MSW: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Roumik Roy

Updated on - Apr 27, 2023

MSW or Master of Social Work is a 2-year specialized postgraduate course that deals with macro and micro aspects of professional social work practices in community centres, hospitals, schools, and other social service organizations. MSW aspirants have ample employment opportunities in international sectors with job roles like Social Worker, Project Coordinator, Program Manager, Community Health Worker, etc.

MSW Latest Updates

• April 27, 2023: Admission for MSW and MAHRM Programs at Kerala University closes today. Read More
  

What is MSW Course all about?

The MSW full form stands for Master of Social Work, a course that focuses on several studies of clinical social work and helps students to develop relevant social work competencies. A key aspect of the MSW course is the understanding of the social fabric and hierarchy.

MSW admission requires candidates to have  45-50% in a Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent degree and pass the MSW entrance exam conducted by the colleges or national & state bodies.

MSW course fees range between INR 20K - 2 LPA. MSW course duration is two years and the MSW syllabus is designed with various subjects related to social work practices.

MSW job scope is extensive as it enables graduates to get hired in various job roles in public and private sectors which include pharmaceutical companies, psychiatric social work, Human Resource Management, criminology, correctional administration, NGOs, and several other welfare communities, etc.

Why Choose MSW?

MSW degree is a very demanding course for aspirants trying to work in healthcare, social services, human rights, and many more. Students can wonder "What is MSW course all about?" and the several benefits of the program. Students should be aware of the MSW course details beforehand to know the benefits of pursuing the MSW course. 

Several benefits of pursuing the course are listed below:

• According to the Economic Survey, the proportion of social services expenditures allocated to health has increased from 21% in FY19 to 26% in FY23.
• This course helps students with developing analytical and critical thinking skills for producing original insights in the field.
• According to the Ministry of Finance, the government's expenditure on social services has increased, with an emphasis on several elements of the social well-being of the country's population.
• Students have the opportunity to select elective courses and specialize as they wish.
• Graduates of the MSW course have several career options to choose from but even have the option to study further such as M.Phil or Ph.D.
• MSW in India is a very popular and high-demand course and offers a high job scope for aspirants after immediately passing out.
• Graduates with an MSW degree are hired in healthcare, social services, human rights, and many more.

Who Should Pursue MSW Course?

MSW full form stands for Master of Social Work which is a two years Post Graduate course. Several students pursue this course to gain relevant knowledge on social services based on their professional needs. The list below gives a general idea of who should pursue the MSW course.

• Graduates with a Bachelor of Social Work or a graduation degree from a recognized university can pursue this program.
• Students who want to gain knowledge in Labour Welfare, Human Resource Development & Management, Rural Reconstruction, Child Rights & Child Protection, and Community Development can pursue the MSW degree. 
• Students who want to get build their careers in Pharmaceutical, psychiatric social work, Human Resource Management, criminology, correctional administration, NGOs, and welfare communities can pursue the course. 

MSW Eligibility Criteria

MSW Admission in India depends on meeting the course's eligibility criteria. The basic eligibility criteria for the best MSW colleges in India are listed below:

• Candidates need to have a Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent degree from any reputed University or Institution.
• Aspirants are required to have a minimum aggregate of 45-50% in their Bachelor's degree.
• There is no specific age limit for applying to an MSW course.
• Students must qualify with appropriate cut-off marks in the MSW entrance exam conducted by colleges or state & national authorities. 

MSW Admission Process

Information regarding MSW Admission can be found on the college website or by going to the admissions office of the institute. Students should meet the general MSW course eligibility before considering admission.

Some colleges grant the MSW qualification based on the merit earned by students from past academic records, while others conduct necessary entrance exams to select potential candidates for MSW. 

Though the MSW admission process varies from college to college, below mentioned are the steps that one should go through generally to get admission:

• Admission to the MSW degree is available both online and offline modes.
• The selection is based on the MSW eligibility criteria. 
• Students need to have a minimum aggregate score of 45% to 50% in the Bachelor of Social Work Course from any recognized college or institute.
• Students should pass the MSW entrance exams such as DUET, BHU PET, AMU, and TISS NET with the required cut-off marks. 
• Aspirants may have to sit for written tests, participate in group discussions, and appear for personal interviews after passing these exams.
• The aspirants have to upload/attach the required documents per the guidelines and the specifications mentioned.

MSW Entrance Exam

Some universities and institutions or even states may conduct their entrance examinations for MSW admissions.  The popular entrance exams for admission to the best MSW colleges in India are listed below:

• DUET
• BHU PET
• TISS NET
• AMU
• MET

MSW Entrance Exam Pattern

The students must qualify with appropriate cut-off marks in the entrance exams for admission to the Master of Social Work in India. The standard pattern of the MSW entrance exam is given below:

• The aspirant needs to learn time management to be able to attempt all the questions.
• The question is based on MCQ format and objective based.
• The mode of MSW entrance exam is either online or offline.
• Aptitude knowledge is required for the generalized section.
• The medium of instruction MSW entrance exam is English.
• Study the entire syllabus for the entrance exams, covering each topic and studying in detail about them
• Skills to prepare for include Analytical thinking and general knowledge.

MSW Entrance Exam Syllabus

Admission to MSW degree is subject to passing the MSW entrance exam. Thus, candidates are required to have knowledge of MSW course details and the syllabus for the MSW entrance exam. The general syllabus for the MSW entrance exam is given below:

• General English
• Quantitative Aptitude
• Reasoning 
• General Knowledge & Awareness

MSW Course Fee Structure

The MSW fees may vary among the colleges. MSW course in Government colleges is affordable than private institutes because of their infrastructure and facilities. The MSW fee in private institutes ranges between INR 20K - 1 LPA. The average fee for MSW is listed below along with the MSW admission fees. 

MSW Specialization

MSW full form stands for Master of Social Work and the course consists of several specializations. These specializations can be taken during the MSW course duration based on the student's interest. The list below represents the information regarding MSW specialization in India. 

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
• Family and Children's Social Work.
• Social and Community Work.
• Social Work in Schools.
• Social Work in Criminal Justice.

Best MSW Colleges in India

MSW full form stands for Master of Social Work, a course offered by several colleges in India with an adequate curriculum including a practical and theoretical study that helps students to get in-depth knowledge. The best MSW colleges in India are listed below.

Top MSW Colleges in Kerala

There are several colleges in Kerala providing courses on Master of Social Work. The renowned colleges in Kerala that provide the MSW degree are listed below. 

Top MSW Colleges in Chennai

The Capital of Tamilnadu has several institutes that provide the best courses on MSW. Below are the several colleges listed that provide the MSW degree in Chennai. 

Top MSW Colleges in Pune

Pune has some of the best MSW colleges in India. The MSW degree provided by the best colleges in Pune is listed below:

Top MSW Colleges in Kolkata

The table below shows the top colleges in Kolkata offering courses based on Master of Social Work. 

Top MSW Colleges in Bangalore

Bangalore is known for having the best MSW colleges in India. The table below shows the top colleges in Bangalore providing MSW. 

Top MSW Colleges in Mumbai

The table below shows the best colleges in Mumbai that are famous for providing the MSW degree. 

MSW Course in Government Colleges

There are several government colleges that provide courses based on the Master of Social Work in India. The table below represents the information regarding the MSW course in government colleges. 

MSW IGNOU

MSW IGNOU is renowned for its outstanding curriculum and distance learning methodology. This MSW course duration is three years long in IGNOU. Although MSW admission at IGNOU is predominantly merit-based, applicants who pass the MSW entrance exam and prefer to study at a distance can apply for the course.

Below is a table that represents the course details for MSW IGNOU:

Syllabus and Subjects for MSW

The MSW course duration is 2 years and the syllabus is divided into 4 semesters. The MSW course full form stands for Master of Social Work and the syllabus includes several topics such as the history of social work, social work research, quantitative analysis, social legislation, labor welfare, etc.

Depending on the course modules, each college may have different topics and subjects in their MSW course details. A few of the subject topics are listed below:

• Human Growth and Development
• Ideology and Ethics of Social Work
• Poverty Reduction
• Micro Finance
• Micro Enterprises

Read More: MSW Syllabus and Subjects

Preparation Tips for MSW

An MSW entrance exam involves both aptitude and knowledge testing types of questions. Students should be aware of the MSW course details beforehand and prepare accordingly to perform better in the exam, obtain in-depth knowledge of the subjects and maintain excellence throughout the course. 

Below are some preparation tips made by experts for aspirants who want to pursue MSW.

Time Management: The aspirant should be capable of answering all the questions in the specified time. Since it involves aptitude and language, it would be lengthy.

Reading Newspapers: General knowledge and current affairs questions are often asked in entrance exams and sometimes in personal interviews and group discussion rounds.

Skills: Trying to focus more on general knowledge and aptitude etc., which are all included in the questions

Planning: To prepare well in advance, aspirants should practice with sample question papers, mock tests, and quizzes. By analyzing their errors, aspirants can develop a more effective strategy to attempt entrance exams.

Courses after MSW

Having an MSW degree opens up a wide range of career options. It is even possible to study further after completing the course. The most commonly followed path after a Master of Social Work in India is the Doctorate degree. 

Students can obtain different specializations involved in the MSW course details and proceed with their higher studies in that particular field. A few of the courses after the MSW degree are listed below:

• M.Phil (Social Work)
• Ph.D. (Social Work)
• Certificate in Therapeutic Skills for Helping Professions (Counseling)
• Certificate Course in Advanced Social Research Methodology
• Certificate Course in Social Perspective in Disaster Management

Salary of an MSW Graduate

The starting salary of an MSW graduate would be around INR 18K - 4.02 LPA. As skills and experience increase, so will the salary increment. The salary varies depending on whether it's a private or a public sector and the firm's popularity. MSW degree helps students with relevant skills so that they can work as social activists, social workers, social personnel, etc. 

Read More: MSW Salary

Career Options After Master of Social Work

Master of Social Work in India offers great career opportunities as aspirants can work in public and private sectors depending on the job roles and skills. MSW degree has a high job scope because of the demand and the necessity.

Some of the best job designations for graduates after the course of MSS in the government sector are as follows:

• Research Assistants
• Project Fellow
• General Manager
• Trainee
• Assistants
• Counsellor

Some of the best MSW career options in the private sector are:

• Project Coordinator
• Professor/Lecturer
• Program Coordinator
• Junior Research Fellow
• District Consultant
• Documentation and Communication Officer

MSW Scholarships

The Indian government offers a number of scholarships to economically disadvantaged, minority, and physically challenged students who wish to pursue an MSW degree. There are several private and public scholarships available to those who qualify for the MSW scholarships in India. 

The list of MSW Scholarships is provided below:

• State Government Scholarship For BC/MBC/DNC
• Post Metric Minority Welfare Scholarships
• Central Sector Schemes For Meritorious Students
• Indira Gandhi Post Graduate Scholarship For Single Girl Child

Skills That Make You The Best after MSW

The MSW course is done to provide a career boost for people seeking jobs in social welfare fields. It opens a variety of career opportunities for aspiring Human Rights activists, Social counselors, and many more. Some of the skills required for MSW graduates are as follows:

• Social Perceptiveness
• Good Communication Skills
• Tolerance
• Emotional Intelligence
• Critical Thinking

Top MSW [Master of Social Work] Colleges

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Manipal University)

Manipal,Karnataka

AMU

Aligarh,Uttar Pradesh

Bharathiar University

Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Mysore University

Mysore,Karnataka

Amity University Noida

Noida,Uttar Pradesh

Kerala University

Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala

Madras University

Chennai,Tamil Nadu

VIEW ALL

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