MA Malayalam: Admission 2025, Syllabus, Eligibility, Fees, Colleges, Careers

The MA in Malayalam is a 2-year advanced qualification that develops your knowledge and engagement with the Malayalam language, literature and culture of Malayalam from medieval sandesa kavya to contemporary prose and film script. Students will engage with modules exploring poetics, critical theory, folklore, and linguistics, and also take practical workshops in translation, creative writing, and media scripting.

The MA Malayalam eligibility criteria is that the candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with an aggregate of 50% marks. Students must have foundation knowledge about the Malayalam language in order to pursue the course. Admission to this course is based on the merit of the candidate. However, some prestigious colleges offer admission based on valid entrance exam scores, such as CUET PG.

The average course fees for the MA in Malayalam range from INR 10,000 – 50,000 depending on the institute type. Some of the leading institutions that offer the course are Thunchanth Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, St Thomas College Palai (Autonomous), CMS College Kottayam, and Mar Athanasius College (Autonomous), and Malabar Christian College.

As a graduate of the MA Malayalam, you will be prepared to work in education, translation, content creation or research in both academic, publishing, broadcasting, and digital‑media sectors. Graduating students contribute positively to the ongoing vibrancy of the literary and cultural landscape of Kerala. The average salary you can earn after completing your MA Malayalam ranges from INR 3,00,000 – 6,00,000.

MA Malayalam Key Highlights

The table below gives a snapshot of the MA Malayalam structure, entry route, cost, and career outcomes at a glance.

What is an MA Malayalam course?

The MA in Malayalam is a two-year course of study that provides immersion in the literature of Kerala from Bhakti poetry to new developments in modern poetry, drama, and fiction. The first year will build your theoretical skills and knowledge about the history of Malayalam literature, phonetics, syntax, and stylistics, and you will engage critically with literary texts and literary movements.

The second year will focus on your applied skills and creative work and include translation workshops that foster your sensitivity in the two languages, creative writing labs for original composition, and work on audiovisual scripts for film and media. The final part of the course is a dissertation or major project that gives you the chance to conduct original research or produce a media project that will prepare you for a future career in academia, publishing, broadcasting, or cultural preservation.

Why Study MA Malayalam?

With the rapid growth of digital media and regional streaming services, the demand for Malayalam language specialists, who can quickly create, edit, and subtitle high-quality content, is increasing exponentially.

• Literary Knowledge: Gain advanced competencies in textual analysis, criticism, and research techniques.
• Cultural Acumen: Participate in Kerala's literary tradition, film culture, and folk culture.
• Professional Flexibility: Develop a professional identity adaptable within teaching, translation, content creation, and media.
• Research Competences: Establish a solid place to pursue Ph.D. work in language, literature, or cultural studies.

Who should study the MA Malayalam?

Here are some points on who should pursue an MA in Malayalam course. Find out how it matches your interests and goals.

• Students with a BA in Malayalam who want to dive deeper into language, literature, and cultural studies.
• Aspiring academicians planning to build a career as lecturers, researchers, or subject experts in Malayalam.
• Writers, poets, and authors aiming to refine their creative skills and explore classical and modern Malayalam literature.
• Translators and linguists looking to gain advanced proficiency in language structure, semantics, and literary translation.
• Media professionals involved in scriptwriting, journalism, or content creation in Malayalam media.
• Individuals preparing for competitive exams like PSC or UGC NET in Malayalam language and literature.
• Language enthusiasts passionate about preserving and promoting regional literature and culture.

MA Malayalam Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility requirements make sure that students have the fundamental science background required to pursue the MA Malayalam. Most colleges establish minimum marks and may require an entrance test.

• Students must hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as a BA in Malayalam (or BA with Hindi/Sanskrit elective) with an aggregate of 50% marks.
• Students must hold a strong command of Malayalam script, grammar, and stylistic conventions.

MA Malayalam Entrance Exams

The admission to the MA in Malayalam is based on the merit of the candidate in most of the universities. However, some universities might offer admission based on a valid entrance exam score.

MA Malayalam Best Colleges in India

Given below are some of the best institutions offering an MA in Malayalam course in India. Let’s have a look at them:

MA Malayalam Admission Process 2025

The Master of Arts in Malayalam Admission is based on the merit of the candidate. Students who are eligible for the course can straight up apply to the colleges offering the MA Malayalam. The admission will be solely based on the merit of the student. For your reference, given below is the step-by-step admission process for the University of Kerala:

Step 1: Register on the PG portal and select MA Malayalam from the programme list.

Step 2: Upload scanned copies of your BA marksheet (without repeating an overall percentage below 50%), degree certificate, passport-size photograph, and ID proof. Pay the INR 600 application fee through the online gateway.

Step 3: The University will publish a centralized merit list in the portal, and it is prepared based on qualifying marks (and test scores, if applicable).

Step 4: Candidates should log in to the Student Portal and select or lock the college from the merit list published during the counselling period. College seat allotment will be made based on your position in the rank order and the candidate’s choice.

Step 5: Report to the college based on your allotment on the college website. Candidates should take the original copies of the documents uploaded on the PG admission portal and one set of photocopies for verification.

Step 6: After the verification of documents by the college, the candidates should pay the first-semester fee and all college fees to secure admission and collect the provisional admission order and class timetable.

Required Documents:

• 10+2 mark sheet & passing certificate
• BA marksheet (≥ 50%), Degree Certificate
• School/college leaving certificate
• Caste/category certificate (if applicable)
• Passport-size photographs (4)

MA Malayalam Syllabus

The MA Malayalam curriculum is divided into 4 semesters, which balance core, elective and research modules. Given below is the MA Malayalam syllabus at Kannur University for your reference:

MA Malayalam Job Opportunities in India

MA in Malayalam graduates are highly sought after across the dynamic academic, media and cultural sectors of Kerala due to their depth of textual knowledge, creative writing skills and command of both languages the graduates will enjoy favourable career options in roles including: Malayalam lecturer, content writer, translator, editor and scriptwriter in organisations like: universities, publishing houses, on-demand streaming solutions, translation and cultural organizations.

MA Malayalam FAQs