Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, offers M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) as a full-time, on-campus research programme of one year duration under the School of Religions, Philosophy and Humanist Thought (a School with DRS Status since 2004). The programme is offered by the Department of Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy and is conducted in Tamil Medium. The School, established in 1991, is unique in India for its interdisciplinary approach to religious studies, covering Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Tamil Religious Thought, and Gandhian Thought. The M.Phil. Comparative Religion programme focuses on the comparative study of world religions, their scriptures, philosophies, and socio-cultural dimensions, with a special emphasis on Tamil religious traditions. The total course fee is Rs. 6,835 for the entire programme. The programme is suited for students with a strong interest in religious studies, Tamil philosophy, and interfaith dialogue, and serves as a foundation for Ph.D. research in comparative religion and related fields.

Admissions for M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) at MKU are typically notified in December each year, with the last date for application submission usually falling in late December or early January. The entrance test is generally conducted in January-February, followed by an interview and certificate verification. For the 2026-27 academic session, the admission notification was released in December 2026 with the last date for application around December 30, 2026. The 2027-28 M.Phil. admission notification is expected to be released in December 2027 (tentative), based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official MKU website (mkuniversity.ac.in) for the latest updates.

KEY POINTS

M.Phil. Comparative Religion at MKU is offered in Tamil Medium only, making it a distinctive programme for Tamil-medium scholars of religion and philosophy.
The programme is offered by the Department of Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy under the School of Religions, Philosophy and Humanist Thought, which has held UGC-DRS-SAP status since 2004 with cumulative funding of over Rs. 1.45 crore across three phases.
The school has produced over 286 M.Phil. research scholars across its various programmes, reflecting a strong research culture.
The school's Inter-Religious Scholars' Forum conducts national and international seminars annually, providing research scholars with excellent academic exposure.
Eligibility is broad: any PG degree holder with 55% marks can apply, regardless of their discipline.
The programme follows a semester pattern: coursework in Semester I and dissertation in Semester II, with a maximum duration of one year.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

MKU M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) Fees

The M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) programme at MKU is highly affordable, with a total course fee of Rs. 6,835 for the entire one-year programme. This includes tuition fee, special fees, contingency charges, and a refundable caution deposit. SC/ST candidates are exempted from paying tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.

Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (per year)	3,000
Special Fees (per year)	545
Contingency Fee (per year)	1,500
Other Fees (at the time of admission)	90
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000
Alumni Fees	500
CBCS Hand Book and Insurance	200
Total Fees	6,835

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 in case of withdrawal.
For students who withdraw before attending a single class and within one month of commencement, 80% of the remaining fees (excluding Special Fees and Caution Deposit) will be refunded.
SC/ST candidates are exempted from paying tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.
Differently Abled candidates are exempted from tuition fees and special fees.
Application/Registration Fee: Rs. 400 (Rs. 200 for SC/ST candidates).
Hostel accommodation is available on campus but is not mandatory. Hostel fees are approximately Rs. 28,500 per year (room rent + mess charges), charged separately.

MKU M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) Admission 2026

Admissions to M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) at MKU are conducted once a year through a university-level entrance test, followed by an interview and certificate verification. Candidates who hold valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/SLET/SET scores are eligible to apply directly without appearing in the MKU entrance test. The selection is based on the combined merit of the entrance test and interview. The 2026-27 admission cycle was notified in December 2026, and the 2027-28 cycle is expected to follow a similar schedule (tentative dates based on previous year).

Admission Dates

Event	Date (Tentative)
Release of M.Phil. Admission Notification	December 2026
Availability of Application Form on Website	December 2026
Last Date for Submission of Application	Late December 2026 / Early January 2027
MKU M.Phil. Entrance Test	January / February 2027
Interview and Certificate Verification	February / March 2027
Commencement of Classes	March / April 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET Phase 1	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1	Exam Date	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 1	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 2 (Tentative)	Registration	April 1 - May 1, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 2 (Tentative)	Exam Date	June 2027
UGC-NET Phase 2 (Tentative)	Result	July 2027

Note: UGC-NET qualified candidates (Philosophy / Tamil / Comparative Religion subject codes) are directly eligible to apply for M.Phil. at MKU without appearing in the university entrance test.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

A pass in any PG degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate.
SC/ST/PWD candidates require a minimum of 50% marks in the qualifying PG degree.
Candidates from other universities must produce an Eligibility Certificate issued by Madurai Kamaraj University at the time of admission.
Note: The programme is conducted in Tamil Medium; candidates must be proficient in Tamil.

Admission Process

Candidates must apply online/offline through the official MKU website when the M.Phil. admission notification is released.
Pay the application fee of Rs. 400 (Rs. 200 for SC/ST) online through SBI-I Collect.
Appear for the MKU M.Phil. Entrance Test (objective type, two parts of 50 marks each, one hour each) - OR - submit valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/SLET/SET score for direct eligibility.
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview and certificate verification conducted by the Department Research Committee.
Final selection is based on combined merit of entrance test and interview marks.
Selected candidates must report to the Department of Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy with original certificates for verification and pay the prescribed fees on the same day.
Tamil Nadu Government reservation policy is strictly followed.

MKU M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) at MKU can avail a range of scholarships from the Tamil Nadu Government and the Government of India, based on community, merit, and financial need. SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are additionally exempted from tuition fees and application fees. UGC fellowships are available for NET/JRF qualified candidates pursuing research. The school's UGC-DRS-SAP status also opens up possibilities for project-based fellowships and research assistantships.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
Tamil Nadu Government SC/ST Scholarship	SC/ST students	Tuition fee exemption + maintenance allowance (as per TN Govt norms)
Tamil Nadu Government BC/MBC Scholarship	BC/MBC students	Financial assistance (as per TN Govt norms)
Christian AdiDravidar Scholarship	Christian AdiDravidar students	Application fee exemption + financial assistance (as per TN Govt norms)
UGC Non-NET Fellowship	M.Phil. students not qualifying NET	Rs. 2,000/month (as per UGC norms)
UGC-JRF Fellowship	UGC-NET JRF qualified candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (as per UGC 2023 revised rates)
Post-Matric Scholarship (Central Govt)	SC/ST students	Covers fees + maintenance (as per Central Govt norms)
Differently Abled Scholarship	PWD students	Tuition fee + special fee exemption

SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempted from paying the application/registration fee for one programme.
Scholarship applications for TN Government schemes must be submitted through the respective government portals within the stipulated deadlines after admission.
UGC Non-NET Fellowship is subject to UGC guidelines and university approval.
JRF fellowship amounts are subject to revision by UGC from time to time.

MKU M.Phil. (Comparative Religion) FAQs

Ques. Is M.Phil. Comparative Religion at MKU taught in Tamil Medium only? Can English-medium students apply?

Ans. Yes, M.Phil. Comparative Religion at MKU is conducted in Tamil Medium only. While the eligibility criteria allow any PG degree holder with 55% marks to apply, candidates must be proficient in Tamil as the coursework, examinations, and dissertation are all in Tamil. English-medium students who are not proficient in Tamil may find it challenging to pursue this programme.

Ques. What religions are covered in M.Phil. Comparative Religion at MKU?

Ans. The programme covers the comparative study of major world religions including Hinduism (with special focus on Saiva Siddhanta and Tamil religious thought), Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Gandhian Thought. The emphasis is on understanding religious scriptures, philosophies, and socio-cultural dimensions from a comparative perspective, with a strong grounding in Tamil religious traditions.

Ques. What is the typical intake for M.Phil. Comparative Religion at MKU?

Ans. The programme has a very small and selective intake. Historically, the department has admitted between 0 and 5 students per year in M.Phil. Comparative Religion. This small cohort size ensures highly personalised mentorship and focused research guidance from faculty who are specialists in Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy and Comparative Religion.

Ques. What is the UGC-DRS-SAP status of the School of Religions, Philosophy and Humanist Thought at MKU?

Ans. The School has held UGC-DRS-SAP (Departmental Research Support - Special Assistance Programme) status since 2004. It has received funding across three phases: Phase I (2004-2009, Rs. 26.5 lakhs), Phase II (2009-2014, Rs. 40 lakhs), and Phase III (2015-2020, Rs. 78.5 lakhs), totalling over Rs. 1.45 crore. This reflects the school's strong research standing and provides scholars with access to a well-equipped DRS Library, seminar hall, and research infrastructure.

Ques. What career options are available after M.Phil. Comparative Religion from MKU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue Ph.D. in Comparative Religion, Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy, or related fields. Career options include academic positions (Assistant Professor in Philosophy, Tamil Studies, or Religious Studies departments), research roles in religious and cultural organisations, positions in interfaith dialogue and peace-building organisations, and roles in cultural documentation. Qualifying UGC-NET after M.Phil. opens up teaching positions in colleges and universities.

Ques. Does the school have any special academic activities for M.Phil. scholars in Comparative Religion?

Ans. Yes. The School of Religions, Philosophy and Humanist Thought has an active Inter-Religious Scholars' Forum that meets every Tuesday, where research scholars present and discuss papers. The school also conducts national and international seminars annually on themes related to religious pluralism, peace, and comparative religion, and publishes the proceedings in book form with ISBN. Additionally, the Saiva Siddhanta Research Scholars' Forum meets every Wednesday, providing a dedicated platform for scholars in Comparative Religion and Saiva Siddhanta.