MA Development Studies

Duration: 2 Years
Avg Fees: ₹15K - 60K PA
Lisha Gupta
Lisha Gupta

Updated on - Jan 4, 2023

MA Development Studies course in India is a 2-year postgraduate program that deals with the various aspects and challenges of development and public policy. The course comes under the arts stream. After post-graduation, students can work as Consultants, Administrators, Social Worker, etc.

MA Development Studies Course Details

Degree Masters
Full Form Master of Arts (Development Studies)
Duration 2 Years
Age No age limit
Subjects Required English, Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Political Science
Minimum Percentage 50% in Under Graduation in arts stream
Average Fees ₹15K - 60K PA
Average Salary INR 4.2 LPA [Source: Glassdoor]
Employment Roles Research Analyst, Documentation Specialist, Associate Research Analyst, Project Manager
Top Recruiters Pricewater Cooperhouse, KPMG, UNDP, Governmental Development Organization

MA Development Studies India is a post-graduate course pursued under the arts and science stream. The course deals with the various aspects and challenges of development and public policy. The course falls under the umbrella of the MA course and therefore follows a similar foundation of the study.

According to Wikipedia, ”Development studies is an interdisciplinary branch of social science. Development studies are offered as a specialized master's degree.”

Table of Contents

Eligibility Criteria for MA Development Studies

MA Development Studies course admission is offered to only those students who meet the eligibility requirements. The candidates must have passed a bachelor’s degree in any stream with an aggregate of at least 50% marks in the final examination. There is no age limit for the course. Few institutes offer the course based on their performance in entrance exams.

How To Get Admission in MA Development Studies?

For pursuing MA Development Studies in India, students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria. Applications for admissions can be availed from the university website or by directly visiting the college's admissions office.

How to Apply?

MA Development Studies course eligibility information and cut-off details for admission can be found on the college's official websites, where the students should register. Candidates have to register themselves using their email id and mobile number. Candidates must make sure that they fill the application form by providing the required information correctly.

Selection Process

To get admission into the best colleges for MA Development Studies in India, students must ensure that they clear the minimum cut-off in boards and entrance exams. If they get shortlisted, the result will be published on the college's official website. The selected students will be further informed regarding the remaining admission procedures through email.

To get admitted into the best MA Development Studies colleges in India, candidates should make sure they attend the entrance exam and clear cut-off. Some of the popular entrance exams are:

A Quick Glance at the MA Development Studies Entrance Exams

Students should study the exam pattern and syllabus well before time. This will help students in timely preparation for the entrance exams. Listed below is the general pattern for the entrance exams:

  • The exam patterns consist of sections such as Geography, Economics, Fundamentals of Statistics, Information Technology, and so on.
  • The entrance test is generally based on the concept of development.
  • The exam will be offline or online.

Top 10 MA Development Studies Colleges in India

Students can opt for the best colleges in India depending upon their merit and specialization needed. Listed below are the top 10 MA Development Studies best colleges in India.

MA Development Studies Colleges

Sl. No.

Name of the Institute

1

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

2

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

3

Christ University, Bengaluru

4

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

5

University of Delhi

6

Ambedkar University

7

Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai

8

Amity University, Noida

9

Annamalai University, Chidambaram

10

Central University of South Bihar, Patna

Fee Structure for MA Development Studies

MA Development Studies fees in India are around INR 5,000 - 1.06 LPA. The fees may vary according to the college or university based on the type of institute, Institute ranking, location, infrastructure, faculties, and facilities available. MA Development Studies fee structure of some colleges are listed below:

MA Development Studies Course Fee

Sl. No.

Name of the Institute

Average Annual Fees

1

Amity University, Noida

INR 1.06 LPA

2

Annamalai University, Chidambaram

INR 5,885 PA

3

Central University of South Bihar, Patna

INR 14,218 PA

4

University of Kota, Kota

INR 6,000 PA

5

Azim Premji University, Bangalore

INR 22,500 PA

Syllabus and Subjects for MA Development Studies

MA Development Studies duration is curated for two years. The aim of this course is to equip students with the historical changes in the configuration of the state, social institutions, and civil society and their increasing consequences on developing societies, such as India.

The syllabus includes various subjects such as Economics, Geography, Society and Human Growth, etc. The postgraduate program includes both core and elective subjects. Some of the few core subjects are:

  • Concept, History, and Theories of Development
  • Methods of Social Research
  • State and Democracy
  • Development and Social Justice
  • Geography of Development

Read More About MA Development Studies Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose MA Development Studies?

Students often wonder about MA Development Studies details before choosing the course. Before deciding on a career, students come across queries like, "What is an MA Development Studies course?" and "Why choose MA Development Studies?”. To clearly understand answers to these questions, we have framed the following three pointers:

What is MA Development Studies All About?

MA Development Studies course in India is a 2-year postgraduate program pursued under the arts and science stream which deals with the various aspects and challenges of development and public policy. In this course, students get to study project management, behavioral science, foreign languages and perform a lot of fieldwork to be the best fit for the industry. Through this course, students will learn about the various issues and challenges which hinder the development of a particular community.

What Does a MA Development Studies Graduate Do?

After post-graduation, students get the opportunity to work in different sectors, may be public or private sectors. Students passing this course can work in consultancies, PSUs, NGOs, research organizations, etc. They can work as a Consultant, Administrator, Social Worker, Enterprise Account Manager, Teacher, etc.

Administrator: An Administrator provides office support to either an individual or team which helps in the smooth running of the business. Their duties may include receiving and directing visitors, word processing, creating spreadsheets and presentations, and filing so on.

Reasons Why MA Development Studies Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

There are many benefits of pursuing a MA Development Studies course. Master degree holders can get a chance to explore various industries like Banks, Advertising Firms, Corporates, Consultancy, Hotels, Sales and Marketing, etc.

Career Scope and Options: Master degree holders can get plenty of career options to choose from. They can work as a Consultant, Administrator, Social Worker, Enterprise Account Manager, Teacher, etc. They can even choose to be an entrepreneur. They can opt for pursuing a professional course like CA and CS or can choose higher education options such as M.Phil, Ph.D. to get a job with a decent salary package.

Read More About MA Development Studies Job Opportunities & Scope

Preparation Tips for MA Development Studies

Some preparation tips while pursuing MA Development Studies are listed below.

Make a Plan: Make a course study plan that can assist students to plan accordingly.

Connect With Fellow Students: Start connecting with peers, connect with them for clearing the doubts that might help to reduce stress at the time of examination.

Interact with Professors: The interaction with the moderators/professors can bring in a new insight towards the course.

Scope For Higher Education

Students who have completed the MA Development Studies program have numerous career options. This course essentially provides a solid basis for further studies and related prospects. On completion of this course, students can go for higher studies. Some higher education options are:

Salary of a MA Development Studies Graduate

Due to various job profiles and job areas to choose from, the graduates will be able to earn a decent salary package. The average starting salary of a MA Development Studies Graduate can be around INR 2.5 - 7 LPA (Source: PayScale). Graduates can further increase their salary by obtaining higher education or doing certificate courses.

Read More About MA Development Studies Salary

Career Options After MA Development Studies

Students who have completed the MA Development Studies program have numerous career options. Master degree holders can get a chance to explore various industries like Banks, Advertising Firms, Corporates, Consultancy, Hotels, Sales and Marketing, etc. Some of the job roles offered to graduates are:

  • Enterprise Account Manager
  • Development Manager
  • Analyst
  • Human Relations Manager
  • Project Head
  • Public Relations officer
  • Consultant

Skills That Make You The Best MA Development Studies Graduate

Students often used to wonder about MS in MA Development Studies before choosing the course. While this course is perfect for those who wish to understand the dynamics of development in a developing country like India. Some required skills are:

  • Leadership Skill
  • Communication Skill
  • Critical Analysis Skill
  • Creative Thinking Skill
  • Project Management
  • Team Work

MA Development Studies Fee Structure

See Various MA Development Studies Colleges in India

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