MA Geography
MA Geography is a two-year postgraduate course that deals with Earth Sciences, including physical, regional, and economic aspects through an advanced academic exploration. Students with a degree in Geography can find employment in many international job sectors. They can fulfill the role of an Agricultural Specialist, Geographer, Cartographer, Demographer, Forest Manager, Professor, Teacher.
Table of Contents
- About MA Geography
- Eligibility Criteria for MA Geography
- Who Should Pursue a MA Geography Course?
- How to Get Admission for MA Geography?
- Types of MA Geography Courses
- Popular Entrance Exams for MA Geography
- Top 10 MA Geography Colleges in India
- Study MA Geography Abroad
- Fee Structure for MA Geography
- Syllabus and Subjects for MA Geography
- Why Choose MA Geography?
- MA Geography Course Comparison
- Preparation Tips for MA Geography
- Scope of MA Geography For Higher Education
- Salary of a MA Geography Graduate
- Career Options After MA Geography
- Skills That Make You The Best after MA Geography
MA Geography Course Details
| Degree | Masters |
| Full Form | Master of Arts in Geography |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Age | No Age Limit |
| Subjects Required | Geography as one of the subjects studied in graduation from any of the Recognized University/College |
| Minimum Percentage | Minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation |
| Average Fees | ₹4K - 80K PA |
| Similar Options of Study | MA (History), MA (Economics), MA (Political Science), MA (Ancient History) etc |
| Average Salary | INR 3 LPA |
| Employment Roles | High School Teacher, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Engineer, PHP Developer, Web Specialist, Cartographer etc |
| Top Recruiters | Coal India Ltd, Oil India Ltd, Mineral Exploration Corp Ltd, State Public Service Commissions, Institute for Social and Economic Change, State Governments etc |
About MA Geography
MA Geography or Master of Arts in Geography is a two-year post-graduation course that is designed for students who are interested in Earth Science. The MA Geography syllabus and subjects cover everything from Geomorphology to Population and Human Development which ensures that the students receive a sound understanding of Geography and its principles.
The MA Geography job scope is so vast that the students can find employment opportunities in both public and private sectors.
- MA Geography Admission Process
- MA Geography Entrance Exams
- MA Geography Colleges
- Why Choose MA Geography?
- MA Geography Fees Structure
- MA Geography Syllabus and Subjects
- Preparation Tips for MA Geography
- Scope of Higher Education for MA Geography
- MA Geography Salary
- MA Geography Career Options
- Skills to Excel
Eligibility Criteria for MA Geography
Admission for the MA Geography Course in India begins with checking the course's eligibility criteria, including a minimum aggregate of 45-50% in a BA Geography Course or an equivalent degree in any reputed University or Institution. A passing score is required on the necessary entrance exams. This course is open to all ages. Currently, MA Geography in India is a very popular and high-demand course and offers a high job scope for aspirants after immediately passing out.
Who Should Pursue a MA Geography Course?
MA Geography is for those aspirants who have an interest in Earth Science and wish to set up a career in the field of geography. Depending on the specialization, students can choose to pursue a career in Cartography, Forest Administration, Remote Sensing, Demographer, etc. Students must have a Bachelor's degree in geography from an accredited university with an overall average of at least 50% in order to be eligible to apply for this course.
When To Do MA Geography?
Students who wish to pursue a career in environment protection, natural resource management, regional development, etc, can pursue MA Geography after completing their Bachelor's degree in geography with at least 50% aggregate marks.
How to Get Admission for MA Geography?
When applying for the course, aspirants are called to write a written test, participate in group discussions, and have a personal interview after passing these exams. Students are selected for final admission based on their performance in these rounds. Students are also admitted to private colleges through management quota, seats of which are limited in numbers. Though the admission process varies from college to college, below mentioned are the steps that one should go through generally to get admission:
How to Apply?
Students must use the online portal/offline network to get the application form first. It has to be filled. Because of covid, online is the only option available right now. Once done, the aspirant has to upload/attach the required documents per the guidelines and the specifications mentioned. Apply for a loan if necessary and pay the fee if selected.
Selection Process
The selection is based on the MA Geography eligibility criteria of the minimum scores in the listed exams. Once that is done, there might be an entrance test in colleges. After passing those with a decent score, the aspirant is selected. Either with/without the loan, the fee has to be paid depending on the ones quoted by the institution.
Types of MA Geography Courses
Aspirants can pursue the MA Geography course in the full-time or part-time mode. Below are the types of MA Geography courses in detail:
Full-Time MA Geography
The full-time MA Geography program is typically for 2 years, where students will have to attend classes in person, submit assignments, and write their exams on campus. The advantage of a full-time MA Geography course is that students will gain a lot more exposure, experience, and knowledge through direct interaction with their peers and faculty.
Part-Time MA Geography
The part-time MA Geography course is designed for students who cannot attend regular classes. Part-time courses either entail weekend or night classes or online classes, depending on the type of course. The advantage of the part-time MA Geography course is that students can pursue this course while simultaneously being engaged in employment, research, etc.
Distance MA Geography
Many universities and colleges in India offer the Distance MA Geography course. This course is designed for students who cannot afford to attend classes on-campus or those engaged in some form of employment and cannot take time out to pursue a full-time course.
Popular Entrance Exams for MA Geography
Some universities and institutions or even states may conduct their entrance examinations for MA Geography admissions. The exam includes topics like concepts related to Geography and many more subjects, helping them get an overview of the course. The exams are:
A Quick Glance At the MA Geography Entrance Exams
The students must qualify for the national or state-level MA Geography entrance exams such as JNUEE, DUET, BHU PET, JMI Entrance Exam, PY CET PG etc. Aspirants can choose B- schools or coaching institutes that prepare students for the entrance exams. The entrance exam gives a glance at the entire course, thus giving an overview of the topic.
- The aspirant needs to learn time management to be able to attempt all the questions.
- Time management and aptitude knowledge is required for the generalized section.
- The exams are held only in English, and thus language proficiency is a must.
- Study the entire syllabus for the entrance exams, covering each topic and studying in detail about them
- Skills to prepare for include concepts related to geography and previous graduation syllabus.
Top 10 MA Geography Colleges in India
India has a variety of colleges offering a course in MA Geography. Since it's a form of specialization, it requires a practical and theoretical study which helps them get in-depth knowledge on the course. These are the top 10 MA Geography colleges in India.
|
SI.No. |
Name of the College |
Average Fees |
|
1 |
INR 327 |
|
|
2 |
INR 4,145 |
|
|
3 |
INR 15,600 |
|
|
4 |
INR 432 |
|
|
5 |
INR 10,100 |
|
|
6 |
INR 2,400 |
|
|
7 |
INR 91,950 PA |
|
|
8 |
INR 5,850 PA |
|
|
9 |
INR 2,573 PA |
|
|
10 |
INR 4800 |
Top MA Geography Colleges in Delhi
The table below shows the top MA Geography colleges in Delhi:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | JNU |
| 2 | Delhi University |
| 3 | Gurukul Institute of Management and Technology |
Top MA Geography Colleges in Pune
The table below shows the top MA Geography colleges in Pune:
Top MA Geography Colleges in Kolkata
The table below shows the top MA Geography colleges in Kolkata:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | Calcutta University |
| 2 | Presidency University |
| 3 | Rabindra Bharati University |
| 4 | Vidyasagar College Kolkata |
| 5 | Aliah University |
Top MA Geography Colleges in Jaipur
The table below shows the top MA Geography colleges in Jaipur:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | Banasthali Vidyapith |
| 2 | Rajasthan University (UNIRAJ) |
| 3 | Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University |
| 4 | NIMS University |
| 5 | University of Technology |
Top MA Geography Government Colleges
Listed below are some of the top MA Geography Government Colleges in India:
| SI.No | College |
| 1 | JNU, Delhi |
| 2 | BHU, Varanasi |
| 3 | Calcutta University |
| 4 | Delhi University |
| 5 | UniPune |
Top MA Geography Private Colleges
Listed below are some of the top MA Geography Private Colleges in India:
Study MA Geography Abroad
One of the courses that many students choose because of the employment options it provides is a Master of Arts in Geography or MA Geography. After completing MA Geography overseas, students can pursue roles in education that pay well and continue to advance in their careers. Below are some of the top MA Geography colleges abroad and the relevant fees structure:
Top MA Geography Colleges Abroad
The table below contains a list of some of the best colleges abroad for MA Geography:
|
Name of the College |
Average Fees |
|
University of British Columbia, Canada |
CAD 9,138 |
|
University of Chicago, USA |
USD 16,184 |
|
University of Queensland, Australia |
AUD 42,992 |
|
University of Toronto, Canada |
CAD 24,980 |
|
University of Florida, USA |
USD 21,119 |
|
University of Cambridge, UK |
GBP 30,339 |
|
University of Melbourne, Australia |
AUD 35,072 |
|
University of Oxford, UK |
GBP 25,900 |
Top MA Geography Colleges in USA
Below is a list of the top MA Geography colleges in the USA :
|
S.No |
Name of the College |
|
1. |
University of Chicago |
|
2. |
Dartmouth College |
|
3. |
University of California |
|
4. |
University of Florida |
|
5. |
University of North Carolina |
Top MA Geography Colleges in Australia
Below is a list of the top MA Geography colleges in Australia :
|
S.No |
Name of the College |
|
1. |
University of Melbourne |
|
2. |
University of Queensland |
|
3. |
University of New South Wales |
|
4. |
The University of Adelaide |
|
5. |
University of Western Australia |
Top MA Geography Colleges in UK
Below is a list of the top MA Geography colleges in UK :
|
S.No |
Name of the College |
|
1. |
University of Oxford |
|
2. |
University of Cambridge |
|
3. |
University of Bristol |
|
4. |
Kings College London |
|
4. |
University of Edinburgh |
Top MA Geography Colleges in Canada
Below is a list of the top MA Geography colleges in Canada :
|
S.No |
Name of the College |
|
1. |
University of British Columbia |
|
2. |
University of Toronto |
|
3. |
McGill University |
|
4. |
Queens University |
|
5. |
University of Waterloo |
Fee Structure for MA Geography
The course fees may vary based on college. A government-based institute charges less than a private institute because of its infrastructure and facilities. The average price of a MA Geography course in a private institute is about INR 10K - 1 LPA.
|
College Name |
Fees Per Annum |
|
JNU, New Delhi |
INR 1.2K |
|
Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi |
INR 30K |
|
Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur |
INR 74K |
|
Mumbai University, Mumbai |
INR 34.4K |
|
Delhi University, New Delhi |
INR 18.2K |
Syllabus and Subjects for MA Geography
The MA Geography course is a two-year program consisting of 4 semesters. It covers Geo-Morphology, Geo-Hydrology, Climatology, Soil Geography, Biogeography, Nature of Geography, etc. Depending on the course modules, each college may have its topics and subjects. A few of the subject topics are:
- Geomorphology
- Economic Geography
- Climatology
- Soil Geography
- Geohydrology
- Oceanography
- Geohydrology
- Oceanography
Read More About MA Geography Syllabus and Subjects
Why Choose MA Geography?
MA Geography is a very high demanding course for the aspirants trying to work in the geographical fields. It is a course that provides a wide range of opportunities. This program emphasizes the importance of research for developing students' understanding and furthering their learning. It even offers a high job scope abroad because of the language proficiency.
What is MA Geography all About?
MA Geography or Master in Geography is a two years Post Graduate course. Graduate students with a Bachelor's degree in Geography from a recognized university can pursue this program. This course helps students develop their thinking and management skills to produce original insights into society and welfare details. Postgraduates with an MA in Geography are hired in the sectors of Public and Private sectors, Academic Institutions, Research Organizations, Mining Industry, Resource Development Industry, Forest Service, Agricultural Research Agencies, NGOs, etc.
What Does a MA Geography Graduate Do?
MA Geography graduates have a variety of job roles and career-related plus points because of the good knowledge with the most needed language. The aspirant chooses to work with an academic or welfare organization firm or research and pursue further education. Some of the options are:
Teaching Profession: Graduates can pursue teaching positions in educational and research institutions to share their knowledge and expertise with younger students.
Reasons Why MA Geography Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?
MA Geography is an accredited master's program and provides the aspirants with high career opportunities and other benefits. Since Geography is a very important concept, being a master's in it is in fact a plus that one would carry, and any firm would accept a person with the language knowledge. The benefits of the course are:
High Pay: The job offers a good starting salary for freshers and a well of ones for senior or experienced graduates, thus marking it as a good one in the economy.
Exposure: A MA Geography degree gives a good social skill, thus having a good effect as a part of CV and gives a good job scope even abroad, because of the language skills.
Read More About MA Geography Jobs
MA Geography Course Comparison
MA Geography is typically catered to students interested in and inclined toward human geography, maps, environment, etc. Below is a comparison of the MA Geography with other courses:
MA Geography vs MSc Geography
The table below showcases the differences between MA Geography and MSc Geography:
|
Course |
MA Geography |
MSc Geography |
|
Full Form |
Master of Arts in Geography |
Master of Science in Geography |
|
Stream |
Arts and Humanities |
Arts and Humanities |
|
Course Duration |
3 years |
3 years |
|
Eligibility |
More than 50% in any graduation with Geography as one of the subject |
More than 50% in B.Sc Geography or BA Geography |
|
Entrance Exams |
JNUEE, DUET, BHU PET, JMI EEE |
JNUEE, DUET, BHU PET, All India Entrance Exams |
|
Top Colleges |
JNU, BHU, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi University |
NIMS University, Aligarh Muslim University, S S Jain Subodh PG College, Stani Memorial PG College |
|
Course Fees |
INR 4,000 - 80,000 PA |
INR 30,000 - 1 LPA |
Preparation Tips for MA Geography
MA Geography entrance exams involve both aptitude and knowledge testing type of questions. So being well prepared with it would be of use. Since the exams themselves brief the course, it would be of more use to get into an in-depth study. Below are some preparation tips made by experts for aspirants who want to pursue MA Geography.
Time Management: The aspirant should be capable of answering all the questions in the specified time. Since it involves sociology, it would be lengthy.
Reading Newspapers: General knowledge and current affairs questions are often asked in entrance exams and sometimes in personal interviews and group discussion rounds.
Skills: Trying to focus more on Geography, GK, and subjects taught in the Bachelor's course, etc., which are all included in the questions
Planning: To prepare well in advance, aspirants should practice with sample question papers, mock tests, and quizzes. By analyzing their errors, aspirants can develop a more effective strategy to attempt entrance exams.
Scope of MA Geography For Higher Education
Having a MA Geography degree opens up a wide range of career options. It is even possible to study further after completing the course. The most commonly followed path in this aspect is the Doctorate degrees, which students can obtain in different specializations involved in the course module. Depending on your choice of stream, there are many options in the field of sociology. When higher education and the MA degree are put together, it gives the students a high job scope. A few of the courses are:
- Ph.D Cartography
- M.Phil in Geography
- Ph.D in Geography
Salary of a MA Geography Graduate
The starting salary of a MA Geography graduate would be around INR 3 - 8LPA [Source: PayScale]. As skills and experience increase, so will the salary increment. The salary varies depending on whether it's a private or a public sector and the firm's popularity. Even the job role of the aspirant is a factor that is noted while the salaries are discussed.
Read More About MA Geography Salary
Career Options After MA Geography
After completing a course in MA Geography, the aspirant can work in public and private sectors depending on the type of work they prefer or the skills they have. They even have an option of further specialization by doing a postgraduate degree like a doctorate or even a further extension by doing other full-time courses. But even the MA degree has a high job scope because of the demand and the industrialization and development happening.
Some of the best job designations for graduates after the course of MA Geography in the sector are as follows:
- Surveyors
- Urban & Regional Planning
- Town Planning
- Post Secondary Teachers
- Agricultural Consultant
- Forest Administrator
- Air Pollution Specialist
Skills That Make You The Best after MA Geography
The MA Geography course provides a career boost for people seeking jobs in teaching or social fields. It opens a variety of career opportunities for aspiring welfare/socially active people at various international agencies. Some of the skills required for MA Geography graduates are as follows:
- Analyzing and Problem-Solving
- Decision- Making
- Critically Interpreting Data and Text
- information Skills
- Communication
- Technology Skills
- Numerical Skills
