MA POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Course

MA International Relations is a postgraduate degree program offered in full-time mode over a span of 2 years. As the name suggests, the course is all about Contemporary International Relations, Security Studies and Strategies, Regional Studies, the Formation of Public Policies and their Administration, etc.

Students who want to pursue an MA in international relations must hold a Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent degree from a recognized college or university with an aggregate of minimum 60% marks. Admission to the course is either entrance based or merit based. In the entrance based mechanism, the score obtained in an entrance test is considered for the purpose of offering admission. In the merit based mechanism, the score obtained in the undergrad examinations is considered for offering admission. 

Some of the major topics covered in MA International Relations Syllabus are Linguistics of International Relations, Politics and its Philosophical Aspect, Economics, Religious Studies and several other topics related to International Relations.

The course helps students to find answers and solutions for various issues pertaining to Human Rights, Globalization, Economic Development, Nuclear Proliferation, etc.

The course is offered by the government, private colleges and deemed universities. Different colleges might have different eligibility criteria, selection process, syllabus, fee structure.

MA in international relations is a 2-year degree program. Each year consists of 2 semesters. A year-wise break up of the syllabus for MA in international relations is tabulated below. The syllabus may be different for different colleges or universities.

Why Study MA International Relations

Over the past years, MA in International Relations has emerged as one of the most sought out degrees in India in terms of personal growth and career growth opportunities. Some benefits and perks of pursuing this course are given below.

• The course comes with various career growth opportunities and promotes growth in one's knowledge. It is a must-do for students who are intrigued by the concept of International Relations and its related areas.
• The course would be a perfect choice for students who are interested in preparing for the exam especially for IFS (Indian Foreign Services).
• The course is not limited to one's knowledge about the subject, it also helps one develop excellent communication skills and analytical skills.
• The course offers a handsome salary package ranging from INR 2,00,000 to INR 12,00,000. 
• The course opens various career opportunities in front of students. Students who successfully manage to complete the course find lucrative job opportunities in sectors like Government Offices, International Diplomacy, International Law, International Business Management, Human Rights Advocacy, etc.
•  Several job profiles available to such professionals are Patent Engineer, Assistant Manager, Analyst, Research Analyst, Business Head, etc.

MA International Relations Admission Process

Admission to the course is either entrance based or merit-based. In the entrance based mechanism, the score obtained in an entrance test is considered for the purpose of granting admission. In the merit-based mechanism, the score obtained in the undergrad examinations is considered for offering admission. Different colleges follow different selection methods.

Entrance Based Selection

• Step 1: Apply for the colleges you are interested in.
• Step 2: Register for the respective entrance exam.
• Step 3: Results will be declared and colleges will call the eligible candidates for document verification. 
• Step 4: Visit the college and submit all the required documents.

Merit Based Selection

• Step 1: Apply for the colleges you are interested in.
• Step 2: Cutoffs will be released by the colleges and the shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. 
• Step 3: Visit the college and submit all the required documents, if eligible.

The eligibility criteria for pursuing MA international relations may vary from college to college. The cutoff and the required percentage of marks may also vary from college to college. 

Given below is the most common eligibility criteria for pursuing an MA in international relations.

• A candidate must have completed their bachelor degree or any equivalent degree from a recognized college or university.
• A candidate must have scored 60% or above in their bachelor degree examination (55% of marks for SC, ST, PH candidates).

MA International Relations Entrance Exams

Many top universities such as JNU, Jadavpur University, etc conduct their own entrance examinations for admission to MA courses. Students must score above the minimum qualifying score set by the respective college or university to get selected for the course. 

Some of the popular entrance exams conducted for admission into the course are given below.

• JNUEE: JNUEE is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University or The exam is conducted in order to shortlist students for various postgraduate and research programs.
• Pondicherry University Entrance Exam: ucts its own online entrance exam in order to shortlist candidates for various postgraduate degree programs.

How to Prepare for MA International Relations Entrance Exams?

One of the most important factors responsible for excelling in any entrance exam is to be well aware of the latest exam pattern. Hence one should do thorough research about it, in order to develop a clear idea about the exam pattern. 

Apart from this, one should know the complete syllabus of the entrance exam and prepare accordingly. Mainly there are four sections in almost every MA in the international relations entrance exam

• Political Science
• History and Economics
• Current World Affairs
• Indian Foreign Policies

One can refer to the tips given below in order to perform well in any entrance exam:

• The test may include questions based on political science. One should be well aware of the political structure of our country. Precisely, one must be politically aware to answer such questions.
• Questions from History and Economics form a very crucial part of the exam. History can be further divided into sections like Mughal History, Colonial History, History after Independence. Students can refer to several graduation level books of these particular subjects in order to prepare for this section.
• Apart from Political Science, History and Economics, the exam checks one's awareness and knowledge about the Current Affairs happening around the globe. Questions based on Indian foreign policies form a major part of the exam. Hence one must do a thorough study of India's political framework and foreign policies.
• One must read a newspaper daily to keep oneself updated about current affairs.
• Students must practice mock question papers. This helps one to get a taste of the type of questions which are usually asked in the exam. 

MA International Relations Distance Learning

Sometimes, due to various reasons, one finds it difficult to pursue the desired course through regular learning mode, in such a case distance learning method comes to the rescue. Students must check for the validity of the course and the college in distance or correspondence mode.

• In order to be eligible for this course through correspondence mode, students need to possess a bachelor’s degree in any relevant field from a recognized college or university with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
• The minimum duration required to complete this course from distance mode is 2 years and the maximum duration of the same is 3 years.

MA International Relations Future Scope

Over the past years, Master of Arts [MA] (International Relations) has become immensely popular among students. More and more students are exploring this specialisation of the course. Analysing the current trends, the scope of this course seems to be ever-increasing. 

• After completing the course, postgraduates may work in various manufacturing industries like Pharmaceutical Industries, Law firms, Media Units, Publishing Houses, Voluntary Organizations, Software Industries, Research Organizations, etc.
• The course comes with diverse job profiles attached to it. Successful professionals of the course may find employment as a patent engineer, analyst, counsel, assistant manager, associate attorney, business head, patent writer, research analyst, legal associates, etc. 
• Such professionals can also start their own law firms. They may also work in the education sector as teachers and lecturers in colleges or universities.
• The scope of the course is not limited to employment and jobs. Apart from seeking jobs, students can also choose to pursue further education in the relevant field. 

MA International Relations FAQs

Ques. What are the eligibility criteria one must fulfil in order to pursue MA International relations?

Ans. Candidates who want to pursue an MA in International relations must hold a bachelor's degree in any relevant field from a recognized college or university with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks.

Ques. How much does it cost to pursue an MA International relations degree program?

Ans. The average tuition fee charged by colleges or universities for this course in India lies anywhere in between INR 6,000 and INR 3,00,000. The fee is different for private and government institutes.

Ques. Which are some of the most popular colleges offering MA International relations degree programs?

Ans. Some of the best colleges offering MA in international relations degree program are the University of Madras, SRM University of Science and Technology, Maharani Laxmi Bai Government College of Excellence, Pondicherry University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, etc.

Ques. What are the various job positions available to professionals with an MA in International relations?

Ans. Some job positions available to such professionals are patent engineer, analyst, counsel, assistant manager, associate attorney, business head, patent writer, research analyst, legal associates, etc.

Ques. Can I pursue an MA in International relations through distance learning mode?

Ans. Yes, you can pursue an MA in International relations through distance learning mode. Some of the institutes offering the course through distance learning are Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Sikkim Manipal University, Annamalai University, Alagappa University, Madurai Kamaraj University.

Ques. What are some of the popular entrance exams conducted in order to shortlist candidates for admission into an MA international relations degree program?

Ans. Some of the major all India entrance exams conducted in order to shortlist students for providing admission into the course are JNUEE, TANCET, HPCET, Pondicherry university entrance exam.

Ques. What initial salary can an MA international relations professional expect?

Ans. Professionals with MA in international relations can expect an annual compensation of INR 2 lakhs to 20 lakhs. The salary offered is proportional to the experience earned in the field. The salary increases with the increase in experience in the field.

Ques. Are the entrance exams for admission into MA in international relations degree program being postponed due to COVID19?

Ans. Yes, most of the entrance exams have been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. The new dates and other updates of the exams can be found by visiting their respective official websites.

Ques. What are some of the books I can refer to before pursuing an MA in international relations?

Ans. Some such books are Art of War by Sun Tzu, Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger, Arthashastra by Chanakya, Conflict and Diplomacy by Jaswant Singh & Maj. Gen (RETD) S.P Bhatia.

The major highlights and important aspects of the MA International

Ques. What is the MA in international relations all about?

Ans. MA international relations is all about contemporary international relations, security studies and strategies, regional studies, the formation of public policies and their administration, etc. The