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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#8 NIRF
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.
Know more about -
Most Popular Courses
Course Cutoffs
Popular Online M.A. Specializations
Popular Specializations
- English
37 Colleges
- Public Policy
5 Colleges
- International Relations
3 Colleges
- Public Administration
3 Colleges
- Hindi
3 Colleges
- Clinical Psychology
2 Colleges
Top Ranked Colleges by Location
News & Updates
Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
MIT School of Education and Research offers MA in Education for two-years at the PG level. This course is equivalent to M.Ed. The only difference is that MA in Education can be done after any bachelor's degree. Aspirants need to pass B.Ed to apply for M.Ed.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
There are 15 seats available in MA Education at MIT School of Education and Research. The seats are offered to candidates in MA based on their qualifying exam scores. There is no entrance test mentioned on the school's website.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
No, for taking admission in MA Psychology at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, candidates should pursued a three-year Bachelor degree with Psychology subjects. This is the compulsory eligiblity criteria that needs to be fulfiled.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
| Institute Category | Potential IITs | Admission Chance |
| Newer IITs | IIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, IIT Dharwad | High |
| Mid-Tier IITs | IIT Patna, IIT Mandi, IIT Palakkad | Moderate (Likely in later rounds) |
| Old IITs | IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur | Low for core M.Tech |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 days ago
MIT School of Humanities MA admissions are given to eligible students only. The requirements are as below:
- UG degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate + SOP + PI
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, MIT School of Humanities does offer MA programme. It is offered in full-time mode for a duration of two years. Interested and eligible students can apply online for the programme.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
MIT School of Indian Civil Services, MIT-ADT University MA fees is INR 3.66 lakh. MIT School of Indian Civil Services, MIT-ADT University fee structure includes many componnets. The total fees may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Candidates who complete the MA course of MIT School of Humanities will be able to build a career in several fields such as the following:
- Professorship
- Teaching
- Public Speaking
- Translator Services
- Public Relations
- Journalism
- Editorial and Content Developers
- Critics
- Literature Researchers
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, MIT School of Humanities does offer a MA course which is offered in one specialisation which is MA in English course.
MA at MIT School of Humanities is a two year course which covers four semesters. Admissions to MA course are decided based on merit in last qualifying exam score.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The hostel fees at MIT School of Humanities remains the same for all categories at INR 4.29 Lacs for the MA course. However, EW category students are only charged INR 89,100 as tuition fees for two year MA course. This makes the total fees for EWS category MA students INR 5.18 Lacs in 2026.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Candidates who wish to compare MIT School of Humanities MA courses first need to collect data regarding MA course fees, placements statitstics, rankings, infrastructure, faculty and more.
This data will be required from both MIT School of Humanities and the institutes which are picked for comparison
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
MIT School of Humanities reserved 3 seats in total from the intake of 10 of MA courses for special category candidates. Within these seats, 1 seat is reserved for EWS category and the remaining 2 seats for other categories.
EWS candidates must note that the reserved seats are only offered to student
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, MIT School of Humanities does refund the MA fees to candidates who are yet to apply for the MA course at MIT School of Humanities. These refunds are offered based on UGC norms where early cancellation results in higher refunds.
There will be a processing charge that is deducted from the refunded
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
For MA admissions at MIT School of Humanities in offline mode, candidates need to first register on the admission portal. From here, candidates get the option to download and print the admission form which then can be filled offline. To submit this admission form, candidates can either post it to th
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
MIT School of Humanities MA admission process requires candidates to provide the copies of these following documents with their admission forms:
- Class 10th and Class 12th passing certificate and marksheet
- UG level passing degree
- Statement of Purpose
- ID and address proof
- Two passport sized photographs
- Tran
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Generally, MA admissions at MIT School of Humanities follow the same timeline as other instittues of MIT-ADT University. Other institutes usually close their admissions for both UG and PG level courses around the month of July. Thus, candidates can assume that MA admissions at MIT School of Humaniti
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, MIT School of Humanities has opened admissions for all courses except PhD for the academic year 2026. Candidates who want to apply for MA course need to go to MIT-ADT University's website and register on its admission portal.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
MIT School of Humanities has not mentioned the requirement of BA in English specifically to be eligible for MA admissions. Generally, MA admissions accept admissions for all candidates who have completed their UG level education. Thus, candidates can assume that they are eligible for MA at MIT Schoo
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
MIT School of Humanities does not mention any entrance exams for admissions to the MA in English course. Thus, candidates CA assume that they are not required to appear for any entrance exam to qualify for MA admissions.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With 59 marks out of 300 in CUET PG 2026 as a General Category student, securing a seat for MA English in top-tier Central Universities like DU, JNU, or BHU is highly unlikely.
For a General category student, 180+ is considered a "Good Score" for MA English, while below 100 typically limits options
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 6 days ago
Students have to fulfil the Punjabi University Patiala MA eligibility to get admission in the university. The requirements are as below:
- UG degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate + counselling
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
The total tuition fees for MA is INR 25,000 - INR 29,000 at Shri Bhawani Niketan Mahila P.G. Mahavidyalaya. Aspirants selected based on their merit need to pay the course fees to confirm their seat. Candidates must pay the fees before the last date to avoid admission cancellation.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 6 days ago
Shri Bhawani Niketan Mahila P.G. Mahavidyalaya offers MA for two-years at the PG level. Candidates can apply for below MA specialisations after completing graduation:
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- English Literature
- Sanskrit
- Geography/ Psychology
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 6 days ago
MIT School of Indian Civil Services conducts an entrance test for admission to BA (Administration). This test is of 100 marks. It is a MCQ-type test with 50 questions. The detailed syllabus will be available on the website of MIT-SICS.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
To be eligible for MA (Administration) at MIT-School of Indian Civil Services, candidates need to have a Bachelor's degree in any stream with atleast 50% (45% for reserved category and persons with disability).
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
For admission in the MA (Administration) programme at MIT School of Indian Civil Services, students require the following documents:
1. Photo ID Proof
2. Passport size photographs (6)
3. Class 10 Marksheet
4. Class 12 Marksheet
5. Caste Certificate (For Reserved Category candidates)
6. GAP certificate (In
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
MIT-School of Indian Civil Services conducts an entrance test for admission to its MA (Administration). The syllabus of the test conducted by MIT-SICS covers the following topics:
- English
- Logical Reasoning
- Data interpretation
- General Mental Ability
- General Issues on Environment
- Current Events (National &
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, there is a fee concession available for students belonging to EWS category in the MA (Administration) programme at MIT-School of Civil Services. For two year MA, EWS students have to pay the course fee of INR 1.75 lakh. If they continue the programme in the third year at MIT-SICS, they have to
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
For two-year MA (Administration) programme at MIT School of Indian Civil Services, students have to pay a course fee of INR 2.84 lakh. If students continue the programme in the third year, they have to pay a fee of INR 3.34 Lacs at MIT-SICS.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No, it is not mandatory to continue the MA (Administration) programme at MIT-School of Indian Civil Services in the third year. In the third year, students attend lectures of optional subjects of UPSC CSE exam (History, Geography, Political Science). They also appear for 5 Mock Exams as per the patt
S
Contributor-Level 10
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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