Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai offers a 2-year full-time Master of Arts (MA) in Folklore through its Department of Folklore and Culture Studies under the School of Performing Arts. Established in 2002, MKU is the only university in Tamil Nadu with a dedicated school for studying folk and elite arts of the Tamils and non-Tamils. The programme spans 4 semesters and covers folk traditions, oral literature, folk crafts, cultural studies, gender and folklore, and ethnographic research methods. The department is renowned for its state-of-the-art Folklore Archives and Recording Studio, housing over 500 hours of video recordings, 350 hours of audio recordings, and 5,500 still photographs documenting the folk traditions of South India. The school holds UGC's Department of Research Support (DRS) status under SAP-I, and has attracted prestigious funding including Rs. 74 lakhs from the Ford Foundation for research on Folk Crafts, Folklore, and Gender. The total fees for the 2-year programme are approximately Rs. 21,120, making it highly affordable. Admission is merit-based (non-entrance), and the programme is ideal for students passionate about Indian cultural heritage, ethnography, and performing arts.

Admissions for the academic year 2026-27 are currently open. Applications were made available from 02 March 2026, and the last date to submit applications is 06 April 2026. Counselling and selection are expected in May-June 2026, with the academic session commencing in July 2026.

Key Points

MKU is the only university in Tamil Nadu with a dedicated School of Performing Arts offering specialized studies in Folklore and Culture Studies.
The Department of Folklore and Culture Studies has a state-of-the-art Folklore Archives and Recording Studio with 500+ hours of video, 350+ hours of audio, and 5,500+ photographs of South Indian folk traditions.
The school holds UGC's DRS (Department of Research Support) status under SAP-I, reflecting its national recognition in folklore research.
The department attracted Rs. 74 lakhs from the Ford Foundation for a three-year research project on Folk Crafts, Folklore, and Gender.
The school has a specialized library with 3,608 books on Folklore, Fine Arts, Anthropology, Philosophy, Communication, and related subjects.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Madurai Kamaraj University Latest Updates and News

02 Mar, 2026 Madurai Kamaraj University MA Folklore Studies Admission 2026 is open. Apply by Apr 6 @mkuniversity.ac.in. The entrance exam is tentatively scheduled for May 23 & 24, 2026.

Madurai Kamaraj University Important Events

PG1

MKU MA Folklore Fees

The MA Folklore programme at MKU is among the most affordable postgraduate programmes in India. The total fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 21,120 for OC/BC/MBC/DNC category students. SC/ST students are exempt from tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government norms. The caution deposit of Rs. 1,000 is fully refundable at the end of the programme.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	I Year (Rs.)	II Year (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	6,000	6,000
Lab Consumables Fee	750	750
Special Fee	1,610	1,610
Examination Fee	1,200	1,200
Admission Fee	100	-
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000	-
Insurance Fee	250	150
Alumni Fee	-	500
Total Fees	10,910	10,210
Grand Total (2 Years)		Rs. 21,120

SC/ST students are exempt from tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government policy.
Differently abled students are exempt from tuition fee and special fee.
Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is fully refundable at the end of the programme.
Application/Registration fee for non-entrance programmes: Rs. 500 (SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempt for the first application).
80% refund (excluding special fee and caution deposit) if withdrawal is made at least 15 days before the closing date of admission; 50% refund if withdrawal is less than 15 days prior; no refund after the closing date of admission.
Hostel fees (optional, not mandatory): Approximately Rs. 24,000-35,000 per year for accommodation; mess charges are additional and managed by students on a dividing system.

MKU MA Folklore Admission 2026-27

Admissions to MA Folklore at MKU for 2026-27 are currently open, with applications available from 02 March 2026. The programme follows a non-entrance based merit selection process, where candidates are ranked based on UG marks up to the 5th semester. The selection list and waitlist are published on the university website and department notice boards. Candidates must pay the registration fee of Rs. 500 online through the university's admission portal.

MKU MA Folklore Admission Dates

Event	Date
Availability of Prospectus and Online Applications	02 March 2026
Last Date for Submission of Applications	06 April 2026
Publication of Selection / Merit List	May 2026 (Tentative)
Counselling / Admission	May - June 2026 (Tentative)
Commencement of Academic Session	July 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
CUET PG 2026	Registration	14 Dec 2025 - 25 Jan 2026
CUET PG 2026	Admit Card	03 March 2026
CUET PG 2026	Exam	06 - 27 March 2026
CUET PG 2026	Result	06 May 2026
TANCET 2026	Registration	16 March 2026 - 10 April 2026
TANCET 2026	Admit Card	01 May 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET 2026	Exam	09 May 2026
TANCET 2026	Result	24 June 2026 (Tentative)

Note: MKU MA Folklore admission is non-entrance based (merit in UG). CUET PG and TANCET scores are not required for MKU admission but may be used for admission to other universities offering similar programmes.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

A pass in any UG degree from a recognized university is sufficient for eligibility.
For OC/BC/MBC/DNC candidates, a minimum of 50% marks in UG is required; for SC/ST candidates, a pass is sufficient.
Candidates appearing in the final year/semester of UG are also eligible to apply.

Admission Process:

Visit the official MKU admissions portal at admissions.mkuniversity.ac.in and register online.
Fill in the application form and upload required documents (SSLC, HSC, UG mark sheets up to 5th semester, community certificate, passport photo, and signature).
Pay the application fee of Rs. 500 online (SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempt for the first application).
Selection is based on UG marks up to the 5th semester; no entrance examination is required.
The merit/selection list is published on the university website and department notice boards.
Selected candidates must report to the Department of Folklore and Culture Studies with original certificates for verification and pay the prescribed fees through SBI I-Collect on the day of admission.
Waitlisted candidates are informed of their position and must report on the specified date; fees must be paid on the same day.

MKU MA Folklore Scholarships 2026-27

MKU MA Folklore students can avail a range of government scholarships based on community and merit. The university follows Tamil Nadu Government reservation and scholarship policies, ensuring financial support for students from SC/ST, BC, MBC, and minority communities. Given the already low fee structure of the programme, these scholarships can effectively make the programme nearly free for eligible students.

Government Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)
Tamil Nadu Government Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; minimum pass in qualifying exam	Full tuition fee waiver + maintenance allowance (as per TN Govt. norms)
Tamil Nadu Government BC/MBC Scholarship	BC/MBC students; 50%+ marks; family income up to Rs. 2.5 LPA	Partial to full tuition fee support
Central Government Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; family income up to Rs. 2.5 LPA	Up to Rs. 5,000-20,000 per annum
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Scholarships	Various categories; merit and means based	Varies by scheme
MKU Students Aid Fund	Economically weaker students	As per university norms
Minority Scholarship (Central Govt.)	Minority community students; 50%+ marks; income criteria	Up to Rs. 10,000 per annum

SC/ST students are exempt from paying tuition fees at the time of admission as per Tamil Nadu Government policy.
Differently abled students are exempt from tuition fee and special fee.
Students must apply for government scholarships through the Tamil Nadu e-Grantz portal or the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) within the stipulated deadlines (usually October-November each year).
The university's Students Aid Fund provides additional support to deserving students on a case-by-case basis.

MKU MA Folklore FAQs

Ques. What is Folklore Studies and what does the MA Folklore programme at MKU cover?

Ans. Folklore Studies is an interdisciplinary field that documents, analyzes, and preserves oral traditions, folk arts, folk crafts, rituals, and cultural practices of communities. MKU's MA Folklore programme covers oral literature, folk music and dance, folk crafts, ethnographic research methods, cultural studies, gender and folklore, and the folk traditions of South India. The department's Folklore Archives and Recording Studio provide hands-on exposure to primary source materials.

Ques. What makes MKU's Folklore department stand out nationally?

Ans. MKU is the only university in Tamil Nadu with a dedicated School of Performing Arts for Folklore and Culture Studies. The department has attracted Rs. 74 lakhs from the Ford Foundation for research on Folk Crafts, Folklore, and Gender, and holds UGC's DRS status under SAP-I. Its Folklore Archives contain 500+ hours of video, 350+ hours of audio, and 5,500+ photographs of South Indian folk traditions, making it one of the richest folklore archives in the country.

Ques. What career options are available after MA Folklore from MKU?

Ans. Graduates of MA Folklore from MKU can pursue careers in cultural documentation and archiving, teaching and lectureship (after qualifying SET/NET in Folklore), research at cultural institutions and museums, journalism and media (cultural reporting), NGOs working in cultural preservation, government cultural departments, and further studies such as M.Phil or Ph.D in Folklore. The programme also opens doors to careers in ethnographic filmmaking and cultural tourism.

Ques. Is there a research programme available after MA Folklore at MKU?

Ans. Yes, MKU offers M.Phil in Folklore (one year) and Ph.D in Folklore (full-time and part-time). For M.Phil, eligibility requires a pass in MA Folklore, Tamil, History, Sociology, Journalism and Mass Communication, or Cultural Studies with 55% marks. Ph.D eligibility requires a pass in MA and M.Phil in the relevant subjects with 55% marks. Both programmes are research-intensive and benefit from the department's rich archives and ongoing funded projects.

Ques. Does MKU's MA Folklore programme have any industry or field exposure?

Ans. Yes, the Department of Folklore and Culture Studies is known for its fieldwork orientation. Students get access to the department's state-of-the-art Folklore Archives and Recording Studio, and participate in documentation projects covering folk traditions of South India. The department has conducted funded research projects with organizations like the Ford Foundation and the Government of Tamil Nadu, providing students with real-world research experience.

Ques. What is the medium of instruction for MA Folklore at MKU, and is Tamil language knowledge required?

Ans. The MA Folklore programme at MKU is offered in Tamil and English medium. While Tamil language knowledge is beneficial given the focus on South Indian folk traditions, it is not a mandatory requirement for admission. Any graduate from a recognized university is eligible to apply. However, students with a background in Tamil, History, Sociology, or Cultural Studies may find the programme content more accessible.