MA Persian is a two-year postgraduate degree that deals with Persian language, literature, culture, and history. The course enables students to attain linguistic competence and close analytical skills in Persian text, poetry, and prose. It's for the enthusiasts of classical and contemporary Persian studies.
The course can be opted by students who have passed a bachelor's degree in Persian or any stream as may be required with 45–50% aggregate marks. Admission would normally be merit-based or entrance tests such as CUET-PG.
MA Persian course fee varies between INR 3,000 and INR 2,32,170. The best colleges to pursue the course are Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
Graduates also have the opportunity to pursue academia, translation, research in archives, civil services, diplomacy, publishing, and mass media. Pay scales generally range from INR 3 LPA to 6 LPA, based on the job and experience.
Table of Contents
MA Persian Key Highlights
This section provides a bird’s-eye view of the MA Persian program including duration, eligibility, admission process, and career opportunities.
What is MA in Persian?
MA Persian is a postgraduate degree that gives knowledge of the Persian language and its vast literary and cultural tradition. The course explores classical Persian texts, grammar, modern use, poetry, prose, and history.
Students acquire both deep language proficiency and cultural expertise relevant to education, diplomacy, and scholarship. It’s perfect for linguaphiles, academics, and anyone interested in maintaining Indo-Persian connections.
Why Study MA Persian?
Learning MA Persian opens up cultural, historical, and linguistic insights that create a world of opportunities. This is what makes this course special:
- Deep engagement with classical and modern Persian literature, poetry, and grammar.
- High relevance in translation, international relations, cultural diplomacy, and historical research.
- Chance to dive into the Indo-Persian legacy and its impact on South Asia.
- Sets you up for further research such as a Ph.D., NET-JRF, or archival research.
- Worthwhile for embassies, government cultural offices, academia, and publishing.
- Develops sophisticated language and analytical skills for research and communication.
Who Should Study MA Persian?
MA Persian is perfect for students and professionals who:
- Have a background in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, or any language/humanities stream.
- Is really into dead languages, text mining, or archaeology.
- Aim to be an educator, a civil servant, a translator, a diplomat, or an archivist.
- Have a desire to conduct research in Persian studies, specifically Indo-Persian legacy or comparative literature.
- Interested in manuscripts, historical texts, or cross-cultural communication.
- Have patience, creativity, and attention to detail—essential characteristics for language and research positions.
MA Persian Eligibility Criteria
Students must fulfill these criteria to be eligible for the course:
- Bachelor’s degree in Persian or a related field with 45–50% aggregate marks.
- Some colleges may accept graduates from humanities or language backgrounds.
- Final-year UG students may apply provisionally.
MA Persian Entrance Exams
Admissions are either merit-based or through university entrance exams. Here are some of the top exams:
MA Persian Colleges in India
Here are some of the best institutions in India offering MA in Persian:
Students interested in Urdu can also pursue MA Urdu
MA Persian Admission Process 2025
If you are targeting an MA Persian at the revered University of Delhi, the admissions process is simple. Here’s how it typically works:
Step 1: Log in to the DU Admission Portal- Visit the official University of Delhi admission portal and navigate to the Postgraduate Admissions section. Choose MA in Persian as your desired program under the Faculty of Arts.
Step 2: Make a new account by clicking on register- Sign up using a valid email ID and mobile number. Once registered, you’ll be sent login details to access the postgraduate application dashboard.
Step 3: Complete the online application form-Log in and complete the MA application form, entering personal details, academic background (Bachelor’s marks), and selecting MA in Persian as your program preference.
Step 4: CUET-PG Registration-Separately, you need to apply for the CUET-PG exam (conducted by NTA) within the official window, generally between February and March. Choose MA in Persian–University of Delhi as your subject during registration.
Step 5: Submit Your Documents and Pay the Application Fee-Upload the required documents and pay the non-refundable application fee online using a debit/credit card, UPI, or net banking. Category-wise fee (Gen/OBC/SC/ST)
Step 6: Shortlisting & Departmental Admission-Based on CUET-PG scores, DU will release a merit list. If shortlisted, you may be called for document verification by the Department of Persian, and in some cases, an interaction or interview.
Step 7: Admission Confirmation-If selected, you’ll receive a provisional admission offer through the admission portal. Accept the offer by uploading any pending documents and paying the first semester fee.
Step 8: Final Approval & Commencement-Once your documents are approved and your fee payment is verified, you’re officially admitted. You’ll receive information regarding orientation and class schedules and begin your semester
Required Documents:
- Bachelor’s degree marksheets and certificate
- CUET-PG registration proof
- Class 10 & 12 certificates
- A valid ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport)
- Passport-size photo
- Caste/EWS certificate (if applicable)
Also read about MA in Arabic
MA Persian Syllabus
The syllabus varies slightly by university, but here’s the syllabus of MA in Persian from University of Delhi:
Click to get more info on MA Sanskrit
MA Persian Jobs and Salary
An MA in Persian offers multiple career paths in education, culture, and public service. Here are a few options:
MA Persian FAQs
Are there any Persian language online resources to learn from?
Yes, there are some materials such as Google Translate (with Persian), online dictionaries like Aryanpour, Duolingo, Memrise, and YouTube tutorials. There are some colleges with e-content, scanned manuscripts, and digitized archives for further study.
Is it possible to study Persian as a working professional?
A few colleges have part-time Persian programs for working professionals. Besides, the course load allows independent reading and research, so it's possible alongside internships or part-time work.
What are the main challenges faced by Persian language teachers at the school level?
Persian language teachers confront low enrollment, budget, material, and peer support. Also, persuading schools to introduce or maintain rare language electives is a much bigger challenge than it is for more common languages.
Is there a demand for Persian teachers?
It's comparatively less than any popular language, although some private and international schools with language electives do employ Persian instructors.