NISH is the first Institution in the country to propose new degree programme exclusively for students with hearing impairment. NISH started the four year Bachelor of Fine Arts (HI) exclusively for students with hearing impairment during 2008-09. The scheme and syllabus have been so designed that there is substantial practical content and less theory. The programme is affiliated to the University of Kerala. The program is innovative and is expected to fulfil the long felt dreams of students with hearing impairment for higher education. The regulations, scheme and syllabus for the programmes has been revised in 2013. From 2013 onwards the duration of the programme is 5 years having 10 semesters.
The first year is Preparatory year and will focus exclusively in Basic Mathematics and Communicative English. A student admitted to a programme is required to pass all the subjects in Preparatory year to be eligible to continue into the second year of the degree program. The University of Kerala would award Degree to successful candidates.