What is Online MA: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2026, Colleges, Syllabus, Salary & Scope

Akansha BishtSenior Executive
An Online MA or Online Master of Arts is a 2-year PG degree course available in a variety of specializations. Online MA courses give students the best of both worlds- the comfort and flexibility with the equivalent that is acquired through an on-campus, conventional Degree.
Hundreds of colleges in India and abroad provide an MA Online in different specializations. The average course fee in India ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 4.5 Lakh. Though some recruiters require you to have a regular MA degree, plenty of companies in different fields hire Online MA postgrads.
These fields include Education, Research, Media, Public Relations, NGOs, etc. If interested, you can continue reading the article for more details on Online M.A. courses.
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Online MA Course Details: Highlights
An Online MA is indeed flexible and affordable. You can refer to the following table, highlighting key points of Online MA courses.
| Particulars | Course Details |
|---|---|
| Online MA Course Duration | 2 Years (But Flexible) |
| Online MA Course Eligibility Criteria | A BA or any other relevant degree. |
| Online MA Course Admission Criteria | Primarily Merit-based |
| Online MA Course Entrance Exams | CUET-PG |
| Top Online MA Colleges | Aligarh Muslim University, Amity Online, Chandigarh University, Parul University, Gujarat University, Dr MGR Chennai, etc. |
| Online MA Course Fees | INR 5,000 - INR 4.5 Lakh |
| Online MA Jobs | Journalist, Photographer, Writer, Professor, Social Worker, Public Relations Specialist, Translator, Interpreter, Historian, etc. |
| Top Online MA Recruiters | Jagran New Media, India Today Group, UnAcademy, Wipro, Infosys, BBC India, The Hindu, etc. |
| Average Online MA Salary | INR 3.9 LPA |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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You'll find more than 80 MA colleges abroad offering Online MA courses. Some of the top options are here. Take a look
| Online MA Colleges Abroad | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| The of Oxford | INR 33 Lakh |
| The University of British Columbia | INR 15 - 16 Lakh |
| The University of Melbourne | INR 17 Lakh |
| Felician University | INR 5 Lakh |
| The University of Edinburgh | INR 13 - 15 Lakh |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
Know more about -
- Online MA Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process 2026
- Online MA Course Syllabus
- Best Online MA Colleges in India
- Popular Private Online M.A. Colleges in India
- Online MA Salary: Job Profiles, Career Scope & Top Recruiters
- Online MA Course FAQs
- Most Popular Courses
- Course Cutoffs
- Popular Online M.A. Specializations
- Top Ranked Colleges by Location
Online MA Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process 2026
The eligibility requirements for an Online MA course are pretty similar to a regular degree. Here are some basic conditions you can fulfill for a seamless admission procedure.
| Particulars | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | |
| Entrance Exams |
|
| Age Limit |
|
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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Online MA Admission Process 2026
The admission process for an Online MA course in India is similar to the regular MA admission but is generally simpler and less time-consuming. Here are some steps you can follow to complete it.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Criteria | Check the eligibility criteria for your desired college and ensure its fulfillment. |
| Registration & Application | Register on the college's official website. With the login credentials, fill out the application form, upload documents, and pay the application fee. |
| Verification | Wait for the college/university to verify your application/documents. You'll then receive a confirmation email. |
| Fee Payment | Lastly, complete the admission formalities by paying the course fees. |
| Access Learning Management System (LMS) | Now, you'll receive the login credentials to access the online classes and study materials. |
Some documents that you must keep handy during the Online MA application process are
- A UG degree from a recognised university
- A Photo ID Proof like Adhaar, Passport, DL, PAN Card
- Passport-sized photographs (at least two)
- Caste Certificate (if any)
Since it's an online process, you must have online attested copies of these docs.
Yes, you can find admission for online MA with any entrance exam in many UGC-recognised institutions in India. IGNOU, CU-Online, and similar do not require you to take any national- or university-level test. But you will require to have a valid bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university.
Online MA Course Syllabus
The Online MA course syllabus and subjects are similar to regular MA courses. The only difference between the subjects and curriculum is because of the specializations. For your reference, here are some top Online MA specializations with their syllabi.
Online MA in English Syllabus
You can refer to the following table offering the MA English course syllabus idea in an online mode.
| Online MA English Subjects Semester I | |
|---|---|
| Drama – I | Poetry – I |
| Fiction – I | Literary, Theory, and Criticism – I |
| Online MA English Subjects Semester II | |
| Drama – II | Poetry – II |
| Fiction – II | Literary, Theory, and Criticism – II |
| Online MA English Subjects Semester III | |
| American Literature | Indian English Literature |
| Literature and Environment (Elective) | Introduction to Cinema Studies (Elective) |
| Commonwealth Literature (Elective) | - |
| Online MA English Subjects Semester IV | |
| Gender Studies in Literature | Dissertation |
| Postcolonial Literature (Elective) | Evolution of Theatre (Elective) |
| World Literature (Elective) | - |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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IGNOU MA Political Science Syllabus
Online MA in Political Science Syllabus
The MA Political Science course syllabus in an online mode is given below. Take a look
| Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester I | |
|---|---|
| Comparative Politics | Public Administration |
| Western Political Thought | Indian Knowledge System |
| Foundation of Indian Culture (IDC) | - |
| Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester II | |
| Political Theory | Indian Political Thought |
| International Relations | Federalism in India |
| Political Sociology | Ancient Indian Political Institutions |
| Cultural Heritage of Bharat (IDC) | - |
| Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester III | |
| India and South Asia | India and Regional Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific |
| India and Central Asia | Research Methodology in Social Sciences |
| Indian Foreign Policy | Review of Literature in Research: A Basic Guide |
| The Basics of Writing a Research Proposal | - |
| Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester IV | |
| International Organizations | Issues and Challenges of Indian Democracy |
| Dissertation | Indian Administrative System |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
Online MA students generally get their study material from the Learning Management System (LMS) portal. They usually have login credentials for their specific university, where they get the study material, including e-books, live sessions, recorded lectures, syllabus PDF, etc.
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Of course, you can. These modern online classrooms are designed in a way they give you the freedom to get academic support from your mentors.
They have multiple channels for student-faculty interactions, sometimes even more flexible than in-campus learning.
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Best Online MA Colleges in India
More than 60 Humanities & Social Sciences colleges in India provide Online MA courses. These courses are offered in various specializations; hence, the curriculum, subjects, course fee, placement stats, etc., can differ. You can refer to this section for more details on some of the top Online MA colleges in India.
| Best Online MA Colleges | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Directorate of Correspondence Courses and Distance Education, Bangalore University | INR 11,460 |
| Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology | INR 18,000 |
| SASTRA (Deemed to be University) | INR 18,000 - 60,000 |
| School of Distance Education, University of Kerala | INR 20,610 |
| Parul University | INR 50,000 |
| Parul University Online | INR 60,000 |
| Chandigarh University (CU) | INR 75,000 |
| Shoolini University | INR 80,000 |
| Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute | INR 1 Lakh - 1.32 Lakh |
| Amity University Online | INR 1.3 Lakh - 2.5 Lakh |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
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Of course. Some top Online MA colleges in India with a fee range under INR 50,000 are here. Take a look
| Online MA colleges in India | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| School University | INR 50,000 |
| School of Distance Education, University of Kerala | INR 20,610 |
| Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology | INR 18,000 |
| Bangalore University | INR 11,460 |
| Sri University | INR 24,000 |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
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Some of the top government colleges for an Online MA course are here. Take a look
| Top Government Colleges | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Periyar University | INR 40,000 - 60,000 |
| Kuvempu University | INR 81,510 - 83,510 |
| Aligarh Muslim University | INR 21,000 - 31,000 |
| Kurukshetra University Online | INR 40,000 |
| Barkatullah University | INR 10,100 |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
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Online MA Courses
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Online MA Salary: Job Profiles, Career Scope & Top Recruiters
Though many recruiters in India and abroad prefer a regular degree as a job criterion, you can still get plenty of career options in many fields.
Online MA Salary and Job Profiles
| Job Profiles | Job Description | MA Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
Teachers |
A teacher must also mentor pupils daily for them to not only study their curriculum but also grow into responsible adults. | INR 3 LPA |
|
Administrative Officers |
An administrative officer manages office stocks, prepares reports on expenses as well as the office budget, and also organizes the records of the company. |
INR 5.5 LPA |
|
Social Workers |
In this particular job profile, one needs to identify and thereafter help people cope with the problems at hand. |
INR 2.9 LPA |
|
Journalists |
A Journalist is expected to research, write, and present the events/ news in an honest, unbiased, and ethical manner. |
INR 4.2 LPA |
|
Counsellors |
In this job profile, one needs to speak to individuals who are facing personal or professional difficulties and help them overcome their problems, and thereafter make appropriate changes in their lives. |
INR 3.8 LPA |
|
Content writers |
A content writer creates well-crafted written material for offline and online platforms. |
INR 3.8 LPA |
I believe the preference for regular degrees has narrowed in recent years. Now recruiters mainly focus on a candidate's skills and expertise. To be honest, there are certain industries and roles where regular degrees are still preferred. For example, Law courses are not recognised by the Bar Council of India. Medicine or specific engineering fields do not prefer online or distance courses.
On the other hand, IT, Media, Digital Marketing, etc., fields consider them equal.
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There are many. It's you who'll choose where you want to go via your chosen specialization. You can join
- Higher Education & Research
- Corporate Sector
- Mass Communication & Media
- Journalism
- Or even prepare for the Government Competitive exams
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Online MA Course FAQs
You can refer to this section for some frequently asked questions on Online MA courses in India.
There are many. First, online courses are flexible and affordable. You can literally attend your class from the sofa in your living room.
There's no restriction on attending a class at a specific time. You can access your study materials at any time of the day and even use them as your go-to notes.
In many colleges, they even provide faculty interaction flexibility, which means you can talk to your professors at any time of the day and clear your queries.
Online MA courses are generally cheaper than the regular ones.
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Most Popular Courses
Course Cutoffs
Popular Online M.A. Specializations
Popular Specializations
- English
38 Colleges
- Public Policy
6 Colleges
- International Relations
3 Colleges
- Public Administration
3 Colleges
- Hindi
3 Colleges
- Clinical Psychology
2 Colleges
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News & Updates
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After completing M.A. Sociology from LPU, students can explore careers in NGOs, social research, community development, public welfare, CSR, education and government projects. The curriculum includes field exposure, research work and practical learning, which helps build analytical and communication
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To get admission in MA at Hindu College, students must be eligible. The eligibility is to have a graduation degree in relevant subjects with a minimum aggregate of 50% from a recognised university. MA admission is based on CUET PG.
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For Hindu College MA admission, students must complete graduation in the relevant subject with a minimum aggregate of 50% from a recognised university. Hindu College MA admission is based on the CUET PG exam conducted by NTA.
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M.A. Sociology at LPU has good scope for students who want careers in research, social development, education, NGOs, policy support and public sector roles. The curriculum includes current social issues, research methods and field-based learning, which helps build practical understanding. LPU also f
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CHF 1 = INR 116.69
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Candidates can check below the number of seats offered in MA at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai:
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MA in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archeology | 60 |
MA in Psychology | 30 |
MA in Public Health | 30 |
MA in Economics | 30 |
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Of course, it is. An Online MA degree is valid in both India and abroad. You need to pursue it from a UGC-approved university.
If you get your online MA degree from an accredited university, you're equally employable in both government and private sectors.
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Online MA Courses