Madurai Kamaraj University MA Women Studies: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Madurai, Tamil NaduState UniversityEstd 1966NAAC Grade A
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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The Master of Arts in Women's Studies at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai is a 2-year full-time, on-campus postgraduate programme offered by the Women's Studies Centre. The programme provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary study of gender, feminism, women's rights, social justice, policy, and development, equipping students with analytical tools to understand and address gender-based inequalities. With a total course fee of Rs. 23,320 for the entire 2-year duration, it is one of the most affordable MA Women's Studies programmes in India offered by a NAAC A++ accredited university. Admission is non-entrance based and open to graduates of any discipline. MKU's Women's Studies Centre is a dedicated research and teaching centre with a strong focus on gender studies, women's empowerment, and social policy, making it a sought-after destination for students interested in gender studies, social work, and development studies.

Admissions for the academic year 2026-2027 are currently ongoing. Online applications opened on 02 March 2026 and the last date for submission is 06 April 2026. Candidates are advised to apply before the deadline as no extensions are typically granted.

Key Points

  • The programme is offered by the Women's Studies Centre at MKU's main campus, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai.
  • The course is interdisciplinary, covering gender studies, feminist theory, women's health, law and policy, development studies, and research methodology.
  • Admission is non-entrance based and open to graduates of any UG discipline (no specific subject restriction).
  • Medium of instruction is English/Tamil.
  • MKU is ranked 9th among Government Multidisciplinary Universities in India (Education World India, 2022) and 1st in Tamil Nadu.
  • The Women's Studies Centre at MKU has an active research culture with seminars, workshops, and outreach programmes on gender issues.
  • The programme is well-suited for students targeting careers in NGOs, social work, government welfare departments, research, and academia.
  • Separate hostel facilities for men and women are available on campus (optional, not mandatory).

MKU MA Women Studies Fees

The MA Women's Studies programme at MKU is highly affordable, with a total course fee of Rs. 23,320 for the complete 2-year duration. The fee structure includes tuition fee, university development fee, exam and other statutory charges. SC/ST students are exempted from tuition fee and special fee at the time of admission as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.

Fee Structure

Fee ComponentYear 1 (Rs.)Year 2 (Rs.)
Tuition Fee6,0006,000
Library Fee00
University Development Fee750750
Other Fees (Exam, Sports, Centre charges, etc.)2,7102,710
University Affiliation Fee1,2001,200
Admission Fee (one-time)1000
Caution Deposit (one-time)1,0000
Alumni Fee250150
Miscellaneous0500
Total Fees12,01011,310
Grand Total (2 Years)23,320
  • Hostel fees are optional (not mandatory).
  • Annual hostel fee is approximately Rs. 35,000 with mess charges of Rs. 5,000 (vegetarian) or Rs. 8,500 (non-vegetarian) per year.
  • Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is fully refundable at the time of leaving the university.
  • 100% of Special Fees paid will not be refunded.
  • Refund policy: 80% refund (excluding Special Fee and Caution Deposit) if withdrawal is at least 15 days before the closing date of admission; 50% refund if less than 15 days before closing date; no refund after the closing date or for Spot/Varanda Admission.
  • Fees are to be paid through SBI-I Collect - Madurai Kamaraj University - Registrar.
  • SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempted from tuition fee and special fee as per Government of Tamil Nadu norms.

MKU MA Women Studies Admission 2026

Admissions to the MA Women's Studies programme at MKU for 2026-2027 are currently open. This is a non-entrance based programme open to graduates of any discipline; selection is based entirely on UG consolidated marks. The online application portal is live at admissions.mkuniversity.ac.in with a registration fee of Rs. 500.

MKU MA Women Studies Admission Dates 2026-2027

EventDate
Availability of Prospectus and Online Application02 March 2026
Last Date for Submission of Online Application06 April 2026
Publication of Selection and Merit ListTo be announced
Counselling / Admission DateTo be announced
Commencement of ClassesJuly 2026 (Tentative)

TANCET 2026 Exam Dates

ExamEventDate
TANCET 2026Registration Start16 March 2026
TANCET 2026Registration End10 April 2026
TANCET 2026Admit Card01 May 2026 (Tentative)
TANCET 2026Exam Date09 May 2026
TANCET 2026Result24 June 2026 (Tentative)

Note: TANCET is not required for admission to MKU's MA Women's Studies programme (non-entrance based). Students who wish to apply to other Tamil Nadu universities accepting TANCET scores for MA admissions may appear for this exam simultaneously.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • A pass in any UG degree from a recognised university is sufficient; there is no subject-specific restriction.
  • Candidates in the final year (VI Semester/III Year) of their UG programme are also eligible to apply.
  • Candidates should have studied under the 10+2+3 pattern or its equivalent.

Admission Process:

  • Submit online application at admissions.mkuniversity.ac.in with a registration fee of Rs. 500.
  • Upload required documents: passport photo, signature, SSLC/HSC mark sheets, UG consolidated mark statement (or up to V semester marks if in final year), community certificate (if applicable).
  • Selection is based on UG consolidated marks up to V semester/II year (non-semester).
  • Merit list and selection list are published on the university website and displayed on the notice board.
  • Selected candidates must report to the Director/Head of the Women's Studies Centre on the stipulated date with original certificates for verification.
  • Fee payment is done through SBI-I Collect on the day of admission.
  • Waiting list candidates must report on the specified date; fees must be paid on the same day without any extension.

MKU MA Women Studies Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in the MA Women's Studies programme at MKU are eligible for a wide range of government scholarships from both the Tamil Nadu state government and the Central Government. Given the interdisciplinary and social-science nature of the programme, students from all community backgrounds can benefit from various scholarship schemes. SC/ST students benefit from direct fee exemption at the time of admission itself.

Government Scholarships

ScholarshipEligibilityAmount / Benefit
Tamil Nadu Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/STSC/ST students with minimum 50% marksFull tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Tamil Nadu Post-Matric Scholarship for BC/MBC/DNCBC/MBC/DNC studentsTuition fee, special fee, exam fee reimbursement + boarding/lodging allowance of Rs. 4,000/year
Central Government Post-Matric Scholarship for SCSC studentsFull tuition fee + non-refundable charges + maintenance allowance
Post-Matric National Scholarship for MinoritiesMinority community studentsTuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Post-Matric National Scholarship for DisabilitiesDifferently-abled studentsTuition fee + maintenance allowance
Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child ScholarshipSingle girl childFinancial support for higher education
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)SC/ST students pursuing researchFellowship for MPhil/PhD (applicable post-MA)
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)Minority students pursuing researchFellowship for MPhil/PhD
  • SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempted from paying registration fee for one programme at MKU.
  • BC/MBC/DNC students must apply separately to the Tamil Nadu BC/MBC Welfare Department for post-matric scholarships.
  • Applications for most state scholarships are processed through the Tamil Nadu Unified Scholarship Portal.
  • Income certificate (obtained within 3 months) is required for SC/ST scholarship applications.
  • Scholarship amounts and conditions are subject to revision by the respective sanctioning authorities.

MKU MA Women Studies FAQs

Ques. What is the scope of MA Women's Studies from MKU? What careers can I pursue?

Ans. Graduates of MA Women's Studies from MKU can pursue careers in NGOs and civil society organisations working on gender and development, government welfare departments (Women and Child Development), social work, research and academia (after qualifying UGC-NET in Women's Studies), journalism and media with a gender focus, policy analysis, and international development organisations. The programme is also a strong foundation for PhD research in gender studies, sociology, and social policy.

Ques. Is MA Women's Studies only for women candidates?

Ans. No. The programme is open to all genders. The eligibility criterion is simply a pass in any UG degree. Both male and female candidates can apply for MA Women's Studies at MKU. The programme focuses on gender as a social construct and is relevant for anyone interested in social justice, policy, and development.

Ques. Is there an entrance exam for MA Women's Studies admission at MKU?

Ans. No. The MA Women's Studies programme at MKU is a non-entrance based programme. Selection is purely on the basis of UG consolidated marks (merit list). There is no written entrance test. The selection is based on marks obtained up to V semester of UG.

Ques. What is the syllabus of MA Women's Studies at MKU?

Ans. The MA Women's Studies programme at MKU follows a semester pattern (4 semesters over 2 years). The syllabus covers fundamental concepts of Women's Studies, feminist theory, gender and society, women's health and rights, women and law, women in development, research methodology, and contemporary gender issues. The detailed syllabus is available on the MKU Women's Studies Centre website.

Ques. Can students from science or commerce backgrounds apply for MA Women's Studies?

Ans. Yes. The eligibility criterion is simply a pass in any UG degree, regardless of the stream (arts, science, commerce, engineering, etc.). Students from all academic backgrounds are welcome to apply. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme makes it accessible and enriching for students from diverse educational backgrounds.

Ques. How does MA Women's Studies at MKU compare to similar programmes at other universities?

Ans. MKU's MA Women's Studies is offered by a dedicated Women's Studies Centre with an active research and outreach focus, which is relatively rare among state universities. The programme is affordable (total fees Rs. 23,320), offered by a NAAC A++ accredited university, and provides access to MKU's extensive library and research infrastructure. Students interested in gender studies, social policy, and development will find MKU's programme academically rigorous and practically oriented.

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