MA History

MA or Master of Arts in History is a postgraduate degree of two years in the field of arts & humanities. This course can be pursued after completion of the bachelor’s degree.

MA History is the study of the past and the current and interpretations of the past. It includes the stories and narratives of the past societies, people, their skills culture, and events of the different nations.

The syllabus include includes subjects like Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, World History, Indian government and politics, Literature, Economic History, Contemporary issues in international relations, etc.

Candidates who want to pursue this course should have a bachelor’s degree in the history or any other related field with a good score. Admissions are also done through top entrance examinations in some colleges.

Check the complete list of top MA colleges in India, giving admission through both merit and entrance examination.

The average fees charged for the course is around INR 570 – INR 2,500 for government colleges and INR 10,600 – INR 40,600 for private colleges.

The graduates can find jobs in government sectors in areas like museums, archaeological departments, academic institutes, etc. They can also work as a historian, museum curator, archivist, archaeologists & high school  teacher, librarians, etc

The average salary of fresh graduates is expected to be around INR 3,71,700 per annum. For higher studies, the graduates can do a PhD in History or any other specialization course like political science, cultural studies and language studies, museum studies, etc.

What is MA History?

It is a two-year postgraduate program that deals with the study of the past, which are includes people, societies, events, and problems.

The program includes subjects like Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, World History, Indian government and politics, literature, economic history, Contemporary issues in international relations, etc.

The program is not just about the study of the past, but it also includes attempts to research, study, and explain the past. It is like the study of an ongoing conversation about the past and its meaning.

It also includes the study of great leaders and innovators, the individuals who have shaped history through their personalities, strength of character, ambition, abilities, leadership, and creativity.

It also includes the study of great ideas and the movements initiated by influential people, and how it influenced our societies and the country politically, economically, and socially.

The course teaches us advanced critical skills and historical insights through pieces of evidence, concepts, and comparative frameworks.

Why MA History?

This course highlights the great achievements and the disastrous errors of mankind. Therefore helping us to understand how things were and how we might approach to make a better future. With a better understanding, it can help to organize and manage our societies for the benefit of all.

It is an advanced course and could be beneficial for the career of the students who have done a BA in History

It is a course that offers vast opportunities. Jobs in the government sectors are quite high. The graduates can work as historians, museum curators, archivists, archaeologists and high school teachers, etc.

The graduates will build strong writing, analytical thinking, and research skills, that will benefit them as writers, editors, or analysts.

MA History Admission Process

Most of the institutes conduct direct admission on the basis of the previous academic are records of the students. The students may have to follow the following steps to apply:

Fill the online/ offline application form of the institute.

Send the application form to the institute or upload it on online, along with the application fees.

Send/ upload all the documents required.

The institute will release the merit list of the selected candidates.

Some of the institutes may call the selected candidates for a personal interview.

The average fees charged for the course is around INR 500 – INR 2,000 for government colleges and INR 10,000 – INR 40,000 for private colleges. 

The graduates can find jobs in government sectors in areas like museums, archaeological departments, academic institutes, etc. They can also work as a historian, museum curator, archivist, archaeologist, high school teachers, librarians, etc 

The average salary of fresh graduates is expected to be around INR 3,71,000 per annum. For higher studies, the graduates can do a PhD in History or any other specialization course like political science, cultural studies, language studies, museum studies, etc.

How to Prepare for MA History Entrance Exams?

History is usually referred to as boring and dull by most people, but it can be fun and exciting, only if we study it in the right way. Below are some of the tips to study history and score good marks in the entrance examination

Making you are own notes is very necessary. Making notes is also a form of memorization. And also make notes during lectures.

Always organize your notes in chronological order, like dividing them into (1) Topics, (2) then Years, (3) then decades, (4) and then centuries.

Establish the connection between facts. Always place events, facts, and details within the context of the big picture.

Create mind maps on every event and write them in the form of reusable notes. This will help to memorize a large amount of data.

Create flashcards to memorize information, improve recall, and testing the level of retention.

Watch movies or documentaries.

Read autobiographies.

How to get admission into top MA History colleges?

The top colleges for MA History usually select students based on their previous academic records.

The colleges for awhich admission is purely based on merit, the students will have to score as much as they can in the graduation. So, the students who want to pursue MA in History should focus on scoring good scores in the bachelor’s program.

The candidate appearing for the entrance examination should try to cover at least 70-90% of the question paper.

The dates in History can be confusing sometimes. So, if the entrance examination have negative marks, it would be better if you attempt only those date related questions you are sure at.

MA History Eligibility

Students should have passed a bachelor’s degree program from a recognized university.

The bachelor’s degree should be in history or a few other related domains.

Should the score are above the cutoff scores of the concerned institutes? The minimum mark required for applying to the course is generally 55%, though it varies from University to University.

No age bar is provided by the institutes in case of MA History Admissions.

How to get admission into top MA History colleges?

The top colleges for MA History usually select students are based on their previous academic records.

The colleges for which admission is purely based on merit, the students will have to score as much as they can in graduation. So, the students who want to pursue MA in History should focus on scoring good scores in the bachelor’s program.

The candidate appearing for the entrance exams should try to cover at least 70-80% of the question paper.

The dates in History can be confusing sometimes. So, if the entrance exams have negative marks, it would be better if you are attempt only those date-related questions you are sure at. 

Some of the best colleges in India offering this course are listed below along with their admission process and fees. 

MA History Jobs and Career Prospects

Job opportunities are the  quite vast for MA History graduates. And these jobs are usually in the private sector. The graduates can work in areas like:

• The museum, as curators, archivists, etc.
• Archaeological departments as an archaeologist.
• Media stations as a journalist, writer, editor, etc.
• Tourism as tour guides or museum guides, archiver, etc.
• Research and survey
• Some of the job prospects

MA History Future Scope

MA in History graduates can get a doctorate degree with a Ph.D. in History.

Candidates who are completed PhD in History can go for lecturership in any of government college or university.

The students with a degree in history can pursue their own research and publish their own papers and books on various historical events in future.

Civil services – The syllabus for the civil service exams includes history. The subject is quite vast and therefore it becomes quite easy for the MA History graduates to prepare for the exam.

Politics – They can work as a manager, administrator, lecturer, political content writer/ journalist, consultant, etc in the field of politics, law, business, media, or public services, etc.