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

Updated on Sep 15, 2022 12:38 IST
Diya Nihalani

Diya NihalaniContent Author

Online MA or Online Master of Arts, is a two-year postgraduate degree available in a variety of specialisations. Online MA programme prepares students for many opportunities in both the corporate and academic sectors. The dissertation component of this programme help students to translate their knowledge into real-world experience. In addition, various seminars based on the topics taught in the online MA also provide an opportunity for the students to improve their soft skills. Various colleges and universities in India and overseas offer degree in a variety of specialisations. The degree can be pursued as a full-time, part-time or correspondence in an online mode. The advantages of studying Online MA give a student the best of both worlds- the comfort and flexibility with the equivalence that is acquired through an on-campus, conventional Degree.

Online MA Eligibility Criteria

  • Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts of at least three years duration or an equivalent degree from a recognised university to be eligible for an MA programme with a minimum of 50% in the relevant disciplines.

Required Skills For Online MA 

Those interested in pursuing an Online Master of Arts degree must be committed and focused on their chosen field. Because a master's degree requires significant research, it requires more resolve and fortitude than a bachelor's degree. The following are some of the fundamental abilities that candidates should possess in order to pursue an Online MA programme:

  • Good communication skills

  • Multi-tasking skills

  • Problem-solving skills

  • Management and organising skills

  • Analytical and critical thinking

  • Goal-oriented

  • Ability to work under pressure

  • Interpersonal skills

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Institutes/Academies offering online MA courses

Given below are some of the universities offering Online MA programmes:

University/ College/ Institute

Programme

Fees (in INR)

Alagappa University

MA Journalism and Mass Communication

80,300

MA English

80,300

Aligarh Muslim University

MA English

10,500

MA Economics

10,500

MA Hindi

10,500

MA History

10,500

MA Political Science

10,500

MA Urdu

10,500

Amity University

MA Journalism and Mass Communication

2,03,000

Bharathidasan University

MA English

70,000 to 90,000

MA History

MA Political Science

MA Economics

MA Public Administration

IGNOU

MA in Translation Studies

4,800 per year

MA Hindi

6,000 per year

MA in Gandhi and Peace Studies

4,500 per year

Acharya Nagarjuna University

MA English

6730 per year

MA Journalism and Mass Communication

6730 per year

Note: The duration of the programmes are usually 2-years, but the colleges offer flexibility to complete the course within 4-years as well.

Online MA Course Syllabus

The MA syllabus is a theoretical and practical curriculum that includes internships, research projects, and coursework. Every speciality has a different syllabus and course content. Core subjects are covered in the first year of the programme. In their second year, students can choose from a variety of elective courses. English, Bengali, History, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Hindi, Philosophy, and other particular fields are included in the MA programme. The themes and curricula for distinct MA courses will be discussed separately in the tables below.

MA English Syllabus

MA in English entails a thorough understanding of British literature. The programme also covers linguistics, literary criticism, and post-independence Indian writing in English, among other topics. The course includes some modern fiction, research methods, language, and literature. For an MA in English, there is a wide range of elective subjects to choose from.

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in English or any related discipline with 50% marks are applicable

  • British Literature

  • African Literature

  • American Literature

  • Indian Writing in English Literature

  • Literary Theory and more

MA Political Science

Among all of the MA disciplines, Political Science is a major concentration. MA in Political Science is one of the most popular courses, and it covers topics such as political behaviour and system analysis, political practise and theory, and so on. This subject's postgraduate study deals with public affairs, among other things, in addition to national and worldwide political systems.

Eligibility: A BA degree in Political Science or a related discipline with a minimum of 50% marks is required.

  • Themes in World Politics

  • Indian Strategic Thoughts

  • Western Political Thought

  • Debates in Political Theory

  • Ethics and Politics and more

MA Economics Syllabus

MA in Economics enables students to gain a thorough understanding of the financial sector, allowing them to develop their ideology in order to face any issues that may arise in the industry or business. They learn how a financial system in an economy operates and evolves from the ground up. While studying for an MA in Eco, students are taught the three essential mechanisms for maintaining wealth (creation, distribution, and consumption).

Eligibility: A bachelor's degree in Economics or a related subject of study with a minimum of 50% marks is required.

  • Microeconomics Theory

  • Introductory Econometrics

  • International Finance

  • Development Economics and more

MA History Syllabus

MA History is a mash-up of past and present views of events. World history, Indian government and politics, literature, economic history, contemporary issues in international relations, three eras (ancient, medieval, and modern) history of India, and so on are among the subjects covered in the MA in History curriculum.

Eligibility: Students who have passed Bachelor's degree in History with 50% marks from a recognized university are eligible for this Specialization.

  • Ancient History and theory

  • Contemporary World

  • Polity in Medieval India

  • Indian Independence

  • History of women in India

MA Philosophy

MA Philosophy, or Master of Arts in Philosophy, is a two-year postgraduate programme that covers both classical and modern philosophical schools. The study of reality, existence, and the underlying nature of knowledge is the focus of this programme.

A comprehensive and in-depth study of Philosophy as a discipline at an advanced level is included in the course. It entails the investigation of a critical and systematic approach to general problems, as well as its dependence on a reasoned argument. Existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, law, justice, validity, mind, and language are some of the most common issues.

Eligibility: BA in Philosophy or any other related subject from a recognized university.

  • Indian Heritage Heritage and Axiology

  • Epistemology

  • Greek and Medieval Philosophy

  • Indian Culture and Ethics

  • Logic and Scientific Method

Other MA specialisations are: MA History, MA Political Science, MA Sociology, MA in Bengali, MA in Urdu, MA in Literature, MA in Public Relations and more.

MA Job Profiles

Students are provided with a wide range of work opportunities after completing their MA, ranging from teachers to part-time professors, managerial jobs to running a start-up. Dome of the top job roles are listed below:

  • Teacher

  • Administrative Officer

  • Social Worker

  • Journalist

  • Consultant

  • Content Writer

Scope and Benefits of Online MA Courses

  • Students with an MA degree can improve their subject-specific knowledge. It provides an advantage in terms of establishing their place in the sphere of work.

  • Professors will surround students and encourage them to attain their goals. Aside from that, they will have the option to attend lectures delivered by guest lecturers who have demonstrated their worth in the academic or corporate world.

  • Postgraduate courses are larger and more self-contained than undergraduate courses. As a result, students must devote more time to mastering the complete procedure.

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Table of contents
  • Popular Online M.A. Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Online M.A. Colleges in India
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Course Cutoffs
  • Popular Online M.A. Specializations
  • Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Popular Online M.A. Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Online M.A. Colleges in India. Learn more about these Online M.A. colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
22 Courses
55.95 K - 86.01 K
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#1 NIRF

35 Courses
432 - 18.5 K
8.4 LPA

#3 NIRF

65 Courses
500 - 19.09 K
7 LPA

#2 NIRF

25 Courses
33.81 K - 50.45 K
5.4 LPA

#4 NIRF

1.4 L - 1.42 L
8 LPA

#5 NIRF

22.2 K - 6.82 L
5.5 - 6.22 LPA

#8 NIRF

Popular Private Online M.A. Colleges in India

1.07 L - 16 L
3.4

#75 India Today

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

75 K - 5.92 L
3.8

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

80 K - 2.7 L

#85 The Week

4 Courses
9 L
2.1 L - 2.4 L

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

60 K - 90 K
5.0

Course Cutoffs

The cutoffs of popular Online M.A. colleges is given below:
Discontinued (Aug 2025)- M.Tech. in Rural Technology : Shivaji University 2022 Last Round Closing Percentage (General-All India)Accordion Icon V3
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College20212022
Shivaji University– / –80
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B.A. in Psychology and English : Mumbai University Admission 2025 Last Round Closing Percentage (General-All India)Accordion Icon V3
Master of Physical Education (M.P.Ed.) : CUET-PG 2025 Last Round Closing Score (General-All India)Accordion Icon V3
College202320242025
Banaras Hindu University– / –– / –410
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Popular Online M.A. Specializations

Following are the most popular Online M.A. 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 Online M.A. based on rankings published by The Week, Business Today and National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD).

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Placement Statistics (2024)

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TOEFL iBT80
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Akanksha Malhotra

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Answered 3 days ago

MA courses are available in various specializations in UK. Some popular specializations are International Relations, English Literature, Media and Communication, Economics and Development Studies and Fine Arts and Design Management. Students can check table mentioned below for popular specialization

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Kanishka Gambhir

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Along with fulfilling basic eligibility by having UG degree in relevant stream or equivalent, students must show English language proficiency and submit certain mandatory documents during admission. Some of the crucial admission requirements for Indians to study an MA in the UK are given below: 

  • Acad

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Kanishka Gambhir

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, Modern Education Society's Nowrosjee Wadia College does offer MA. Students can apply online for the course at the college's site. The course is offered for a duration of two years. Those who have completed Bachelor's degree can apply.

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Upasana Harsha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

Manipal Institute of Communication selects candidates for admission to MA programme based on their entrance exam scores. Candidates can appear for Manipal Entrance Test or provide CUET-PG score for admission. Selected candidates are further called for a personal interview round for final admission.

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Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a week ago

There are a lot of subjects present in the Jindal School of International Affairs MA (Diplomacy, Law & Business) course. The names of some of the primary subjects that are offered in the first semester of the course: 

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  • Contemporary World History 
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Abhishek Hazarika

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

After completing the Master of Arts application form at Jindal School of International Affairs and attaching imp. documents, students need to pay their application fee. The application fee for the MA course at Jindal School of International Affairs is around INR 2,500. 

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Indrani Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

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For getting admission at Jindal School of International Affairs, O. P. Jindal Global University, candidates must submit their applications online by visiting the university's main website. For the recent academic batch, the admissions are open. Before registering, make sure that you qualify for the

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Tanisha Pandey

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Yes, Jindal School of International Affairs does offer scholarships to MA course. The university grants awards/ scholarships on the basis of merit and means. The scores that students secured in their UG degree are taken into consideration for granting it. Apart from the academic scores, the entrance

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Rachit Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Jindal School of Government and Public Policy offers an MA programme to students at PG level in full-time mode. To be eligible for MA at JSGP, candidates must fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the college. Candidates must have a graduation degree in any stream from a reputed university in Indi

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Abhishek Dhyani

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a week ago

There is no mention of an offline mode for personal interview round as all interviews at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy are conducted in online mode. Candidates who wish to appear for an offline mode interview need to confirm the same from the concerned office of JSGPP.

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Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The documents requird at the time of admissions for the MA courses at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy are as follows:

  • Passing certificate and marksheet for Class 10 and Class 12
  • Passing degree of the undergraduate course
  • PPET scorecard
  • Two passport sized photograph

Candidates need to ensure

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Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The MA course fees at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy is INR 4.5 lakh. Candidates are only required to pay the one-time security deposit and tuition fee for the MA course. There is only instalment of both fees.

Since the JSGPP MA course is conducted off campus, there is no charge in the

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Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The tuition fees for the MA course at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy is around INR 4 lakh. Unlike the UG level courses of JSGPP, the MA course tuitionfeesis only charged in a single instalment. A small portion of this tuition fee might be charged from candidates before the commencemen

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Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

There is no one date on which the PPET is held for JSGPP MA admissions. Instead, candidates who apply for the exam are required to choose one date from a set of dates provided by the institute after registrations. The candidates can choose the date most suitable for them alongside the date for the p

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Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Yes, according to the official brochure of the JSGPP, the MA admissions for 2026 are open. While the institute has not revealed specific dates for the PPET as of yet, the registrations for the test have begun for 2026 admissions. 

Interested candidates can visit the website of Jindal School of Govern

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Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The tuition fees for MA at  Jindal School of Government and Public Policy is INR 4 Lacs per annum. The refundable security deposit is INR 50,000 for MA. Aspirants also need to pay INR 1,000 as application fees in the start to apply for MA programme.

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Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a week ago

GMAT scores are one of the crucial criteria during admission and are submitted by students to improve their profiles. 58% class submitted GMAT scores, and 42% submitted GRE scores. There is no ideal score provided by students to get into the Stanford MA. According to the university student profile 2

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Nishtha Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

As per a ranking body, Stanford is popular for many programs like International Education, Art History, Asian Studies, German Studies, History, and more. Students can check some popular MA programs at Stanford along with the tuition fees:

Stanford University MA Programs

Tuition Fees

Philosophy

INR 35L

Psychology

INR 31L

International Comparative Education

INR 72L

Art History

INR 31L

East Asian Studies

INR 35L

German Studies

INR 31L

History

INR 35L

International Policy

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Mukul Thapa

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

Students who have scored high in their UG degree and have some job experience or done some internship in the similar subjects should think of taking admission at Stanford for MA. Philosophy, Psychology, International Education, Art History, Asian Studies, German Studies, History, and more, are some

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Rashmi Singh

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

Indian students who want to join the MA programme at Stanford University should have a UG degree to fulfill the qualification. A job experience and a GPA of 3.5 can add a positive impression. They should submit LOR, SOP, transcripts, resume, and English language requirements.

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Esha Tiwari

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

Yes, Stanford University offers 1-2 year MA programme to international students. Some popular programs are Philosophy, Psychology, International Education, Art History, Asian Studies, German Studies, History, and more. The programme is of 1-2 year and tuition fees is between INR 26L and INR 72L.

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Jiya Chauhan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

As per Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, CAP Test eligibility criteria for MA in Communication is given here.

  • 1 Year PG Diploma for students who have completed their 4 year BA Hons in any stream with minimum 50 percent marks.
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Shiksha Vimal

Beginner-Level 5

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