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Kamaldeep
11 May, 2024
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“The unfortunate yet truly exciting thing about your life is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.” – Jon Stewart.
Congratulations! If you are considering going for a PG course or wish to know about it, welcome yourself to endless coffee intakes and an infinite pool of knowledge. Gone are the times when being a graduate was enough. Today, the competition has become so intense that most sectors prefer candidates with a PG programme for different job roles across various industries. But are you wondering what “PG” means in the context of education? PG stands for post-graduation, a master’s-level programme pursued after graduation.
PG programmes are a different tale. The two-year-long master’s level programme is a thrilling journey that takes learners on an adventure of advanced theories, groundbreaking research, and, at times, existential crises. But don’t worry, boo! We’ve all been there, but that’s the thrill, right? Whether chasing knowledge, pursuing research, or aiming for career growth, PG programmes and their various specialisations have covered you.
This blog shall provide you with an overview of the varied domains of postgraduate programmes in India. We shall also explore the options and benefits offered by master’s-level programmes, whether you’re a professional looking to advance your skills and expertise or a recent graduate considering your next academic step.
The full form of PG is “Postgraduate.” It refers to academic programmes pursued after completing an undergraduate (UG) degree. These programs are designed to explore specific subjects or fields, allowing students to gain advanced knowledge, skills, and expertise in their chosen discipline/domain. The duration of these programmes is usually 2-4 years, depending on the particular course and organisation. In India, postgraduate courses typically last two years and can stretch up to four years if pursued from a non-conventional mode of study. If you want to pursue postgraduate studies in any discipline, you must do in-depth research about the specific field of discipline.
Welcome to the world of PG or master’s level programmes where a learner levels up in skills, knowledge, and abilities. With a PG degree, a student or professional stays ahead of the curve in this fast-paced, changing, competitive world. What does a PG programme do? It hones your skills, upgrades your abilities, moves into academic research, and makes a place for yourself in the professional world. Here are some more benefits of the programme.
Deeper insight into various concepts related to a particular specialisation/subject
Enhanced job opportunities
Increases pay scales
Flexible modes of study
Better communication skills
Networking opportunities
Research Opportunities
Advancement into a particular career path
Upgraded professional level
Improved job prospects
There are various PG programmes in India. If you have completed graduation from a recognised university, you are eligible to pursue post-graduation (PG). Check out the below types of PG programmes in detail.
An MBA Degree equips you with advanced business knowledge and leadership skills. You will learn about areas like finance, marketing, human resources, and strategy, preparing you for managerial roles across various industries. MBA offers specialisations in different domains such as:
Operations Management
Human Resource Management
Financial Management
Marketing Management
Information Technology
Entrepreneurship & Leadership and many more
| PG Course Name | Master of Business Administration (MBA) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | – 10th Class Certificate – 12th Class Certificate – Bachelor’s Degree in any stream with a minimum of 40% |
| Study Stream | Management |
| Admission Criteria | – CAT – MAT – XAT – GMAT – NMAT |
| Career Opportunities | – Management consulting – Financial Analyst – HR Manager – Business Analytics – Marketing Manager – Operations management |
| Top Colleges | – Amity University – Chandigarh University – SRM University – Jain University |
MSc courses are 2-year duration PG courses. It focuses on a specific field of study within the science subjects. M.Sc degree deepens your knowledge in a specific scientific field, like biology, chemistry, or physics. You’ll conduct research, analyse data, and develop expertise in your chosen scientific discipline. It provides specialisations in the following domains.
MSc Biochemistry
MSc Actuarial Science
MSc Engineering
MSc Inorganic Chemistry
MSc Mathematics
MSc Data Science
MSc Clinical Research
MSc Electronics
MSc Physics
| PG Course Name | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | – 10th Class Certificate – 12th Class Certificate – Bachelor’s degree in Science from a recognised college/university. |
| Study Stream | Science |
| Admission Criteria | – CUET PG – GATE – IIT JAM – Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Scientist – Data Analyst – Research Assistant – Data Scientist – Statistician |
| Top Colleges | – LPU Online – Online Manipal – IGNOU – Chandigarh University |
Expand your engineering expertise through an M.Tech 2-year duration programme. If you are from an engineering background and completed with B.Tech then you can pursue an M.tech. It will help you in getting technology-related job opportunities. Some of the M.Tech specialisations are listed below.
Mechanical Engineering
Electronic engineering
Chemical Engineering
Cybersecurity
Electrical engineering
Environmental engineering
Information Technology
Aerospace Engineering
| PG Course Name | Master of Technology (M.Tech) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | – 10th Class Certificate – 12th Class Certificate – B.Tech from a recognised college/university. |
| Study Stream | Engineering |
| Admission Criteria | – GATE – Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Software Engineer – Software Developer – Research Analyst – Web Designing – IT and Software Firms |
| Top Colleges | – Delhi Technical University – Indian Institute of Technology, Madras – National Institute of Technology – Amity University, Noida |
Master of Arts (M.A.) dwells advanced study in humanities and social sciences subjects like history, literature, psychology, or sociology. You’ll develop critical thinking, research, and communication skills in your chosen field. It is a 2-year duration programme pursued after a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Some of the MA specialisations are listed below.
MA Psychology
MA Communication Studies
MA Philosophy
MA Archaeology
MA Sociology
MA Religious Studies
MA Geography
| PG Course Name | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates with a bachelor’s degree (preferably arts (B.A.)) or its equivalent (10+2+3 ) |
| Study Stream | Humanities |
| Admission Criteria | – JUNEE – CUET PG – Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Graphic Designer – Art Teacher – Teacher – Journalist – Artist – Writer |
| Top Colleges | – Delhi University – Jawaharlal University – Jamia Millia Islamia University – IGNOU |
Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree course builds upon your computer science background. You will gain advanced programming skills, software development expertise, and knowledge of various computer applications, preparing you for IT careers. MCA is usually pursued by BCA degree courses. Some of the MCA specialisations are listed below.
MCA in Data Analytics
MCA in Cyber Security
MCA in Data Science.
MCA in Artificial Intelligence
MCA in Cloud Computing
MCA in Management Information Systems
| PG Course Name | Master of Computer Applications (MCA) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates with BCA /B.Sc./ BIT/ B.E/ B. Tech, with Mathematics or Statistics as one of the subjects from a recognized institution with a course duration of a minimum of 3 years. |
| Study Stream | Computer Science |
| Admission Criteria | Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Software Developer – Hardware Engineer – Business Analyst – Database Engineer – Technical writer |
| Top Colleges | – Amity University Noida – D Y Patil University Vidyapeeth – Chandigarh University (CU) |
Master of Commerce (M.Com) is a commerce-related degree. It is offered to students with a commerce background in 12th standard and graduation. You can learn business and commerce with an M.Com. Programmes explore accounting, finance, economics, and business management, equipping you for advanced careers in these fields. The list of M.com specialisation is given below.
Financial Accounting
Managerial Economics
Corporate Finance
Business Law and Ethics
Marketing Management
Human Resource Management
Strategic Management
International Business
| PG Course Name | Master of Commerce (M.Com) |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | 50% aggregate in Bachelors or BCom or BCom (H) from a recognised university or college |
| Study Stream | Commerce |
| Admission Criteria | Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Financial Analyst – Investment Banker – Tax Advisor – Accountant – Auditor |
| Top Colleges | – Jain University – Manipal University – Calicut University |
Master of Laws (LLM) is a specialised degree for law graduates seeking expertise in a particular legal area, like tax law, international law, or intellectual property law. An LLM allows you to specialise and advance your legal career. You can pursue an LLM after completing an LLB degree. Some colleges also offer LLB-LLM integrated courses.
| PG Course Name | Master of Laws (LLM) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates must have completed an LLB or a five-year integrated LLB from a recognised university. |
| Study Stream | Law |
| Admission Criteria | – CUET LLM – CLAT PG – Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Corporate lawyer – Legal Advisor – Advocate – Civil advocate – Judge |
| Top Colleges | – Amity University – Manav Rachna University – SRM University |
Master Of Pharmacy (MPharm) is a two-year post-graduate (PG) programme. The study of pharmaceuticals and medications is the focus of pharmaceutical sciences, which form the basis of this course. It improves students’ theoretical, technical, and practical understanding of pharmacy while piqueing their interest in conducting additional pharmaceutical research.
| PG Course Name | Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy (BPharm) with a minimum percentage of marks ranging from 45% to 60%, depending on the college. |
| Study Stream | Medicine |
| Admission Criteria | – CUET PG – GPAT – Online Application |
| Career Opportunities | – Medical Transcriptionist – Health Care Unit Manager – Lab Technician – Drug Inspector – Research Associate |
| Top Colleges | – Jamia Hamdard University – Punjab University – National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) – Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai |
Master of Education is a 2-year postgraduate programme. The purpose of an MEd is to assist instructors in improving their teaching skills, pedagogy, and subject matter expertise. In addition, it can put educators in a position to advance into leadership positions, such as those of higher education administrators, legislators, or school principals.
| PG Course Name | Master of Education (MEd) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates who have obtained a B.Ed. degree are eligible for admission |
| Study Stream | Education |
| Admission Criteria | – Online Application – Merit-Based – CUET PG – IPU CET |
| Career Opportunities | – Education Consultant – Instructional Coordinator – School Counselor – Policy Analyst – Tutor – Educational Researcher |
| Top Colleges | – Himachal Pradesh University – Banaras Hindu University – University of Delhi – Amity University Noida |
PGD is a postgraduate degree that follows a university degree, adding to the original degree and granting a graduate diploma. There are various types of PGD. It can be certification courses or management courses also. The two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programme allows management aspirants to acquire the necessary hard and soft skills to become market-ready management professionals. It is designed to meet industry needs.
| PG Course Name | Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) |
| Duration | 1 – 2 Years (course & college dependent) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates with graduation from a UGC-recognized university |
| Study Stream | Certification/Management |
| Admission Criteria | – CAT – XAT – MAT – Online Application (Merit) |
| Career Opportunities | – Human Resource Manager – Digital Marketing Manager – International Business Consultant – Market Research Analyst |
| Top Colleges | – Amity University – Chandigarh University – SRM University |
MD is a postgraduate degree in medicine, which stands for doctor of medicine. It is a 2 years specialised degree in medicine. Doctors with MDs are allopathic doctors. This means that they use standard medical instruments, such as X-rays, prescription medications, and surgery, to treat and diagnose ailments. Conventional or mainstream medicine is another term for allopathic medicine. Physicians with a general practice background can choose to practice family medicine or primary care.
| PG Course Name | Doctor of Medicine (MD) |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates must have received their MBBS from an accredited university with ICMR approval. Additionally, candidates must have finished the required one-year internship. MD admissions depend on the results of entrance examinations. |
| Study Stream | Medicine |
| Admission Criteria | – NEET PG – INICET |
| Career Opportunities | – Doctor – Surgeon – Dentist – Pharmacist |
| Top Colleges | – All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi – Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research – Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana – Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh |
Follow the admission process below to get admission into PG programmes.
Visit the official website for PG admission.
Click on the PG admission link.
Fill out the application form and pay the admission fee.
Upload the required documents.
Click on submit to complete the admission process.
Download and save the application form for future reference.
Knowing the extensive PG programmes offers insights and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Enrolling in PG programmes such as MBA, MCA, and LLM is dependent on graduation. If your graduation subject is a BA in history then you can go for an MA in history subject and so on. Whether pursuing postgraduate studies to deepen your expertise in a specific field, broaden your horizons, or elevate your career prospects, PG programmes serve as transformative platforms. With dedication and perseverance, PG programmes pave the way for fulfilling aspirations and achieving success.
PG stands for postgraduate. You can pursue PG programmes after undergraduate (UG) programmes. Some PG courses are MBA, MCA, MA, MSc, MCom, and LLM.
“Postgraduate,” or “PG,” denotes the educational level pursued after an undergraduate degree. This covers courses like master’s degrees and other comparable certificates. An undergraduate degree must be completed to be admitted to a postgraduate programme.
There are many PG courses in various disciplines, such as Masters in Arts, Master of Science, or Masters in Commerce. The following courses offer different specialisations that cater to an individual’s academic needs and interests.
Different PG programmes offer unique benefits and career opportunities. MBA, MCA, and M.Com. are some of the most popular PG programmes. Depending on your interests and goals, you should decide which programme suits you best.
Yes, one can go for a PG programme to develop their skill set, widen career prospects, and gain more in-depth knowledge in a particular subject at the master’s level.
