NIT Rourkela MA Development Studies: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or 5.5 CGPA in the qualifying degree. No CUET or any national entrance exam is required. Admission is through NITR merit selection based on qualifying examination marks. Honours degree holders with 55% or 6.0 CGPA are preferred during shortlisting at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Ans. Total fees for General and OBC candidates are INR 1,18,500, covering tuition (INR 30,000), mandatory hostel seat rent and hall establishment fees (INR 40,000), academic charges including examination, library, activity, and medical fees (INR 28,000), one-time fees (INR 10,500), and a refundable caution deposit (INR 10,000). SC/ST scholars pay INR 88,500 as tuition is fully waived. Mess advance of INR 30,000 per semester is payable separately at the hostel.

Ans. SC/ST candidates receive a full tuition fee waiver worth INR 30,000 over two years, reducing total fees to INR 88,500. Need-based financial assistance is also available through the Institute Welfare Committee for students with family income below the prescribed threshold. Unlike M.Tech GATE scholars, MA students do not receive a monthly stipend, making the SC/ST waiver the primary institutional support for financially constrained candidates at NIT Rourkela.

Ans. Graduates work in government ministries, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and corporate social responsibility divisions in roles such as programme officer, policy analyst, research associate, and social impact consultant. The department runs over 41 sponsored projects in public health, environmental governance, and community studies, giving students practical research exposure. Graduates also apply for PhD programmes at IITs, IIMs, or abroad in development economics, public health, and policy studies.

Ans. The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences runs over 41 sponsored research projects covering environmental governance, community evaluation, mental health, and public health nutrition. A UNICEF-funded Centre of Excellence in Public Health Nutrition on campus provides structured research training for enrolled students. Competitive fellowship pathways including Gandhi Fellowship, Teach for India, and NHRC internship projects are accessible to MA scholars and add significant value to a development studies career.

Ans. NIT Rourkela’s Training and Placement Cell primarily serves engineering and management students. MA Development Studies graduates are encouraged to leverage faculty research networks and the department’s project partnerships with public health bodies and governance organisations. Students who participate in the UNICEF-affiliated nutrition projects or faculty-led sponsored research build profiles that are well regarded by multilateral organisations, development-sector NGOs, and research institutes for entry-level and fellowship roles.