Overview
The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, offers an MA Programme in four streams, such as Development Studies, Economics, English Studies, and Public Policy.
Each stream seeks to provide both an excellent theoretical base as well as market-readiness for careers across academia, publishing, policy, governance and corporate consultancy. Our interdisciplinary faculty have drawn upon their considerable experience and research to design a programme that will continue to uphold the standards set over the last many decades by IIT Madras. We look forward to your continued faith and engagement in making the department a desired destination for scores of aspirants from India and abroad.
Only GATE qualified candidates will be eligible for admission to this 2-year program. The students are required to complete a minimum of 200 credits to be eligible for the M.A. degree. Each stream will have 25 seats for Indian students; seats for foreign students will be supernumerary.
Admission Process (Click to know more)
Admissions to each stream for an academic year are done via valid GATE scores in the XH paper sections.
| Sl No | Stream Name | GATE Paper Name (Code) |
| 1 | Development Studies | Economics (XH C1), Philosophy (XH C4), Psychology (XH C5), Sociology (XH C6) |
| 2 | Economics | Economics (XH C1) |
| 3 | English Studies | English (XH C2), Linguistics (XH C3) |
| 4 | Public Policy | All disciplines of HS |
Theme: Innovation and Economy
The conference brings together economists, technologists, and researchers to explore how science and technology interface with the economy.
Participants will discuss emerging frontiers including AI, net-zero emissions, platforms, and public policy driving sustainable growth.
📅 Date: October 29 to 31, 2026 (Thursday to Saturday)
📍 Venue: Seminar Hall, HSB 356, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras