MA in Political Science or Master of Arts in Political Science is a two-year postgraduate course in India. The course provides specialised knowledge of Indian and International politics to graduate students. It can be pursued by those who wish to make their careers in governance and public management.
Aspirants with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science or any relevant field with a percentage of 50% or more are eligible to go ahead with this course.
The average annual cost to study a full-time MA Political Science course may range from INR 20,000 to 80,000. However, IGNOU, TNOU, Nalanda Open University, etc. are few universities offering MA Political Science distance education. The cost to study the programme from distance universities varies from INR10,000 to 25,000.
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MA Political science – Course Highlights
Mentioned below are some important points about pursuing an MA in political sciences.
- Full-Form: Master of Arts in Political Science
- Duration: 2 years
- MA in Political Science Eligibility: BA. Degree with 50% or more in Political Science or any related field.
- Admission Process: Entrance/ Merit
- Top Entrance Exams: BHU PET, JNUEE, DUET, IPU CET, etc.
- MA Political Science Distance Education: Yes
- MA Political Science Subjects: Political Theory, Public Administration, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Laws. Etc.
- MA Political Science Fees: INR 20,000 to 80,000
- Salary: INR 4-8 LPA
- MA Political Science Jobs: Political Consultant, Academician, Activists, Archivists and Political Content Writer, etc
- Recruiting Areas: Universities, Administration, Campaigns, Political Houses, etc
Eligibility
The MA Political Science course eligibility criteria are as follows:
- Bachelor’s degree in any stream, preferably Arts and Humanities
- Minimum marks required vary from 45% to 55% in graduation and may change for different universities.
- The minimum pass percentage is higher for non-humanities courses.
MA Political Science Admission Process
The admission process into this course is usually based on the percentile scores in one of the entrance exams like Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, etc.
However, rare colleges like Presidency College, Chennai offer admission to this course based on merits and academic excellence in school and graduation.
After qualifying for the entrance exams, universities have a personal screening process that is being levied on aspirants.
Listed below are the stepwise admission process of MA Political Science:
Step 1: Fill-up the application form.
You must fill up the application form of the specific colleges you want admission to, by submitting all the necessary documents. This can be done online or even offline.
Step 2: Appear for the entrance exam.
Once you are done with the form fill-up, the next step is to sit for the entrances being fully prepared and cracking them with a good score. The cut-off is different for each college.
Step 3: Shortlisting Process
Colleges for MA in Political Science shortlist students based on scores obtained in their entrance exams. The college generates a cut off list, and you should have cleared the cut off to be eligible for the next round included in the admission process.
Step 4: Final Admission Round
Colleges, in their capacity, conduct these rounds to test further the candidate’s ability and skills to pursue an MA in Political Sciences:
- Group Discussion (GD)
- Written Ability Test (WAT)
- Personal Interview (PI)
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Top colleges
Tabulated below are top colleges in India offering this course and are listed in the NIRF ranking:
| NIRF Rankings, 2019 | College Name | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees (INR) | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
| 2 | Hindu College, Delhi | DUET | 16,690 | 7-9 LPA |
| 3 | Presidency College, Chennai | Merit-Based | 865 | – |
| 5 | Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi | DUET | 17,976 | 8-20 LPA |
| 10 | St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata | CET | 90,000 | 8-9 LPA |
| 12 | Gargi College, Delhi | DUET | 12,681 | 5-8 LPA |
Apart from exploring MA Political Science jobs like Political Consultant, Academician, Activists, Political Content Writer, etc., students can also go for further studies. In that case, an M.Phil. and a PhD in Political Science are the two most common and beneficial options for the students after their graduate studies.
MA Political Science Syllabus
MA Political Science Syllabus covers subjects based on political theory, critical analysis, philosophy, and ethics. Students are also required to prepare projects and dissertations on the universities’ topics in the final year.
The syllabus can be subject to variation across universities in India, but the basic course modules remain the same. Here is the semester wise MA Political Science syllabus:
| 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 in Political Science – Jobs and Career Options
An MA in Political Science can land you a progressive career in the field of administration, journalism, research, and politics. Graduates with this degree have also shown interest in the competitive exams for government jobs in the Public Service sector.
With high chances of becoming a renowned figure of the country, these professionals can earn from a range of INR 4-8 LPA.
Below are some of the job roles offered to candidates with an MA degree in Political Sciences:
- Politician
- Public administration
- Political correspondence
- Political Content Writer
- PR Executive
- Political activists
- Archivists
After successfully getting an MA in Political Science degree, one also becomes eligible to visit foreign countries to conduct research and seminars.
This was a complete guide to pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Political Sciences, and we hope we were able to resolve any queries you had in mind.
Good luck!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are our options after completing an MA in Political Science?
Ans. Other common Political Sciences careers are state lawmaker, political scientist, community service manager, municipal administrator, foreign ambassador, consumer advocate, political analyst, and many more. A digital Master’s in Political Science might also help you get started in this sector.
Q2. Who is eligible to pursue an MA in Political Science?
Ans. Aspirants for the MA in Political Science should have finished their undergraduate in Political Science from a prominent Indian university. To be qualified for MA Political Science enrolment, students must have at least 50% in all their three years graduate degree.
Q3. How long does an MA in Political Science take?
Ans. MA (Political Science) is a postgraduate study in Political Science. It is a two-year curriculum that covers an in-depth studying of Political Science as a field at the advanced level.
Q4. Is the MA Political Science program difficult?
Ans. Yes, MA political science is a challenging topic to study. It is a both practical and theoretical study that focuses on various philosophies, thinkers, and theories.
Q5. Is an MA in political science a wise choice?
Ans. A degree in Political Science can help you advance in your job. There are several advantages to earning an MA in Political Science. Among them are:
- Covers communication skills
- Generic reasoning
- Public relations
- Public response management
- Analytical response studies
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