Choosing the right Online MA English programme requires comparing universities based on their fees, eligibility, curriculum, recognition, and learning flexibility.
The best online Master of Arts (MA) in English programs in India are offered by top-ranked, UGC-recognized universities providing flexible digital learning and robust curriculam.
Top Online MA English universities in India are:CUTN Online, Chandigarh University Online, Kurukshetra University Online, Bharathidasan University, Andhra University, LPU Online, Mahatma Gandhi University, Sikkim Manipal University, VGU, and IGNOU.
There are different fees per semester or per annum along with other charges like examination charges, registration charges, material cost, or other service charges.
Sometimes there are concessions available in the form of scholarships, early bird discounts, EMI etc.
This guide discusses the top Online Master’s in English courses available in Indian institutes along with their fees, eligibility criteria, course duration, syllabus, admission procedure, and special features.
Top Online MA English Colleges in India 2026
The following is the list of Online MA English programs which will be conducted by UGC-recognized universities in India in 2026.This comparison has been made taking into consideration several factors such as university recognition, programme structure, cost, eligibility criteria, and learner types.
1. CUTN Online - Central University of Tamil Nadu
Location: Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu
Type of university: Government, Central university
Founded year: 2009
Recognitions: UGC-recognized, NAAC A+, NIRF 83, IIRF 16
Online MA English at CUTN
CUTN provides a full-time, credit-based MA English programme through online medium. This programme doesn’t have any pre-defined specializations but includes courses of core English literature along with discipline-related electives and general electives.
Duration: 2 years, 4 semesters
Credits: 70
Total fee: Approximately ₹56,406
Tuition fee: ₹45,152
Additional fees: ₹11,254
Semester 1 fee: ₹18,542
Semester 2 fee: ₹13,288
Entrance exam: No entrance exam is listed for the online programme
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree with English as a major or one of the majors
Minimum marks: 55% for General, 50% for OBC-NCL/EWS, and 45% for SC/ST/PwD
Admission Process
The admission process generally involves:
Completing the online application form
Uploading the required documents
Completing document verification
Paying the applicable programme fee
Receiving admission confirmation
What is Unique About CUTN?
The Phil programme at CUTN blends literature-based education along with translation, communication, teaching, media, and current social topics. It includes a postgraduate diploma exit choice for its participants during their first year. Eligible candidates include teachers, those desirous of becoming NET/SET, communication professionals, and students interested in doing research.
Note: The figure for the fee ₹56,406 must be verified from the CUTN prospectus or official fee structure since the fee structure of CUTN could not be accessed.
2. Chandigarh University Online
Location: Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab
University type: Private University
Recognition: UGC-entitled, NAAC A+
NIRF 2025: 19th among universities
QS 2027: 526th globally and 13th in India
Online MA English at Chandigarh University
The MA English program in Online mode includes British and American literature, literary theory, linguistics, Indian literature, postcolonial literature, Dalit literature, and women’s literature.
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 80
Live sessions: 40+
Regular fee: ₹1,00,000
Early-bird fee: ₹75,000 with the advertised 25% concession
Early-bird semester fee: ₹18,750
Books: ₹10,000 per seat
Entrance exam: None listed
Eligibility: Graduation in any stream, preferably with English, or a BA (Hons.) in English
Admission Process
The process for admission will usually be completed through:
Choosing the MA English Program
Filling up the online form
Making payment of the relevant fee
Providing all the necessary documents
Registration
Key Features
The course offers live learning, exams on demand, and free EMI options. The amount of ₹75,000 is associated with an early bird discount; hence, candidates are advised to verify the fee before admission.
Target audience: For graduates seeking an online programme with live learning sessions.
3. Kurukshetra University Online
Location: Kurukshetra, Haryana
Type of University: Government, State University
Founded: 1956
Accreditation: UGC-entitled, NAAC A++, AICTE-Approved
NIRF 2025: 35th ranked state government university; 101-150 ranked universities
Online MA English at Kurukshetra University
Online MA English is offered by the university along with other postgraduate programs. The course includes fiction, drama, poetry, literature history, and literary periods.
Duration: 2 years
Learning support: 100+ live lectures
Study requirement: Around 8–10 hours per week
Total fee: ₹54,036
Semester 1: ₹14,286
Subsequent semesters: ₹13,250 each
Registration fee: ₹1,000 included
Entrance exam: None
Eligibility: Graduation with at least 50% marks
Relaxation: 47.5% for SC/ST/differently abled candidates
Admission Process
It usually consists of:
Registration through admission portal
Filling up and submitting the form
Uploading the relevant documents
Document verification
Payment of programme fee
Getting registration number
Key Feature
The program is composed of low fees, an NAAC A++ state university, and a syllabus focused on literature.
Ideal for: Those looking for a government university with proper online classes and literature-based courses.
4. Bharathidasan University Online
Location: Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
University type: Government, State University
Recognition: UGC-entitled, NAAC A+
NIRF: 36th
Online MA English at Bharathidasan University
Online MA English is a literary based course program which includes English literature from medieval times to the contemporary era, along with Commonwealth literature, American literature, Shakespeare, literary criticism, and comparative literature.
Duration: Minimum 2 years; maximum 4 years
Total fee: ₹76,000
Year 1: ₹38,500
Year 2: ₹37,500
Examination fee: ₹1,000 per paper
Dissertation fee: ₹2,000
Entrance exam: None
Eligibility: BA in English Literature
Admission Process
The following is normally expected of applicants:
Registration in the admission portal
Upload the necessary documents
Eligibility verification
Payment of fee
Getting the registration number
Key Feature
The curriculum has a great emphasis on English literature and literary studies. But the criteria is much more particular since candidates are supposed to have an undergraduate degree in English Literature.
Suitable for: Students interested in postgraduate education in literature with an appropriate undergraduate background.
5. Andhra University Online
Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
University type: Government, State University
Established: 1926
Recognition: UGC-entitled, NAAC A++
NIRF 2025: Reported as 23rd among universities by one source and 25th by another
Online MA English at Andhra University
The course content includes British poetry, drama, prose, linguistics, literary criticism, American literature, Indian English literature and English Language Teaching.
Duration: 2 years, 4 semesters
Credits: 80
Total fee: ₹19,700
Year 1: ₹10,350
Year 2: ₹9,350
Entrance exam: None listed
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline
Examination format: Online, multiple-choice examinations
Admission Process
Applicants can generally:
Apply through the Andhra Online admission portal
Upload the required documents
Pay the applicable fee
Complete the admission formalities
Important Verification
Applicants should verify the current MA English admission status directly with Andhra University before applying.
6. LPU Online - Lovely Professional University
Location: Phagwara, Punjab
University type: Private University
Recognition: NAAC A++, UGC-DEB entitled
NIRF 2025: 31st among universities
QS ranking: 901–950 globally
Online MA English at LPU
The Online MA English Program by LPU provides study in English literature and allied subjects including electives and dissertation/term paper.
Duration: 4 semesters
Credits: 80
Semester fee: ₹16,400, including a ₹2,000 examination fee
Registration fee: ₹1,000
Approximate total: ₹66,600
Advertised grant: 20%
Entrance exam: None
Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline
Admission Process
Admission usually involves:
Registration along with payment of the registration fee
Submission of the application form
Upload of the necessary documents
Provisional access to LMS
Verification for admission
Important Note
The application form states that 30th September 2026 is the deadline. As the above date is near, applicants need to check whether there has been any extension in the deadline. Application suitable for: Graduate students from various disciplines who are seeking online MA in English from a private institution.
7. Mahatma Gandhi University Online
Location: Kottayam, Kerala
University type: Government, State University
Recognition: UGC-entitled, NAAC A++
NIRF 2024: 37th among universities
Online MA English Language and Literature
Gandhiji University offers an MA program in English Language and Literature from their Center for Distance and Online Education. The course includes literature, theory, translation, language, and current issues.
Duration: 24 months
Semesters: 4
Total fee: ₹72,000
Semester fee: ₹18,000
Application fee: ₹1,000
Examination fee: ₹500 per course
Entrance exam: None
Eligibility
English graduates: 45% in core subjects
Graduates from other language, social science, science, or Oriental Studies backgrounds: 50% in Part I
Programme Features
Students will be able to choose any three electives from various clusters dealing with topics including postcolonial drama, trauma literature, modern European literature and drama, ELT, Translation Studies, and Dalit Studies.
The course also incorporates contemporary topics like theory, gender, and literary studies.
Designed for: English graduates and students of related disciplines who are interested in pursuing a wider literature and language course.
8. Sikkim Manipal University Online
Location: Gangtok, Sikkim
University type: Private University
Recognition: UGC-DEB entitled, NAAC A+
NIRF 2025: 151–200 band
Online MA English at Sikkim Manipal University
The Sikkim Manipal University provides an online Master of Arts (MA) in English program along with other programs like those of Sociology and Political Science. The subjects include American literature, Indian English literature, and environmental/climate change topics.
Duration: 2 years, 4 semesters
Maximum duration: 4 years
Total fee: ₹75,000
Application fee: ₹500
Entrance exam: None
Admission basis: Academic performance
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline with 50% for the general category
Admission Process
Applicants can usually:
Apply online
Pay the application fee
Upload the relevant documents
Pay the programme fee
Undergo the verification procedure
Note: It was not possible to access the official programme page during verification. Hence, it is advisable to confirm the fee and eligibility details from the university itself.
9. Vivekananda Global University Online
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
University type: Private University
Recognition: UGC-entitled, NAAC A+
Online MA English at VGU
Vivekananda Global University’s MA English online course provides live and recorded learning along with on-demand examinations. No specialisations have been mentioned here.
Duration: 24 months
Total fee: ₹72,000
Registration fee: ₹1,000
Entrance exam: None
Admission basis: Merit
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree with at least 50%
Admission Process
The basic procedure includes:
Completing the application form
Payment of the registration fee
Payment of the semester/annual fee
Uploading the necessary documents
Completion of the document verification
Confirmation of the admission
Important: The 50% eligibility requirement was found on an older third-party source and should be confirmed through VGU's current admission information.
10. IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University
Location: New Delhi
University type: Government, Central Open University
Recognition: NAAC A++; UGC-recognised
NIRF 2025: 1st among open universities
MA English at IGNOU
Programme MA English of IGNOU is being provided through the School of Humanities with the programme code of MAEG. This programme was formerly known by the code MEG.
Duration: Minimum 2 years; Maximum 4 years
Total fee: Approximately ₹16,000 to ₹16,700 depending on the prevailing fee structure
Entrance test: None
Eligibility: B.A. degree from a recognised university
Age criteria: No age limit
Specialisation: None
Admission Process
Student admissions are done by students through the IGNOU admission portal. The University follows the January and July intakes.
The last date for the July 2026 admission intake was 31 August 2026, which has already expired as of 28 September 2026.
Key Feature
IGNOU offers an accessible postgraduate programme that has wider eligibility and an affordable programme fee. IGNOU’s approach to learning is quite close to the traditional open and distance learning system.
For: Graduates seeking a flexible, low-cost postgraduate English programme with wider eligibility.
What to Check Before Choosing an Online MA English Programme
Students must confirm the details for admission and the program from the university before they apply.
UGC-DEB eligibility: Ensure that the university and program are eligible for the current academic session.
Current fee structure: Verify the fees for tuition, exams, registration, course materials, thesis, etc.
Eligibility: Find out whether an undergraduate degree in English is a must or whether graduates in any other discipline are eligible to apply.
Admission process: Verify whether the program for MA English is open for admissions for the current session.
Program details: See how the curriculum, electives, thesis, live sessions, exams are structured.
Career/academic plan: If your plan is teaching, UGC-NET, research, or a PhD, make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria from the concerned authority/institution.
Deadline for application: Check the most recent deadline on the official admission website of the university.
Since fees, admission periods, eligibility criteria, and programmes may change, the university’s official website and the latest admissions brochure should be considered the ultimate reference before applying.
Online MA English Fees in India in General
The cost of an Online MA English varies across universities based on the programme structure, duration, and additional charges.
The fees for Online MA English in India can be as low as ₹25,000 and as high as ₹1,00,000 or even higher for the whole period of 2 years, according to the university, fee structure, availability of scholarships, etc. Many online universities have a fee structure either semester-wise or annual, which makes it easier for students to calculate their total fee cost.
CUTN:The total fee for the Online MA English programme at CUTN is ₹56,406. This includes ₹45,152 as tuition fees, ₹4,754 as admission fees, ₹6,000 for study materials, and ₹500 as an alumni fee. The fee for the first semester is ₹18,542, followed by ₹13,288 in the second semester, ₹13,288 in the third semester, and ₹11,288 in the fourth semester. The first-year fee is ₹31,830. Students should confirm the latest fee structure with CUTN before applying, as fees may be revised.
It is important to make sure if the fee mentioned above already includes any additional costs like registration fee, examination fee, learning materials fee, or any other. In addition, some universities offer scholarships, EMI options, or discounts in certain payment methods.
Online MA courses can cost ₹25,000-50,000 as an estimate, while the courses of certain renowned private universities can be ₹75,000-₹1 lakh or even higher.
How to Apply for an Online MA English
The process of applying to an Online MA English program will be completed by applying to the official admission portal provided by the university. The following process is similar for most universities.
Step 1: Eligibility Criteria: Verify your degree, marks, English language subject requirements, and category-specific criteria.
Step 2: University and Course Selection: Analyze curriculum, fees, mode of learning, recognition status, and schedule of admissions before applying.
Step 3: Registration for Admissions: Register for admissions on the university website using your basic details including mobile number and email id.
Step 4: Filling up of Application Form: Fill in all personal, academic, and other details in the form correctly.
Step 5: Document Upload: Attach documents related to your graduation marksheets, degree certificate, identity proof, photographs, and category certificate, if any.
Step 6: Payment of Fees: Make the necessary payment of fees using the payment options available online.
Step 7: Document Verification: The university verifies your application documents and details provided.
Step 8: Confirmation of Admission: Get confirmed admission once your application is accepted and payment of fees is done.
Tip: Always apply through the university's official admission portal and check the latest admission deadline, fee structure, eligibility criteria, and document requirements before submitting the application.
Conclusion
The universities in India that offer Online MA English courses include Central University of Tamil Nadu Online. It is one of the best universities for students who want to join an Online MA English course in a government university, which is also literature based and follows a postgraduate curriculum through online studies.
Students may also consider other options like Chandigarh University, Kurukshetra University, Bharathidasan University, Andhra University, LPU, and IGNOU depending upon their fees, eligibility, curriculum, format of study, and requirements. The latest information about a program can be found on the official website of the university.
