FREE Assessment · Reports from ₹999
Take the Free Assessment →
✦ Discover your unique strengths with the FuturePath Human Intelligence Assessment•✦ Students & professionals: find the career that truly fits you•✦ Companies: better hiring, leadership development & internal mobility•✦ Schools: career guidance for every student•✦ 100% online, anywhere in India, in English, हिन्दी & more Indian languages•✦ Discover your unique strengths with the FuturePath Human Intelligence Assessment•✦ Students & professionals: find the career that truly fits you•✦ Companies: better hiring, leadership development & internal mobility•✦ Schools: career guidance for every student•✦ 100% online, anywhere in India, in English, हिन्दी & more Indian languages•

Career guide · Technology & Engineering

Software Engineering

Subjects, entrance exams and your routes after Class 12

Designing, writing, testing and maintaining the software behind apps, websites and business systems, usually in teams.

Software DeveloperBackend EngineerFull-stack DeveloperQA / Test Engineer

Written by Future Path counsellors. Facts checked against official sources on 5 October 2026.

Which stream after 10th?

How each stream keeps Software Engineering open, based on the official subject rules for the routes below.

Arts / Humanities

Open

via Portfolio-first route

Commerce

Open

via Portfolio-first route

Science (PCM)

Open

via Engineering degree and Portfolio-first route

Science (PCB)

Open

via Portfolio-first route

Many universities set their own subject rules, so always check the course you want. Not sure which stream suits your child? Read how to choose a stream after 10th or see every Class 11 subject option.

How to get there after Class 12

Engineering degree

Degree
What you study
B.Tech. and B.E.
Entrance / admission
JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced) — for IITs and State / university engineering entrance tests
You can specialise in
Computer Science & Engineering and Information Technology
Common next step
M.Tech. / M.E. and MBA
Typical first roles
Software Developer and QA Engineer
Subjects in Class 11–12: For B.E./B.Tech seats through JEE (Main) in the NIT+ system: Physics and Mathematics, plus one of Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / a technical vocational subject, plus a language.NIT+ admission also needs 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% SC/ST/PwD) or a top-20-percentile board result.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

Computer applications degree

Degree
What you study
BCA
Entrance / admission
CUET (UG) and University-specific admission
You can specialise in
Software development
Common next step
MCA and M.Sc.
Typical first roles
Junior Developer and Application Support
Subjects in Class 11–12: Subject eligibility is set by each university for each programme; CUET lets students choose test subjects irrespective of their Class 12 subjects, but admission still depends on the university's own programme rules.

Sources: [3] [4]

Science degree at a university

Degree
What you study
B.Sc.
Entrance / admission
CUET (UG) and University-specific admission
You can specialise in
Computer Science
Common next step
M.Sc.
Typical first roles
Junior Developer
Subjects in Class 11–12: Subject eligibility is set by each university for each programme; CUET lets students choose test subjects irrespective of their Class 12 subjects, but admission still depends on the university's own programme rules.

Sources: [3] [4]

Portfolio-first route

Skill-first route
Subjects in Class 11–12: Open to Class 12 students from any stream.

Some employers hire on demonstrated projects; a degree still widens options, especially for public-sector and overseas roles.

How this field is changing

An established fieldNew tools are changing how much of the work is done

Software and Applications Developers are both among the fastest-growing and the largest-growing jobs to 2030. ILO finds software-related roles saw rising generative-AI exposure, meaning many coding tasks are being reshaped rather than the role disappearing.

Sources: [5] [6]

Skills that matter, and how to start now

Core skills

  • ✓Programming fundamentals
  • ✓Problem decomposition
  • ✓Version control
  • ✓Teamwork in code reviews

Things you can do this month

  • 🌱Learn one language (e.g. Python) through a free structured course and finish its exercises
  • 🌱Build and publish one small working app or website that solves a problem at home or school
  • 🌱Try a beginner competitive-programming contest to practise logic under time limits

Is Software Engineering right for you?

Liking a field is a good start, but the right fit also depends on your strengths, the way you like to work and what matters to you. Our assessment looks at all of these, and your report shows which paths suit you best, with a counsellor to talk it through if you'd like.

Take the Free Assessment →Free to take · reports from ₹999

See a sample report

Questions parents and students ask

+Which stream should I choose after 10th for Software Engineering?

Software Engineering has routes open to students from every stream: Arts/Humanities, Commerce and Science. Choose the stream your child will do well and stay interested in; the routes below show the exact subject rules.

+Which subjects do I need in Class 12 for Software Engineering?

For B.E./B.Tech seats through JEE (Main) in the NIT+ system: Physics and Mathematics, plus one of Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / a technical vocational subject, plus a language. Subject eligibility is set by each university for each programme; CUET lets students choose test subjects irrespective of their Class 12 subjects, but admission still depends on the university's own programme rules. Open to Class 12 students from any stream.

+What can I study after Class 12 for a career in Software Engineering?

The main routes are: Engineering degree (B.Tech. and B.E.); Computer applications degree (BCA); Science degree at a university (B.Sc.); Portfolio-first route.

+Which entrance exams lead to Software Engineering?

Depending on the route: JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced) — for IITs, State / university engineering entrance tests, CUET (UG) and University-specific admission. Always check the latest official bulletin before you apply.

+How is Software Engineering changing over the next few years?

An established field. Software and Applications Developers are both among the fastest-growing and the largest-growing jobs to 2030. ILO finds software-related roles saw rising generative-AI exposure, meaning many coding tasks are being reshaped rather than the role disappearing.

+How do I know if Software Engineering is right for me?

Interest is a good start, but fit also depends on your strengths, how you like to work and what matters to you. Our assessment looks at all of these and your report shows which paths suit you, with a counsellor available to talk it through.

Official sources

Rules and dates change every year. Always confirm with the latest official bulletin before applying.

  1. [1]JEE (Main) 2026 Information Bulletin — §5.8.1 subject combinations (Paper 1 / 2A / 2B) · National Testing Agency · checked 5 October 2026
  2. [2]JEE (Advanced) eligibility — Class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics compulsory · JEE (Advanced) Organising IIT · checked 5 October 2026
  3. [3]Specification of Degrees (Gazette 5 July 2014) — approved UG degree nomenclature (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., BBA, BCA, B.Tech., B.Arch., LLB, B.Pharm., B.Sc.(Nursing), BFA, BPA, B.Ed. integrated, etc.) · University Grants Commission · checked 5 October 2026
  4. [4]CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin — 37 subjects; subjects selectable irrespective of Class XII subjects; programme eligibility set by each university · National Testing Agency · checked 5 October 2026
  5. [5]Future of Jobs Report 2025 — Fig 2.2 fastest-growing/declining roles; Fig 2.4 largest absolute growth/decline; India economy profile · World Economic Forum · checked 5 October 2026
  6. [6]Generative AI and jobs: A 2025 update — four exposure gradients; augmentation potential ~6x automation; clerical highest exposure; rising exposure for software, media, finance roles · International Labour Organization · checked 5 October 2026

Related career guides

AI, Machine Learning & Data Science

Read the guide →

Cybersecurity

Read the guide →

Cloud, DevOps & IT Infrastructure

Read the guide →

Web & Mobile App Development

Read the guide →

Game Development & Interactive Tech

Read the guide →

Electronics, Hardware & IoT

Read the guide →

See all career guides →

Discover strengths with the FuturePath Human Intelligence Assessment

For students and professionals choosing a career, and for companies and schools that want to understand their people.

Take the Free AssessmentFor CompaniesFor Schools