Many trending courses offer much competition, such as in the banking sector, engineering, and many government exams. Candidates work hard to crack these exams. However, learning these courses can be fruitful at the end. Read the article below to learn about some of the toughest courses in India.
Considering all these factors, one can see that choosing the appropriate academic pathway makes a huge difference in one’s career in this. India has a vast number of such academic paths known for their rigor and complexity and for the amount of effort they demand to be passed through.
Be it engineering, medicine, or chartered accountancy, getting admission into the program is yes, but it is not an easy task; it is very curious to see that from the point of admission onwards, the same challenges occur while doing the course. So, which course is tough in India? Read on to explore the top 10 toughest courses in India, Which is the world’s toughest course?, the challenges they present and what keeps them apart in 2025.
What Makes a Course “Tough”?
To check out the top toughest course in india or most toughest course in india, let us understand the indicators of the tough measure of a course in India:
- Complexity of concepts and subjects
- Extensiveness of syllabus and amount of information
- Highly competitive entrance exams
- Demand of practical, analytical, and critical skills
- Length of the course and high dropout rate
Some may define difficulty in different ways, but certain courses have received unanimous recognition as being academically and mentally difficult.
Which Course is Rare?
Some of the infrequent courses in India include:
- Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity
- Marine Biology
- Forensic Science
- Astrobiology
- Game Design and Development
They have entered these niche areas that have become popular day by day due to modern relevance and potential future prospects.
Which is the easiest course in India?
Lets discuss about – Which course is easy and high salary? Fairly speaking, no course can be labelled as “easy” in the true sense; nevertheless, the easier ones, comparatively, with good packages include:
- Digital Marketing
- UI/UX Design
- Content Writing & SEO
- Foreign Language Courses
- Hotel Management
These do offer good remuneration and easier-than-average working environments that many prefer rather than getting into academic pressure.
Which is the Happiest Course?
The happiest course is usually that which will go in line with the interest and passion that one has. Usually, the courses such as design, writing, psychology, and performing arts will have students reporting greater levels of happiness.
What Are Some Underrated Courses/Degrees After Class 12th?
byu/Fluffy_Wallaby_236 inindia
Top ten Toughest Course in India 2025
Is there any definition of the toughest courses in India? What are the factors that decide that a particular course is tougher than another? The courses, which consist of complex concepts and theories that require a deep understanding, take time to learn. Technical courses rank among the top as they contain a lot of tools and practical knowledge to master.
A course becomes challenging or tough based on our interests too. If we develop a feeling that we cannot do it, then even an easy course seems tough. However, continuous learning with discipline and effort will surely help you succeed in any course. Read below to know some of the toughest course in the India.
1. Computer Engineering
Computer science is a trending course, and every year, many students from every part of the country get enrolled in high numbers. The course develops concepts related to technologies such as programming, AI, and ML. These are trending topics, and the job roles in these fields pay you well. Hence, it is everyone’s favourite. Many people face difficulty while solving the programs. It contains a huge syllabus that covers each topic in depth, and matching yourself with the latest technology is important. Candidates need to be efficient in managing these technologies, which sometimes become a lot to carry. With the advancement of technology, it has become tougher to crack big company’s job roles. Candidates face a scarcity of jobs and opportunities due to a lot of competition in this sector. Some of the specialisations which computer science contains are AI, ML, Data Science, Cybersecurity, etc.
2. Chartered Accountant (CA)
Cracking a CA Exam is considered one of the toughest exams in India. It requires good knowledge and a deep understanding of accounting principles, auditing, taxation, and business laws. The process of becoming a chartered accountant is lengthy, and candidates need to clear three major rounds to become chartered accountants. There are three levels in this exam.
Level 1: CA Foundation
Level 2: CA Intermediate
Level 3: CA Final
Candidates need a minimum of 3 to 4 years to clear these examinations. Candidates who cleared their class XII can start their CA exam preparation.
Read More: Top 10 Best Content Marketing Courses for 2025, Free & Paid Course List
3. Master of Philosophy (M.Phil)
Master of Philosophy is one of the most challenging courses in India. It is a two-year postgraduate course which requires researching the related topic of interest, study, and contributing to PhD programs. Candidates need to complete their research thesis. Candidates must develop a good knowledge of relevant theories and methodologies and present them in front of the college. Candidates can enter a good college through GATE, IIT JAM or LPUNEST exams.
4. Medicine
Candidates need to clear their MBBS degree, which requires clearing Entrance exams such as NEET, which is much tougher. Every year, millions of students participate in this exam to get admission to a limited number of seats. Candidates must have good medical knowledge and practical skills to clear the exam. The exam syllabus is vast, and candidates need to clear the NEET exam to get into the top medical colleges in India.
5. Engineering
Engineering is one of the most popular courses in India. Many students every year participate in the JEE Main and JEE Advanced Exam to get admission to top IITs and NIIT colleges. But as the competition is very high and seats are limited it is one of the toughest examinations in 2025. The BTech course is also very tough and lengthy. Candidates need to learn many technical skills and implement them in real life.
6. MBA (Master of Business Administration)
The Master of Business Administration is a tough postgraduate course after graduation. This course can open a lot of opportunities if learned with dedication and effort. It provides many job roles in management profiles such as Human Resource Management (HR), Business, Marketing, CEO, etc.
7. Architecture
Architecture is a demanding field that requires students to have good understanding of design, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The admissions exam for the BArch course is a very competitive examination that requires candidates to clear the entrance exam.
Also Read: Google Ads Search Certification For FREE, Course Details & Curriculum
8. Law
Law is a very complex subject, which requires candidates to have strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Candidates need to have good learning skills. Also, concepts like legal topics, constitutional law, criminal law and contract law. Candidates need to have a good communication skills, logical thinking and active decision making skills.
9. Civil Services
The civil exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for various posts such as Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and more. The civil service is a prestigious job in India, and candidates from all over the country participate in the exam. The syllabus for civil service exam is vast. The exam is conducted in three phases preliminary, main and interview. The civil service exam is one of the toughest jobs in India.
10. Pharmacy
Pharmacy is one of the toughest courses in India. This course requires knowledge in science field, pharmaceutical organic and inorganic chemistry and candidates need to have good knowledge of chemistry, ayurveda, and pharmacognosy. The syllabus of Pharmacy is vast and it requires a lot of dedication and hard work to master this field. Candidates with good skills in this field can do good innovation in this field beyond selling drugs at store.
Factors Determining Course Toughness
There are various factors on which the toughness of the course depends. Check below to find the important factors.
- Complexity of a subject determines its toughness.
- Field of interest, if candidates are interested are not interested in a subject then the course may appear hard to them.
- The research, projects, practical work, assignment in the course also determine its toughness.
Some Other Tough Courses In India
Candidates can check out some more courses below.
- PhD in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Medicine and surgery (MBBS)
- Bachelor of Technolgy (BTech)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB)
- Master of Science (MSc)
Which Professional Course is Tough?
- Chartered Accountancy (CA)-Firmly believed to be amongst the hardest course in India, CA also has one of the largest pass percentage, as well as a comprehensive multi-stage examination involving Foundation, Intermediate, and Final exams.
- Civil Services (UPSC) – Out of very few candidates that appear for the examination, virtually none gets it in a single attempt. It requires years of preparation; thus, it can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.
- MBA from the Top Institutes (IIMs/ISB)- Cracking CAT, then navigating the case-based, high-pressure environment at the top B-schools makes this among the hardest professional journeys.
- Medicine (MBBS)-Besides clearing NEET, the course also requires round-the-clock study and practical, and long hours of working; hence, it becomes highly stressful but rewarding.
- Law (LLB/LLM)- Requires strong logical reasoning, critical thinking skills, and constant performance in academics, especially when preparing for judiciary or bar exams.
Which One is the Most Failed Course?
- CA (Chartered Accountancy)-Generally referred to as the most failed course in India, CA has a pass percentage of about 5-10% hence dropout is significantly high.
- Engineering (BTech)-As students fail in numerous aspects because of vast syllabus and difficult technical subjects, they drop out in considerable amounts, especially in private colleges.
- MBBS-generally, it’s not termed as a failure, rather, due to pressure of studies and repeated attempts at NEET, most students end up taking additional years or changing streams.
- Pharmacy-has a combination of several theoretical concepts in chemical understanding with the practical knowledge thereof, making it also one of those courses in which students often struggle with understanding concepts, thus making it another high-failure-rate course.
- Mathematics (Hons./MSc)-degree almost always fails or gets switched due to the high abstract and logic-heavy difficulty of understanding certain advanced concepts.
Which Course is High in Demand?
- Data Science & Analytics-by the increase in taking a data-driven decision, data science is the highest demand course in India, 2025.
- Computer Science & Engineering: Demand for skilled engineers will continue to remain alive across the world: Programming, AI, ML, and cybersecurity.
- Digital Marketing- With businesses going online, there are so many job roles created for SEO, content strategy, and paid advertisements specialists.
- Healthcare & Pharmacy- Increasing demand post-pandemic for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and healthcare managers.
- UX/UI Designing- With rising app and website usage, there is a demand for UX design professionals to improve such digital experiences.
- MBA in Business Analytics or Product Management- These are the MBA specializations for today’s industry, which have witnessed large recruitment in startups and tech firms.
- Law with Specialization (Cyber Law/IPR)- Since the legal tech and data privacy grow, law graduates with niche knowledge are sought extensively.
Choosing the Toughest Courses in India: Which One is Right?
- Choosing the right academic or professional path is very important and particularly in India if one has to choose the toughest courses in 2025 that test discipline and patience or intelligence.
- Engineering and then medicine, CA, and civil services, top the list of the 10 toughest courses in India-these promise lifetime gains but need serious effort and focus.
- The interest and aptitude, along with long-term goals, become the answer for those who look into the most challenging courses in India of the year or simply ask which are tough courses in India.
- You may even be interested in asking, what is the most failed course? For indeed, failure usually follows where passion is absent.
- On the flip side, people searching for courses that are easy and high salary may find them in digital marketing, UX design, or content creation.
And above all, which course is the happiest? That which satisfies your dreams and makes you enjoy the journey rather than chase the outcome.
Toughest Courses in India FAQs
What are some of the toughest courses in India?
Some of the toughest courses in India are medicine, engineering, CA, architecture, etc.
Which course is most difficult in India?
Computer Science, engineering, medicine, architecture, and MBA are some of the most difficult courses in India.
What is the hardest degree to get in India?
The hardest courses in India are Master of Science in Engineering, Chartered Accountant, Civil services.
