M.Phil. in English Literature Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary

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M.Phil. in English Literature or Master of Philosophy in English Literature is a postgraduate research course in English Literature. The course can be called a mirror equivalent of Ph.D. but is different from it in certain aspects. Many colleges offer this course in an integrated form with Ph.D. also. The course duration is generally 2 years but can be more if distance education is pursued. When the M.Phil.-Ph.D. integrated course is pursued, the M.Phil. duration is supposed to be 1 year.

The basic eligibility for pursuing M.Phil. in English Literature is that the students must have earned their master’s degree in English Literature or a related subject. The students should have secured at least 50% marks in masters for admission to M.Phil.

Some of the top institutes offering M.Phil. in English Literature are:

The admissions to this course are generally through entrance examinations. JMI, New Delhi conducts its own written test which is followed by a personal interview round. The University of Rajasthan gives admission through UNIRAJ MPT.

The course teaches students about Literary Theory and Criticism, Feminist Theory, Historical Criticism, Elizabethan Plays, Marxist Theory, Sonnets, Tragic Plays, Victorian Literature, Surrealism, etc. The average course fee ranges from INR 10,000-2 Lakhs

The major profiles students get to work at after completing this course are Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Writer, Subject Matter Expert, Columnist, etc. The average starting salary ranges from INR 8-15 Lakhs per annum.

Top Colleges for M.Phil. (English Literature)

M.Phil. in English Literature: Highlights

Course Level	Postgraduate Research
Examination Type	Semester-wise/Year-wise
Eligibility for the program	Masters in English from a recognized institute.
Duration of the program	1-2 years
Average Tuition Fee	INR 10,000-2 Lakhs
Average Salary (per annum)	INR 8-15 Lakhs
Job Profiles	Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Writer, Subject Matter Expert, Columnist, etc.

M.Phil. in English Literature: What is it about?

M.Phil. in English Literature is a research-based course which introduces an aspirant to nuances of research methodologies and intricacies in the field of English literature. This course is pursued by people desirous of a career as an academician. Master of Philosophy in English Literature is a research degree. The course is about focused study of branches of literature and helps in developing a critical view of works of literature.

This course also introduces to research methodologies and with rigorous training in the same prepares a candidate for a career in research and academics. This course helps to develop a solid foundation about works, authors and genres of English literature and helps develop an insight about themes, metaphors, historical, social and religious context, and rhetorical devices in a work of literature.

Students with an aptitude for English Literature and a keen desire to go through different works of literature and analyze them through different critical perspectives should opt for an M.Phil. in English Literature. This course is about applying the knowledge of Literary Criticism theories and techniques learned in Masters to works of literature. The course requires a student to devote a lot of time in research and reading critical material. Hence, somebody with perseverance and patience can flourish in the course. Also, the course requires a student to have an advanced level understanding of literary works and theories so someone with prior knowledge of aspects of literature is perfect for the course.

Click here to learn more about the syllabus in detail.

M.Phil. in English Literature: Top Institutes

Institute Name	Location	Average Fees (per annum)
Jamia Millia Islamia University	New Delhi	INR 14,000
Mewar University	Chittorgarh	INR 28,000
University of Rajasthan	Jaipur	INR 40,000
Jodhpur National University	Jodhpur	INR 1,00,000
Government Dungar College	Bikaner	INR 1,500
Madurai Kamaraj University	Madurai	INR 5,200
Mohanlal Sukhadia University	Udaipur	INR 3,800
Mother Teresa Women’s University	Dindigul	INR 7,500
Dr. C.V. Raman University	Vaishali	INR 30,000

M.Phil. in English Literature: Eligibility

The minimum eligibility required for admission to M.Phil. in English Literature programme is an MA degree in English or its allied disciplines or any such related masters degree. The students must have done postgraduation from a recognized college. They should also have obtained the minimum 45%-55% marks as mentioned by the college. Certain colleges may give preference to students with an MA in English Literature while preparing their shortlist.

Those students who are eligible according to the above criteria also need to clear the entrance examinations of different institutes.

M.Phil. in English Literature: Admission Process

Admission to M. Phil. in English Literature is through an entrance examination. The application forms for M.Phil. courses are generally available in the month of May. Jawaharlal Nehru University is an exception as it releases application forms in the month of February. The University of Hyderabad begins the admission process in the month of December. Many universities follow the fall and winter cycle of admission in the program.

The examination is mostly subjective in nature and is designed to assess a candidate’s analytical and critical thinking abilities. The test paper ideally contains three to five questions out of which a student has to attempt 2 to 3 questions depending upon the directive of the university. Maximum marks vary from 70 to 100. The questions are asked from topics related to literary criticism and literary analysis of passages, poems, or a set of work. The purpose of these questions is to test a candidate’s aptitude in doing research and their prior knowledge in the field of literature. It also tests their ability to apply literary theory and criticism techniques to literary works.

To qualify in the entrance test, an aspiring candidate ought to have an in-depth knowledge of literary works, authors, genres, literary periods, and historical movements in literature. Also, a candidate needs to have the applicable knowledge of literary theories. A student must go through works of prominent literary figures of all eras and have some prior experience of analyzing their works.

Selection Process

Selection for admission to M.Phil. in English Literature involves the a two-step process. First students have to appear for an entrance test. After the entrance test, a select few students are called for a personal interview. In the personal interview, students are grilled on their knowledge of contemporary issues in Literature, themes in Literature, and current research in Literature.

The final list is prepared on the basis of marks scored in the entrance test, personal interview, and percentage in qualifying examination. Students who have published research papers prior to joining M.Phil. English Literature is given some preference while preparing the merit list.