MA Political Science

MA Political Science is a two-year postgraduate programme in India that studies political theory and practice, as well as the description and analysis of the political system and political behaviour. It also covers topics such as national and international political systems, public administration, historical and contemporary political systems, government policies and procedures, international relations, and public affairs. The MA in Political Science course syllabus includes topics such as Political Sociology, Marxian Ideology, Public Administration, Contemporary Political Theory, and International Politics, among others.

The MA Political Science course accepts applications from candidates who have completed a bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent with a percentage of 50% or above. However, a BA in Political Science is not required so as to pursue an MA in Political Science.

Several prestigious MA Political Science colleges, such as Hindu College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Gargi College, and others, offer admission to candidates who pass the CUET PG entrance exams. However, some colleges, like Presidency College, Chennai, accept students solely on the basis of merit. The annual fees for an MA in Political Science range from INR 20k to INR 80k. However, IGNOU, TNOU, Nalanda Open University, and a few other universities offer MA Political Science distance learning programmes; the course fees range from INR 10k to INR 25k.

There are many opportunities for an MA in Political Science graduate; all they have to do is seize them. Jobs in government agencies, relations departments, colleges, universities, diplomatic offices, public policy organisations, etc. are available to them. Various positions include those in government agencies, relations departments, colleges and universities, diplomatic offices, public policy organisations, legislative analysis, corporate public affairs, legislative coordination, and so forth. Following the course, candidates can pursue Political Science jobs in Government Agencies, Relations Departments, Colleges and Universities, Public Policy Organisations, Legislative Analysts, Corporate Public Affairs Advisors, Legislative Coordinators, and Diplomatic Offices, among others. The average MA Political Science salary can range between INR 2 - 8 LPA. 

One of the most well-liked as well as advantageous options for students who want to work in politics after becoming a Master of Arts in Political Science is a PhD in Political Science.

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MA Political Science admissions are mainly based on the CUET 2024 entrance exam. The CUET PG 2024 will be held between March 11 and March 28, 2024, at 326 CUET PG exam centres. Before beginning their CUET PG 2024 preparation, candidates must carefully read the newly updated CUET PG exam pattern 2024 and then prepare according to the CUET PG syllabus 2024 that has been released by the exam authorities. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will issue the CUET PG admit card 2024 on March 7, 2024.

The following are some of the most important highlights of the MA Political Science course:

Some reasons to choose an MA in Political Science include:

• Professional skills: An MA in Political Science can help you develop skills like writing, communication, negotiation, and analytical reasoning. These skills are useful in many fields, including government, public policy, international relations, and political consulting.
• Career options: An MA in Political Science can prepare you for a wide range of careers, including law, education, journalism, politics, civil services, and more.
• Understanding of government operations: A political science program can help you understand how governments operate and interact, and how laws affect social and political change.
• Understanding of political systems: An MA in Political Science can help you understand how individuals affect political agencies or state policies, and how these political systems impact individuals.
• Understanding of political history: In the UK, a political science degree can offer a deep understanding of political history, including institutions that may have been around for centuries. 

Various reputed colleges and universities in India hold MA Political Science entrance exams. Candidates must pass these exams in order to get admission to the MA Political Science programme at that university. Some of the important entrance exams held by some of India's prestigious universities are as follows:

CUET PG

Common University Entrance Test PG, also known as CUET PG, is a computer-based exam for admission to 195 participating universities' postgraduate programmes in subjects like MA, MSc, MCom, and LLM. 

TISSNET

TISS National Entrance Test (TISSNET) is administered by Mumbai's Tata Institute of Social Sciences. It is an entrance examination administered at the university level for admission to PG programmes offered by TISS in fields like social work, human resource management, and public development studies. 

AUCET 

The Andhra University in Visakhapatnam conducts the state-level entrance exam known as the Andhra University Common Entrance Test (AUCET). It is used to admit students to a variety of post-graduate programmes in management, teaching, commerce, science, and other fields offered by colleges connected to Andhra University and Dr. BR Ambedkar University, Srikakulam.

Also Read: Top Colleges in DU Based on NIRF Ranking 2024

How to Prepare for MA Political Science Entrance Exam?

In order to perform well on the entrance exam, candidates are advised to adhere to the following points: 

• Start Early: This allows students time to review the syllabus and ensures that they cover all the essential material.
• Joining Coaching: Taking classes or hiring a tutor specifically for passing the entrance exam is a good idea if you want to focus on your areas of weakness and gain practice and understanding of the material. 
• Perfectionism comes from Practice: To minimise needless stress the day before the exam, candidates should practice and revise their preparation.
• Attend the Mock Exam: This will help you gain the confidence you need to write the exam correctly. It will assist you in self-evaluation and enable you to concentrate on your areas of academic weakness.
• Understanding the Exam Paper Pattern: A thorough knowledge and comprehension of the syllabus and the paper pattern is essential to preparing well for the entrance exam.
• Efficient Time Management: It's important to remember your priorities, especially when it comes to your weaker subjects and the regular practice of solving numerical problems. A schedule ought to be created, and the applicant ought to adhere to it scrupulously.

Every college has a different admissions procedure for its MA Political Science course. Either merit or the entrance exam, though, determines MA Political Science admission. Some colleges require applicants to take an entrance exam, but most colleges have a direct admissions process where students are accepted based only on their graduation scores. To be eligible for MA Political Science Admission, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria, or they will be rejected.

MA Political Science Course Eligibility Criteria

The MA in Political Science eligibility criteria may differ by college. However, the MA Political Science eligibility criteria that are generally accepted in most reputed colleges in India are the following:

• MA Political Science applicants must have completed their undergraduate studies in Political Science or arts/humanities from an Indian university
• To be eligible for MA Political Science admission, candidates must have a minimum of 45% - 50% in all three years combined (depending on the university)
• Candidates applying for the MA Political Science course must have completed all of their undergraduate courses and subjects
• Candidates with a final degree can apply for admission to the MA Political Science programme
• Candidates who are still in their undergraduate final year must have taken final exams and passed all of them, along with the final marksheet 

Note: Candidates who do not have a final marksheet or who have failed any subject in their undergraduate course are ineligible for admission to the MA Political Science programme. 

MA Political Science Admission Process 2024

The MA Political Science Admission Process 2024:

Merit Based MA Political Science Admission Process 

For the merit based admission process, upon completing the MA Political Science application form, candidates must provide all required information, including proof of eligibility and category, among other details, before submitting the form. Then, based on the colleges' cut-off list, a shortlist of candidates will be created. Students who meet the cutoff will be contacted to proceed with the MA Political Science admissions process.

Also Read: DU PG Admission 2024

Entrance Based MA Political Science Admission Process

Colleges that use entrance exam results to determine admission to MA Political Science courses follow a different procedure than other colleges. In order to register for the exams, students must first fill out the form found on the university's official website. The admission test must then be taken by them. Institution to institution may differ in the specifics and format of the entrance exam. Prior to their admission to the institute, the students might be invited for one more round of in-person interviews and counselling. Admissions will then be offered to the student based on the outcome of the entrance exam and, if necessary, a personal interview.

Skills Required for MA Political Science

To fully understand the MA Political Science course and its subjects, candidates need to have the following necessary skills:

• Public Relation
• Communication Skills
• Analytical Reasoning
• Data Skills

Candidates must also have the skills stated in the table below in addition to the previously mentioned skills. These are the types of skills that are not only necessary in college but also in the workplace. In addition, candidates who want to excel in the MA Political Science programme and go on to have successful careers in that field need to have the following skills:

• Good communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Management skills
• Analytical thinking
• Goal-oriented
• Ability to work under pressure
• Intellectually curious
• Inquisitive
• Organizational skills
• Interpersonal skills

Most colleges and universities use merit to determine MA Political Science admissions. Candidates for the MA Political Science programme will be admitted based on their performance on a written 10+2 exam, a series of in-person interviews, and/or a relevant qualifying exam. In such cases, candidates are typically shortlisted based on both their academic record and their performance on a previous relevant exam.

Depending on the student's preference, the MA in Political Science is one of the new courses that can be taken full-time or online. The course details for the MA in Political Science are as follows:

Also Read: Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India

The average MA Political Science course fee ranges between INR 20K - 80K. The MA Political Science course fees for government colleges are lower than those for private colleges. The MA Political Science fee structure in government colleges is regulated by the government, so it is always kept in check. However, MA Political Science Course fees for private colleges may differ from one another. Different private colleges use different criteria to regulate their fee structures.

The two-year post-graduate MA in Politics programme is divided into four semesters. The general syllabus for MA Politics is summarised down semester by semester in the tabulated format that most colleges use in their curricula.

The course structure and syllabus for MA Political Science are basically the same in all colleges and universities in India. Core courses and electives form the foundation of an MA in Political Science programme. To finish the degree, candidates must pass all of the subjects. A complete overview of the MA Political Science syllabus can be seen in the section below:

MA Political Science Subjects

MA Political Science subjects are the same for most of the colleges and universities in India. Various kinds of subjects are taught in a time period of 2 years of MA Political Science course. The division of subjects may vary from institute to institute. Candidates have been provided with a detailed analysis of MA Political Science subjects in this section. While going through this section candidates must keep a very important fact in mind that the subjects taught at various institutions may differ from the subjects mentioned here. In order to have a detailed knowledge about the subject and syllabus structure, candidates must visit the official website of the respective institute or check the prospectus of the concerned college or university.

MA Political Science subjects are divided into two groups: Elective Subjects and the Core Subjects. Both the categories have been discussed below as follows:

MA Political Science Core Subjects

• Political Theory
• Public Administration
• International Relations
• Comparative Politics
• Public Laws

MA Political Science Elective Subjects

Here is the list of MA Political Science Elective Subjects:

MA Political Science Open Electives

Here is the list of MA Political Science Open Electives subjects:

Some of the MA Political Science Books are listed below for students' reference.

Scholarships offered by government and private organisations for Master of Arts in Political Science are available to students based on a number of criteria, including annual income and merit score. The MA Political Science scholarships, along with their qualifications and advantages, are listed below:

There are various reputed MA Political Science colleges in India where a candidate can apply for admission. Most of the reputed institutions conduct entrance exam in order to select eligible candidates for MA Political Science Course. However, there are also MA Political Science colleges that offer admission on the basis of merit list only. 

Here is a list of MA Political Science colleges, along with their fees tabulated below.

Note: The figures mentioned above are subject to change.

Both the MA in Political Science and the MA in Public Administration are comprehensive post-graduate degree programmes. However, these two-degree courses' academic syllabuses differ slightly from one another.

For better understanding, the two courses are compared in tabular form below, along with the associated fees and expected salaries:

Those with an MA in Political Science can choose from a wide range of careers. Upon completing their MA in Political Science programme, candidates can look for jobs involving research. Students pursuing an MA in Political Science have a wide range of employment options in both public and government sector. Various job roles that graduates of MA Political Science may find themselves in have been covered in this section.

The table below lists some of the most pursued professional jobs available to MA Political Science graduates, along with their corresponding salaries.

MA Political Science graduates can work in several kinds of fields, including information technology, accounting firms, media and news, banking, and finance. Following an MA in Political Science, the following careers are available, along with recruiters and average salaries:

Top Recruiters for MA Political Science

The top recruiters for MA Political Science is listed below:

• KPMG
• Paytm
• HDFC 
• The Hindu
• Times of India
• United Nations
• Indian Administrative Service
• Indian Financial Service
• BPSP HR Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and many others in the public and private sectors. 

MA Political Science Employment Areas 

The following are some of the most important job areas for MA Political Science graduates:

• Public Policy Organizations
• Intelligence Wings
• Social Work Organizations
• Colleges and Universities
• Politics
• Public Relations Departments
• Diplomacy
• Embassies
• Government Agencies

MA Political Science Salary

Depending on knowledge and skill set, a typical salary for an MA in Political Science is between INR 3 and 8 LPA. The MA in Political Science pay is influenced by a number of variables, including work experience, location, and job title. The pay ranges for different job roles for an MA in Political Science graduate are listed below:

Note: The figures mentioned above are subject to change.

Following the completion of the MA in Political Science courses, candidates may choose to pursue postgraduate study to advance their political science expertise and improve their employment opportunities. The following are suggested courses that one can take following an MA in Political Science:

• MSc International Relations
• MA International Affairs
• MSc Business and Diplomatic Studies
• MBA in Human Resource Management
• MSc National Security Studies
• MA LLB
• MA in Human Rights
• PhD Political Science

An online MA in Political Science is a two-year postgraduate program. It can help students develop a deep understanding of politics, political institutions, and governance. The program provides online lectures and a degree that has a value equal to the regular degree.

Here are some online MA Political Science programs:

• College Vidya: Offers online lectures and a degree that has a value equal to the regular degree
• LPU Online: Offers specialized knowledge of Indian and International politics
• SMU: A two-year postgraduate program divided into four semesters
• muonline.ac.in: Offers the flexibility of timings according to the schedule you decide