MA Culture and Media Studies: Admission, College, Syllabus, Jobs, Salary

Mohit Dhulia
Updated on December 28, 2023

A full-time postgraduate program in MA Culture and Media Studies lasts two years, including four semesters.

To qualify for this program, a candidate must have graduated with a degree in one of the following streams: arts, performing arts, fine arts, social science, or communication technology. Students from different streams are welcome to apply, but they must have at least two years of relevant professional experience in the media (print or digital).

Although certain institutions may hold entrance examinations or require applicants to take an All India Entrance Examination, admission to the MA in Culture and Media Studies program is determined by merit.

For those who want to enroll in this course, there are numerous job options.

MA Culture and Media Studies: Course Highlights

Course Level	Masters
Full-Form	Master of Arts [MA] (Culture and Media studies)
Duration	2 years (Full time)
Examination Type	Semester-wise
Eligibility	Graduate with a degree in arts, social science, performing arts or communication technology streams. Graduates from other streams must have work experience minimum of 2 years in media.
Admission	Entrance Exam
Average Tuition Fee	INR 50,000 – 2,00,000
Average Salary	INR 3-10 LPA
Job Positions	Manager, Production Head, Operation Executive, Art director, Public relations Manager, Photographer, Advertising strategist, content planner, Relationship manager

MA Culture and Media Studies: Admission Process

The admission exam is administered by individual institutes. Candidates must verify the dates of the entrance exam on the institute’s official website and submit their applications online.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ (TISSNET) admissions test for MA Culture and Media Studies is the most well-known.

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MA Culture and Media Studies: Eligibility Criteria

The prerequisite for enrolling in an MA course in culture and media studies is that

The applicant must have completed their undergraduate studies in one of the following fields: arts, performing arts, fine arts, social science, or communication technology.
Students from different streams are welcome to apply, but they must have at least two years of relevant professional experience in the media (print/digital).
The university or college from which the graduate degree was earned must be UGC-recognized.
Additionally, the student must have earned at least 50% of the required marks to graduate.

MA Culture and Media Studies: Entrance Exams

The candidate who will take the TISSNET entrance exam in 2022 will find the updates below to be of great use.

Entrance Exam	TISSNET
Date of Examination	February 20, 2021 – Saturday
Last date for registration	February 19, 2020
Result announcement	TBA

MA Culture and Media Studies: How to Prepare for Entrance Exams?

Knowing the specific goals, topics, and fundamental format of the test is the best method to ace any entrance exam.

The following details will be very helpful in getting ready for the entrance exam:

The three different sections on the test are general awareness, mathematics and logical reasoning, and proficiency in English.
Assessing usage and understanding abilities is the primary goal of the general awareness section.
Mathematical analysis and logical reasoning’s main goal is to evaluate a person’s ability to think quantitatively and logically.
Assessing one’s understanding of national advancement, sociopolitical issues, and current affairs is the fundamental goal of English proficiency testing.

General awareness	Art & Culture, Indian History, Sports, Science & Technology, Environment, Social Studies, Politics
Mathematics & logical reasoning	Basic Trigonometry, Basic Statistics, Basic Arithmetic, Basic Geometry, Number Series, Data interpretation, Logical reasoning
English proficiency	Synonyms & Antonyms, Word Choice, Sentence correction, Odd-one-out, Analogies, Grammar, Verbal reasoning, Reading comprehension

MA Culture and Media Studies: How to Get Admission to Good College?

The greatest advice for obtaining admission to any college or institution is provided below.

Admission to MA programmes in culture and media studies is done through entrance tests like TISSNET. Additionally, some institutions hold their own entrance examination.
If a candidate is truly committed to enrolling in the MA Culture and Media studies programme, he or she must never compromise on preparation for the entrance exam.
The applicant must make certain that he or she has submitted an application to the chosen institute by the deadline.
Get ready for the final round of the entrance selection process, the group discussion and the personal interview.

MA Culture and Media Studies: What is it About?

The main goal of the MA programme in Culture and Media Studies is to enhance the many research projects that are being conducted and the specialised skills of media production.

By effectively using analytical tools that are derived from cultural and communication practices, the MA in Culture and Media Studies will explore the broad concepts of cultural studies and media studies that support the individual in understanding the cultural dynamics of the society in relation to contemporary theory.
By effectively utilising case studies, the student in this course will be able to concentrate on cultural behaviours.
Analyzing recommended archives, documentation, and other carefully managed and preserved cultural records is part of this process.
All of this will be carried out under the direction of a knowledgeable and effective faculty, who will also instruct students in research methodology.

Why Study MA Culture and Media Studies?

The students must participate in field training programmes and practical sessions during the course of the two-year curriculum to strengthen their skills. However, theory sessions are also crucial since they aid in understanding the fundamental principles and structures that shape cultural tendencies.

In a word, the key study areas for the entire semester are Culture, Journalism, Media, Production, Society, Politics, Communication, Heritage, Advertising, Public Relations, New Media, etc.
video production is among the media industry’s training programmes. research, writing, editing, camera, and sound direction.
The students are required to create short films and documentaries that showcase the diversity, ethnicity, and culture of the various locations.
Additionally, the course improves the students’ fundamental proficiency in radio, web, and graphic design.
For those students who pursue an MA in Culture and Media studies, there are numerous job options.

MA Culture and Media Studies: Course Comparison

Any applicant who wants to pursue a profession in media, culture, journalism, or communication must enrol in an educational programme that encourages them to advance their knowledge and abilities.

The MA in Culture and Media Studies and the MA in Journalism and Mass Communication are being compared here based on many criteria.

Parameters	MA Culture and Media studies	MA Journalism and Mass Communication
Overview	The program MA Culture and Media studies core focus is to advance the speciality skills of media production and various researches were undertaken.	MA Journalism and Mass Communication course study comprise expertise in Print Media, Advertising & Public Relations, Electronic media, New Media, and Event Management.
Duration	2 Years	2 Years
Eligibility	Graduate with a degree in arts, social science, performing arts or communication technology streams.	Graduate completing 3 years or 4 years program Diploma holders are not accepted
Admission Process	Merit & Entrance Exam conducted at the university or institute level Eg., TISSNET	Merit & Entrance Exam conducted at the university or institute level
Top Colleges	The Central University Of Rajasthan, Tata Institute of Social Sciences [TISS], Utkal University of Culture	Amity University, MGM College of Journalism and Mass Communication, SRM University
Job Roles	Manager, Production Head, Operation Executive, Art director, Public relations Manager, Photographer, Advertising strategist, content planner, Relationship manager	Journalist, Reporter, News, Anchor, RJ/VJ, Media Planner, PRO, Event Manager
Average Fee	INR 1,00,000	INR 80,000
Average Salary	INR 5,00,000	INR 3,70,000

MA Culture and Media Studies: Top Colleges

Name of the top Colleges	Average Fee	Average Package
Central University Of Rajasthan	INR 6,000	INR 5,00,000
Tata Institute of Social Sciences [TISS], Mumbai	INR 30,000	INR 6,00,000
Utkal University of Culture, Odisha	INR 10,000	INR 2,00,000

MA Culture and Media Studies: College Comparison

Parameter	Tata Institute of Social Sciences [TISS], Mumbai	Central University Of Rajasthan
Overview	Standing tall TISS, Mumbai shelters 21 schools, 45 centres and 8 independent centres. TISS offers Masters, Doctoral, Bachelor’s, Short term, Online and distance learning programs.	Spread across 550 acres of campus with 2000+ student strength, the Central University of Rajasthan shelters 29 professional departments inclusive of 50+ master’s and PhD research programs.
NIRF Rank	49	34
Average Fee	INR 30,000	INR 6,000
Average package	INR 6,00,000	INR 5,00,000
Placements	UPSRLM (technical partner – AFC), Jubilant Life, Eco Eye, Social and Community, Initiatives Wipro Limited, American India Foundation Trust	HCL Tech, TCS, Care India, Curaj, Hiremee

MA Culture and Media Studies: Syllabus

The curriculum includes topics including journalism, media, and cultural studies. In this course, candidates receive both theoretical and practical knowledge. The candidates are additionally instructed in:

Television
Media
Film Production
Photography
Culture

MA Culture and Media Studies: Important Books

The following notable books, which are listed below, can be used as references for MA students in Culture and Media Studies:

Name of the Book	Author
History of the Subaltern Classes, and The Concept of Ideology	Gramsci, Antonio
Postmodernism and Popular Culture,	McRobbie, A.
Mass Communication & Journalism in India	D S Mehta
International Communication	N. Prabhakar & N. Basu, Commonwealth publishers, New Delhi.
Mastering Digital SLR photography – 3rd edition	David Busch
Colour and Color Theories	Christine Franklin, Harcourt, NY
Composition and Rendering	A Thornton Bishop, John Vile & Sons, NY
Introduction to Documentary	Nichols, B

MA Culture and Media Studies: Job Profiles

For those students who pursue an MA in Culture and Media studies, there are numerous job options. The following job profiles have the most impact on where the students are placed:

Job Profile	Description	Average Annual Salary
Art Director	Responsible for video production Must maintain all the details in regards to pre-production and post-production	INR 6,61,678
Journalist	Takes up issues related to public concerns and Reports them to the mass audience via print or electronic media	INR 3,70,608
Public Relations	Must be the voice of an organization and communication effectively as the face of a brand	INR 5,92,951
Photographer	Must be technically sound and must be able to convey a brand message in a single photo. Photo manipulation is an added skill	INR 3,87,321
Content planner	Must have sound knowledge of branding Must be able to plan and create effective content which would result in brand success.	INR 5,19,335

MA Culture and Media Studies: Future Scope

The student has two options after finishing the MA course in Culture and Media Studies: either look for employment or continue their education. Higher education courses include the following: