The Masters in foreign languages program is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after post-graduate specializations in India. Several reputed Indian universities (both government and private) now are offering full-time degree courses. Let’s find out Why, How, When, and Which College and University to consider for MA in Foreign Language!
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About the Master’s Degree Program
A Master of Arts (MA) in foreign languages is a two-year full-time post-graduate degree program offered by several Indian Universities. The program focuses on the intensive study of different foreign tongues, along with the culture, tradition, literature, and history of the country in which they originate.
The minimum eligibility for admission is the successful completion of a bachelor program as well as the prior knowledge of the corresponding language. The educational calendar usually starts in July or August, whereas the admission procedure begins well in advance (about 2-6 months) of the commencement of the academic session.
Career Options and Job Prospects
The myriad advantages of language learning are undeniable. The globalization of the world economy and business, frequent cultural activities, cross-border communication, easy access to entertainment sources have led to an unprecedented demand for language specialists in India.
The governments of many nations are also proactively involved in springing up, improving, and expanding relationships and cultural ties with India to maximize the untapped potential. The net result of all these stimulated interest in various foreign tongues.
Now many Indians, hopeful for a more desirable career, immigration abroad for employment or higher education, and brighter futures, are acquiring a new foreign language. It is imperative to say that you can’t afford to miss the fulfilling Journey of language acquisition. Do you?
Why do a Masters Degree at Universities?
Of all the educational institutions and types of language courses, why pursue a Master’s Degree program at any College or University? Let’s browse for four significant reasons.
1. Only University can offer Master Degrees
If you wish to learn a foreign language, you can choose one of the many educational institutions. Once you complete a course, you will get a certificate or diploma. In most cases, it is tangible documentation of your efforts and knowledge.
You, however, still won’t get a master’s degree even if you’ve achieved a superior competency level since only UGC or/and AICTE-approved University can award an MA degree in India. Not only you will become a master in your field, but it will also open the path of doctorate research (M.Phil. and Ph.D.) and beneficial for many jobs where the preference is available to those who hold a post-graduate qualification.
2. The Pocket-friendly University fee
Believe it or not, it is indeed possible to pursue Masters in foreign languages on a budget!
We all know the expensive cost of studying at any private learning centers and the embassy’s language schools. The public University, on the contrary, provides quality foreign language teaching at an affordable fee. It is only possible since the Central or State Government partly or fully fund them. There is seldom any other cost that would worry you.
3. The Multi-disciplinary context
After my engagement with multiple languages for 14 years, I can boldly say that without understanding the culture aspect, history, and etymologies of the language, it is tough to master a new lingo. The culture-free language learning approach would never enable you to dive deep and become an acknowledged linguist or expert.
The good thing is all Masters in foreign languages program offer a foreign tongue through a multi-disciplinary context. It enables us to develop a strong foundation of the language, knowledge of the history, culture, and literature of the chosen language of study.
4. Events, Exchange Program, and Scholarship
Each University organizes a host of extracurricular activities throughout the year. It ranges from cultural events, workshops, discussions, music, and movie shows. Besides, you can attend many seminars and conferences where eminent researchers, faculties, foreign delegates, intellectuals help students enriching on-campus learning experience.
Understanding the significance of international experience, many Indian Universities have collaborations and Memorandum of Understanding with leading foreign universities across the globe for exchange programs. Moreover, many universities also offer scholarships to meritorious students and the opportunity to study abroad.
Which Foreign Language to Choose?
Can’t decide which foreign language to take up? Luckily, if you thoughtfully weigh the value available with different tongues you’re fascinated in, it will usually become evident, which is the most suitable for you.
Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Persian are the eight in-demand language choices among graduates looking for master programs at Indian University. On the other hand, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, and Pashto are the least taught languages at the post-graduate level.
Top Universities with Masters in Foreign Languages
From translators and interpreters to teaching and embassy jobs, a career involving traveling, jobs in MNC, people with Masters in Foreign Languages can use their expertise in a variety of areas.
All these is reflected in the growing number of students seeking access to various language courses in Indian Colleges and Universities. Anticipating to the rising career opportunities in languages, many universities striving to make its studies useful to the professional world began offering masters in foreign languages.
| S.No | University | MA is Offered in following Languages |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jawahar Lal Nehru University (LINK) | MA in Pashto, Arabic, Russian, French, German, Persian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. |
| 2. | Delhi University (LINK) | MA in Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, and Persian. |
| 3. | Mumbai Univesity (LINK) | French, German, Russian, Arabic, and Persian. |
| 4. | Pune University (LINK) | MA in Spanish, French, German, and Russian. |
| 5. | EFLU, Hyderabad (LINK) | French, German, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Japanese. |
| 6. | BHU (LINK) | Arabic, Persian, French, Chinese, Russian, and German. |
| 7. | Jamia Millia Islamia (LINK) | Arabic and Persian. |
| 8. | Visva Bharati University (LINK) | MA in Italian, French, German, Russian, Persian, Japanese, Chinese, and Indo-Tibetan. |
| 9. | Aligarh Muslim University (LINK) | Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish and Persian. |
| 10. | Goa University (LINK) | MA in Portuguese and French. |
| 11. | Doon University (LINK) | MA in Spanish, Chinese, German, Japanese, and French. |
| 12. | Pondicherry University (LINK) | French (Translation and Interpretation). |
| 13. | Madras University (LINK) | French. |
| 14. | Bengaluru University (LINK) | MA in Japanese, German, French, and Spanish. |
| 15. | Central University of Gujarat (LINK) | MA in German and Chinese. |
| 16. | Central University of Jharkhand (LINK) | MA in Korean, Chinese and Tibetan Studies. |
| 17. | Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (LINK) | MA in Japanese. |
| 18. | Kolkata University (LINK) | Arabic, Persian, French, and Russian. |
| 19. | Panjab University (LINK) | Russian, French, and Buddhist and Tibetan Studies. |
| 20. | Sri Krishna University (LINK) | Foreign Languages (German, French, Spanish, Russian). |
| 21. | Madurai Kamraj Univesity (LINK) | MA in French. |
| 22. | Assam University (LINK) | Arabic and French. |
| 23. | Osmania University (LINK) | MA in Persian and Arabic. |
| 24. | Rajasthan University (LINK) | French. |
| 25. | Karnataka University (LINK) | MA in German and Persian. |
| 26. | Kerala University (LINK) | Arabic, German, and Russian. |
| 27. | Lucknow University (LINK) | MA in Russian, Arabic, French, and Persian. |
| 28. | IIS University (LINK) | French. |
| 29. | KMCPGS (LINK) | French. |
| 30. | Chandernagore College (LINK) | French. |
| 31. | University of Calicut (LINK) | Arabic and Russian. |
| 32. | Maharaja’s College (LINK) | Arabic. |
| 33. | The New College (LINK) | MA in Arabic. |
| 34. | Patna University (LINK) | MA in Persian and Arabic. |
| 35. | APS University (LINK) | MA in Russian. |
| 36. | Jiwaji University (LINK) | French. |
| 37. | OPJS University (LINK) | French. |
| 38. | Amity University (LINK) | MA in French. |
| 39. | Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (LINK) | French, German, Russian and Persian. |
| 40. | Mysore University (LINK) | Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. |
| 41. | Jamal Mohamed College (LINK) | MA in Arabic. |
| 42. | RTM Nagpur University (LINK) | Arabic and Persian. |
| 43. | Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal (LINK) | Arabic and Persian. |
| 44. | Sanchi University of Buddhist (LINK) | MA in Chinese and Buddhist Studies. |
| 45. | Sikkim University (LINK) | MA in Mandarin Chinese. |
While you have plenty of languages to choose for Masters in Foreign Languages. The MA in Italian, Portuguese, Pashto, and Korean are available only in 2, 1, 1, 2 University, respectively. Currently, there is no Univerity with an MA course in Turkish, Dutch, Bahasa Indonesian, etc.
Some of these universities have been covered in detail — (i) JNU Language Admission (ii) BHU Foreign Language (iii) DU Language courses (iv) JMI Language Classes (v) Visva Bharati University (vi) SOFL – IGNOU (vii) EFL University (viii) MU Foreign Language (ix) Pune University (x) Panjab University (xi) Kolkata University (xii) Bangalore University (xiii) Goa University.
How to Get Admission for MA in Foreign Languages?
Have you been pondering to take admission in top Universities with an MA in foreign languages? But you don’t know how to get admission? Let’s explore in detail.
1. Eligibility Criteria
The minimum requirement is candidates should have finished their graduation of a three years Bachelor’s degree (10+2+3) from a recognized educational institution. As per the criterion set by the University for masters in foreign languages, the applicant requires having at least 50% to 60% aggregate at the graduation level.
In addition to a Bachelor’s degree, applicants also need to have a requisite background in the respective foreign language to pass the entrance test. For example, a BA or Advanced Diploma in the same language or B2/C1 of the language proficiency exams will enable you to crack the examination.
2. Entrance Exam / Admission Procedure
Few Universities like JNU, CUJ, CUG, and Doon offers a full time five-year integrated courses in various languages. The students also get an option to exit after three years of graduation and gain a bachelor’s degree. Besides, those having requisite knowledge in the corresponding language may still opt for lateral entry at the two-year Master’s level through an entrance exam.
The entrance test is a vital part of the admission process. Most Universities take students according to scores obtained in the entrance examination. Moreover, few also conduct viva-voce or personal interviews. Some even offer direct entry based on marks secured in the bachelor in foreign languages or equivalent proficiency in the same language.
3. Dates
Although the academic term to these programs starts in July or August, the admission process starts 2-6 months well in advance.
First, apply online on the official website by submitting the form and fee. Then after a month or two, the University declares the dates for the joint or common entrance test. Based on the cut-off or merit-list of the result and seats available, you finally get the admission.
4. Syllabus for the entrance test
The written test will be conducted in the same language. The syllabus of the University’s entrance exam for the Masters in Foreign Languages is typically the curriculum of BA. The questions comprise topics related to grammar, translation, and literature, society, current affairs, economic, political spheres, history, the culture of the language origin country.
Those who qualify will also have to take the viva-voce. Depending on the University, the test paper can be objective or subjective type questions. In recent years, few universities have started the computer-based test by replacing traditional paper-pen.
5. Fees
While the fees vary from University to University, it usually is affordable. Indian government establishments of higher studies have lower tuition fees and provide hostel, food, access to the library, and other miscellaneous things at negligible prices. After getting the admission, you never have to bother about the cost.
Final Words
The ability to speak a new language opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Picking an MA course is a significant commitment. But if you do that, there are no limits to the opportunities you could have.
I hope this article helped you in finding the relevant information. This may not be an exhaustive list. I will update this post from time to time. If I missed one of the Colleges or Universities with Masters in Foreign languages or if you have any questions, let me know in the comment section below.
