M.A. in Development Studies Colleges in India - Fees 2026, Admissions

 The University of Mumbai (MU) releases multiple merit lists every year followed by a counselling and document verification process to offer admission to students in MU-affiliated colleges. Mumbai University merit list are released for admission to more than 750 affiliated colleges in programmes such as FYBA, FYBSWA, FYBCom, FYBSc, FYBMS, FYBVoc, FYB Library Science and FYBPA. These merit lists University carries the names of students who are shortlisted on the basis of marks they have obtained in their last qualifying examinations. Additionally, students must note that Mumbai University releases separate merit lists for UG and PG courses.  Check out more information on MU admission and cutoff here. 

Both DU SOL and IGNOU are popular among students for distance programmes. Candidates can consider factors like course fee, ranking, degree acceptance, and more, while making a choice. The minimum eligibility criteria for MA at both the open learning universities/platforms is a valid bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised board. 

Below table showcases the MA course fee at IGNOU and DU SOL:

NOTE: The aforementioned fee is taken from the official website/sanctioning body. It is subject to change and hence, is indicative.

IIT Madras integrated MA course fee is INR 1.65 lakh. 

Guru Nanak Dev University admissions is both entrance and merit-based. Candidates who want admissions can apply online by visiting the official website. Also, candidates need to fulfill the eligibility criteria for GNDU admissions. The entrance exam accepted for BTech, MBA, and MTech course is JEE Main, Guru Nanak Dev University Management Entrance Test (GMET), and GATE respectively.

Calicut University conducts its own entrance exam Calicut University Common Admission Test (CUCAT) for admission to its courses. The university also accepts few national-level exams, which are tabulate below:

To check out the admission process for other UG & PG courses,  make your course selection here.

Both MGU and Calicut University are popular universities in Kerala. In the NIRF 2023 rankings, MG University leads Calicut on 31st spot and the latter has secured 70th position.  Hence, ranking-wise MGU is a better option. However, the course fee is more economical at the Calicut University. MGU MA fees range between INR 1,900 and INR 1.8 Lacs and at Calicut University, the MA fee range from INR 950 to INR 82,500. Candidates can consider their prorities (location, fees, and more) and make a choice.

Further, it must be noted that the mentioned fee is taken from unofficial sources. Hence, the actual amount may vary.

Yes, Gurugram University is worth considering especially for its BSc, Law and BTech courses. It is a government university recognised by the UGC and approved by AICTE. Below are the reasons to consider Gurugram University:

• Good Ranking: The university is ranked 12 in the Law (Government) category by the Outlook-ICARE 2025.
• Scholarships: The University also provides post-matric scholarships to reserved category students.
• Placement Opportunities: Top recruiters at Gurgaon University include TCS, Geeky Ants, Infosys, De facto Infotech, Axis Bank, Wipro, ACS, Yamaha, Fortis, Tech Mahindra, etc.

After the phase 1 placements 2025-26 at IITH, the key highlights are mentioned below:

Azim Premji University hasn’t released the placement data yet, offers a great platform for the students to achieve their dream job through placements with top recruiting companies, more than 2,700 students of University have gone to find work that they do impactful. About 90% of students work with social sectors and around 80% work in non-privileged parts of India. As per the Shiksha students' reviews, the Azim Premji University average package in the recent placements was INR 30,000 per month.

NOTE: The above details are collated from the Shiksha students' reviews.