Updated on Jul 25, 2022 03:34 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

Master or Arts or MA course is a master level course or a postgraduate course of 2 years duration. There are an ample number of specialisations offered in MA from humanities, languages and many more. MA course is considered one of the most popular and also most pursued courses by candidates after their bachelor's degree. The MA course offers theoretical knowledge in subjects like psychology, social studies, management, politics etc. Both theoretical and practical aspects are taught to students in MA course.

Types of MA Courses

MA is a diverse two-year Arts course consisting of as many as four semesters of six months duration. The subjects of MA courses are divided into various semesters and different subjects are focused in each semester. The course consists of many elective courses, core and research projects. Here in the article, we will discuss in detail the MA subjects, syllabus, specialisations to get an understanding about MA courses.

Popular MA Courses  

Candidates get to study MA courses in different modes. Most of the MA courses are full-time or regular courses. Some of the MA courses are taught in part-time mode. Diploma or certificate courses are also available in MA. Here we will discuss different types and modes of MA courses

MA Degree Courses

MA is a diverse course as it comprises around four to eight compulsory core subjects in each specialisation. Along with it, candidates are required to choose from many of the elective courses.  

MA Specialisations 

Some of the popular specialisations offered in MA are listed below in the table: 

MA Specialisations 

MA in Hindi

MA in English 

MA in History 

MA in Philosophy 

MA in Political Science 

MA in International Relations 

MA in Sociology 

MA in Education 

MA in Fine Arts 

MA in Gender Studies 

Also Read: MA Colleges in India 

Distance MA Courses

Distance MA course or MA Distance education is also available in a number of universities and colleges. MA in distance mode can be pursued in 2 years. MA Distance Education is offered by some of the popular colleges in India like IGNOU, Karnataka State Open University etc. Candidates can pursue MA Distance Education as it provides a number of benefits. Candidates can pursue the course along with their job as well. They can pursue the course by staying in different locations. In order to apply for MA Distance education, candidates are required to have completed their Bachelor’s degree from any discipline. There is no age limit to pursue MA course through distance mode.

Also Read: Distance MA Colleges in India

Online MA Courses

MA course can be pursued in full-time or correspondence via online mode. There are multiple benefits for pursuing MA in online mode as candidates can get the best of both worlds. They can pursue the course from any part of the country without being physically present in college or university. In order to pursue Online MA course, candidates are required to have passed Bachelor's degree in Arts or an equivalent degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% in the relevant disciplines.

Also Read: Online MA Courses

MA Subjects

MA courses are taught under different specialisations. The subjects are divided into core and elective. Check the table below to know about MA core and elective subjects:  

Core Subjects 

Elective Subjects 

Education 

Hindi 

Literature 

History 

Politics 

Sociology 

Media 

Philosophy 

Management 

Bengali 

Languages 

English 

Linguistics 

Political science 

Communications 

Economics 

Geography 

- 

MA Job Roles and Average Salary

Given below in the table are the list of job options available for candidates with MA degree. The average salary of the below given job roles are as per Pay Scale and Salary Explorer. 

Job Roles Average Salary (in INR)
Journalist 3.46 LPA
Photographer 3.87 LPA
Content Writer 2.87 LPA
Translator 4.02 LPA
Radio Jockey 3 LPA
Writer  4.21 LPA
Video Jockey 3 LPA
Social Worker 2.90 LPA
Sales Associate 2.52 LPA

Read More: Career After MA

FAQs on MA Courses

Q. Which are some popular MA subjects?

A. Some of the popular MA programs are mentioned below: Masters of Arts Theology Masters of Arts Area studies Masters of Arts Media Masters of Arts Political Science Masters of Arts Communication Masters of Arts International Relations Masters of Arts Cultural Studies Masters of Arts Teaching etc.

Q. What is the duration of the MA course?

A. MA or Master of Arts is a 2 years duration postgraduate degree course.

Q. Which MA course is best for a job?

A. There are a number of MA courses which are considered suitable from employment perspectives. MA in Psychology, MA in Veterinary Sciences, MA in Performing Arts, MA in Education and Teaching, MA in Health and Social Care etc are some such popular MA courses.

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for MA?

A. In order to get admission in MA, candidates are required to have a Bachelor degree in arts with a minimum passing marks of 50% from a recognised university by the UGC (University Grants Commission) of India.

Q. Is BA compulsory for MA?

A. Yes, candidates must have a bachelor degree to get admission to a Master of Arts (MA) course.

Q. What can we do after MA?

A. After pursuing MA, candidates can opt for higher studies like PhD or MPhil, or pursue MBA or PGDM or PG Diploma courses. The scope of MA courses is wide.

Q. Which are the best courses after MA?

A. After MA, candidates can pursue courses like MPhil, PhD, PGDM, MBA, Hotel Management, PG Diploma, Mass Media, Travel & Tourism, Event Management etc.

Q. Can I get a job after MA?

A. Yes, there are a number of career opportunities after MA. After completing a MA degree, candidates can work as a Program Coordinator, Research Scientist, Administrative Manager, Secondary School Teacher, Program Manager, Mathematics Teacher, Learning and Development Consultant etc.

Q. What are the specialisations offered in MA?

A. Popular specialisations offered in MA are MA in Hindi, MA in English, MA in History, MA in Philosophy, MA in Political Science, MA in International Relations, MA in Sociology, MA in Education and MA in Fine Arts.

Q. How many MA courses are there in India?

A. There are as many as 94 courses in Master of Arts (MA). Candidates can pursue these courses after graduation. 

Q. Can I do MA after 12th?

A. No, candidates are not eligible for MA after 12th class. MA is a post graduation degree which can be pursued only after graduation. 
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

1.4 L

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

1.6 L - 5.5 L
5.45 L
4.8
1 L - 2.4 L
3.3
60 K
2 Courses
9 L
1 Course
3.1 L
5.5 LPA

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).
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered Yesterday

A lot, I would say. Be it teaching, civil services, railway, banking, you name it. If you already have a mindset on a specific field, prepare for it; otherwise, explore options that are suitable for you. 

You can become a teacher, prepare for competitive exams like IPS, IFS, IAS, or for IBPS (PO, Cle

...Read more

L

Lalit Rastogi

Contributor-Level 9

Answered Yesterday

Of course, it will. See, if you pursue a UG degree course in a subject, it will give you the base knowledge of it. But opting for a master's course in that particular subject will give you the in-depth knowledge + practical exposure. You'll probably complete an internship during your MA and might al

...Read more

A

Akansha Bisht

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

ETH Zurich offers a range of programs at UG and PG levels for its students. ETH Zurich offers MA for the duration of 2 years. The university first year tuition fee for MA programs is around INR 5 L.

V

Vipra Bisht

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Tuition fee for 1 year MA in Animation at Nottingham Trent University is GBP 18,300 (INR 22.14 L). 

Students who plan to pursue higher studies from UK must also consider some other cost associated with staying in country such as rent, food, utilities, travel, etc. 

K

Kanishka Gambhir

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

Some important CPGET pattern-related information you must have -

  • CPGET is a 90-minute exam.
  • 100 MCQs in the paper, each worth 1 mark.
  • No negative marking.
  • Analogies, classification, matching, comprehension, and other similar types of questions are included.

Here's the sectional weightage for your referen

...Read more

S

Shikha Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 6 days ago

Yes, you can. Some top Political Science college options in India, where you can get admission to the MA Political Science course without sitting for any exam are here

Top Political Science CollegesCourse Fees
St. Xavier's College KolkataM.A. in Political Science
MCC Chennai 

M.A. in Public Administration 

M.A. in Political Science

Kristu Jayanti UniversityM.A. in Public Administration
Lady Brabourne CollegeM.A. in Political Science
DAV ChandigarhM.A. in Public Administration

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

Know more about -

MA Political Science Colleges in India

R

Rashmi Thakur

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 6 days ago

Hi...

1. BA / B.Sc in Cinema (Undergraduate – 3 Years)

AAFT offers a three‑year Bachelor’s degree in Cinema with various specializations such as Acting, Direction, Cinematography, Post‑Production (and related fields) depending on your focus.

General Structure

The BA/B.Sc Cinema curriculum is semester‑ba

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered a week ago

The eligibility for the MA in International Relations course is to obtain a bachelor's degree in either BA International Relations or any other relevant field. Other conditions like marks, age limit, entrance exam scores, etc., can be different based on the colleges. 

Apart from this, the documents y

...Read more

S

Sreetama Shrivastava

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

The MA BEd integrated syllabus covers both specialised subject-specific content (like History, English, Economics, etc.) and educational subjects like Pedagogy, Educational Psychology, Contemporary India and Education, and Knowledge and Curriculum

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

No, it isn't possible to complete the entire course in distance mode. You can pursue BEd in regular mode, whereas MA in distant mode. There might be a few more universities other than IGNOU that provide correspondence courses.

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

The fee structure can vary depending on if you have taken admission in government college or private one. 

College TypeAverage Fee Range
Government College30k to 1,20,000
Private Universities1,50,000 to 4,00,000

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

To get admission in MA BEd integrated course, start with finding the colleges that provides this course. Check if you meet the eligibility criteria, fill the application form, apply for exam (if needed), clear it, and appear for counselling to get admission. At some universities, you can get merit-b

...Read more

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, the students in Westminster University's full-time Masters Business course have to undertake a PG Internship. This is a 6-12 week internship. For admission MA in Management course, Indian students are required to have a minimum of 2:2 second class honors degree. An IELTS score of 6.5 is require

...Read more

C

Chandra Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

IILM prepares students well for higher education. Since assignments are research-heavy and presentation-focused, you naturally develop skills like critical thinking, referencing, academic writing, and public speaking.

Professors guide students on:

  • how to write SOPs

  • how to choose universities

  • how to buil

...Read more

M

Manya

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

Regent's University of London MA Management and Finance course is 12-16 months. Students can apply for this course directly. There is no application fee. For admission to this course, Indian students are required to have a minimum second class UK Undergraduate degree or equivalent. A few of the docu

...Read more

H

Himanshi Shekhar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

The duration of Regent University London MA Luxury Brand Management course is 12-16 months. This course will teach the business behind luxury brands. The university's partnership with Walpole, the UK's official trade body for the luxury sector gives access to some of the best UK brands in a variety

...Read more

A

Anya Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

The MA course is offered in the field of Economics at SRCC. Admissions to this course are entrance-based and candidates muts appear for the CUET-PG exam for admission. 

S

Sejal Baveja

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes you can you have a great opportunity in this field 

S

Sayyad

Beginner-Level 1

Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else

On Shiksha, get access to

  • 66k Colleges
  • 1k Exams
  • 680k Reviews
  • 1800k Answers