Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

Pondicherry University's Master of Arts (MA) in Tamil is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered under the Sri Subramania Bharathi School of Tamil Language and Literature. The programme provides advanced study in Tamil language, literature, linguistics, classical Tamil texts, modern Tamil literature, and Tamil culture. The total course fee is Rs. 32,142 for the entire 2-year programme, making it one of the most affordable MA Tamil programmes at a central university in India. With a seat intake of 75 students and admission based on CUET-PG scores, the programme is popular among Tamil language enthusiasts and aspiring Tamil scholars. The course is offered in full-time, on-campus mode at the Pondicherry campus, which has a rich Tamil cultural heritage given its location in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are expected to be based on CUET-PG 2026 scores. The CUET-PG 2026 exam was conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. Pondicherry University typically releases its PG merit list and conducts counselling in June-July. Based on the 2025-26 cycle, counselling was held in early July 2025. Candidates are advised to monitor the official admissions portal at admissions.pondiuni.edu.in for the 2026-27 schedule.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the Sri Subramania Bharathi School of Tamil Language and Literature, named after the legendary Tamil poet, reflecting the university's deep commitment to Tamil studies.
The curriculum covers classical Tamil (Sangam literature, Tolkappiyam), medieval Tamil literature, modern Tamil literature, Tamil linguistics, and Tamil cultural studies.
Pondicherry's unique Franco-Tamil cultural heritage provides a distinctive academic environment for Tamil studies, with access to rare Tamil manuscripts and archival resources.
The university's central library has extensive holdings in Tamil literature and linguistics, including rare texts and research journals.
Students can pursue interdisciplinary electives from other departments under the CBCS system, broadening their academic exposure.
The programme prepares students for UGC-NET/SET examinations in Tamil, which is essential for teaching and research careers.

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03 Feb, 2026 Pondicherry University Fee Structure 2026 is out for MA Tamil programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 28,547 . Read more.

PU MA Tamil Fees

The MA Tamil programme at Pondicherry University is highly affordable, with a total course fee of Rs. 32,142 for the entire 2-year programme. The first semester involves the highest payment of Rs. 19,042, which includes all one-time charges. Semesters II and IV are Rs. 1,700 each, while Semester III is Rs. 9,700. A caution deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university.

Course Fee Structure

Fee Component	Sem I (Rs.)	Sem II (Rs.)	Sem III (Rs.)	Sem IV (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	1,500	1,500	1,500	1,500	6,000
Registration Fee	300	-	-	-	300
Matriculation Fee	100	-	-	-	100
Recognition Fee	400	-	-	-	400
Sports Fund	500	-	500	-	1,000
Medical Examination / Facilities Fund	600	-	600	-	1,200
Library Fund	1,500	-	1,500	-	3,000
Computer Lab Fund	2,000	-	2,000	-	4,000
Amenities Development Fund	6,000	-	-	-	6,000
Students' Welfare Fund	400	-	400	-	800
Alumni Association Fund	200	-	-	-	200
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000	-	-	-	1,000
Placement Activity Fund	200	200	200	200	800
Academic Activity Fund	1,000	-	1,000	-	2,000
Digital Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000	-	4,000
Group Medical Insurance	142	-	-	-	142
University Development Fund	1,200	-	-	-	1,200
Total Fees	19,042	1,700	9,700	1,700	32,142

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university, subject to clearance of all dues.
SC/ST students who are eligible for Post-matric scholarships are permitted to pay fees after receiving the scholarship amount, by submitting an undertaking at the time of admission.
Fees must be paid within 90 days of admission.
Differently abled students are exempted from payment of all fees (except refundable caution deposit and Group Medical Insurance premium).
Late payment fine: Rs. 5 per day for the first 10 days; Rs. 10 per day thereafter.
Hostel fees are separate and not included in the above.

Hostel Fees (Optional - Not Mandatory)

Hostel Fee Component	Amount
Room Rent (PG Students)	Rs. 900 per annum
General Amenities Fund	Rs. 700 per annum
Establishment Charges	Rs. 300 per annum
Application Fee (one-time, at admission)	Rs. 75
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	Rs. 3,000 (one-time)
Mess Fees	As per prevailing rates (paid per semester)

Hostel accommodation is not mandatory.
SC/ST students are exempt from room rent.
Hostel is subject to availability; preference is given to students from distant places.

PU MA Tamil Admission 2026

Admissions to MA Tamil at Pondicherry University are based on CUET-PG scores, specifically the LAQP35 test paper. The university prepares a merit list based on CUET-PG scores and conducts counselling for seat allotment. For 2026-27, the CUET-PG 2026 exam has been conducted and results are awaited. Candidates should register on the official admissions portal and track merit list announcements. Based on the 2025-26 cycle, counselling was held in early July 2025 and the academic session commenced in August 2025.

PG Admission Key Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026-27)
CUET-PG 2026 Application Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Application End	January 25, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Admit Card	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026
PU PG Application / Registration	May - June 2026 (Tentative)
Provisional Merit List Release	June 2026 (Tentative)
Counselling / Seat Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
Commencement of Classes	August 2026 (Tentative)

CUET-PG Exam Dates

Event	Date
Application Start	December 14, 2025
Application End	January 25, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result Declaration	May 6, 2026
CUET-PG Test Paper Code for MA Tamil	LAQP35

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor's degree in Tamil / B.Litt. with a minimum of 50% of marks; OR
Any Bachelor's degree (other than Tamil) having Tamil under Part I with a minimum of 50% of marks.
SC/ST candidates who have passed the qualifying examination are eligible to apply irrespective of the percentage of marks obtained.
Candidates awaiting their final year results are also eligible to apply, subject to producing mark sheets/degree certificates before the notified date.

Admission Process

Register and apply for CUET-PG 2026 on the NTA portal (cuet.nta.nic.in) and appear for the LAQP35 test paper.
Register separately on Pondicherry University's admissions portal (admissions.pondiuni.edu.in) once PU opens its PG application window.
Merit list is prepared based on CUET-PG scores; candidates are called for counselling in order of merit.
Attend counselling on the allotted date with original documents for verification.
Pay the prescribed fees and complete the admission formalities to confirm the seat.
70% attendance is mandatory to appear for semester examinations.

PU MA Tamil Scholarships 2026

Pondicherry University offers multiple scholarship options for MA Tamil students, ranging from university-level merit scholarships to government-funded fellowships for reserved category students. The university's own Merit and Merit-cum-Means scholarships are available to all PG students, while central government schemes provide additional support for SC/ST, OBC, minority, and girl students. These scholarships can significantly offset the already low course fees.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Merit Scholarship (University)	Top 3 rankers in CUET-PG / semester SGPA	Rs. 2,000 / Rs. 1,500 / Rs. 1,000 per month (Rank 1/2/3)
Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship	20% of PG students; parental income below Rs. 2.5 lakh p.a.; min. 70% attendance; pass in all papers	Rs. 750 per month
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child	Single girl child pursuing PG programme	As per UGC norms
PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders	University rank holders at UG level	As per UGC norms
Govt. of India SC/ST/OBC Scholarship	SC/ST/OBC students	As per respective state/central government norms
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students eligible for post-matric scholarship	Covers tuition and other fees
National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST)	ST students pursuing PG/research	As per Ministry of Tribal Affairs norms
Adi Dravidar Welfare Scholarship (Puducherry Govt.)	SC/ST students from UT of Puducherry	As per Puducherry government norms

Students are eligible for only one scholarship at a time.
MCM Scholarship requires minimum 70% monthly attendance and passing all registered papers each semester.
For the first semester, Merit and MCM scholarships are sanctioned based on CUET-PG entrance exam marks; for subsequent semesters, based on SGPA.
SC/ST students may defer fee payment until receipt of scholarship, subject to submission of an undertaking and payment within 90 days of admission.

PU MA Tamil FAQs

Ques. What is the eligibility for MA Tamil at Pondicherry University? Can students who studied Tamil only as a language (Part I) in their UG apply?

Ans. Yes. The eligibility for MA Tamil at Pondicherry University allows two categories of applicants: (1) Candidates with a Bachelor's degree in Tamil or B.Litt. with minimum 50% marks, and (2) Candidates with any Bachelor's degree (other than Tamil as the main subject) who had Tamil under Part I with a minimum of 50% marks. So students who studied Tamil as a language subject in their UG are eligible to apply.

Ques. What is the CUET-PG test paper code for MA Tamil at Pondicherry University?

Ans. The CUET-PG test paper code for MA Tamil at Pondicherry University is LAQP35. Candidates must appear for this specific paper in CUET-PG to be eligible for admission. The test covers Tamil language, literature, grammar, and related topics. Candidates should prepare from classical Tamil texts, modern Tamil literature, and Tamil linguistics for this paper.

Ques. What are the career options after completing MA Tamil from Pondicherry University?

Ans. MA Tamil graduates from Pondicherry University can pursue careers in Tamil language teaching at school and college levels (after qualifying UGC-NET/SET), Tamil journalism and media, Tamil content creation and publishing, translation, Tamil civil services (TNPSC and other state PSCs have Tamil language papers), research and academia, and cultural organisations. The UGC-NET in Tamil is a key qualification for teaching careers, and Pondicherry University's strong Tamil department prepares students well for this examination.

Ques. Is the MA Tamil programme at Pondicherry University taught entirely in Tamil, or is English also used?

Ans. The MA Tamil programme at Pondicherry University is primarily taught in Tamil, as it is a Tamil language and literature programme. However, the university's overall academic environment is English-medium, and students can access resources, library materials, and interdisciplinary electives in English. The CBCS system allows students to take elective courses from other departments, which may be taught in English.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for MA Tamil students at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Hostel accommodation is available but not guaranteed for all students. Since limited hostel facility is available, accommodation is given to approximately one-third of admitted students, based on the recommendation of the Head of Department and subject to availability. Preference is given to students coming from distant places. The annual hostel fee for PG students is Rs. 900 for room rent, plus Rs. 700 for General Amenities Fund and Rs. 300 for Establishment Charges. SC/ST students are exempt from room rent.

Ques. How does Pondicherry University's location in Puducherry benefit MA Tamil students?

Ans. Pondicherry (Puducherry) has a unique Franco-Tamil cultural heritage and is home to significant Tamil literary and cultural institutions. The city has historical connections to Tamil literature and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which has contributed to Tamil scholarship. The university's location provides access to rare Tamil manuscripts, archival resources, and a vibrant Tamil cultural environment. Additionally, the proximity to Tamil Nadu (Chennai is approximately 2.5 hours away) provides access to Tamil literary events, cultural organisations, and research institutions.