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    MA English Course, Admissions, Eligibility, Syllabus, Fees, Career
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    • MA English Course, Admissions, Eligibility, Syllabus, Fees, Career

    MA English Course, Admissions, Eligibility, Syllabus, Fees, Career

    Team Careers360Updated on 06 Nov 2024, 10:37 AM IST

    What is an MA in English?

    MA in English is a two-year postgraduate program in the field of Arts. The course covers the learning of English Literature, Linguistics, Criticism Theory, History of English Literature and various other concepts that form the basis of English Literature. Anyone with a graduate degree can pursue an MA degree in this field. However, most often, the course is taken up by those who have a BA English degree.

    The admission to the course takes place on the basis of both entrance examination and merit basis. In order to pursue this level of English, the students must have a bachelor’s degree. They might also have to appear for some of the commonly held entrance exams like CUET PG, and LPUNEST. Some of the reputed universities for pursuing the course include DU, JNU, IGNOU, GGSIPU, Savitri Bai Phule University and various others.

    Highlights - MA English

    Particulars

    Values

    Degree Name

    MA English

    Degree Type

    Postgraduate

    Degree Duration

    2 years

    Entrance Exams

    IPU CET, CUET PG

    Eligibility Criteria

    Graduation in any discipline

    Admission process

    Entrance Exam/ Merit

    Fees for the entire duration

    Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,00,000

    Average Salary

    Rs. 2 lakh. - Rs. 5 lakh.

    Job profiles

    Writer, Translator, Copywriter, Teacher, Journalist, Editor

    Top recruiters

    Times of India, Hindustan Times, Popxo, India Today, IDiva, British Council, Zomato, Accenture

    MA English Eligibility Criteria

    The eligibility criteria for pursuing an MA in English differ from college to college. People from different backgrounds can choose to take up MA English as a career path. In order to pursue the course, the aspirant must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum aggregate of 45 per cent- five per cent marks from a recognised university.

    The students might also have to sit for the entrance examinations such as DUET, IPU CET, JNUEE, BHU PET, and CUCET. One must note that admission to a PG course in English takes place through both entrance exams and merit basis.

    MA English Admission

    The admission process to the MA English degree programme differs from college to college. The students who are looking forward to admission have to appear for various entrance exams such as CUCET, DUET, IPU CET, JNUEE, et cetera. The admission takes place on the entrance exam score and bachelor’s degree of a student. Below is the complete admission process listed for your reference:

    • The aspiring student is first, required to go through the eligibility criteria of the various institutes or universities that are offering the course.
    • If you fulfil the eligibility criteria, you have to register for the entrance examination. Some of the important university examinations are IPU CET, CUET PG and LPUNEST.
    • The universities offer admissions to those who qualify for the entrance examinations or fall under the cut-off marks lists.
    University of York, Mumbai

    UG & PG Admissions open for CS/AI/Business/Economics & other programmes.

    SRM University, Chennai Science and Humanities PG 2026

    NAAC A++ Accredited | Ranked #11 by NIRF

    Top Entrance Exams for M.Sc. English

    Exam

    Full Form

    Conducting Body

    Application

    CUET PG

    Common University Entrance Test (PG)

    National Testing Agency (NTA)

    CUET PG Application Form

    LPUNEST Exam

    Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test

    Lovely Professional University

    LPUNEST Application Form

    IPU CET

    Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test

    Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

    IPU CET Application Form

    MA English Skills Required:

    Students who are looking forward to pursuing an MA in English must have a keen interest in English linguistics and literature. They must have good communication skills in the English language both written and oral, should love reading, and should have a critical approach to stories and poetries. Some of the required skills for pursuing an MA in English are listed below:

    English Language

    Critical Approach

    Reading Skills

    Writing Skills

    Creative Thinking

    Human Psychology and behaviour

    Ability to understand different ideas

    Out-of-the-box approach


    MA English Syllabus

    The syllabus of MA English has various subjects like American English, Canadian English, Romantic Poetry, Literary Criticism etc. The syllabus covers a vast exposure to different forms of English literature. Students can visit the college websites to get a detailed syllabus of the course. However, some of the common subjects covered throughout the period of two years are mentioned below:

    MA English Subjects - Semester I

    MA English Subjects - Semester II

    The Structure of Modern English

    The Structure of Modern English

    English Fiction

    English Fiction

    Traditional English Drama

    Modern English Drama

    MA English Subjects - Semester III

    MA English Subjects - Semester IV

    Literary Theory and Criticism

    Literary Theory and Criticism

    English Poetry

    English Poetry

    Shakespeare (Early Works)

    Shakespeare (Later Works)

    MA English Fee Structure

    The fee structure of pursuing MA English differs depending on colleges/universities. Both public and private universities offer the course. The tuition fee of public universities is much lesser than that of private universities. However, the average fee for pursuing an MA in English ranges from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 for the entire course.

    Scope of MA English

    There is a vast scope of MA English. The course is most often looked down on by people. However, it is not so. A candidate after finishing his/her postgraduate course in English can opt for further studies like M.Phil and Ph.D. as well. The course offers an ample number of job opportunities. A postgraduate degree holder of an MA in English can work as a translator, teacher, writer, and journalist. A student, after finishing his/her postgraduation in English, can also choose to work in the international market. The students can also self-employ or work as freelancers.

    Career options after MA in English

    Candidates with a Master’s degree in English have a multitude of career opportunities available to them. They can work as Writers, Teachers, Journalists, Translators, Editor. They can work in different industries like Advertising Industries, Media Houses, Embassies, and many more. The average salary of a postgraduate student in MA in English ranges from Rs. 3 lakhs. to Rs. 4 lakhs. per annum.

    List of popular career options after completing MA in English

    Content Writer - The role of a writer is to understand the needs/requirements of a business and create content. They are responsible for conducting thorough research about the business and related topics. They additionally have to understand the target audience and create strategies in order to produce rich content.

    Editor - An editor is responsible for planning, coordinating, and revising the content to be published in magazines, newspapers, or websites. They are required to make sure that appropriate error-free content is published.

    Journalist - As a journalist, you are responsible for collecting information and writing articles on the same in an honest manner. They not only work on the articles but also investigate and report on the prevailing conditions in society.

    Translator - The role of a translator is to convert the language of texts, audio, and videos into another language for better comprehension of the people. It is necessary for these individuals to ensure that the translated texts convey the exact meaning.

    List of Top Companies

    • Times of India
    • Hindustan Times
    • Popxo
    • India Today
    • IDiva
    • British Council
    • Zomato
    • Accenture
    • Cognizant

    Benefits of studying MA in English

    Pursuing MA in English improves your career opportunities. The degree programme discusses various aspects of literature in its curriculum and thus opens up a number of work opportunities. An individual with a master’s degree in literature can opt for work in international agencies as well. The field offers a good sum of money as a salary to those who pursue it. Some of the job profiles include Writer, Teacher, Editor, and Translator.

    Expected salary after MA in English

    The salary of an individual differs from position to position. The salary they might acquire depends on the skills and experience of the individual. The average salary of the students with MA in English is listed below:

    Level of Experience

    Average Salary (per annum)

    0 - 1 year

    Rs. 2 lakh - Rs. 5 lakh.

    1 - 3 years

    -

    Above 5 years

    -

    Browse Top MA English Colleges in Top Locations

    One can pursue a course in MA English in various cities. You must keep in mind that every college/university follows a different admission process. It is essential that you thoroughly study the procedure. Some top colleges in top locations are listed below:

    List of Top 10 MA Colleges in India offering English specialisation

    To pursue an MA in English, students have numerous options available. They can either do it from a government university or there is an ample number of private universities to pursue the course as well. Some of the top-rated universities for an MA English course are listed here below:

    Name of the Institute

    Fee for the entire duration

    JMI New Delhi

    Rs. 14,400

    SRM University Chennai

    Rs. 60,000

    LPU Jalandhar

    Rs. 1,20,000

    IGNOU Delhi

    Rs. 12,000

    Christ University, Bangalore

    Rs. 1,18,000

    Chandigarh University, Chandigarh

    Rs. 100,000

    REVA University, Bangalore

    -

    Top Private MA English Colleges in India

    An aspiring student looking forward to pursuing MA in English can take admission in both public and private universities. However, getting admission to a private university can be a bit more expensive than to a government/public university. Below are some of the top private colleges in India for pursuing MA in English.

    Colleges

    Fee Structure (Entire Course)

    SRM University Chennai

    Rs 60,000

    LPU Jalandhar

    Rs. 120,000

    Christ University, Bangalore

    Rs. 118,000

    Chandigarh University, Chandigarh

    Rs. 100,000

    REVA University, Bangalore

    -

    CMR University, Bangalore

    Rs. 100,000

    HITS Chennai

    Rs. 75,500

    Top Government Colleges of MA English in India

    Various government universities offer MA in English to aspiring students. The eligibility criteria and course curriculum of these universities/colleges can differ from the private ones. The course is offered at a tuition fee much lower than any of the private universities. Some of the top government colleges are listed below:

    Colleges

    Fee Structure (Entire course)

    JMI New Delhi

    Rs. 14,400

    IGNOU Delhi

    Rs. 12,000

    Jadavpur University, Kolkata

    -

    Dr BR Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad

    Rs. 8600

    Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

    -

    Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune

    -

    JNU Delhi

    Rs. 2,640

    MA English Colleges in Popular States

    MA English colleges are available all across India. Students can choose to pursue the degree programme from any corner of the country. The eligibility criteria of the colleges differ. One must consider them thoroughly before application. A list of top-rated colleges in popular states is listed below:

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is MA in English Eligibility Criteria?
    A:

    To pursue a postgraduate degree in English, one must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject from a recognized university

    Q: How do you get admission to MA in English course?
    A:

    The admission to MA in English course takes place on the basis of both merit and entrance basis.

    Q: What is the average salary of an MA English postgraduate?
    A:

    The average salary of an MA English postgraduate ranges from 2 lac. To 5 lac. 

    Q: What is the scope of an MA English course?
    A:

    A postgraduate student of MA in English has a number of opportunities. He/She can work as a translator, teacher, writer, journalist et cetera. A student, after finishing his/her postgraduation in English, can also choose to work in the international market. Or, he/she can choose to study further by pursuing an M.Phil or PhD in the same field. The students can also self-employ themselves or work as freelancers and earn a good amount of money.

    Q: Who are the top recruiters?
    A:

    The top recruiters of the field include: 

    • Times of India 

    • Hindustan Times 

    • Popxo 

    • India Today

    • IDiva

    • British Council 

    • Zomato 

    • Accenture 

    • Cognizant 

    Q: What are the job profiles for MA English students?
    A:

    Some of the job profiles for MA English students include Writer, Editor, Teacher, Journalist, Copywriter and Translator.

    Q: What are the top entrance exams for the MA English course?
    A:

    The top entrance exams for the MA English Course include BHU PET, IPU CET, DUET, JNUEE. 

    Q: What is MA in English?
    A:

    MA in English is a two-year postgraduate program in the field of Arts. The course covers the learning of English Literature, Linguistics, Criticism Theory, History of English Literature and various other concepts that form the basis of English Literature.

    MA English is a two-year-long postgraduate course. The course offers its students the study of English LIterature, its history and its background. It covers subjects like Criticism Theory, History of English literature, Criticism Theory and many more subjects.

    Upcoming Exams
    Ongoing Dates
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    25 Oct'25 - 15 Apr'26 (Online)

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