Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

Pondicherry University's Master of Arts (MA) in South Asian Studies is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Centre for South Asian Studies (UMISARC - UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation). Launched in 2008-09, the programme provides an interdisciplinary understanding of South Asian history, society, culture, economy, governance, and politics. The total course fee is Rs. 32,142 for the entire 2-year programme. With a seat intake of 40 Indian students plus 14 SAARC Foundation (SAF) students, and admission based on CUET-PG scores, the programme has a unique international character. The course is offered in full-time, on-campus mode at the Pondicherry campus.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are expected to be based on CUET-PG 2026 scores. The CUET-PG 2026 exam was conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. Pondicherry University typically releases its PG merit list and conducts counselling in June-July. Based on the 2025-26 cycle, counselling was held in early July 2025. Candidates are advised to monitor the official admissions portal at admissions.pondiuni.edu.in for the 2026-27 schedule.

Key Points

The programme is offered through UMISARC (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation), making it a UNESCO-associated institute with a truly global character.
14 additional seats are available for students from SAARC countries (two per country - one male, one female) under the South Asia Foundation (SAF) Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship.
The curriculum covers South Asian history, society, culture, international relations, foreign policy of South Asian countries, political economy, governance, and regional cooperation.
The institute publishes an International Journal of South Asian Studies and hosts regular guest lectures by eminent scholars, diplomats, and policymakers.
25% of seats are reserved for candidates from the Union Territory of Puducherry.
10 seats are reserved for Army personnel and 5 seats for Air Force personnel under the university's MoU with the Indian Armed Forces.
The programme was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on June 29, 2012, reflecting its national and international significance.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

Pondicherry University Latest Updates and News

15 Apr, 2026 CUET PG 2026 Results are expected to be released by First week of May @exams.nta.nic.in. To know more, click here.

03 Feb, 2026 Pondicherry University Fee Structure 2026 is out for MA South Asian Studies programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 39,347 . Read more.

PU MA(South Asian Studies) Fees

The MA South Asian Studies programme at Pondicherry University is highly affordable, with a total course fee of Rs. 32,142 for the entire 2-year programme. The first semester involves the highest payment of Rs. 19,042, which includes all one-time charges. Semesters II and IV are Rs. 1,700 each, while Semester III is Rs. 9,700. A caution deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Sem I (Rs.)	Sem II (Rs.)	Sem III (Rs.)	Sem IV (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	1,500	1,500	1,500	1,500	6,000
Registration Fee	300	-	-	-	300
Matriculation Fee	100	-	-	-	100
Recognition Fee	400	-	-	-	400
Sports Fund	500	-	500	-	1,000
Medical Examination / Facilities Fund	600	-	600	-	1,200
Library Fund	1,500	-	1,500	-	3,000
Computer Lab Fund	2,000	-	2,000	-	4,000
Amenities Development Fund	6,000	-	-	-	6,000
Students' Welfare Fund	400	-	400	-	800
Alumni Association Fund	200	-	-	-	200
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000	-	-	-	1,000
Placement Activity Fund	200	200	200	200	800
Academic Activity Fund	1,000	-	1,000	-	2,000
Digital Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000	-	4,000
Group Medical Insurance	142	-	-	-	142
University Development Fund	1,200	-	-	-	1,200
Total Fees	19,042	1,700	9,700	1,700	32,142

Hostel Fees

Hostel Fee Component	Amount
Room Rent (PG Students)	Rs. 900 per annum
General Amenities Fund	Rs. 700 per annum
Establishment Charges	Rs. 300 per annum
Application Fee (one-time, at admission)	Rs. 75
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	Rs. 3,000 (one-time)
Mess Fees	As per prevailing rates (paid per semester)

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university, subject to clearance of all dues.
SC/ST students who are eligible for Post-matric scholarships are permitted to pay fees after receiving the scholarship amount, by submitting an undertaking at the time of admission.
Fees must be paid within 90 days of admission.
Differently abled students are exempted from payment of all fees (except refundable caution deposit and Group Medical Insurance premium).
Late payment fine: Rs. 5 per day for the first 10 days; Rs. 10 per day thereafter.
Hostel fees are separate and not included in the above.
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory.
SC/ST students are exempt from room rent.
Hostel is subject to availability; preference is given to students from distant places.

PU MA(South Asian Studies) Admission 2026

Admissions to MA South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University are based on CUET-PG scores, specifically the COQP11 test paper. The university prepares a merit list based on CUET-PG scores and conducts counselling for seat allotment. For 2026-27, the CUET-PG 2026 exam has been conducted and results are awaited. Candidates should register on the official admissions portal and track merit list announcements. Based on the 2025-26 cycle, counselling was held in early July 2025 and the academic session commenced in August 2025.

PG Admission Key Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026-27)
CUET-PG 2026 Application Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Application End	January 25, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Admit Card	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026
PU PG Application / Registration	May - June 2026 (Tentative)
Provisional Merit List Release	June 2026 (Tentative)
Counselling / Seat Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
Commencement of Classes	August 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Date
Application Start	December 14, 2025
Application End	January 25, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result Declaration	May 6, 2026
CUET-PG Test Paper Code for MA South Asian Studies	COQP11

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% of marks from a recognised university under the 10+2+3 system.
SC/ST candidates who have passed the qualifying examination are eligible to apply irrespective of the percentage of marks obtained.
Candidates awaiting their final year results are also eligible to apply, subject to producing mark sheets/degree certificates before the notified date.

Admission Process

Register and apply for CUET-PG 2026 on the NTA portal (cuet.nta.nic.in) and appear for the COQP11 test paper.
Register separately on Pondicherry University's admissions portal (admissions.pondiuni.edu.in) once PU opens its PG application window.
Merit list is prepared based on CUET-PG scores; candidates are called for counselling in order of merit.
Attend counselling on the allotted date with original documents for verification.
Pay the prescribed fees and complete the admission formalities to confirm the seat.
70% attendance is mandatory to appear for semester examinations.

PU MA(South Asian Studies) Scholarships 2026

Pondicherry University offers multiple scholarship options for MA South Asian Studies students, including a prestigious full scholarship for SAARC country students. The Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship is a standout offering that covers living expenses, hostel accommodation, and tuition fees for 16 students from SAARC countries. Additionally, university-level merit scholarships and government-funded fellowships are available for Indian students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Madanjeet Singh Group (MSG) Scholarship	16 students from SAARC countries (2 per country - 1 male, 1 female)	Rs. 10,000 per month (living expenses) + Free hostel accommodation + Tuition fees covered
Merit Scholarship (University)	Top 3 rankers in CUET-PG / semester SGPA	Rs. 2,000 / Rs. 1,500 / Rs. 1,000 per month (Rank 1/2/3)
Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship	20% of PG students; parental income below Rs. 2.5 lakh p.a.; min. 70% attendance; pass in all papers	Rs. 750 per month
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child	Single girl child pursuing PG programme	As per UGC norms
PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders	University rank holders at UG level	As per UGC norms
Govt. of India SC/ST/OBC Scholarship	SC/ST/OBC students	As per respective state/central government norms
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students eligible for post-matric scholarship	Covers tuition and other fees
National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST)	ST students pursuing PG/research	As per Ministry of Tribal Affairs norms
Adi Dravidar Welfare Scholarship (Puducherry Govt.)	SC/ST students from UT of Puducherry	As per Puducherry government norms

Students are eligible for only one scholarship at a time.
The Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship is exclusively for students from SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) - two per country (one male, one female).
MCM Scholarship requires minimum 70% monthly attendance and passing all registered papers each semester.
For the first semester, Merit and MCM scholarships are sanctioned based on CUET-PG entrance exam marks; for subsequent semesters, based on SGPA.

PU MA(South Asian Studies) FAQs

Ques. What makes the MA South Asian Studies programme at Pondicherry University unique compared to similar programmes elsewhere?

Ans. The MA South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University is offered through UMISARC (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation), which is a UNESCO-associated institute. This gives the programme a truly international character. The institute has 14 additional seats exclusively for students from SAARC countries, funded by the Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship (covering living expenses, hostel, and tuition). The programme was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the institute publishes an International Journal of South Asian Studies.

Ques. Are SAARC country students eligible to apply for MA South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University? What is the process?

Ans. Yes, 14 seats are specifically reserved for students from SAARC countries (two per country - one male, one female) under the South Asia Foundation (SAF) Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship. These students receive full scholarships covering Rs. 10,000 per month for living expenses, free hostel accommodation, and tuition fees. SAARC country students should contact the South Asia Foundation or the Centre for South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University directly for the application process, as it may differ from the CUET-PG route for Indian students.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing MA South Asian Studies from Pondicherry University?

Ans. MA South Asian Studies graduates can pursue careers in diplomacy and foreign services (IFS), international organisations (UN, SAARC Secretariat, UNESCO), think tanks and policy research institutes, journalism and media (international affairs), NGOs working on South Asian issues, academia and research (PhD programmes), and civil services (UPSC). The interdisciplinary nature of the programme, covering politics, economics, history, and culture, makes graduates versatile for roles in international relations and regional cooperation.

Ques. What is the CUET-PG test paper for MA South Asian Studies, and what topics does it cover?

Ans. The CUET-PG test paper code for MA South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University is COQP11. The test covers topics related to Contemporary South Asian Society and Culture, International and Regional Organisations, Economic Reforms and Foreign Policy of South Asian Countries. Candidates should prepare from topics covering South Asian history, politics, international relations, regional cooperation (SAARC, BIMSTEC), and the political economy of South Asian countries.

Ques. Is there a 25% reservation for Puducherry UT candidates in MA South Asian Studies?

Ans. Yes, 25% of the seats in MA South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University are reserved for candidates from the Union Territory of Puducherry. This reservation applies to the 40 Indian student seats. Additionally, 10 seats are reserved for Army personnel and 5 seats for Air Force personnel under the university's MoU with the Indian Armed Forces. Candidates from these categories should check the specific eligibility and application procedures on the official admissions portal.

Ques. Does the Centre for South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University offer PhD programmes as well?

Ans. Yes, the Centre for South Asian Studies (UMISARC) at Pondicherry University offers a PhD programme in South Asian Studies, which was launched in the academic year 2010-11. Students who complete the MA South Asian Studies programme can pursue doctoral research at the same centre. The institute provides a broad research platform with regular guest lectures by eminent scholars, diplomats, and policymakers, and publishes the International Journal of South Asian Studies, making it a strong environment for advanced research.