MA or Master of Arts is a 2-year postgraduate degree that is awarded when a student passes an integrated course of study in subjects of humanities and social sciences. MA Admission is primarily offered based on merit. However, some colleges like TISS, JNU, Calcutta University, and Jadavpur University take Master of Arts admission through Entrance Exams. A few of the top Entrance Exams for MA admission include CUET PG, IPU CET, AUAT, CUSAT CAT, etc.
The course fee for the Master of Arts ranges from INR 15,000 – INR 30,000. Miranda House and Hindu College are among the list of Top-Ranked MA Colleges. Students have the choice to pursue an MA in Distance Mode as well. They can study MA from IGNOU which is a pioneer for distance education in India. The average fees for MA in distance range from INR 9,000 to INR 22,000. Post completing the MA, students are offered a wide set of job profiles, starting from teachers to part-time professors with an average salary of INR 6 LPA.
Table of Contents
Master of Arts: Course Details
- MA Admission eligibility requires a Graduation with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognized University.
- The average MA fees for the course range between INR 20,000 - 30,000.
- Some of the top colleges offering Master of Arts are Calcutta University, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, etc.
- Apart from regular mode, Master of Arts can be pursued through Distance from colleges like IGNOU, Annamalai University, Osmania University, etc.
- After completion of the MA, students can pursue PhD in their respective fields of specialization.
- The average salary post the completion of a Master of Arts ranges between INR 3.5 - 5 LPA.
About Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Arts is a 2 years postgraduate degree course pursued by students after completion of a Bachelor’s degree in any relevant specialization. The top MA courses opted by students include MA in English, MA in History, MA in Political Science, MA in Economics, etc. Entrance exams are conducted for students to enroll in various MA courses which include CUET PG, IPU CET, AUAT, CUSAT CAT, etc. The students get enrolled based on merit as well in some colleges.
Why study Master of Arts?
- A Master of Arts degree helps students to enhance their subject-specific knowledge. It provides an in-depth knowledge of the discipline they have selected.
- They also get an opportunity to attend Guest lectures and seminars by professionals in the academic circle or the business environment.
- Postgraduate courses have a larger curriculum and are more autonomous than UG courses. Students are required to put more effort into learning the entire process by developing new skills. The Master’ degree instills the powers of inquiry, logical reasoning, and critical analysis.
- Students can get a good position with their UG degree but for further advancement in the industry field, a Master's degree is a real turning point.
Who Should Pursue a Master of Arts?
- Candidates who have a Bachelor's degree in art course or any special course with 50% marks (45% for reserved category), should pursue an MA degree.
- Candidates who want to pursue a PhD degree can opt for an MA course.
- Students must be serious about their careers.
- The specialisation chosen will help to choose the career students to want.
Master of Arts: Admission Process
Most of the colleges conduct entrance exams for MA admission. Some top universities also conduct a second round of the selection process for admission to MA courses by arranging WAT and PI. MA Admission 2024 is on the basis of the entrance exam or merit secured in graduation. The MA admission process usually begins in May and concludes in July.
MA Admission: Fee Structure
Name of the Colleges | Average Fee |
---|---|
Lady Shri Ram College for Women | INR 35,000 |
Miranda House | INR 30,000 |
Loyola College | INR 40,000 |
Fergusson College | INR 20,000 |
MA Eligibility
Before applying for a Master of Arts one should be aware of the eligibility criteria as prescribed by the colleges and universities. Below are the details for eligibility for an MA course,
- Candidates should have completed their Bachelor of Arts with a minimum of 3 years duration or its equivalent degree from a recognized university.
- They have to score at least 50% in the relevant subjects.
MA Entrance Exams
As discussed several entrance exams are conducted for students to enroll for Master of Arts. CUET-PG, IPU CET, and college-specific entrance tests are among the various entrance exams, based on which admission to MA courses is determined.
MA Entrance Exams Dates
Entrance Exam | Exam Date |
---|---|
CUET PG | March 11 – March 28, 2024 |
AUAT | 1st week of May 2024 |
PUCET | To be announced |
CUSAT CAT | To be announced |
MA Entrance Exams Preparation
- Students should be well versed in the subject they have chosen for Master of Arts. They can divide the syllabus into separate modules to make the learning process easy.
- Literary theory and criticism on respective subjects are equally important for entrance exam preparation.
- Students have to practice how to deal with factual questions.
- They can revise previous papers and sample papers of the respective entrance exams for better understanding.
Master of Arts Syllabus
MA syllabus is an academically oriented syllabus that includes theory and practical lessons, internships, research projects, and assignments. The syllabus and the course curriculum are different for every specialization. The core subjects that are taught in the first year of the curriculum.
There are different types of elective courses that students can choose in the second year. Some of the special disciplines for MA courses are - English, Bengali, History, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Hindi, Philosophy, etc. Below mentioned tables will discuss separately the subjects and syllabus for various Master of Arts courses.
See Also: MA Syllabus
MA English Syllabus
Semester I
Structure of Modern English | English Fiction |
Phonology | Jonathan Swift: Gulliver’s Travels |
Communication | Henry Fielding: Joseph Andrews |
Morphology | Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice |
Semester II
The Structure of Modern English | English Fiction |
Language and Society | Thomas Hardy: Jude the Obscure |
Distinctive Features of British, American and | Joseph Conrad: Lord Jim |
Indian English | D. H. Lawrence: Sons and Lovers |
Semester III
Literary Theory and Criticism | English Poetry |
Aristotle: The Poetics | John Milton: Paradise Lost Book 1 |
Dr Johnson: A Preface to Shakespeare | John Donne: The Sun Rising |
Semester IV
Literary Theory and Criticism | English Poetry |
T.S.Eliot: Tradition and the Individual Talent | Coleridge: The Rime of Ancient Mariner |
F.R.Leavis: Literature and Society | William Wordsworth Poetry |
Northrope Frye: The Archetypes of Literature | Tennyson Poetry |
MA Political Science Syllabus
The table given below will familiarise you with the latest MA Political Science Syllabus taught in most of the best MA colleges in India.
First Year Syllabus | |
---|---|
Semester I | Semester II |
Western Political Thought (From Plato to Hegel) | Political Sociology |
Political Development | Comparative Politics |
Research Methodology | Administrative Theory |
Ancient Indian Political Thought | Indian Constitutional System |
Theories of International Relations | Comparative Politics |
Contemporary Political Theory | Texts of Philosophers |
Second Year Syllabus | |
Semester III | Semester IV |
Public Administration | Concept and Issue in Political Science |
Politics in India | Post-Cold War International Relations |
Modern Indian Political Thought | Indian Administration |
MA Economics Syllabus
Check out the detailed MA Economics Syllabus tabulated below along with various optional subjects.
First Year Syllabus | |
---|---|
Semester I | Semester II |
Microeconomic Analysis | Macroeconomic Analysis |
Elementary Statistics | Theory of Pricing and Distribution |
Monetary Economics | Quantitative Methods |
Second Year Syllabus | |
Semester III | Semester IV |
Economics of Growth | Indian Public Finance |
Economics of Industry | Selected Problems of the Indian Economy |
Issues in the Indian Economy | Growth Models in Economics |
Public Economics | Economics of Agriculture |
Master of Arts: Specializations
MA courses have a variety of specializations that allow exploring in-depth knowledge about that subject. MA or Master of Arts is a huge field of study, thus the lines of specializations are also huge and are subject to radical changes depending on the course and its core structure.
MA English
MA English is a 2-year PG course that deals with the study of concepts and topics of grammar and literature. MA English Syllabus covers various English poetry, fiction, Indian verses, English Dramas, and Research methodology for English Language and Literature. The top MA English colleges in India include Loyola College Chennai, Fergusson College Pune, and Presidency University Kolkata.
The average MA English Fees can be between INR 40,000 - 50,000 annually. There are plenty of MA English Jobs like Journalist, Teacher, Editor, Script Writer, etc. with an average annual salary between INR 3.5 - 4 LPA.
MA History
MA History covers a wide range of topics of Indian as well as Foreign History in the field of arts & humanities. MA History Syllabus imparts knowledge about the Ancient, Mediaeval, and Modern History of India in terms of social status, culture, events, etc. The best MA History colleges in India are Miranda House College Delhi, Hindu College New Delhi, Loyola College, Chennai, etc.
The average MA History fees can range between INR 10,000 - INR 40,000 in private while INR 500 - INR 2,000 in MA History government colleges. MA History Jobs include historian, archivist, archaeologist, etc. with average earnings of around INR 3.71 - 7.97 LPA.
MA Political Science
MA Political Science or Master of Arts in Political Science is a 2-year PG course that offers specialised knowledge in the field of Indian and International Politics. MA Political Science Syllabus covers subjects or topics related to Political Theory, Political Sociology, and International Relations along with several texts by philosophers.
The best MA Political Science colleges in India include Hindu College New Delhi, St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, Presidency College Chennai and many others. MA Political Science average fees range between INR 10,000 to 25,000. Graduates can find various MA Political Science jobs like Political Consultant, Activists, etc. with annual salary between INR 4-8 LPA.
MA Sociology
MA Sociology deals with the study of society and different related mechanisms for the development of Society. MA Sociology Syllabus covers topics such as Society, Religion, Political and Economic Sociology, Methodology of Sociological Research and Development.
The Top MA Sociology colleges in India include Nizam College Hyderabad, Loyola College Chennai, Jesus and Mary College New Delhi and many others. The average fees for the course can be anywhere between INR 5,000 - 2,00,000. Apart from MA Sociology Jobs, students can also go for higher education and are eligible to pursue M.Phil or Ph.D. in Sociology.
MA Economics
MA Economics is a 2-years PG course that imparts knowledge about several aspects of Economics, banking, Marketing and many other concepts related to Economics. MA Economics Syllabus covers a broad range of topics such as econometry, macroeconomics, microeconomics, international and financial economics and many more.
MA Economics Fees into the top MA Economics colleges in India like Loyola College Chennai, Miranda House New Delhi, Christ University Bangalore, etc. can range between INR 10,000 - 50,000. Research Analyst, Data Analyst and Economist are some high profile and reputable MA Economics Jobs with average annual salary between INR 3 - 7 LPA.
Some of the Popular Specilizations in MA Include:
MA Colleges in India
Many popular colleges in India offer MA in various Specializations. Almost all the top five metropolitan cities of India have famous colleges that teach various MA courses. Some of the famous colleges of these cities are mentioned below,
MA Colleges in Delhi
Check out some of the best MA colleges in Delhi along with their average annual fees structure:
Colleges Name | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|
Lady Shri Ram College for Women - [LSR], New Delhi | INR 17,976 |
Miranda House, New Delhi | INR 14,530 |
Hindu College, New Delhi | INR 18,010 |
Hansraj College - [HRC], New Delhi | INR 13,309 |
Jesus and Mary College - [JMC], New Delhi | INR 17,046 |
Sri Venkateswara College - Delhi, New Delhi | INR 13,191 |
Shri Ram College of Commerce - [SRCC], New Delhi | NA |
Indraprastha College for Women - [IP], New Delhi | NA |
IIT Delhi - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITD], New Delhi | INR 20,000 |
Jawaharlal Nehru University - [JNU], New Delhi | INR 371 |
MA Colleges in Mumbai
There are around 52 recognized arts colleges in Mumbai offering MA courses. Tabulated below are some of the best MA Colleges in Mumbai with fees structure:
Colleges Name | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai | INR 92,000 |
K J Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce - [KJSAC], Mumbai | INR 16,850 |
Kishinchand Chellaram College - [KC College], Mumbai | INR 24,920 |
Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College - [R.J.C], Mumbai | INR 11,000 |
IIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITB], Mumbai | INR 69,500 |
Mumbai University - [MU], Mumbai | INR 34,400 |
Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University - [SNDT], Mumbai | INR 13,300 |
Tata Institute of Social Sciences - [TISS], Mumbai | INR 66,500 |
MA Colleges in Kolkata
Kolkata, also known as "City of Joy" is a home to some of the most premier and prestigious institutions in India. Some of the top MA Colleges in Kolkata along with fees Structure are given below:
Colleges Name | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|
Presidency University, Kolkata | INR 2,220 |
Lady Brabourne College - [LBC], Kolkata | INR 27,000 |
Maulana Azad College - [MAC], Kolkata | INR 4,000 |
Ramakrishna Mission Residential College - [RKMRC], Kolkata | INR 40,000 |
University of Calcutta, Kolkata | INR 2,000 |
Amity University, Kolkata | INR 1,02,000 |
University of Engineering and Management - [UEM], Kolkata | INR 60,000 |
MA Colleges in Bangalore
Check out list of a top 10 MA Colleges in Bangalore along with their average annual fees Structure:
Colleges Name | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|
Christ University, Bangalore | INR 20,000 (Total Fees) |
Kristu Jayanti College - [KJC], Bangalore | INR 75,000 |
Jain (Deemed-to-be University) Online, Bangalore | INR 57,000 |
Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women - [MLACW], Bangalore | NA |
Jain University - [JU], Bangalore | INR 4,00,000 |
Mount Carmel College - [MCC], Bangalore | NA |
Garden City University - [GCU], Bangalore | INR 94,500 |
National Law School of India University - [NLSIU], Bangalore | INR 2,19,000 |
Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies - [AIGS], Bangalore | INR 91,000 |
CMR University - [CMRU], Bangalore | INR 90,000 |
MA Colleges in Pune
There are around 112 Arts colleges in Pune out of which around 54 colleges in Pune offer MA courses with various MA Specializations. Check out the table below for the best MA Colleges in Pune along with their average annual fees structure:
Colleges Name | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|
Fergusson College, Pune | INR 9,680 |
Modern College of Arts Science and Commerce - [MCASC] Shivajinagar, Pune | NA |
Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune | INR 36,511 |
Dr. D.Y. Patil Arts, Science and Commerce College Pimpri, Pune | INR 13,400 |
Gramonnati Mandal's Arts, Commerce & Science College - [ACSC] Narayangaon, Pune | NA |
Poona College of Arts, Science and Commerce - [PCASC], Pune | INR 15,920 |
Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication - [SIMC], Pune | INR 5,10,000 |
Savitribai Phule Pune University - [SPPU], Pune | INR 26,000 |
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University - [BVDU], Pune | INR 7,00,000 (Total Fees) |
Symbiosis International University - [SIU], Pune | INR 3,25,000 |
MA Distance Education
MA being a popular and highly sought-after course is available in the form of Distance Education course as well. For professionals who cannot spare time but are also interested to study further, Distance in MA is highly recommended for them.
The eligibility criteria for pursuing an MA in Distance method are as follows,
- Students should have cleared their graduation in a relevant stream for a recognized University.
- They should have the minimum passing marks in all subjects to be considered fit for enrolling in an MA in Distance Education mode
Some of the top colleges offering MA in Distance Education are tabulated below,
Name of the College | Location | Average Course Fees (INR) |
---|---|---|
IGNOU | New Delhi | 12,600 |
Mahatma Gandhi University | New Delhi | 2,475 |
University of Mumbai | Mumbai | 6,000 |
Saraswati Distance Education | Mumbai | 27,000 |
Rabindra Bharati University | Kolkata | 6,800 |
Netaji Subhas Open University | Kolkata | 7,600 |
IGNOU MA Economics Syllabus
Check out the table below to know the subject or topics taught in IGNOU MA Economics Syllabus:
First Year Syllabus | Second Year Syllabus |
---|---|
Microeconomic Analysis | International Trade and Finance |
Macroeconomic Analysis | Economics of Social Sector and Environment |
Quantitative Methods for Economic Analysis | Public Economics |
Economics of Growth and Development | Research Methods in Economics |
Indian Economic Policy | Optional Courses |
- | Econometric Methods |
- | Actuarial Economics: Theory and Practice |
- | Financial Institutions and Markets |
- | Project Work |
- | Women in the Economy |
- | Gender Issues in Work Employment and Productivity |
- | Development Issues and Perspectives |
IGNOU MA English Syllabus
The following table below provides you an insight into the IGNOU MA English Syllabus.
Note: For the second year one can choose any 3 optional subjects.
First Year Syllabus | Second Year Syllabus |
---|---|
British Poetry | Literary Criticism and Theory |
British Drama | Optional Subjects ( any 3 ) |
Aspects of Language | Indian English Literature |
British Novel | American Literature |
- | New Literatures in English |
- | English Studies in India |
- | Australian Literature |
- | American Novel |
- | A Survey Course in 20th Century Canadian Literature |
- | Contemporary Indian Literature in English Translation |
- | Writings from the Margins |
- | Comparative Literature: Theory and Practice |
- | Indian Folk Literature |
IGNOU MA Psychology Syllabus
Below we have tabulated the latest IGNOU MA Psychology Syllabus in semester-wise breakdown.
Also Note: In the Final year of MA Psychology at IGNOU, candidates are required to choose any one Group among the 3.
First Year Syllabus | Second Year Syllabus |
---|---|
Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory | Group A: Clinical Psychology |
Lifespan Psychology | Psychopathology |
Personality: Theories and Assessment | Psychodiagnostics |
Advanced Social Psychology | Psychotherapeutic methods |
Research Methods in Psychology | Practicals: Clinical |
Statistics in Psychology | Field Work |
Practicals: Experimental Psychology and Psychological Testing | Project |
- | Group B: Counselling Psychology |
- | Counselling Psychology |
- | Assessment in Counselling and Guidance |
- | Interventions in Counselling |
- | Practicum in Counselling Psychology |
- | Internship |
- | Project |
- | Group C: Industrial and Organisational Psychology |
- | Organisational Behaviour (OBY) |
- | Human Resource Development (HRD) |
- | Organisational Development (OD) |
- | Practicum: Industrial and Organisational Psychology |
- | Internship |
- | Project |
MA Colleges in Abroad
Nearly 22 lakh students visited abroad from India for further studies between the year 2016 - 2021. There are several prestigious universities and colleges abroad that offer degrees in MA subjects. Some of the top countries that offer MA specializations are tabulated below for your reference
Country | Top colleges |
---|---|
USA | Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Texas, Columbia University |
UK | Canterbury Christ Church University Treasure University Coventry University University of East London |
Canada | University of Toronto University of Alberta University of British Columbia McGill University |
Australia | University of Melbourne University of Sydney RMIT University University of Queensland |
What after MA?
After completing an MA students can opt for further studies such as M.Phil or PhD in their relevant subjects. The eligibility criteria for M.Phil and PhD are different however students have to sit for an entrance exam for both degrees, as there are no merit-based selection criteria when it comes to pursuing an M.Phil or PhD.
Apart from further studies, students can also choose to join corporations and other organizations to kick-start their professional careers. Or, they can prepare for various government jobs and exams.
Also Check: MA Jobs
Course after MA
Students can choose to pursue an M.Phil or PhD post completing an MA in relevant subjects or can also choose to pursue Diploma degrees in various professional courses. The table will discuss the various courses one can choose after completing an MA.
M.Phil Courses
- Phil or Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate academic research degree course that tends to research the nature of ideas and circumstances in a specific field of study. The eligibility criteria for pursuing an M.Phil are,
- Students should score a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in the relevant subject for their MA degree course from a recognized university.
- Should sit for entrance examination and clear the minimum cut-off as selected by the University
Some of the top and frequently attempted M.Phil courses are,
M.phil in English | M.Phil in History | M.Phil in Philosophy |
M.Phil in Political Science | M.Phil in Sociology | M.Phil in Economics |
Some of the top M.Phil Colleges are tabulated below,
Name of the Colleges | Average Fees (INR) |
---|---|
University of Calcutta | 4,000 |
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University | 75,000 |
Delhi University | 6,000 |
Rabindra Bharati University | 9,500 - 12,000 |
PhD Courses
PhD also known as Doctor of Philosophy is a 5-year course that deals with an in-depth and intrinsic study of research for any relevant subject. The eligibility criteria for pursuing PhD is,
- Students should have scored a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in Post Graduation in a relevant subject from a recognized university
- Should clear the cut-off marks during entrance exams as decided by the presiding university
Some of the tops frequently attempted the PhD subjects are,
PhD in English | PhD in History | PhD in Economics |
PhD in Political Science | PhD in Philosophy | PhD in Philosophy |
Some of the top PhD colleges in India are as follows,
Name of the College | Average Fees (INR) |
---|---|
Banaras Hindu University | 5,000 - 8,000 |
University of Calcutta | 5,000 |
Delhi University | 12,000 |
Jamia Millia Islamia | 23,100 |
MA Jobs
Post completing the MA, students are offered a wide set of job profiles, starting from teachers to part-time professors, managerial positions to owning a start-up. The below-mentioned table will discuss the various job profiles a candidate can be offered post completing an MA degree in relevant subjects.
Top Recruiters
Some of the top recruiters who hire fresh candidates after completing an MA degree are tabulated below.
ITC Limited | Amazon. in | Capgemini |
TCS | BMW | ICICI Bank |
Myntra | Hindustan Times | Times of India |
Top Job Profiles
Job Profile | Job Description |
---|---|
Content Writer | The main job of a content writer is to write articles along with proper SEO research and updating oneself with adequate knowledge on the subject that s/he is writing. |
Journalist | A journalist mainly goes out to cover news and events that are happening in society and present it to the citizens. A journalist profile can be bifurcated into an editor and anchor, based on his / her line of specialty |
Social Worker | Someone who works for society and the unprivileged sections for their better life and conditions. Social workers are divided into various sections such as people working for women’s empowerment, people working for the environment, people working for the unprivileged sections, etc. |
Teacher | The main job of a teacher is to impart knowledge to her students based on her line of study |
Consultant | A consultant works for a firm or corporate agency and is mainly responsible for managing client meetings and interacting with them. |
MA Salary in India
Keeping the various job profiles that are offered to an MA graduate, these range of salaries along with their designated positions are tabulated below for your reference,
Job Profile | Average Salary |
---|---|
Content Writer | 2.80 LPA |
Journalist | 3.40 LPA |
Social Worker | 4.00 LPA |
Teacher | 5 LPA |
Consultant | 5.5 LPA |
MA: FAQs
Ques: What is an MA course?
Ques: How many years is an MA course?
Ques: How to do an MA after passing 12th?
Ques: When should I apply for an MA?
Ques: Is there an entrance exam for an MA?
Ques: What can I do after the MA course?
Ans: The Career Options After MA are listed below:
- Lawyer Manager
- Digital Marketer
- Journalist
- Data Scientist (PG Certification)
- Insurance Executive
Ques: What is an MA Honours degree?
Ques: Can I do PhD after MA?
Ques: Is Arts a good career?
Ques: Is a Master of Arts degree worth it?
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