Masters of Arts in Political Science is a postgraduate course of 2 years, which is divided into four semesters. MA (Political Science) course includes the study of the theory and practice of politics and description and analysis of the political system and political behaviour. It also covers the study of national and international political systems, public administration, historical and modern political systems, governmental policies and procedures, international relations and public affairs. MA (Politics) course’s syllabus covers subjects like political Sociology, political thinking since Marx, public administration, contemporary political theory, and international politics and so on.
Aspiring students should have passed a graduation degree in political science or in any related stream with a minimum 45-50% marks aggregate to be eligible for Masters of Arts in Politics course.
An MA Politics grad has ample of opportunities waiting around, all one needs to do is to grab it. All of this is because of the diverse skill set one possesses. There are many job opportunities for MA Politics graduates. They can find jobs in Government Agencies, Relations Departments, Colleges and Universities, Diplomatic Offices, Public Policy Organizations etc. Some of the posts are Government Agencies, Relations Departments, Colleges and Universities, Diplomatic Offices, Public Policy Organizations, Legislative Analyst, Corporate Public Affairs Advisor, Legislative Coordinator etc.
Every student aims to build a good career and expects a good job role after graduation. MA Politics course provides ample career opportunities with good salary packages. The average MA Politics salary of an aspirant is approximately INR 2 to 8 Lakhs per annum.
If a student wants to go for further studies after Masters of Arts in Politics, an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Political Science are two most common and beneficial options for the students who want to make their career in politics.
Table of Content
3.2 Entrance Exams
MA Politics Course Highlights
The course highlights of MA Politics course is provided in the table given below:
| Course | MA (Politics) |
| Full form | Masters of Arts in Politics |
| Level | Post graduation |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Graduation in any stream preferably Arts and Humanities with a decent score from a recognized university. |
| Admission Process | Merit based/ Entrance exam |
| Average tuition fee | INR 8,000 to 35,000 |
| Job Positions | Budget Analyst, Campaign Organizer, Budget Examiner, Public Opinion Analyst, Corporate Social Policy Issues Analyst, Legislative Analyst, Corporate Public Affairs Advisor, Legislative Coordinator, Political scientist, Corporation Legislative Issues Manager, Lobbyist, Political Commentator, State Legislator etc. |
| Average salary | INR 2 to 8 Lakhs |
Why Study MA Politics?
There are many benefits of pursuing a Masters of Arts in Politics course. The main benefits of pursuing this program are as follows:
- MA Politics degree holders can opt for further higher studies and career in many specializations of Politics like Political theory, Public policy, Comparative politics, National politics, International relations, Comparative politics, etc.
- M.A. in Politics prepares students for careers in politics, judiciary, public administration law and other disciplines that require knowledge of the functioning of political systems.
- It prepares you to take independent decisions, guided by knowledge of both history and current affairs.
- This course teaches valuable lessons in preparation for electoral politics, public policy, and community participation.
- This course also covers communication skills, public relations, generic reasoning, public response management, and analytical response studies.
MA Politics Admission Process
The admission process for the MA Politics course begins in the month of March/April. The application forms are released in both online and offline mode and the students will be notified about it from the official website of the university. In most colleges, the admission process is direct and the students are admitted on the basis of the marks acquired by them on graduation and in some colleges, the candidates will have to appear for an additional entrance test. Here we have mentioned the various steps of admission in MA (Politics) course.
Direct Admission
- Aspirants will fill the application form, from where they will have to give their necessary details category proof, qualification details, and many other things, and then they have to submit the form.
- Then a short listing of candidates will be done on the basis of the cut-off list released by the colleges. Those students who will clear the cut-off will be called for further admission process.
Entrance based
- Colleges offering admissions in MA (Politics) courses on the basis of entrance exam scores have a different process. Firstly, they have to fill-up the form to register for the exams available on the official website of the university.
- Then they have to appear for the entrance test. The details and mode of the entrance examination may vary from university to university.
- The students may be called for an additional round of personal interviews/ counselling prior to their admission to the institute.
- Then on the basis of the final score of entrance examination and personal interview (if required), admissions will be offered to the student.
MA Politics Eligibility
The minimum eligibility criteria for students who want to pursue a Masters of Arts in Politics from Indian universities and colleges are given below:
- The primary eligibility for pursuing MA (Politics) is having a graduation degree in any stream from a recognized university.
- Many of the reputed universities demand graduation degrees with Honours in Politics or Politics as one of the subjects studied in graduation from any of the recognized universities/colleges of the country to offer admission to MA Political Science course.
- Selection to the MA (Politics) course in the colleges and universities is based on marks secured in the final merit i.e. total marks aggregated in the final exams of graduation and the entrance exam.
- Some of the very reputed universities and colleges demand a minimum of 45-50% marks aggregate in graduation as qualifying criteria to secure admission in this course.
- The minimum pass percentage is higher for non-humanities courses students.
MA Politics Entrance Exams
Entrance Examination is required for admission to various popular MA Politics colleges. Different universities conduct their own entrance examination for admission to course MA Politics. The most common entrance examination is DUET. Here are some of the most popular admission tests for the MA Politics Colleges of India:
- BHU PET- BHU PET is a university level Post Graduation Entrance Exam conducted by Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is conducted to provide admission to the students in General, Professional, Special and Vocational Courses. The university offers postgraduate programs in the streams, arts, commerce, social sciences, agriculture, and environment.
- JNUEE- Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE) is conducted for admissions in various UG, PG courses offered by Jawaharlal Nehru University. JNUEE is also known as JNUET. It is a University level exam which will be held to offer admissions in various fields of Engineering, Law, Science, Humanity, etc. JNU. Through this exam, candidates will get admission into various UG and PG courses.
- DUET- DUET 2024 is a national level Entrance Exam which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of Delhi University for admission into various undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctorate courses like arts, commerce, law, engineering, science, education, etc. DUET 2024 is a National level entrance test which is conducted once a year. DUET 2024 will be conducted online i.e. Computer Based Test (CBT).
- IPU CET- Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test. IPU CET is an online entrance exam at the university level for admission to various Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in Engineering, Dental, Medicine, Law, and Management. The exam is conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University also known as GGSIPU, for admissions into various courses of various streams offered at the university. The process starts with an online registration form and ends on counselling.
- OUCET- OUCET 2024 opens the gates to various postgraduate, postgraduate diploma courses as well as 5-year long integrated courses like M.A, M.Sc., M.Com, M.C.J, B.L.ISc, M.L.J.Sc, M.S.W, M.Ed, M.P.Ed & PG Diploma. OUCET 2024 is an entrance exam for admission into these educational institutions for the mentioned courses above. This exam is also known as TS CPGET, OU PGET, and recently CPGET.
| EXAM NAME | EXAM DATE |
|---|---|
| BHU PET | Check BHU PET Exam Dates |
| DUET | Check DUET Exam Dates |
| IPU CET | Check IPU CET Exam Dates |
| OUCET | Check OUCET Exam Dates |
How to prepare for entrance exam?
Candidates are advised to follow the below mentioned points to score well in the entrance examination:
- Enrolling in coaching institutes: A coaching class or a tutor especially for clearing the entrance exam is a bonus as the teacher will help a candidate to focus on weaker zones and will aid in practice and comprehension of topics.
- Practice makes perfect: Candidates should practice and revise before the exam so that it reduces the unnecessary pressure one day before the examination.
- Attend mock test: Attending the mock test will give you the strength to write the exam properly. As it will help you in judging yourself, it will help you to focus on your weaker area in studies.
- Start early: Starting early helps the students in covering all the important topics and gives them time to revise the syllabus once again.
- Knowledge of the exam paper pattern: The paramount step in preparing well for the entrance exam is a deep-rooted understanding and comprehension of the paper pattern and the syllabus.
- Effective time management: Focus points should be kept in mind, with particular emphasis on weaker subjects and the daily practice of numerical problems. A timetable should be drawn, and the candidate should follow the timetable with dedication and diligence.
How to get admission in a good college?
Every student wishes to get admission in the top most college, to get admission in the best MA (Politics) college. Students should keep some important points in their mind. So here are some tips for getting into the college of your choice:
- Students can get a confirmed seat in a good college if they have a sound academic record in graduation and also on the basis of your performance in various national or state level entrance tests. The greater the score, the better will be the chances of getting admission in the top colleges across India.
- To succeed in the tough competition of cracking the entrance exams, students must have a proper understanding of the pattern, syllabus and the concepts related to the discipline.
- Many universities across India grant admission to students based on their merit or marks obtained in the graduation level. So the students must have a high aggregate score at the graduation level.
- Some universities prefer considering both the marks of graduation aggregate and entrance exam score for an ultimate merit list. Hence, it is highly recommended that the students get high marks in both these examinations to gain a top position in these merit lists.
- Keep track of all the important events pertaining to admission so that you will never miss any deadline. Also, keep a track of eligibility criteria, course cut-off, application procedure, application fee and all the updates related to colleges in newspapers, official websites etc.
- Students are advised to practice as many papers and questions as they can in order to enhance your time management skills.
MA Politics Syllabus
MA Politics is 2 years of post-graduation program, which is divided into 4 semesters. Below is a semester-wise breakup of the general syllabus for MA Politics is given below in a tabulated form, which most of the colleges follow in their curriculum.
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 |
|---|---|
| Western Political Thought (From Plato to Hegel) | Political Sociology |
| Contemporary Political Theory | Political Thinking Since Marx |
| Research Methodology | Comparative Politics |
| Ancient Indian Political Thought | Indian Constitutional System |
| Practical Work/Exercise | Practical Work/Exercise |
| SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 |
| Public Administration | Concept and Issue in Political Science |
| International Politics | Post Cold War International Relations |
| Politics in India | State Politics with Special Reference to U.P |
| Modern Indian Political Thought | Indian Administration |
| Practical Work/Exercise | Dissertation and Viva-Voce |
MA Politics Top Colleges
Several universities across India offer MA Politics. Some of the top universities among them are given below in a tabulated form along with their respective location, average annual fee, and NIRF ranking:
| COLLEGE | AVERAGE ANNUAL FEES | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|---|
| University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal | INR 2,314 | INR 4 Lakhs |
| University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana | INR 7,220 | INR 6-7 Lakhs |
| Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Delhi NCR | INR 10,000 | INR 3 Lakhs |
| Delhi University, New Delhi, Delhi NCR | INR 20,000 | INR 6.50 Lakhs |
| Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | INR 1.18 Lakh | INR 7 Lakhs |
| Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh | INR 1.06 Lakh | INR 4.5 Lakhs |
| Calicut University, Calicut, Kerala | INR 3,570 | INR 3.5 Lakhs |
| Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, Rajasthan | INR 74,500 | INR 3.6 Lakhs |
| Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand | INR 2,850 | INR 13.51 Lakhs |
| Presidency College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | INR 3,960 | INR 5 Lakhs |
MA Politics College Comparison
The comparison of the top three Indian universities offering MA Politics is given below in a tabular form along with their average annual fees, and average placement package offered:
| Parameter | Presidency College | Banasthali Vidyapith | Ranchi University |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Presidency College, Chennai is one of the first and foremost institutions to be established in the British India Government in 1840. Since its establishment, Presidency College, Chennai has been considered as one of the top ten colleges of India with an International reputation for education and research. | Banasthali Vidyapith Jaipur Rajasthan was established in 1935. The University is a fully residential women's University. The University has turned into the centre for quality education for women. This institute is a Deemed University that has innovatively designed the courses which include subjects ranging from the traditional as well as emerging areas like Doctoral degrees too. | Ranchi University was established in the year 1960 with one constituent college, 20 affiliated colleges and 10 postgraduate courses. At present, the University has 49 affiliated colleges, 15 constituent colleges, 23 post-graduate departments. |
| Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Admission process | PUMDET score followed by counselling | Entrance exam followed by counselling | Merit based |
| Average annual fees | INR 3,960 | INR 74,500 | INR 2,850 |
| Average annual package | INR 5 Lakhs | INR 3.6 Lakhs | INR 13.51 Lakhs |
| Top recruiters | MU SIGMA, Deloitte, ONGC, Oil India Limited, Coal India, SAIL, Tata Steel, etc. | Accenture, SBI PNB, S&P Global, Amazon, ICICI, Genpact, IBM, Oracle, Vodafone, Lanco, Philips, etc. | HDFC bank, SAP labs, Wipro, TCS, Infosys, TATA motors, CMC Limited, Jaro Education, etc. |
MA Politics Course Comparison
MA (Politics) and MA (Public Administration) are both post-graduate degree courses of a comprehensive nature. But there are subtle differences between the academic curriculums of these two-degree courses.
A comparison between the two courses is given below in a tabulated form for better understanding along with their respective fee and expected salaries:
| Basis | MA (Politics) | MA (Public Administration) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Masters of Arts in Politics | Masters of Arts in Public Administration |
| Course Overview | MA (Politics) course includes the study of the theory and practice of politics and description and analysis of the political system and political behaviour. | The objective of MA Public Administration course is to focus on topics like People’s participation, Development of Communication, Good Governance, Construction Of New-Liberal States, Welfare to all, Environmental Concerns, Development of the Society, etc |
| Eligibility | Graduation degree with minimum 50% marks aggregate | Graduation with at least 50% marks |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam /Merit | Entrance Exam /Merit |
| Average annual fees | INR 20,000 to 80,000 | INR 6,000-65,000 |
| Job options | Budget Analyst, Campaign Organizer, Budget Examiner, Public Opinion Analyst, Corporate Social Policy Issues Analyst etc. | Administrative Officer, Party Manager, Consultant, Teacher, etc. |
| Average annual salary | INR 2 to 8 Lakhs | INR 3-7 Lakhs |
MA Politics Scope
Students who have completed their post-graduation in Politics have numerous career options. The future scopes for students of MA Politics are given below:
- M.A. (Politics) degree serves as a basis for further higher studies and research in this field such as Ph.D. and M.Phil. Degree in Political Science.
- On successful completion of this degree, a student can apply for the UGC-NET or JRF exam; the success in these exams makes teaching or research as good options.
- The greatest scope after doing M.A. in Political Science is that it not only makes you eligible but also gives you a better chance to qualify the Indian Civil Services exams as well.
- Law schools are a very common destination nowadays for recent postgraduates in Political Science.
- M.A. (Political Science) degree also provides a scope for a student to become a political analyst.
MA Politics Jobs
The areas of employment for students who have completed an MA Politics include opportunities in academic and research fields. Both public and private sector undertakings employ the post-graduates for advanced research and exploration. MA Politics degree holders will be able to get various job opportunities like:
- · Budget Analyst
- · Campaign Organizer
- · Budget Examiner
- · Public Opinion Analyst
- · Corporate Social Policy Issues Analyst
- · Legislative Analyst
- · Corporate Public Affairs Advisor
- · Legislative Coordinator
- · Political scientist
- · Corporation Legislative Issues Manager
- · Lobbyist
- · Political Commentator
- · State Legislator
Some job profiles with descriptions and their average salary
Some of the popular professional jobs available to MA Politics degree holders along with the corresponding salaries are provided in the table given below:
| JOBS | DESCRIPTION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Analyst | The duty of the budget analyst is to examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations, to analyze budgeting and accounting reports for the purpose of maintaining expenditure controls. | INR 1.39 Lakh |
| Lobbyist | The responsibilities and duty of a lobbyist is to growing relationships and collaborating with various parties involved with clients' programs, to growing and executing lobbying strategies for clients, to representing clients before White House, Congress and all federal agencies, to ensuring clients' policies and positions are shared with government officials and appropriate parties, to communicating governmental and other parties' communications and responses to team members and clients, to researching and examining legislation and regulatory proposals. | INR 10 Lakhs |
| Political scientist | A political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decision-making, and ideology, analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. | INR 6.10 Lakhs |
| Legislative Analyst | A legislative analyst oversees activities pertaining to various branches of government at various levels from municipal to federal, serve as administrative and fiscal resource to legislators, they make recommendations regarding fiscal policies, analyze legislation and fiscal issues pertinent to their employer. | INR 4 Lakhs |
| Political Commentator | A political commentators use their knowledge of political behaviour and governance systems to offer insightful analyses of political issues to various audiences and their awareness of current political issues and events are exceptional, as is their ability to acquire and analyze political information. | INR 5 Lakhs |
MA Politics FAQs
Ques. Which university is best for MA (Politics) course?
Ans. Hindu College, Presidency College, Gargi College, Lady Shri Ram College, St. Xavier’s College etc.
Ques. Is MA Politics difficult?
Ans. It can be difficult as it involves complex topics but with determination to pursue the course, it will not seem much hard to crack.
Ques. How many years MA Politics takes to be completed?
Ans. It takes two years.
Ques. What is the average cost required to study MA Politics course?
Ans. INR 8,000 to 35,000.
Ques. What is the average salary of a MA Politics graduate?
Ans. INR 2 Lakhs to 8 Lakhs per annum.
Ques. What is MA Politics?
Ans. MA (Politics) course includes the study of the theory and practice of politics and description and analysis of the political system and political behaviour.
Ques. What are the career options available after MA Politics course?
Ans. They can make their career as a Legislative Analyst, Corporate Public Affairs Advisor, Legislative Coordinator, Budget Analyst, Campaign Organizer, Budget Examiner, Public Opinion Analyst, Corporate Social Policy Issues Analyst etc.
Ques. Is it compulsory to appear for the entrance examination for MA Politics course?
Ans. No, it is not compulsory to appear for the entrance exam because there are a lot of colleges and universities that directly accept students based on their graduation marks.
Ques. What are some of the recruiting areas for MA Politics graduates?
Ans. They can find jobs in Government Agencies, Relations Departments, Colleges and Universities, Diplomatic Offices, Public Policy Organizations etc.
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