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.
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 |
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.
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:
Exam | Full Form | Conducting Body | Application |
---|---|---|---|
Common University Entrance Test (PG) | National Testing Agency (NTA) | ||
Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test | Lovely Professional University | ||
Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University |
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 |
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) |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 | - |
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:
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 |
Rs. 14,400 | |
Rs. 60,000 | |
Rs. 1,20,000 | |
Rs. 12,000 | |
Rs. 1,18,000 | |
Rs. 100,000 | |
- |
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 | - |
Rs. 100,000 | |
Rs. 75,500 |
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 |
- | |
Rs. 8600 | |
- | |
- | |
Rs. 2,640 |
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:
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.
To pursue a postgraduate degree in English, one must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject from a recognized university
The admission to MA in English course takes place on the basis of both merit and entrance basis.
The average salary of an MA English postgraduate ranges from 2 lac. To 5 lac.
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.
The top recruiters of the field include:
Times of India
Hindustan Times
Popxo
India Today
IDiva
British Council
Zomato
Accenture
Cognizant
Some of the job profiles for MA English students include Writer, Editor, Teacher, Journalist, Copywriter and Translator.
The top entrance exams for the MA English Course include BHU PET, IPU CET, DUET, JNUEE.
Application Date:15 October,2024 - 15 January,2025
Application Date:11 November,2024 - 08 April,2025