Top M.A. Colleges in India 2023

Master of Arts is a postgraduate course of 2 years. Those who have completed graduation are eligible for this course. It is a specialised course which requires in-depth research. It can be done as part-time or as a full-time course. In some of the colleges, it is offered through correspondence and distance mode. The job profiles of this course are lecturer, professor, social worker, content writer etc. It involves both classroom and practical training followed with internships. Seminars and workshops are even conducted in courses to gain both professional and academic knowledge. This course increases one's logical thinking, creative writing, and communication skills. You can go through higher studies after pursuing an MA like Ph. D or M. Phil courses. The students who are from the arts stream and want to explore deep in this field can go for Master of Arts (MA). 

The admission process is either through the entrance exam base or based on the merit list. In this course, there are various subjects through which you can pursue masters on your choices or preferences. You will require a minimum of 50% marks to apply for MA. Here in this article, we will be talking about MA degree colleges in India, their rankings, fees, and frequent queries posed by most of the students. Read the article further to know more about this course.

MA Degree Colleges in India: Available Specialisations 

Master of Arts is a broader course which has a huge number of specialisations available in it. The scope of this course is also vast. Mentioned below are the specialisations in MA which are offered by various colleges in India. 

• MA in Different languages (English, French, German, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese/ Mandarin, Greek, Latin)

• MA in Economics

• MA in Political Science

• MA in History

• MA in Education 

• MA in Sociology

• MA in Rural Studies

• MA in Psychology

• MA in Geography

• MA in Mathematics

• MA in Philosophy

• MA in Literature

• MA in Social Work

• MA in Fine arts 

• MA HR Management

• MA in Anthropology

• MA in Religious Studies

• MA in International Relations

• MA in Library and Information Science

• MA in Archaeology

• MA in Public Administration

• MA in Linguistics

• MA in Journalism & Mass Communication

Note: - Apart from the above specialisations, there are few colleges that offer MA in Design and Hospitality too 

MA Degree Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria which you need to fulfil to get admission in MA are as follows -

• Candidates should have completed their Bachelor of Arts (BA) of minimum 3 - 4 years from a UGC (University Grants Commission) recognised university or college 

• Those who are appearing or are in the final year of the examination are also eligible to apply for MA 

• Minimum 50% marks are required in graduation. However, this percentage may vary college wise. It can be 50 - 60% in some colleges/universities 

• For SC/ST/OBC and differently-abled persons, there is a 5% relaxation 

• One thing needs to be kept in mind that the information in the application form should be correct. Any incorrect or misleading information may lead to the termination or cancellation of admission.

MA Degree Colleges in India: Admission process for MA colleges in India 

To get admission in the colleges for MA in India, candidates must follow the below process -

• The modes of admission to MA courses are either Direct/Merit based or through Entrance exam 

• Some colleges /universities consider merit based or marks in the qualifying examination. You do not have to appear in the entrance exam for these colleges 

• Whereas in some colleges, you must appear for the entrance examination, after which you can get direct admission. In a few colleges, after the entrance, there are further rounds too of group discussion and personal interview for final admission

• Once you qualify the entrance exam, you will be allotted marks/ranks based on which you will get the college for MA 

• Some of the popular entrance exams conducted in India are as follows –

• CUET - It is Central University Common Entrance Test which is conducted on a national level with 14 central universities of India as its organisers

• AUCET - It is a state-level entrance exam conducted by Andhra University

Top MA Degree Colleges in North Zone 

North has the highest number of degree colleges in India. It is a hub of educational institutes and is ranked among the top colleges in India. The colleges are good in infrastructure, co-curricular, academic performance and hold a good position in overall performance. Delhi has the top colleges in MA degree courses and some of the oldest established colleges in India that are running till now. Delhi colleges have two varied campuses, namely: - North and South campus. Apart from Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh also has good degree colleges.

Below are few of the topmost colleges in North India that are providing MA courses.

Top MA Degree Colleges in South Zone

The South also has an adequate number of degree colleges. From Tamil Nadu to Karnataka and Kerala, you can see sufficient colleges. The fees of these colleges are also affordable and not so expensive. 

Mentioned below are few of the good colleges found in South India that are offering MA degree courses.

Top MA Degree Colleges in West Zone 

This zone also houses a good number of degree colleges. Most of the colleges are found in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Rankings of these are not given as such; however, they are also providing a good education.

Listed below are some of the colleges found in West India offering MA degree courses.

Top MA Degree Colleges in East Zone 

East India is also a good place to get an education. You can observe a peaceful environment in the Eastern colleges. You can even see various cultures and traditions followed in these colleges, along with students from different parts of India.

Listed are the colleges from the Eastern part of India that are providing MA degree courses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. 1 What is the number of degree colleges in India? 

Ans - There are around 38,498-degree colleges in India

Q. 2 Which subject or course is good for MA? 

Ans - Political science, International relations, Media, and communication are good subjects or course for MA

Q. 3 In MA, can one opt for two specialisations? 

Ans - No, you cannot opt for two specialisations in the same year from different universities

Q. 4 Which colleges are best for an MA degree? 

Ans - The colleges which are best for a degree -

• Miranda House, Delhi 

• Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi 

• Hindu College, Delhi 

• St. Stephen College, Delhi 

Q. 5 What is the procedure for securing admission in MA? 

Ans - The procedure for securing admission in MA is either merit-based, or entrance exam based 

Q. 6 What are the types of jobs in MA? 

Ans - The types of jobs which one can do after MA are lecturer, professor, private tutor, vice-principal, program manager etc. 

Q. 7 What are the types of MA? 

Ans - The types of MA are either course-based (taught) and research-based 

Q. 8 In MA, how many papers must you pass in MA English?

Ans - In MA, one must pass 4 - 5 papers to pass in MA English 

Q. 9 Who is eligible for applying into MA? 

Ans - The students who have passed bachelor's from a recognised board/university with a minimum of 50 - 60% marks are eligible to apply for the MA course 

Q. 10 Which subjects are considered to be easy in MA? 

Ans - Subjects like English and History are considered to be easy in MA by most students.