Master of Arts [MA]: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees
Latest Updates for MA
- 28 March 2025 :
PUBDET 2025 registration has been started. The last date to register for the exam is Apr 28, 2025.
- 01 March 2025 :
CUET UG 2025 official notification is out. The exam is expected to be commenced from May 8 - Jun 1, 2025.
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
- What is MA Course?
- Why Choose a Master of Arts Course?
- MA Eligibility Criteria
- MA Admission 2024
- Master of Arts Entrance Exams
- MA Fees Details
- Master of Arts Specializations
- Types of MA Courses
- Top MA Colleges in India
- MA Syllabus and Subjects
- Integrated MA Course Details
- Master of Arts Course Comparison
- Courses After MA
- Career Options After Master of Arts Course
- Master of Arts Salary in India
- MA Scholarships
- Skills to Excel as a Master of Arts Graduate
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.
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.
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:
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 More: M.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:
- PhD
- PGDM
- MPhil
- Certification course in Industrial Psychology
- PG Diploma in Journalism
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
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 |
Top MA [Master of Arts] Colleges
Top Arts Entrance Exams
MA Fee Structure
FAQs on MA
Q: What is MA full form?
A: MA full form is Masters of Arts.
Q: What is an average salary of a MA graduate?
A: The average MA graduate salary is INR 4.90 LPA (Source: Payscale)
Q: Can I study MA after the 12th?
A: No, MA can be pursued after completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% of marks.
Q: What are the job opportunities after MA?
A: After completion of a Master of Arts, students can work as Content Writer, HR Manager, Copy Editor, Editor, Assistant Editor, etc.
Q: Which is the best MA specialization?
A: There are various specializations under the MA degree, some of the popular courses are in business administration, education, psychology, etc.
Q: Which is better MA or MBA?
A: 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.
Q: What is the MA course duration?
A: MA duration is two years.
