How online MA English from SMU helps in UGC NET preparation

The University Grant Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET) is one of the most significant examinations held in India twice a year. The examination intends to evaluate the eligibility of the applying candidates for Junior Research Fellowships and Lectureships in India. Students pursuing or graduated with a Master’s degree are eligible to apply for UGC NET exams in India. Given this, if you’re a student of Master of Arts (MA) in English, it can be fairly easy to prepare for UGC NET exams. This is because many subjects can be commonly found in both MA English and UGC NET curricula. Learn more in this blog about how Sikkim Manipal University’s MA English for UGC NET preparations can be helpful.

UGC NET preparation with SMU MA English

If you have chosen English as your subject for UGC NET examinations, pursuing an MA in English in parallel is a wise choice. This is because many subjects in MA English courses are common for UGC NET exams as well. This can be particularly helpful in your preparations for the competitive exam and also save you a considerable amount of time and energy. Sikkim Manipal University offers online MA English courses, allowing you the flexibility to study in your time and choice of place without letting you disturb your study schedule for UGC NET. 

The course curriculum comprises some subjects that can be commonly found in the curriculum for UGC NET exams as well. These include the following:

Poetry 

Sikkim Manipal University’s online MA English program covers Poetry as an integral aspect in the first semester of the program. Students are offered a deeper understanding of the varied poetry styles, such as Mock-Epic, Sonnet, Epic, Metaphysical, and the like. A few examples of the famous poetry covered in the program include To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell, Paradise Lost Book by John Milton, and From Songs of Innocence by William Blake.  

Drama

This is yet another topic of study for UGC NET preparation and with Sikkim Manipal University’s MA English course, you will find it easier to study the subject. The online MA English program at the university covers Drama in the first semester, allowing students to study plays in detail and gain an understanding of the workings of the theater. Some of the plays covered as part of the program include Shakespeare, Cultural Materialism and the New Historicism, William Shakespeare Poems, Jonathan Dollimore and Alan Sinfield, and Shakespeare Criticism: Dr Samuel Johnson.  

Literary criticism

As the name suggests, this subject helps students to judge, evaluate, and interpret English literature. Various literary works are studied, analyzed, compared, and opined on by students of MA English courses, enabling them to gain a broader understanding of literature. A few examples covered in online MA English courses by Sikkim Manipal University include reader-response criticism, feminist criticism, Marxist criticism. 

UGC NET English syllabus – Paper 1  

We highlighted above some of the subjects that can help contribute to UGC NET success with Sikkim Manipal University’s MA English course, since they are common to both. Let us now take a quick look at the syllabus for UGC NET English exam 2024 Paper 1 to help you prepare better and in a more targeted way. 

Paper 1 is aimed at evaluating the research and teaching skills of the candidates and hence includes the following 10 units of study:

Units	Aptitude assessed	Topics covered
1	Teaching aptitude	Meaning, aim, and the different levels of teaching, factors that affect it, characteristics of a student
2	Research aptitude	Meaning of research, its different types and characteristics, and varied research methodologies
3	Comprehension	Understanding and answering questions based on the passage given
4	Communication	What it means, its types and qualities – verbal and non-verbal, communication among and between groups, and different cultures
5	Aptitude and mathematical reasoning	Concepts such as letter series, time, ratio, percentage, interest, number series, fractions, distance, proportion, profit and loss, and averages
6	Logical reasoning	Inductive and deductive reasoning, Venn diagrams, different inference techniques, argument structures, analogies, and Indian logic
7	Data interpretation	Obtain, categorize, and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data represented via mapping or graphically, and assess its implications in governance
8	Information and Communication Technology (ICT)	Basics of the Internet, role of ICT in governance, fundamentals of ICT, and digital initiatives taken in the higher education domain
9	People, development, and environment	Issues affecting the environment, energy, and natural resources, measures to protect the environment, the interaction between the environment and humans, impact of pollutants on health, and natural hazards
10	Higher education system	Different learning programs, value education, governance, history and evolution of higher education in India, technical and professional learning, environmental education and policies, and administration in higher education institutions

UGC NET English syllabus – Paper 2

The section below lists the English syllabus for Paper 2 of the UGC NET exams 2024. It comprises sections like poetry, cultural studies, drama, fiction, and English in India. The table below shares the complete syllabus:

Units	Sections covered
1	Drama
2	Poetry
3	Short story and fiction
4	Non-fiction prose
5	Language: Pedagogy and theories, basic concepts, English in use
6	English in India: Evolution, history, and future
7	Cultural studies
8	Literary criticism
9	Literary theory post World War II
10	Research methods and materials in English

UGC NET English exam pattern

The National Testing Agency (NTA) defines the UGC NET exam pattern. Students must complete and apply for the UGC NET English exam during a specific timeline, after which the NTA does not accept any requests. This section highlights the exam pattern, topic weightage, and marking pattern for the English UGC NET exam to help you better understand and prepare for the test. The table below details the complete exam pattern for the UGC NET English exam 

(Source: Shiksha).

UGC NET English paper	No. of questions asked	Parameters for marking	Marks given	Total marks
Paper 1	50	Correct answer	+2	100
Paper 2	100	Correct answer	+2	200
Total marks	150	–	–	300

Note: 

• No negative marks are allotted for any incorrect answer or unanswered question by the candidate.
• No mark deduction is done either in any of the above-mentioned cases.

Why pursue an online MA English?

We detailed in this blog what the UGC NET English exam entails and the various topics of study, preparing for which can help improve your chances at cracking this national competitive test. We also highlighted the fact that many subjects covered in the UGC NET English syllabus are similar or common to those appearing in the comprehensive curriculum for MA English courses. This allows us to conclude that an online MA in English from Sikkim Manipal University for the UGC NET English exam is indeed an ideal choice. 

The MA English course provided by the university focuses on gaining deep, valued insights into the English language, literature, and literary criticism. In addition, students get the exclusive opportunity to access a host of novels, stories, poetry, and epic texts authored by leading writers and poets across the globe, thereby broadening the students’ scope of knowledge of the domain. These students, if also appearing for UGC NET can derive the required help from Sikkim Manipal University’s MA English curriculum, which already covers these topics in detail. This allows for a seamless transition for students, enabling them to improve their chances of successful clearance of the UGC NET exam.    

Conclusion

The UGC NET exam is one of the most sought-after competitive examinations in the country and students in large numbers appear for the test. Successful completion of the test enables these candidates to apply for high-paying, rewarding job opportunities in the industry. Preparing for the exam can be a huge task, considering the amount of competition involved. To make things simpler and hassle-free for you, Sikkim Manipal University offers you an online MA in English, which you can pursue alongside preparing for the UGC NET English exam. Most topics that you need to prepare for the UGC NET English exam are also covered in online MA English courses by Sikkim Manipal and this makes the latter an ideal choice for most students.