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
| 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. |
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.
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:

Below mentioned are points regarding who should pursue a MA course:
Read More: Master of Arts Jobs and Scope
MA admission requires a candidate to fulfill a certain set of eligibility criteria. Below mentioned is the eligibility for the MA course:
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:

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 |
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 |
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:

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 |
Below mentioned are the distance M.A course details:
Read More: Distance MA course
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.
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 |
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 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:
Read More: Master of Arts Subjects and Syllabus
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:
Read More: BA+MA
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:
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
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:
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:

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
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:
Read More: MA Scholarships
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:
| Other Popular PG Courses | |
| MBA | MCA |
| M.Sc | MD |
| MTech | MSW |
| PGDCA | M.Phil |
| MIM | PGDM |
| MPT | MPA |
Master of Arts Subjects and Syllabus, like any other academic degree, teach students in classrooms through theory and practical lectures, internships, research projects, and assignments, among other things. The Master of Arts course is a diverse course that consists of core subjects that are compulsory in each specialization and many elective courses that a student has to choose from.
The Master of Arts Subjects and Syllabus is semester-wise, and the course curriculum comprises four parts: foundation, core, electives, and research projects. The syllabus for Master of Arts as per the specialization is:
|
Master of Arts Specialization |
Subjects and Topics Included |
|
|
MA in English |
British Literature |
American Literature |
|
African Literature |
Indian Writings in Literature |
|
|
Literary Theory |
Commonwealth Literature |
|
|
MA in Hindi |
History of Hindi Literature- Ancient & Medieval |
Novel and Short Story |
|
Hindi Poetry and Proses |
Ancient Hindi Poetry |
|
|
Origin of Hindi Language |
Hindi Drama |
|
|
MA in History |
Ancient History and its Theory |
Practice of History |
|
Polity in Medieval India |
History of Marathas |
|
|
Indian Independence |
History of Women In Indian Independence |
|
|
MA in Philosophy |
Classical Philosophies |
Indian Philosophy |
|
Greek Philosophy |
Modern Western Philosophy |
|
|
Philosophical Logic |
Analytical Philosophy |
|
|
Philosophy of Language |
Philosophy of History |
|
|
Philosophy of Religion |
Philosophy of Science |
|
|
Ma in Political Science |
Administrative Theory |
Politics in India |
|
Themes in World Politics |
Debates in Political Theory |
|
|
Ethics and Politics |
Indian Strategic Thought |
|
|
International Security |
Indian and the World |
|
|
MA in International Relations |
Introduction of International Relations |
International Organization |
|
Conflict Resolution |
US Foreign Policy |
|
|
Political Theory, Concepts, and Perspectives |
Government and Politics of South Asia |
|
|
MA in Sociology |
Sociological Theories |
Sociology of India |
|
Methods of Sociological Research |
Populations and Society |
|
|
Gender and Society |
Agrarian Structure |
|
|
Sociology of Organizations |
Sociology of Media |
|
|
MA in Education |
Educational Psychology |
Guidance & Counselling |
|
Educational Administration & Management |
Educational Measurement & Evaluation |
|
|
Educational Technology |
Life-Long Education |
|
|
MA in Fine Arts |
History of Fine Arts in India |
History of Indian Painting |
|
Drawing & Painting |
History of Indian Architecture |
|
|
MA in Gender Studies |
Introduction to Gender Studies |
Feminist Movement |
|
Feminist Theories |
Gender and Economy |
|
|
Gender, Environment, and Livelihood |
Gender Analysis |
|
|
Gender. Polity and Governance |
Gender Mainstreaming |
|
The Master of Arts subjects like literature, history, fine arts, psychology, sociology, economy, politics, ethics, novels, etc. taught in the course curriculum of The Master of Arts are necessary for the postgraduates to expand their knowledge in the theoretical and research aspects, which will be beneficial for them to get a better scope in jobs in India and abroad on behalf of their skills. Moreover, some subjects are related to the arts and humanities syllabus, like language, history, education, writing, theory, philosophy, etc.
The core MA subjects list contains essential subjects that all the MA candidates study. The subject list is as follows:
The MA elective subjects can be chosen by the candidates. Some of the subjects are as follows:
