An MA Tamil or a Master of Arts in Tamil is a 2-year full-time postgraduate program that provides learners with advanced knowledge and proficiency of the Tamil language, including its origin, evolution over time, grammar, and various notable literary works. The 2-year study allows the learners to gain a comprehensive expertise in the Tamil language and utilize it to build their professional careers.
Delhi University, University of Madras, Periyar University, Sri Venkateswara University, Pondicherry University, Thiruvalluvar University and Meenakshi Ramasamy College of Arts and Science are some of the most prominent MA Tamil colleges in India and depending upon their affiliation, the annual course fee ranges between INR 9,822- INR 25,000.
In India, MA Tamil eligibility is determined either by merit or entrance exam basis depending on the different universities’ criteria. The merit-based criteria require candidates to have scored at least 50%-55% in a Bachelor's degree in Tamil or a Bachelor of Literature with Tamil as the core subject, whereas the entrance-based criteria require them to pass the required entrance exam in addition to meeting the merit requirements. CUET PG / SVUCET/ TANCET are the major MA Tamil entrance exams conducted and accepted in India.
Some of the job roles include Tamil Content Writer, Tamil Language Teacher, Tamil News Reporter, Scriptwriter, Language Translator, Tamil Language Assistant Professor, Tamil Language Consultant, Author or Tamil Programs Director. The entry-level salaries range from INR 2.5 to 4.5 LPA, and the experienced-level salaries range from INR 9 to 18 LPA.
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MA Tamil Highlights Table
Listed below are some of the crucial MA Tamil course details, the 2-year postgraduate program offering a specialization in Tamil Language:
What is MA Tamil?
MA Tamil is a 2-year full-time postgraduate degree program in India that acts as a specialized liberal arts degree in the Tamil language and is provided by a variety of universities and colleges. The course takes a holistic approach to learning, encouraging students to delve deeper into Tamil literature and apply their own skills and critical thinking to contribute to its growth.
The various MA Tamil subjects aim to provide learners with an in-depth knowledge of traditional and modern Tamil literatures, various Tamil language writing techniques and styles, the history and development of Tamil media and journalism, the various philosophies and theories under Tamil culture, Tamil folklore and its genres, and translatory skills for imparting the Tamil language to other linguistic groups.
Why Study MA Tamil?
While Tamil is not an official language in many other areas of the world, making MA Tamil a less popular degree in India. The following are a few reasons why pursuing an MA in Tamil in 2025 is incredibly beneficial:
- Research Opportunities: MA Tamil is an advanced degree that provides a full understanding of the Tamil language, preparing students to undertake research studies on many areas of the language and present them at various national and international levels.
- Academic Job Opportunities: MA Tamil graduates are highly valued in a variety of government and private schools and institutions, allowing them to pursue significant and profitable work opportunities as a teacher, professor, or assistant professor.
- Preservation of the National Culture: MA Tamil graduates can delve deeper into the various honorary literatures of this language from various periods, increasing their awareness of Tamil culture and preparing them for careers as professional archaeologists.
- Cross-industry Employment Opportunities: MA Tamil graduates are equipped with comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the Tamil language, allowing them to pursue careers in a variety of fields.
Who should study the MA Tamil?
As a specialized course in the Tamil language, it is inevitably important for candidates interested in studying the same to be fluent in Tamil, or at least be able to read, speak, and understand the language. Aside from that, while having all of them is not necessarily required, the following can be considered as the prerequisite attributes for individuals desiring to pursue an MA in Tamil:
- At least 50%-55% in a bachelor's degree in Tamil Language or a bachelor of literature degree with Tamil as the core subject.
- A keen interest in the Tamil Language and its origin, evolution and notable literature from different periods.
- A strong passion for learning more about Tamil writing styles and grammar to pursue jobs as professional Tamil writers and authors.
- Curious to learn more about Tamil culture to help preserve it.
- A curiosity to conduct and present research studies about the many aspects of the Tamil language.
- A strong enthusiasm to teach Tamil to others.
MA Tamil Eligibility Criteria
Being a postgraduate-level course, MA Tamil eligibility is determined either on a merit basis or an entrance exam basis, depending entirely upon the university’s criteria. While entrance-based requirements look at a candidate's performance in a particular entrance exam, merit-based requirements take into account a candidate's bachelor's degree scores. A comprehensive overview of these criteria is provided below:
- The candidate must have a minimum of 50%-55% (depending upon the university) in a Bachelor's degree in Tamil or a Bachelor of Literature degree studied with Tamil as the core subject.
- The candidate must pass the necessary entrance exam (CUET PG / SVUCET / TANCET) with the required scores to be admitted to the university.
MA Tamil Entrance Exams 2025
With the MA Tamil entrance-based eligibility criteria requiring candidates to pass the necessary entrance exam, it is crucial to have all the information about the various entrance exams that are administered and accepted by different universities for assessing a candidate’s eligibility for the course. Thus, the major university or state-level MA Tamil entrance exams include:
MA Tamil Colleges in India
Multiple government and private universities and colleges in India offer a master’s in Tamil as a 2-year full-time postgraduate program. The following are some of the most notable MA Tamil colleges in India that provide this course at extremely low costs:
MA Tamil Admission Process 2025
With a straightforward admission process, the simple steps required to apply for the MA Tamil program at any university can be accomplished from the comfort of your own home. Delhi University offers entrance-based admission to its MA Tamil program on the basis of the candidate’s CUET PG scores. The following are the steps that must be followed for the same:
Step 1: The candidate must register for the CUET PG exam on the official NTA website, “exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-PG”.
Step 2: The candidate must always check his/her NTA dashboard for any updates regarding the admit card. If the admit card is released, the candidate must download the same.
Step 3: The candidate must appear for the CUET PG exam, which is conducted in an offline mode with the timing and centre location mentioned on the candidate’s admit card.
Step 4: The candidate must wait for the CUET-PG results, and once released, he/she must download the official scorecard from the NTA’s website.
Step 5: The candidate is then required to apply for the counselling via the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) by visiting “admission.uod.ac.in/?PG-Admissions”.
Step 6: The candidate must fill out the application form at the CSAS portal. He/she must provide the personal and academic information asked for, along with the submission of all the relevant documents.
Step 7: The candidate is then required to list out his/her preferred colleges and programs as per his/her list of priority.
Step 8: The university begins to release merit lists; the candidate can visit his/her dashboard to discover which college and course have been assigned to him/her.
Step 9: Once the candidate is satisfied with the course and college allocated to him/her, he/she can pay the first semester course fee at the portal and must get his/her document physically verified at the allotted college to confirm his/her seat in the course.
Documents Required:
- 10th marksheet and passing certificate issued by the board
- 12th marksheet and passing certificate issued by the board
- School Leaving Certificate
- Bachelor’s Marksheet
- Bachelor’s Passing Certificate
- Provisional Certificate
- Coloured Passport Size Photographs
- Entrance Exam Admit Card (If applicable)
- Entrance Exam Scorecard (If applicable)
- Caste Certificate (If applicable)
- Identity Proof issued by the government (Aadhar Card/PAN Card/Passport, etc)
MA Tamil Syllabus
As a liberal arts degree, an MA in Tamil program seeks to provide its learners with a complete and deep analysis and understanding of the Tamil language, including its origin, evolution, and important aspects. At Sri Venkateswara University, the various MA Tamil subjects are spread across 4 semesters, providing students with a well-rounded education. The semester-wise division of the same is as follows:
MA Tamil Job Opportunities in India
MA in Tamil is a master's degree program that provides students with advanced expertise and proficiency in the Tamil language, allowing them to pursue their professional careers by utilizing the same across a variety of industries. Some of the most popular MA Tamil jobs are listed below, along with their average wages and even top recruiters:
MA Tamil FAQs
What is the MA Tamil job scope in India?
With Tamil being one of India's most important languages, the employment opportunities for MA Tamil graduates are extremely diverse here. They can easily find work in the academic sector as teachers or professors, the research sector as researchers, the entertainment sector as program directors, and even the government sector as translators.
Can an MA Tamil graduate apply for UPSC or any other government exam?
Yes, MA Tamil graduates can easily apply to any government examination, including the UPSC. The primary requirement for applying for such tests is a bachelor's degree, regardless of the topic or field of study; hence, an MA Tamil graduate can simply apply even if they do not have an MA Tamil degree.
Are there any electives under the MA Tamil syllabus? What are those?
Yes, electives are an important aspect of the 2-year MA Tamil studies and are provided by any university that offers this degree as part of their curriculum. Journalism, Human Values, Professional Ethics, Research Methodology, Dravidian Movement in Tamil Literature, Folk Festivals, etc, are some of the most common electives offered under the MA Tamil syllabus.
Are there any mandatory internships or thesis under the MA Tamil program?
Since the MA Tamil program is a theory-heavy course of study, internships are typically not required. However, certain universities may provide them as a requirement to finish the 2-year degree, albeit these are quite uncommon. The same thing happens in the case of a thesis as well; not many universities offer it, but some do.
