IIT Hyderabad MA Development Studies: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. IIT Hyderabad’s MA in Development Studies is a two-year postgraduate programme under the Department of Liberal Arts. The programme is interdisciplinary, drawing from sociology, economics, political science, and anthropology to build analytical frameworks for understanding development challenges in contemporary India and the global South. Core coursework includes theories of development, governance, globalization, environmental sociology, and research methods. A six-credit internship and a 14-credit dissertation in the final semester give students direct research and fieldwork exposure.

Ans. The total programme fee for MA Development Studies at IITH is INR 2,86,000 for the two-year, four-semester duration. This consolidated amount covers tuition and institute fees across all four semesters. A refundable caution deposit of INR 6,000 is collected separately at the time of admission. SC/ST students are eligible for a full tuition fee waiver. Students from economically weaker sections may also apply for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship of INR 1,000 per month if parental income is below INR 4.5 Lakhs.

Ans. No CUET, JAM, or any national standardized entrance test is required for MA Development Studies at IITH. Admission is through a two-stage process: a written test covering logical reasoning, data interpretation, economics, sociology, and English, followed by a personal interview with the Department of Liberal Arts selection committee. The final merit list is based on the combined score of both components. Selected candidates complete document verification and hostel registration before the programme commences.

Ans. The MA Development Studies curriculum at IITH covers development theory, governance, globalization, environmental sociology, political economy, research methods, and gender studies. The interdisciplinary structure draws from economics, sociology, political science, and anthropology. A mandatory six-credit internship in the second year places students with civil society organisations, government departments, or development research institutions for fieldwork. The final 14-credit dissertation is supervised by faculty from the Department of Liberal Arts at IITH.

Ans. Graduates of MA Development Studies from IITH can pursue careers in development consulting, policy research, programme evaluation, and social sector management at NGOs, government agencies, multilateral organisations, and think tanks. The IIT Liberal Arts Department’s research culture also prepares students for PhD programmes in development studies, sociology, political science, or economics at Indian and international universities. Alumni have joined UN bodies, state government departments, civil society networks, and private sector CSR functions across India.

Ans. SC students may apply for the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes through the UGC portal, which provides INR 31,000 per month as Junior Research Fellow and INR 35,000 as Senior Research Fellow for postgraduate studies. All SC/ST students enrolled in the MA programme are eligible for a full tuition fee waiver at IITH. Gen/OBC-NCL/EWS students with parental income below INR 4.5 Lakhs can apply for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship of INR 1,000 per month, subject to maintaining a minimum CGPA each semester.