Master of Arts (MA) is a 2-year postgraduate course in various disciplines like English, Political Science, Sociology, History, Psychology, Public Administration, and others. It is more oriented towards intense theoretical and research-oriented knowledge in the subject concerned. MA admissions in India are made through both merit and entrance-based procedures, as per the university. The score for CUET-PG is taken into consideration by most of the institutions for MA admissions. Some of the best colleges that provide MA are Delhi University, JNU, BHU, TISS, University of Hyderabad, etc.
The intake process usually begins between the months of April and July each year, with the majority of institutions opening their classes between July and September. Candidates interested in pursuing higher studies or academic professions in the arts, humanities, and social sciences may apply for the MA after getting their Bachelor's degree in related studies with a minimum aggregate mark of 50%.
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MA Admission Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Master of Arts admission in India, candidates must fulfill the eligibility conditions as mentioned below:
- The candidates should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (usually BA) from a recognized university.
- They should have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% to 55% marks in their undergraduate degree. The reserved category candidates may have a
- They should have a valid score in CUET-PG or university-specific entrance tests, if applicable.
MA Admission Entrance Exams
MA admissions in most of the Indian universities are based on an entrance examination. There are several exams, national and university-level, that are conducted every year for MA admissions. Here is the list of some of the exams considered for MA admission.
National-Level Entrance Exam for MA Admission 2025
Most of the central and state government universities and colleges accept CUET-PG exam scores, which are conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Here are the dates for CUET-PG 2026:
University-Level Entrance Exams for MA Admission
Here is the list of some of the university-level entrance exams that are considered for MA admission or PG admission:
MA Admission Top Colleges in India
Various universities and colleges offer an MA degree in various areas of specialization. Here is the list of NIRF-ranked universities that offer MA courses.
MA Admission Process
The admission into most of the institutes for the MA program is based on entrance examination. Top universities like DU, JNU, BHU, TISS, etc accept admission based on CUET examination. Let’s consider the admission process at Delhi University to understand the admission process for MA programs.
Entrance Examination - The interested candidates will have to first appear for CUET-PG, before applying to any of the institute for admission. The candidates check the official website of Delhi University to confirm the subjects to appear for in CUET-PG for MA admissions.
Registration - The candidates will have to register at the University of Delhi CSAS(PG) through its UoD’s online platform or www.pgadmission.uod.ac.in. The CSAS (PG) is the common admission window for all the PG programs of all Departments/ Centres/ Colleges of the University of Delhi. The candidates will have to register and create their login credentials.
Application Form - They will have to provide all the personal & academic details, select the course (MA course) and college preference, upload the documents, and pay the application fees of INR 250 for UR/OBC-NCL/EWS and INR 100 for SC/ST/PwBD.
Merit List - There will be two merit lists released for MA English admission, one is the Common Merit List (CML) in which all the candidates will be considered, and the other is the Category 2 Merit List (C2ML), which is only for students of the University of Delhi. The candidates will be evaluated based on their CUET-PG scores only.
Seat Allocation - The candidates who have been allocated the seats will be visible on their CSAS(PG) dashboard. They will have to accept the allocation to confirm their seat.
Admission - After the candidates have accepted the allocation, the institute will verify their documents, and once approved, the candidate will have to pay the admission fees within the stipulated time through the link generated on his/her dashboard only
Documents Required
Here is the list of documents required while applying and also during the admission process:
- Class 10 & 12 Mark Sheets and Certificates
- UG Degree Certificate and Mark Sheets
- Entrance Exam Admit Card & Scorecard
- Transfer/Migration Certificate from the last attended institution
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- Income Certificate (if applying for scholarships)
- Passport-size photographs
- Valid ID Proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID)
MA Admission in India FAQs
What is the eligibility to apply for MA in India?
For admission in MA courses, the candidates should have a Bachelor's degree (BA or equivalent degree) with at least 50% to 55% marks from a recognized university. The candidates will have to appear in CUET-PG as well to become eligible for admission in most of the government or central
Which entrance exam is required for MA admission in India?
Most central and state universities accept CUET-PG scores. CUET is a common exam conducted by the National Testing Agency and is a common exam for a majority of institutes for MA admission and other PG course admission.
Can students from Science or Commerce apply for MA?
Yes, the Master of Arts is an interdisciplinary program. Candidates from Science or Commerce backgrounds are eligible, especially for subjects like Economics, Public Policy, and Development Studies.
Is it possible to pursue MA via distance mode?
Yes. Many universities like IGNOU, DU-SOL, and Annamalai University offer MA courses through distance learning. The admission into these MA courses are usually direct and may not require any entrance examination.
