Fees
Fees at the University of Calcutta for the Master of Commerce (M.Com) program involve an annual tuition fee of approximately Rs. 1,200. The admission fee is around Rs. 800, and the tuition fee is approximately Rs. 600, payable every six months. Semester examination fees are Rs. 150. Students can avail themselves of scholarships, such as the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship, which offers Rs.
24,000 in the first year, with potential renewal for the second year based on academic performance. Additionally, specific scholarships are available for SC/ST categories, subject to eligibility criteria. The program adheres to a consistent fee structure across all categories, maintaining affordability while providing substantial scholarship opportunities.
About Master of Arts [MA]
Calcutta University's MA program runs across 26 disciplines offered directly by University PG departments, plus 35 more subject-college combinations at 22 affiliated UG colleges under the Faculty of Arts, Commerce, Education, Journalism & Library Science - alongside three more MA-eligible disciplines (Psychology, Applied Psychology, Geography) offered through the Faculty of Science. Admission runs via two separate, independently scheduled application windows: one for Arts/Commerce/Library Science courses, another for Science-faculty courses. Total intake across the university-run Arts & Commerce courses alone exceeds 3,400 seats, making it one of the largest PG admission cycles in West Bengal.
📋 Admission Status:
- Arts & Commerce faculty admissions have completed Phase-1 and 2 selection; Phase-3 document verification scheduled for 3-4 August 2026. Classes commencing 5 August 2026.
- Science faculty admissions (including Psychology, Applied Psychology, Geography) closed their online admission window on 31 July 2026, with classes tentatively starting the first week of August 2026.
Key Points
- Entrance Test is mandatory for nearly all candidates, in both Part-A (CU current-year students) and Part-B (CU + Non-CU, current and back years to 2022) categories.
- Science faculty entrance moved from Computer-Based Test to Pen-Paper mode for 2026 after being originally notified as CBT.
- 80% of seats are available for the regular 2-year MA program, while 20% are reserved for students seeking direct admission to the second year after completing a 4-year Honours with Research degree.
- The Arts/Commerce admission cycle and the Science-faculty cycle run on separate schedules, separate portals sections, and separate helpdesks, even though both fall under caluniv-ucsta.net.
Calcutta University MA Fees 2026
Fees are paid at the time of admission and cover the first semester (Jul-Dec 2026) plus annual charges - not the full 2-year cost, since tuition continues each subsequent semester.
Arts, Commerce, Education, Journalism & Library Science faculty
| Course Group | Total Fees at Admission |
|---|---|
| Groups 301-318, 322-326 (Bengali, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Commerce, Languages, etc.) | INR 2,840 |
| Groups 319-321 (Education, Archaeology, Museology - lab-based) | INR 4,640 |
Science faculty (Psychology, Applied Psychology, Geography)
| Semester | Total Fees at Admission |
|---|---|
| 1st Semester (Admission fee + Tuition + Lab + 2-year Library + Session charge + ID card) | INR 5,995 |
| 2nd to 4th Semester (each) | INR 4,520 |
Application fee (both faculties): INR 1,000 for Unreserved/OBC-A/OBC-B, INR 500 for SC/ST/PWD, per group, non-refundable.
Calcutta University MA Admission 2026
| Event | Science Faculty | Arts & Commerce Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| Application Window | May 11 - 20, 2026 (Extended to June 17, 2026) | May 11 - 20, 2026 (Extended to July 02, 2026) |
Entrance Test |
July 14 - 17, 2026 (Subject-wise schedule) |
English: July 09, 2026 (2:00 - 3:15 PM) Journalism & Mass Communication: July 09, 2026 (4:00 - 5:15 PM) |
| Entrance Test Result | July 20, 2026 | - |
1st Selection List |
July 27, 2026 (Part-A & Part-B) |
Part-A: July 20, 2026 Part-B (English & JMC): July 23, 2026 |
| Last Date of Admission | July 31, 2026 (Extended) | July 25, 2026 |
| Commencement of Classes | Tentatively 1st Week of August 2026 | August 05, 2026 |
Psychology (Group 205) and Geography (Group 215) entrance tests were both scheduled for July 15, 2026.
MA Specialisations & Seat Matrix
Here is the data for the top 10 popular MA courses offered by the Faculty of Arts & Commerce:
| Course | Group No. | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Bengali | 301 | 385 |
| English | 302 | 245 |
| Economics | 314 | 235 |
| Political Science | 317 | 235 |
| Philosophy | 316 | 150-235 |
| History | 315 | 168 |
| Sanskrit | 303 | 169 |
| Education | 319 | 132 |
| Journalism & Mass Communication | 312 | 60 |
| Sociology | 318 | 60 |
Faculty of Science (M.A/M.Sc dual-eligible)
| Course | Group No. | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 205 | 34+2+3 |
| Applied Psychology | 205 | 34+2+3 |
| Geography | 215 | 97+6+10 |
Eligibility Criteria
- CU and Non-CU graduates with Honours/Single Major are eligible if they have passed or appeared in Semester 5 (CCF 2026).
- Candidates who completed a 3-year Hons. degree (CBCS or 1+1+1 system) by 2022 are also eligible.
- Arts & Commerce: Minimum 4.0 CGPA in the 3-year Honours/Single Major programme or at least 120 credits with 50% marks in Core/Major courses.
- Science: Minimum 50% marks in the Honours/Major subject at graduation.
- PG degree holders, General/MDC graduates, and candidates with Core Vocational Honours are not eligible for Arts & Commerce PG programs.
- BA/B.Sc General and MDC (Multi-Disciplinary Course) graduates are not eligible for Science PG programs.
- Candidates must have a clear marksheet with no fail or arrear/backlog in any semester.
Admission Process
| Admission Stage | Arts & Commerce Faculty | Science Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Distribution | 80% seats for regular PG program; 20% for lateral entry | All seats under the regular PG |
| Part A | 60% of 80% seats for current-year CU students | 60% of total seats for current-year CU/CU Autonomous College graduates |
| Part B | 40% of 80% seats for CU & Non-CU candidates (graduates up to 2022) | 40% of total seats for current & previous-year CU/Non-CU graduates (up to the last 4 years) |
| Entrance Test | 50 MCQs, 100 marks, 1 hour | 50 MCQs, 100 marks, 1 hour (Except Group 230: 100 questions, 3 hours) |
| Entrance Test Mode | Computer-Based Test | Pen-Paper Mode (2026) |
| Interview | Applicable for multidisciplinary courses | Not Applicable |
| Merit Preparation (Part A) | 50% Entrance Test + 50% Hons./Major marks (up to Semester 5) | 50% Entrance Test + 50% Hons./Major marks (up to Semester 5) |
| Merit Preparation (Part B) | Entrance Test marks only | Entrance Test marks only |
| Additional Requirement | - | *Non-CU candidates may need degree equivalence approval before fee payment |
*Not applicable to regular graduates from West Bengal universities
Reservation Categories
- SC 22%, ST 6%, OBC-A 10%, OBC-B 7% of total seats, with an additional 10% supernumerary seats reserved for EWS candidates.
- PwD: 5% horizontal reservation in each category (UR, SC, ST, OBC-A, and OBC-B).
- Sports Quota: 8 seats in the Faculties of Arts, Education, Journalism & Library Science, and 4 seats in the Faculty of Commerce & Social Welfare.
- Military Quota: 5 seats for children of ex-servicemen killed or disabled in action.
- Foreign Quota: 15% supernumerary seats, including 5% reserved for children of Indian workers in Gulf countries.
- West Bengal domicile is mandatory to claim reservation under SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD categories.
✓ Opt for this if
- You graduated from a CU-affiliated college and can use the merit-based Part A route for easier admission
- You want access to rare specializations like Museology or Buddhist Studies at a total cost of INR 14,650
- You plan to sit UGC-NET or UPSC after M.A and want CU’s widely recognised academic credential
✗ Skip if
- You need strong private-sector placement infrastructure for humanities graduates
- You prefer a centralized entrance process like CUET PG rather than the CU-specific exam
- You want a smaller, more research-intensive cohort as offered at Presidency University
Calcutta University MA Scholarships 2026
M.A students at University of Calcutta can access government scholarships based on merit, financial need, and reserved category.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | INR 12,000/year | 60% in graduation and family income below INR 2.5 LPA | 31 July 2026 |
| WB Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC | As per government norms | SC/ST/OBC students in higher education in West Bengal | As per oasis.gov.in |
| ICSSR Junior Research Fellowship | INR 25,000/month | M.A graduates qualifying ICSSR research fellowship in social sciences | As notified by ICSSR |
- Scholarship amounts are subject to annual revision.
- Apply through official portals for current eligibility.
Calcutta University MA FAQs
Ques. What is the difference between the Part A and Part B admission routes for CU M.A?
Ans. For Arts & Commerce, Part A covers 60% of the regular 80% seats and is open only to current-year CU students. Part B covers the remaining 40% of the regular seats and is open to CU and Non-CU candidates (current year and graduates up to 2022). For Science, Part A includes 60% of total seats for current-year CU/CU Autonomous College graduates, while Part B includes 40% of total seats for current-year and previous-year CU and Non-CU graduates (up to the last four years). In both faculties, Part A merit is based on 50% Entrance Test score and 50% Honours/Major marks, whereas Part B merit is based only on the Entrance Test score.
Ques. How useful is an M.A from University of Calcutta for UGC-NET preparation?
Ans. A CU M.A is well-recognised for UGC-NET eligibility. The curriculum in subjects like English, Bengali, History, Economics, and Geography aligns with NET syllabi, and many CU M.A graduates have cleared the exam. Faculty in key departments have strong publication records, which can help if you seek academic mentorship during NET preparation. The university’s library resources and research culture also support self-study for the exam.
Ques. What careers are available after M.A in Museology or Archaeology at CU?
Ans. Museology graduates from CU find roles in government museums, heritage trusts, archival departments, and cultural foundations. Kolkata’s concentration of institutions like the Indian Museum and the Victoria Memorial creates direct employment proximity. Archaeology graduates pursue careers with the Archaeological Survey of India, state archaeology departments, and heritage NGOs. Both streams also lead to PhD fellowships and research positions at national and international institutions.
Ques. Can candidates from outside West Bengal qualify through the CU PG entrance exam?
Ans. Yes. Non-CU candidates from recognised universities can apply under Part B and compete through the CU PG Entrance Test. However, candidates seeking reservation under SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD categories must possess a West Bengal domicile. Non-CU candidates admitted to Science faculty programmes may also need degree equivalence approval before the university activates the fee payment link.
Ques. Is an M.A from University of Calcutta recognised for UPSC Civil Services eligibility?
Ans. Yes. A postgraduate degree from the University of Calcutta is a recognised qualification for higher education and competitive examinations. The university offers M.A. programmes in popular UPSC-related subjects such as History, Political Science, Economics, Philosophy, Sociology, Bengali, English, and Geography, making it a suitable choice for candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination alongside their postgraduate studies.