Master of Arts [MA]: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Duration: 2 Years
Avg Fees: ₹10K - 2 LPA
Sakshi Chaudhary
Sakshi Chaudhary

Updated on - Jan 16, 2024

Latest Updates for MA

  • 17 March 2024 :

    UGC NET 2024 Jun notification is expected to be released by Mar 2024.

  • 22 February 2024 :

    MGU CAT 2024 registration is ongoing and the last date to fill out the form is Mar 30, 2024.

  • 17 February 2024 :

    FTII JET 2024 exam is going to be conducted from Apr 6 - Apr 7, 2024.

  • 23 January 2024 :

    NPAT application form 2024 can be submitted till May 20, 2024.

MA is a 2-year postgraduate degree that develops knowledge in students in different areas such as Arts, Humanities, and Social Science by training the students to improve critical thinking skills, ideas, propositions, and communicative views. The students pursuing the MA course can work in a range of roles such as Content Writer, Researcher, Human Resource Specialist, etc.

Table of Contents

MA Course Details

Degree Masters
Full Form Master of Arts
Duration 2 Years
Age The minimum age limit to enroll in the course is 20-21 years.
Subjects Required BA
Minimum Percentage A minimum of 50% in bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
Average Fees ₹10K - 2 LPA
Similar Options of Study M.Litt, M.Phil
Average Salary INR 4.90 LPA
Employment Roles Content Writer, High School Teacher, HR Manager, Copy Editor, Editor, etc.
Top Recruiters VIBGYOR High, Crisil, Accenture, Intel, etc.

What is MA Course?

MA full form is a Master of Arts, it is a master's degree that focuses on providing in-depth knowledge and interdisciplinary perspective in various disciplines. The course offers specialization in various areas such as English, sociology, history, psychology, etc. The MA course duration is two years

MA Admission 2024 requires students to have a minimum of 50% in BA degree in any stream. The candidate should qualify with the required cut-off marks in entrance exams such as CUET,-PG, IPUCET, etc. Master of Arts subjects are designed in order to equip and train the candidate in the required profession ranging from content writer, and historian to a psychologist.

After completion of the MA, candidates can work in different areas such as theatre, media, entertainment, corporate, writing, advertising, education, politics, etc., in both private and public sectors. The average salary of a MA graduate is INR 4.90 LPA

Why Choose a Master of Arts Course?

Master of Arts [MA] postgraduates are in high demand in drama, politics, theatre, media, teaching, research, artists, law firms, management, counseling, etc. A Master of Arts degree can lead to a variety of new and intriguing opportunities. Below mentioned are points regarding why choose an MA course:

  • Master of Arts is a discipline that focuses on studying languages, social studies, psychology, journalism, media, theatre, communication, and a degree in the field that can lead to a range of jobs.
  • MA course offers career advancement options to students in areas of research and academics, leadership positions in varied industries, writing, etc.
  • The growth rate of employment for MA graduates is expected to rise by 15% due to the government's focus on vocational courses and education.

Why Choose

Who Should Pursue a Master of Arts Course?

Below mentioned are points regarding who should pursue a MA course:

  • Aspirants who want to build their careers in the domain of their preferences, such as English, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Communication Studies can pursue MA courses.
  • Students who are interested in gaining advanced knowledge about humanities and social sciences can enroll in an MA course.
  • Individuals who are interested in enhancing their critical thinking, research, and writing skills can pursue this course.

Read More: Master of Arts Jobs and Scope

MA Eligibility Criteria

MA admission requires a candidate to fulfill a certain set of eligibility criteria. Below mentioned is the eligibility for the MA course:

  • Admission for the MA courses in India requires the aspirants to complete their BA degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from any recognized board.
  • SC/ST/OBC candidates are given a relaxation of 5% marks.
  • Students must clear the entrance examinations such as CUET PG, PUCET, etc. 
  • The minimum age to apply for the course is 20-21 years.

MA Admission 2024

The admission procedure for the MA course is done on a merit or entrance basis. Listed below is the procedure to get admission for the MA course:

  • Step 1: Students must meet basic MA eligibility criteria in order to proceed with the admission process.
  • Step 2:  The student must fill out the application form for respective colleges available through online and offline mode.
  • Step 3: As required by the college, students must clear entrance exams to be accepted into the course.
  • Step 4: The students are further called for GD or Interview process before the final list is published.
  • Step 5: Students must then submit valid documents for verification and pay the admission fees.

Admission Process

Master of Arts Entrance Exams

MA admission includes entrance exams at national, state, and institute levels. The popular MA entrance exams are listed below, along with application details:

MA Entrance Exam

Registration Details

CUET PG Application Form
TISSNET Application Form
PUCET Application Form
SUAT Application Form
JNUEE Application Form
IPUCET Application Form

MA Fees Details

The average MA course fees are in the range of INR 10,000-2 LPA. The course fees differ for colleges or universities as per the specialization, facilities, location, infrastructure, etc. Below is a list of the best Master of Arts colleges along with their fees breakdown:

Sl.No

College Name

Tuition Fees

Admission Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

1

Mangalore University INR 3,000 PA INR 500 INR 1,000 PA

2

USTM INR 45,000 PA INR 50,000 INR 10,000

3

UPES INR 1.95 LPA - INR 65,000 PA

4

Manipal University, Jaipur INR 1.48 LPA INR 10,000 INR 10,000

Master of Arts Specializations

MA degree offers various specializations which allow students to excel in a particular domain and excel in their careers. The table below contains an MA courses list in various disciplines which students can select as per their interest area and subject knowledge:

MA Courses List
MA Bengali MA Tamil
MA Anthropology MA Urdu
MA Kannada
MA Clinical Psychology
MA Mass Communication MA Philosophy
MA Communication MA Education
MA Astrology MA Psychology
MA Archaeology MA Geography
MA Linguistics MA Sanskrit
MA Journalism MA Sociology
MA Punjabi
MA Music MA Hindi
MA Marathi MA History
MA Social Work MA Economics
MA Mass Communication & Journalism MA English
MA English Literature
MA Development Studies -

Specialization

Types of MA Courses

The course has full-time, part-time, and distance learning options available to students. The following MA course details are provided below:

Type

Master of Arts Basic Eligibility

MA Duration

MA Full Time

Should have passed BA with a minimum of 50%+ Entrance Exam Score

2 Years

MA Part-Time

Should have passed BA with a minimum of 50% of marks.

2-3 Years

Distance MA

Should have passed BA or any equivalent bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% of marks.

2-5 Years

Distance MA Course

Below mentioned are the distance M.A course details:

  • Distance MA can be pursued from prominent distance education colleges like IGNOU, LPU, VMOU, etc.
  • The average fee of the course is in the range of INR 10,000-20,000 PA.
  • The duration of the course can be maximum extended to five years depending on coursework completion by the student.
  • There is no upper age limit restriction to enroll in the course.

Read More: Distance MA course

Top MA Colleges in India

Top Master of Arts colleges in India and abroad offer Master of Arts [MA] post-graduation degree courses to students interested in arts, humanities, and social science. Admission to colleges providing MA degrees in various specializations is done on the basis of merit or entrance exam scores.

Top MA Government Colleges in India

 A number of prestigious government colleges provide MA qualification. The top government colleges in India offering a MA course are given in the table below:

Sl.No

College Name

Average Fees

1

University of Mumbai INR 6,025 PA

2

Hansraj College INR 18,284 PA

3

Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune -

4

Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi INR 17,916 PA

5

Madras University INR 30,000 PA

Top MA Private Colleges in India

 Below is a list of private MA colleges in India along with their average fees:

Sl.No

College Name

Average Fees

1

UPES INR 1.95 LPA

2

Parul University INR 40,000 PA

3

Jain University INR 1 LPA

4

Mangalayatan University INR 25,000 PA

5

Christ University INR 45,000 PA

Top Master of Arts Colleges by City

MA Colleges in Mumbai

MA Colleges in Ahmedabad

MA Colleges in Pune

MA Colleges in Chennai

MA Colleges in Indore

MA Colleges in Palakkad

MA Colleges in Jaipur

MA Colleges in Bangalore

MA Colleges in Kolkata

MA Colleges in Lucknow

MA Colleges in Nagpur

MA Colleges in Bhopal

MA Colleges in Coimbatore

MA Colleges in Surat

Top Master of Arts Colleges by State

MA Colleges in Hyderabad

MA Colleges in Gujarat

MA Colleges in Delhi

MA Colleges in Kerala

MA Colleges in Karnataka

MA Colleges in Tamil Nadu

MA Colleges in Rajasthan

MA Colleges in Uttar Pradesh

MA Colleges in Chandigarh

MA Colleges in Punjab

MA Colleges in Maharashtra

MA Colleges in Bihar

MA Syllabus and Subjects

MA subjects differ as per the specialization chosen by students. The students pursuing the course are introduced to all major languages, literature, mass media, communication, education, teaching, theatre, and much more. Some of the core MA subjects list that students study irrespective of the specialization are:

  • Communications
  • Geography
  • Culture Studies
  • Research Methods
  • Languages/Literature
  • Politics
  • Education

Read More: Master of Arts Subjects and Syllabus

Integrated MA Course Details

Integrated MA courses can be pursued by students after 10+2 (high school degree) completion. The integrated MA course duration is five years. There are various colleges in India that offer integrated MA courses such as TISS, University of Madras, etc. Below mentioned is the integrated MA degree combinations:

  • BA+MA
  • MA+ B.Ed

Read More: BA+MA

Master of Arts Course Comparison

Master of Arts is typically catered to students interested in and inclined towards humanities and social sciences and wants to work in related domains. Below is a comparison of the Master of Arts course with other courses:

MA vs M.Tech

The table below showcases the differences between MA and M.Tech:

Course

Master of Arts

M.Tech

Full Form

Masters of Arts

Master of Technology

Stream

Arts and Humanities

Engineering and Technology

Course Duration

2 years

2 years

Eligibility

BA in any stream with 50% aggregate.

B.Tech with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics

Entrance Exams

IPU CET, BHU UET, TISS NET, DU JAT

JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, VITEEE, COMEDK UGET

Top Colleges

St. Xavier’s College, Christ University, Presidency College Chennai

IIT, IISc, BITS, VIT

Fees

INR 10,000-2 LPA.

INR 50,000-4 LPA.

Read MoreM.Tech

Courses After MA

After completion of a MA degree, students can enroll in various higher education and certification courses depending on their specialization to improve their domain knowledge and expertise. Below mentioned are a few higher education options for MA graduates:

Career Options After Master of Arts Course

After completing a MA, candidates are eligible for junior-level posts in private and government jobs in India and abroad. Master of Arts aspirants has excellent scope in the future and vast job opportunities. The course is a continuous up-gradation of so many various fields of arts and humanities.

Some of the job roles offered to an MA graduate are:

  • Journalist
  • Content Writer
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • Content Writer
  • Lecturer
  • Research Associate

Career Options

Master of Arts Salary in India

Master of Arts [MA] salary varies according to an aspirant's knowledge, specialization, and skills. Another factor that changes the average salary package is the company and post you are working for. The MA graduate's average salary is INR 4.90 (source: Payscale). Students after gaining experience and skills can increase the salary slab.

Read More: Master of Arts Salary

MA Scholarships

There are various scholarships provided to students who want to pursue an MA course by government schemes and private institutions/organizations. Below is a list of a few scholarships provided to an MA student:

  • NSP Post Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities 
  • Sterling and Wilson Solar Scholarship
  • Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students 
  • Post-Matric Scholarships for Students with Disabilities 
  • NEC Merit Scholarship 
  • Post-Matric UP Scholarship 
  • Post-Matric Scholarships for the Students of Minority Communities
  • Swami Vivekananda Scholarship
  • Symbiosis International Scholarships in India
  • Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities (Karnataka)

Read More: MA Scholarships

Skills to Excel as a Master of Arts Graduate

A Master of Arts necessitates applied creativity—a hands-on understanding of the work and strong interpersonal skills such as networking, leadership, and conflict resolution. Some of the skills required by a MA graduate are:

  • Problem-Solving Skills
  • Management Skills
  • Goal-Oriented
  • Inquisitive
  • Technical Skills
  • Writing & Oral Communication
Other Popular PG Courses
MBA MCA
M.Sc MD
MTech MSW
PGDCA M.Phil
MIM PGDM
MPT MPA

MA Fee Structure

FAQs

What is MA full form?

MA full form is Masters of Arts.

What is an average salary of a MA graduate?

The average MA graduate salary is INR 4.90 LPA (Source: Payscale)

Can I study MA after the 12th?

No, MA can be pursued after completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% of marks.

What are the job opportunities after MA?

After completion of a Master of Arts, students can work as Content Writer, HR Manager, Copy Editor, Editor, Assistant Editor, etc.

Which is the best MA specialization?

There are various specializations under the MA degree, some of the popular courses are in business administration, education, psychology, etc.

Which is better MA or MBA?

An MA is for students who want to build their career in education, social sciences, or humanities, whereas MBA helps students to take up leadership and management positions. The choice depends on the student's interest and future goals.

What is the MA course duration?

MA duration is two years.

See Various MA Colleges in India

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