Updated on Apr 9, 2024 11:56 IST
Bhavya Jain

Bhavya JainContent Author

MA commonly known as Master of Arts is a 2-year postgraduate degree program. One can pursue an MA after completing their bachelor’s in the same discipline. The course has been increasingly gaining huge attention from candidates due to the wide range of career opportunities available to them in India and Abroad.

There are a plethora of specializations available in this field including some of the well-known fields like French, German, Economics, and Psychology. A deep understanding of the course and subjects can provide a bright and well-paying career to anyone who has an aversion towards the course and wishes to pursue it. But it is super beneficial to the ones for the civil service aspirants.
The candidates can apply to a variety of roles that are industry-relevant and pay you well. Some of them include Associate Researchers, Data analysts, Newspaper columnists, and lawyers with an average salary ranging from INR 3 LPA, extending to a maximum of INR 15 LPA depending on the specialization, or the skill one pertains.

After knowing the bright prospects of pursuing an MA, candidates might be curious to know its future, the scope, and obviously, the remuneration one could receive under different specializations. In this section, we will discuss more about the career prospects and salaries of MA graduates.

MA Course Eligibility Criteria

Before pursuing a master's, or even starting the preparation for the same one might be aware of the eligibility to pursue that course. So, here are a few factors that make one eligible for undertaking an MA:

Eligibility Criteria MA Course

Should have completed their Bachelor’s, preferably in Arts from a recognized UGC university. 

Should have secured an aggregate of 55% or more. 

Top MA Specializations

Though there are many specializations in the arts field, and can select it according to their interests and choices. Here is a list of a few more prominent specializations along with their average salaries.

S.no

Top Specializations

Average Salary (in INR)

1

MA English 

12,500-62,500 per month

2

MA Economics 

16.2 lakhs

3

MA Psychology 

3.7 lakhs

4

MA Political Science 

3 lakhs

5

MA History

5 lakhs 

6

MA Social Work

3.4 lakhs

7

MA International Relations

6.6 lakhs

8

MA Communication Studies

6 lakhs

9

MA Sociology

4.5 lakhs

10

MA Public Administration

2 - 8 lakhs

(Source: AmbitionBox)

Students also liked topics on:

MA in Hindi

MA in Sociology at Delhi School of Economics

IIT MA Colleges

Apart from providing quality education in the technical field with courses like Btech, M.tech, and M.Sc, IIT has expanded its horizons by providing postgraduate degree courses or MA courses in different fields. However, there are a few courses only which are offered in only some IITs. Yet, the major difference comes with the diversity of courses it provides.
Apart from the general Master in Arts courses which are pursued in the fields of Economics, Psychology, and History the courses at IITs are a little different. The courses offered at IITs include specializations in Development Studies, Philosophy, and English Studies.
Here is a stipulated list providing insights into the MA courses offered by different IITs.

Name of IIT

Program Name

IIT Madras

MA in English Studies
MA in Developmental Studies
MA in Economics

IIT Bombay

MA by Research
MA - PhD Philosophy (Dual degree) 

IIT Guwahati

MA in Developmental Studies
MA in Liberal Arts

IIT Gandhinagar

MA in Society and Culture

IIT Mandi

MA in Development Studies

IIT Delhi

MA in Society, Culture, Thought
MA in Public Policy

MA Jobs by Specialization

There are multiple specializations in MA, each having its own set of career trajectories having an individual path of growth. In the coming section, we will be discovering the top job profiles one can pursue after doing different specializations in MA along with their market salaries.

MA Economics Jobs 

MA Economics is a 2-year postgraduate degree program offering greater insights into the world of economics covering topics like banking, financial management, international economics, macroeconomics, theory of demand and supply, and many more topics that directly, or indirectly impact the economy.
It has 4 semesters, each semester having a duration of 6 months. This table shows the data of a few job profiles that are best-suited to an MA Economics graduate. 

Top MA Economics Job Profiles

Average Salary (in INR)

Research Analyst

4.8 lakhs

Data Analyst

6.3 lakhs 

High School Teacher

5.5 lakhs

Economist

16.2 lakhs

Director of Operations 

37 lakhs 

(Source: AmbitionBox)

MA History Jobs 

Through MA History, a candidate can have a good understanding of the Historical and Cultural aspects of India. It is a 2-year postgraduate degree program divided into 4 semesters, every semester lasting 6 months.

Here’s a list of a few top job profiles best suited for an MA History graduate.

Top MA History Job Profiles

Average Salary (in INR)

Historian

7 lakhs 

Assistant Professor

4.8 lakhs

Teacher

3.1 lakhs

Field Archaeologist 

2 lakhs

Research Assistant

3.8 lakhs

(Source: AmbitionBox)

Relevant links for MA History:
Jobs after MA History

MA English Jobs

MA English is a 2 year postgraduate degree program that gives students a comprehensive knowledge of various important concepts of English Literature including readings from different novels, stories, and poetries written by various authors.
The degree allows the candidate to expand their literary skills and further capitalize on them. Here is a list of a few top job profiles best suited for an MA English graduate.

Top MA English Job Profiles

Average Salary (in INR)

Editor/ Assistant Editor

3 lakhs 

Web Content Writer

3 lakhs

Teacher 

3.3 lakhs

Translator

2.2 lakhs

SEO Analyst

3 lakhs

(Source: AmbitionBox)

MA Psychology Jobs 

The field of Psychology offers a candidate the opportunity to learn different aspects related to the human mind and behavior including issues related to emotions, behavior, and their psychological effects on the brain.
One can choose from different fields while pursuing a Master's in Psychology. Some of the most prominent ones include health psychology, clinical psychology, and sports psychology. It further opens multiple doors for them to practice it by working in hospitals or opening their clinics.
Here is a list of a few top job profiles best suited for an MA Psychology graduate.

Top MA Psychology Job Profiles

Average Salary (in INR)

Clinical Psychologists

4.5 lakhs 

Therapists 

2.8 lakhs

Counseling Psychologists 

4.1 lakhs

Sports Psychologists

5.9 - 7.5 lakhs

Psychiatrist

10 lakhs

(Source: AmbitionBox)

MA Political Science Jobs

MA in Political Science is a 2-year postgraduate degree program taken by a lot of students who wish to continue their careers in politics at Indian and International levels. To pursue the same, one must have completed their graduation in political science with an aggregate of 55% or more.
It includes subjects like Political Theory, International Relations, Policy Making, and Public Laws. Here is a list of a few top job profiles best suited for MA Political Science graduates.

Top MA Political Science Jobs

Average Salary (in INR)

Politician

9.5 lakhs

Public Administration

5.3 lakhs

Political Content Writer

3.6 lakhs

Political Correspondent

4.5 lakhs

PR Executive

3 lakhs

(Source: AmbitionBox)

MA Jobs - Sector Wise

After doing a Master of Arts, a candidate has abundant opportunities in both government as well as private sectors. The scope and spectrum of opportunities further depend on the respective fields one has chosen. Here are some of the well-known, and top opportunities available to MA students in the private, and public sectors.

MA Jobs- Private Sector

MA graduates are respected everywhere and receive abundant opportunities at every organization, and the Private sector is one of them. Some of the top professions an MA graduate can pursue are given below:

Top Job Profiles

Job Details

Average Salary (in INR)

Educator

Involved in constructing meaningful educational experiences through planning, preparing, and delivering lessons.

5.7 lakhs

Economist

Economists majorly conduct surveys, collect data, analyze it, and make interpretations and forecasts about the same.
Example- Related to the topics of the economy such as fiscal policy.

16.2 lakhs

Content Writer 

Content writer researches and write engaging content for brands and businesses to provide meaningful information, and improve the brand image at the same time.

3.6 lakhs

Communication Manager 

Communication Managers promote the organization, its people, products, and services by creating impactful content and consistently delivering the same.

13.2 lakhs

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professors are involved in research and teaching. They assist full-time professors and also spend time conducting investigations and research.

4.8 lakhs

MA Jobs - Government Sector

MA provides a lot of opportunities to candidates in the government sector too. Here is a list of top career opportunities available to MA graduates in the government sector.

Top Job Profile

Job Details

Average Salary (in INR)

UPSC - IAS

IAS officers manage the overall administration of government, maintain the overall expenditure, and ensure law and order in the country.

1 - 2.5 lakhs per month

Railway jobs

RRB NTPC is one such job a person can receive by taking the entrance exam. In this role, one needs to supervise the work of the entire railway station

8.8 lakhs

SSC

SSC personnel recruit candidates for various posts in different departments and ministries under the Government of India.

6.2 lakhs

Research Associate

Research Associates plans, organizes, and conducts research for various market topics including the financial market.

4.6 lakhs

Social worker

Social workers are responsible for improving the lives of the people they are taking care of and helping them find solutions to their problems.

3.4 lakhs

(Source: AmbitionBox)

Courses after MA

A student can further enhance their educational background, and be more skilled at their respective jobs after MA by pursuing the following courses:

  • PhD
  • Mphil
  • PG Diploma

Quick links relevant to MA Careers:
PhD Careers
M.Phil Admissions

10 Best Countries for MA Graduates

MA provides candidates with tons of opportunities in India as well as Abroad. Though some countries are better than others when it comes to opportunities and salaries. In the coming section, we will discuss those few countries along with the salaries they provide.

  • USA 
  • UK 
  • Canada 
  • Australia
  • Singapore
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Spain

Top MA Recruiters
After doing an MA, candidates can get good jobs with handsome salaries in both the public sector as well as private sector. This table gives you a list of the top 10 MA recruiters.

Top MA Recruiters

Amazon

State Bank of India

Myntra

ICICI

Infosys

Government of India

Deloitte

Lady Shri Ram College 

Wipro

Accenture

Top MA Colleges- Placement-wise

The average salary after completing MA ranges from INR 3 LPA - 5 LPA. However, some factors may affect the placement opportunities and the compensation a candidate receives. These factors include location, candidate’s college, their skills, and expertise in the respective domains. 

This table provides the list of those colleges that provide candidates with the greatest opportunities and highest placement packages when it comes to MA graduates. 

Top MA Colleges

Average Salary (in INR)

Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

9.5 lakhs

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

8 lakhs

Delhi University, Delhi

15.5 lakhs

Jamia Milia Islamia

8.66 lakhs

Amity University, Noida

5.5 lakhs

Table of contents
  • Popular M.A. (Master of Arts) Colleges in India
  • Popular Private M.A. (Master of Arts) Colleges in India
  • Popular M.A. (Master of Arts) Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Popular M.A. (Master of Arts) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular M.A. (Master of Arts) Colleges in India. Learn more about these M.A. (Master of Arts) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
4 Courses
432
8.4 LPA

#5 The Week

6 Courses
55.95 K
9.24 LPA

#3 The Week

7 Courses
15.21 K
7 LPA

#4 The Week

5 Courses
33.81 K
5.4 LPA

#12 The Week

4.2
6.22 LPA

#9 The Week

3 Courses
432
7.9 LPA

Popular Private M.A. (Master of Arts) Colleges in India

#75 The Week

M.A. Applications open. Apply Now

2 L - 3 L

M.A. Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
3.1 L
5.5 LPA

M.A. Applications open. Apply Now

5 Courses
2.33 L
7.5 LPA
60 K - 2.6 L
1.4 L - 1.6 L

M.A. Applications open. Apply Now

Popular M.A. (Master of Arts) Specializations

Following are the most popular M.A. (Master of Arts) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Following are the top ranked colleges for M.A. (Master of Arts) based on rankings published by The Week, Business Today and National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD).
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Student Forum

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Answered 22 hours ago

Veer Narmad South Gujarat University offers admission in MA programme based on merit achieved in last qualifying exam. However, for certain specialised courses like MA in Human Resource Development or Political Science, CUET PG scores are accepted.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, final year students can apply for admission as well as exams. Admission will be on provisional bases. This means that a student has to provide a passing certificate after the results.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

Work experience is generally not required for admission in Indian colleges. Some universities abroad might have different requirements. Check official website of the college to make sure. Work experience gives an advantage during admission.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

Many colleges and universities give students a chance to reappear for the exam. Either in the next semester as a supplementary exam or in the next academic cycle as a back paper. Check college guidelines for more details.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

There are many colleges that offer distance learning MA degrees. IGNOU and SNDT are government recognised institutes that are very popular for distance learning courses. private colleges like Amity and Manipal University also offer distance/correspondance degrees.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

After completing an M.A. in Sociology from LPU, students can explore careers in social research, NGOs, community development, policy analysis, education, CSR, and public welfare organizations. The university also supports students through skill-development programs, research opportunities, and caree

...Read more

a

aayra rana

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 3 days ago

Candidates wishing to get admission in MA Economics at Shri Ram College of Commerce should have completed graduation in related subject. Applicants have to qualify the cutoff of CUET-PG and participate in DU-CSAS counselling for seat allocation.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

An M.A. Sociology from LPU can build strong knowledge of society, social research, public policy, and community development. The curriculum includes practical learning through research projects, case studies, and field exposure, helping students improve analytical and communication skills. Graduates

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

The M.A. Sociology programme at LPU covers subjects such as Sociological Theory, Research Methods, Social Change, Rural and Urban Sociology, Gender Studies, Indian Society, Globalization, Social Policy, and Development Studies. The curriculum combines classroom learning with research, fieldwork, and

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

Yes. The M.A. Sociology curriculum at LPU includes fieldwork, research projects, case studies, presentations, and practical assignments that help students connect classroom learning with real social issues. Students also learn research methods and data analysis while working on projects based on com

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

An M.A. Sociology graduate from LPU can explore careers in NGOs, social welfare organizations, research institutes, CSR teams, government departments, policy organizations and community development projects. The curriculum builds research, fieldwork, data analysis and communication skills through pr

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

Yes. The M.A. Sociology programme at LPU includes social research methods and data analysis as important parts of the curriculum. Students learn how to design research, collect data, use qualitative and quantitative methods, and interpret findings. The course also includes field based learning, repo

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, students can prepare for UPSC, UGC NET and other competitive exams while pursuing M.A. Sociology at LPU. The syllabus covers important sociology concepts, social issues and research topics that are useful for these exams. With proper time management, many students can balance regular classes wi

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 5 days ago

Candidate willing to take admission in MA (either in Communication and Journalism or in Public Relations) must fill the application form before due date. Graduates from any stream are eligible to apply both courses. The selection is done on the basis of written test. Written test has wo sections nam

...Read more

R

Riya Gupta

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 6 days ago

A minimum of 75% attendance is mandatory for MA (Psychology) course at Loreto College. If any candidate has attendance below 60%, he or she is not permitted to sit in the exam. If the attendance is between 60-75%, then candidates can contact with the authorities and might have to pay fine of INR 100

...Read more

R

Riya Gupta

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a week ago

Curtin University is a little easy to get into due to its higher acceptance rate of around 50% than that of Monash University at 40% but it is ranked higher at #4 in Australia while Curtin University, Australia is ranked at #16. Curtin University Australia offers only 8 M.A courses for the Indian st

...Read more

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

The Monash University is the center of education. It offers overall around 300 programs in different fields of Science, Engineering, Arts, Design, Music and Business etc. The University around 129 courses at Graduate level and 19 M.A Courses for a duration of 1-3 years. Some of the popular M.A progr

...Read more

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

The score required to take admission at BHU depends on the category you belong to and the course chosen. For the General AI category, the round 3 cutoff ranged from 6 to 260 for different PG-level programmes as per the BHU CUET PG cutoff 2026. So, yes, General AI category students can get admission

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, there is an application fee charged for M.A Courses while submitting the application form. Application fee is a non-refundable amount and it cannot be waived back. For M.A courses, the application fee is CHF 150 that is roughly INR 17.50 K. 
CHF 1 = INR 116.69

K

Khushi Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

The total tuition fee of MA at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai is INR 30,000 to INR 3 lakh. This number is taken from the official website of college. It can change. Candidates need to pay the course fee to confirm their allocated seats.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Candidates can check below the number of seats offered in MA at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai: 

Course 

Seats 

MA in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archeology

60

MA in Psychology 

30

MA in Public Health

30

MA in Economics 

30

Note: This number is taken from the official website of college. It is subject to change. 

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, TAMU is a tier one university in College Station. It holds the the highest R1 Doctoral Universities classification. This classification is awarded to institutions with a very high research activity.

Texas A&M is ranked by some of the top ranking bodies in the world like the US News, QS World, Ti

...Read more

B

Bhumika Vimal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, Texas A & M University is a pretty big campus. TAMU is one of the largest universities in the US.

The campus of TAMU is there in College Station and it covers an area of around 5,200 acres. 

Given below are some interesting facts about the campus, take a look - 

  • Courses in Engineering, Agriculture

...Read more

78590432
Loveleen Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Heidelberg Uni MA in Political Science course is taught in English and German. It can be completed in 2 years. Start of the programme is in Winter and Summer semesters. For admission to Heidelberg Uni MA in Political Science course, students must have completed an UG degree. 

C

Chandra Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Aspirants must pass a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SC/ ST/ PwD) to apply for MA in Economics course at IIFT Delhi. Aspirants need to appear for admission test and PI round conducted by the institute for admission.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a month ago

The real competition at Harvard University is much higher than the bare-minimum baseline of around 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The competition is cut-throat and fierce due to the given reasons - 

  • The application pool is flooded with top-tier IIT/NIT/DU grads and published researchers (a 3.5 GPA is not en

...Read more

L

Lalit Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Yes, low-income students can go for Harvard University MA courses offered at the Harvard Kenneth C. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences  (GSAS)

It is not easy to go for the MA courses as full funding is not received, as it offers need-based scholarships.

 

P

Pallavi Garg

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Yes,   the MA tuition from Harvard generally justifies the career opportunities it offers.  This happens only when an Indian student leverages the degree, connections and high-growth sectors well. 

Look at the pointers given below -

  • The students have to pay anywhere between INR 18.49 L and 71.45 L as

...Read more

M

Mayank Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Yes, Harvard University offers 1 year masters for Indian students and similar PG courses for which Indian students can apply. The duration of Harvard MA courses is 12 months to 3 years.

Look at a 1-year MA at Harvard

...Read more

D

Divya Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The total tuition fees for MA programme is INR 30,000 at NIT Trichy. Shortlisted candidates have to pay the course fees to confirm their seat. The fees for MA is quite affordable. 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

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