Summary
A Video Editor works with words, stories and audiences — gathering material, shaping it for a medium and publishing it to deadline. In India this work sits inside the Animation, VFX and Graphics stream: students usually take Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) in Class 11–12, qualify through Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Clear writing and editing
- Interviewing and fact-checking
- Speed under deadline
- Social and digital publishing tools
Where you can work
- Newspapers, TV channels and digital newsrooms
- Advertising, PR and content agencies
- Brand and corporate communication teams
- Independent creator and freelance work
Professional Opportunities
Newspapers, TV channels and digital newsrooms
Advertising, PR and content agencies
Brand and corporate communication teams
Independent creator and freelance work
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | Master's degree / PG diploma in a specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | M.Phil. / Ph.D. for research and teaching roles | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad | NID DAT | nid.edu |
| 2 | Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay | UCEED / CEED | idc.iitb.ac.in |
| 3 | Department of Design, IIT Guwahati | UCEED / CEED | iitg.ac.in |
| 4 | Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata | SRFTI JET | srfti.ac.in |
| 5 | Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune | FTII JET | ftii.ac.in |
| 6 | MIT Institute of Design, Pune | MIT ID DAT | mitid.edu.in |
| 7 | Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune | SET Design | sid.edu.in |
| 8 | Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru | Srishti Entrance | srishtimanipalinstitute.in |
| 9 | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | Institute Test | whistlingwoods.net |
| 10 | Arena Animation (national network) | Institute Counselling | arena-multimedia.com |
| 11 | MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics) | Institute Counselling | maacindia.com |
| 12 | Toonz Academy, Thiruvananthapuram | Institute Test | toonzacademy.com |
| 13 | Amity School of Fine Arts, Noida | Amity Test | amity.edu |
| 14 | Chandigarh University — Animation and VFX | CUCET | cuchd.in |
| 15 | Loyola College, Chennai — Visual Communication | Merit | loyolacollege.edu |
| 16 | Gujarat University — Animation and Multimedia | Merit | gujaratuniversity.ac.in |
| 17 | Pearl Academy, Delhi and Mumbai | Pearl Entrance | pearlacademy.com |
| 18 | World University of Design, Sonipat | WUD Aptitude Test | wud.ac.in |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NID DAT | National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test | B.Des with animation and film design specialisation. | admissions.nid.edu |
| UCEED | Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design | B.Des at IITs and IIITDM. | uceed.iitb.ac.in |
| NIFT Entrance | National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance | B.Des communication design. | nift.ac.in |
| CEED | Common Entrance Examination for Design | M.Des in animation, visual communication and interaction design. | ceed.iitb.ac.in |
| CUET-UG | Common University Entrance Test (UG) | B.A / B.Sc animation and multimedia at central universities. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| MIT ID DAT | MIT Institute of Design Aptitude Test | UG and PG design programmes. | mitid.edu.in |
| Symbiosis SET Design | Symbiosis Entrance Test (Design) | B.Des at Symbiosis Institute of Design. | set-test.org |
Work Description
- 01Track the beat, sources and trends the audience cares about.
- 02Research, interview and verify facts before anything is published.
- 03Write, edit or present the piece in the tone the platform requires.
- 04Work with designers, editors and producers to finish the story.
- 05Meet publication deadlines and follow legal and ethical norms.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Varied work with real public influence
- Entry is skill-based; a portfolio matters more than marks
- Digital platforms have opened independent earning routes
Cons
- Irregular hours and unpredictable news cycles
- Starting salaries in media are modest
- Pressure and public criticism come with the role
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Video Editor matches your interests and aptitude.