course offerings through the career opportunities available for graduates of these degrees are quite similar. Check out the top reasons for pursuing BBA and BCom:

Why BCom?

• Best for students who are interested in learning about finance.
• Creating a strong base for commerce-related professional courses like M.Com, MBA, CS, CA, CMA, CFA, and allied domains. 
• This is more diversified with a broader scope for specialization in the field of commerce with greater career advancement.
• Due to the higher magnitude of opportunities, a graduate in BCom can earn a lucrative salary package in leading organisations of the world.

Why BBA?

• Students enjoy fantastic job opportunities in leading corporations.
• Skills polished in business are functional in all career fields. 
• Students are marked as the foundations for a master’s degree in business administration.
• A detailed study in accounting paves the way to work in major accounting firms. 
• BBA is considered to be the centre for entrepreneurship allowing students to build their ideas and transform them into bigger plans. 

Subject Analysis 

While understanding the course as a whole, it is essential to get a brief look at the list of subjects covered in that course. Getting a cursory look at the syllabus ensures that we are well informed about the course we are undertaking.

Subjects Typically Covered in BCom

Subjects Typically Covered in BBA

Scope of Higher Studies in BBA vs. BCom

An array of postgraduate degree programs are available for BBA and BCom graduates to choose from. To help you understand the difference between higher education opportunities after BBA vs BCom, we have enlisted some of the top master’s degree courses below:

Scope after BBA

There exist enormous opportunities for specialization in business management and administration, here is  a list of the best courses to opt for after a BBA degree:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
• Masters in Management

Students pursuing BBA can pursue MBA or Post Graduate Diploma in Management for better career prospects. A major advantage of a BBA graduate pursuing an MBA will be that they will be studying subjects they are already familiar with, only in detail. To be eligible for an MBA course, students can appear for different management entrance examinations conducted in India like CAT, XAT, NMAT, MAT, CMAT, SNAP, etc. or can pursue an International MBA by clearing the GMAT. Students can opt for one of the two types of MBA courses – Generalized MBA and Specialized MBA.

Generalized MBA – It has a curriculum that usually covers subjects like Accounting, Financial Management, Funds Management, Marketing strategies, Operations Management, and Human Resource Management.

Specialized MBA – It involves the study of the fundamental principles of management similar to the Generalized MBA course along with an emphasis on a core subject. The most popular subjects that are chosen by MBA students are Human Resource or HR, Finance, Marketing Management, Information Technology or IT, and International Business among others.

• MBA in HR – A student pursuing an MBA in HR is trained in the field of employee management, which deals with hiring and training employees and planning strategies for managing the employees of an organization
• MBA in IT – An MBA in IT will provide the students with the necessary skills to manage the technology associated with the business. It is one of the most coveted fields and is crucial to the growth of an organization. The course covers aspects like System Analysis, Information Security and the latest technological changes in the field of business.
• MBA in Finance – Students joining an MBA Program specializing in Finance will learn about the economic and financial aspects of a business. This course will be especially beneficial to students who are good at Mathematics or are interested in numbers. The course covers different aspects of local and global economies, investments and strategies, mergers and acquisitions, etc.
• MBA in Marketing Management – An MBA in Marketing Management will focus on the aspects of the marketing department of an organization. Students will learn about marketing management, and develop operational skills and soft skills necessary for a career in the field.

Students also have options to enter courses like BBA LLB, CFA, Marketing courses, Certification Programs, Human Resource courses, etc. after completing their BBA.

Scope after BCom

A large number of students pursue an MCom after completing their Bcom. MCom course involves providing more detailed knowledge of the subjects like Business Administration, Accounting, and Economics. However, there are other scopes for higher studies after a BCom degree as well. Some of the popular choices are –

• Chartered Accountancy (CA) – It is one of the most coveted career paths for BCom graduates who are interested in crunching numbers. Admission to the CA course will require students to clear an entrance examination called the CPT or Common Proficiency Test. Passing this test will make the students eligible for the IPCC or Integrated Professional Competence Course, which covers the entire CA curriculum. The IPCC will be a 9 months course after which students will be required to enrol for a 3-year internship. Students can take the CA final examination in the last six months of internship and complete a General Management and Communication Skills Program.
• Cost Accounting – Students pursuing Cost Accounting learn how to prepare strategies and handle the finances of an organization. The course involves three levels – Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. The curriculum covers four subjects Fundamentals of Economics & Management, Fundamentals of Accounting, Fundamentals of Laws & Ethics, and Fundamentals of Business Mathematics & Statistics.
• MBA – Students with a BCom degree can be eligible to pursue a post-graduate degree in management after clearing the entrance examinations and with a certain average percentage of marks in their qualifying examination.

BBA vs. BCom: Job Prospects 

It is important to analyze courses keeping in mind the job opportunities available after that course and how well a specific course equips one to meet the daily challenges of the industry. Here are some of the job roles that one can consider after completing any of these two courses:

Also Read: 15 Highest Salary Jobs for Commerce Students

Job Opportunities after BCom

A graduate with a BCom degree can enter the following professions, after completing the relevant postgraduate courses.

Chartered Accountant – A Chartered Accountant is responsible for managing the accounts of an organization, auditing the taxes and providing financial advice to the firm. It is a very lucrative and valued position in any organization.

Cost Accountant – The role of a Cost Accountant is to plan the annual budget of the firm. It is also a very coveted career path that can lead to a very successful career.

Company Secretary – Company Secretaries, hold one of the most important positions in an organization. They are responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations, administrative duties, legal functions, and other important functions to run the company. It is a very valued position in any firm.

Cost and Management Accountants (CMA) – The job profiles of CMAs involve preparing strategies for the development of the company and improving profits.

Financial Manager– A Financial Manager is responsible for looking after the financial resources of the company and the proper utilization of the funds. They are also responsible for the profits and losses suffered by the company.

So, both BBA and BCom degrees can help students enter lucrative careers. However, both degrees do not guarantee well-paid jobs with only Bachelor’s Degrees. Students have to complete post-graduation or specialized courses to be able to start a successful career.

Although students having BCom or BBA degrees can appear for government examinations after completing their undergraduate courses, the career path may not depend much on their field of study.

Check out Job Oriented Courses After BCom!

Job Opportunities after BBA

A student with a BBA degree can enter the management profession or the corporate workforce to perform the following roles in an organization, after completing their MBA. All the career paths after an MBA can lead to well-paid jobs in reputed organizations.

• Human Resource Manager – The role of a Human Resource Manager is quite vital in an organization as he/she will be entrusted with recruiting efficient employees and looking after employee interests. The Human Resource Manager can work towards the growth of the organization and improve the efficiency of the workers.
• Operations Team Leader – The Operations Team Leader is responsible for the services provided by the organization to the clients and is also responsible for the maintenance of company assets and resources.
• Project Manager – The Project Manager administers the work of the employees and reports the progress of the projects undertaken by the organization to the higher authorities.
• Solutions Applications Product (SAP) Consultant–A SAP Consultant guides the organization working with the help of SAP software. The consultant is also responsible for informing the company about the latest upgrades and technological advances in the field.
• Business Development Executive – A Business Development Executive is responsible for studying market trends and preparing strategies to help the business grow.

How to Choose Between BBA vs. BCom?

It can be quite a confusing dilemma of choosing between BBA vs BCom. Here are the foundational differences in the aspects of these two courses so that you can clearly understand the difference in pursuing these courses.

• While BBA is offered in an array of specialisations from Management to Travel and Tourism, Media, Marketing and much more, BCom is more concentrated on commerce subjects and specialisations. So, if you aim to study business and management in context with the commercial world and global business, BCom is the perfect option.
• When it comes to BBA, it is perfect for those aiming to pursue a specific specialisation in Management like Human Resource Management, Banking and Finance, Digital Marketing, Tourism Management or Media and Communications.
• If you are a student who is interested in pursuing the field of commerce, wants to learn in-depth about various aspects of the field and is also interested in numbers, BCom can be a good choice for you.
• If you are interested in a career in management and want to develop the required skills to enter the management profession only, BBA can be the easier choice.
• When eligibilities are considered, BBA can be easier to get admission to, as students from almost all streams are allowed to take admission to the course.
• Getting admission to a BCom (Hons) program can be difficult as the universities can have stricter eligibility criteria.

Similarities between BBA vs BCom

BBA and BCom have several similarities in the course structure. However, BCom focuses on the theoretical aspects more than the professional and real-world applications of the subjects. On the other hand, BBA involves practical applications and students may learn with the help of projects and case studies. Here we have presented the course structure of both BBA and BCom for students to compare.

Top Universities

These business schools aim to provide students with world-class infrastructure equipped with recognised education to master the skills in the field of commerce. 

• London Business School
• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• INSEAD
• University of Pennsylvania
• Pace University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
• London School of Economics
• University of Toronto
• York University
• Copenhagen Business School

FAQs

BCom is a more specific course whereas BBA is a better choice for students who want to pursue a management course later on and wish to develop their managerial skills. Therefore, it is always preferable to scan your aptitude, skills and interest before you choose any of the two. We understand that the process of choosing an ideal course for yourself can be confusing.