MJMC / M.A. Mass Communication in India — eligibility, exams, fees, careers

A postgraduate course in reporting, editing, broadcasting, digital media, advertising and public relations. It is for graduates of any subject who want to work in newsrooms, digital publishing, corporate communication, PR agencies or advertising. In this field, the one-year PG diplomas of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and a few private schools are as respected as two-year master's degrees.

Know this. Media employers hire from portfolios and internships, not from degree certificates. The one-year diploma from a respected school with a strong internship network often does more than a two-year master's from a department with no newsroom links. Families also underestimate how many graduates end up in PR, content and corporate communication rather than journalism — which is a good, better-paid career, but worth knowing in advance.

Getting in

Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (and PG diplomas in journalism)

Who can apply

A bachelor's degree in any discipline, with a minimum percentage set by each institute (commonly around 45–50%). No particular subject is needed; strong writing in English or an Indian language matters more.

How admission works

Central universities — for example Jamia Millia Islamia's AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, and departments at DU, BHU and other central universities — admit through CUET-PG and, in some cases, a portfolio or interview. IIMC, which offers one-year PG diplomas in English, Hindi and several Indian-language journalisms, radio and TV journalism, and advertising and public relations, plus newer M.A. programmes, runs its own admission process. Private schools such as the Asian College of Journalism, Symbiosis, MICA (for communications management), Xavier Institute of Communications and others hold their own tests, writing samples and interviews. State universities admit through their own entrances or on marks.

Duration: 2 years for the master's (1 year after a 4-year degree at some universities); 1 year for PG diplomas such as those at IIMC
Entrance: CUET-PG

What you study

Reporting and news writing; editing and sub-editing
Media law and ethics (defamation, contempt, IT rules, copyright)
Broadcast journalism: scripting, anchoring, camera and editing basics
Digital and data journalism; social-media and audience analytics
Advertising, public relations and corporate communication
Communication theory and media research methods
Lab newspaper, campus radio/TV productions, and a newsroom or agency internship
Final project, dissertation or portfolio

Specialisations: Print and Digital Journalism · Broadcast (TV and Radio) Journalism · Advertising and Public Relations · Corporate and Strategic Communication · Documentary and Film Studies · Data Journalism and New Media

Is it you?

A good fit if

You write clearly and quickly, and read news across sources every day
You are curious about people and comfortable asking difficult questions
You want newsroom, content, PR or communication roles and can handle deadlines
You already have a portfolio (blog, student paper, YouTube channel) or will build one

Think twice if

You want to be a TV anchor quickly — that is a tiny, competitive slice of the field
You want predictable 9-to-5 hours
You expect high starting pay in journalism
You are not willing to write and rewrite under criticism

The honest part

Newsroom jobs have shrunk in print and TV; digital and content roles have grown
Early pay in journalism is low and hours are long, including nights and weekends
Internships during the course are the main hiring route
Language skills in Hindi or another Indian language widen job options considerably
Freelancing is common and income is irregular

What it costs

Government: Roughly ₹10,000–1.5 lakh a year at central and state universities; IIMC diploma fees are roughly ₹1–2 lakh for the course, varying by programme
Private: Roughly ₹2–8 lakh for the full course at well-known private schools
Help: Laptop, camera or audio equipment and internship living costs are real extras. Some private schools give need-based scholarships.

Rough 2026 ranges to compare routes. Fees differ by college and state and change every year.

After this

Study next

Or start work as

Reporter, sub-editor or copy editor at newspapers and news websites
Producer or assistant producer at TV news channels and digital video outlets
Content writer / content strategist at brands, startups and agencies
PR executive at PR agencies and corporate communication teams
Social-media manager or digital marketing executive
Communication officer at NGOs, think tanks and government bodies

Starting pay

Newsroom entry jobs often pay roughly ₹2.5–5 lakh a year; PR, corporate communication and content-marketing roles roughly ₹3.5–7 lakh; top-school graduates in communications management can start higher. Pay in journalism rises slowly; communication roles in companies tend to pay better over time.

Or study it abroad

Careers this leads to

Each opens a full career guide — the work, a week in the life, skills and pay.

Questions families ask

IIMC diploma or a two-year M.A.?

For working in media, IIMC's one-year PG diploma is highly regarded and cheaper in time. A two-year M.A. is useful if you want to teach (with NET) or do research. Many working journalists have neither — they have strong portfolios.

Do I need a BJMC first?

No. Most programmes admit graduates of any subject, and a background in economics, political science, science or law can make you a stronger specialist reporter.

Can I get into journalism without a degree in it?

Yes, many editors hire on writing tests and clips. The course helps with skills, internships and contacts, especially if you have none.

Is advertising and PR a good option?

It is where many communication graduates build stable careers, with more predictable pay than journalism. It rewards writing, strategy and client-handling skills.

How do I prepare for admission?

Read two or three newspapers daily, write regularly (a blog or student paper counts), follow current affairs, and practise short opinion and news-writing pieces for the written test.

What should I do during the course to get hired?

Publish. Aim for a steady stream of bylined pieces, edited videos or podcasts by the time you graduate — in the campus lab paper, on news websites that take student contributions, or on your own platform. Learn basic video editing, a little data work in spreadsheets, and how to verify a claim or image. Use every internship to get at least one piece published with your name on it, and ask the editor who supervised you for a reference.

Sources, checked 2026-09-28: Indian Institute of Mass Communication · CUET (PG) — NTA

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