Distance MSW (Master of Social Work)

Kripal Thapa

Updated on - Jan 4, 2023

MSW Distance Education in India is a two-year post-graduation course in the field of social work which deals with some of the pertinent areas of social work such as Globalization, Migration, History of social work in India. After completing MSW by Distance Education, candidates can work as Healthcare Social Workers, Clinical Social Workers, Therapists, or Social Workers in the field of Medical Health, Mental Health, and Educational sector.

About Distance MSW

The MSW Distance course is a two years postgraduate course in the Arts and Humanities spectrum. The graduates of the Distance MSW course in India are employed in various organizations which are indulged in social work and other aspects of development and the betterment of society. According to Wikipedia,” The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a master's degree in the field of social work. It is a professional degree with specializations compared to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).“

Table of Contents

• Distance MSW Eligibility Criteria
• Distance MSW Admission Process
• Popular Distance MSW Entrance Exams
• Top Distance MSW Colleges
• Fees Structure for Distance MSW
• Syllabus and Subjects for Distance MSW
• Why Choose Distance MSW?
• Preparation Tips for Distance MSW
• Scope of Higher Education after Distance MSW
• Distance MSW Salary
• Career Options After Distance MSW
• Skills to Excel

Eligibility Criteria for Distance MSW

MSW Distance Education admission is offered to only those students who meet the eligibility requirements. The candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any stream of Humanities, Commerce, or Science with a minimum 50% aggregate score in the final examination. There is no age limit for the course. Most of the institutes offer the course based on their performance in entrance exams.

How To Get Admission in Distance MSW?

Students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria for MSW Distance Learning. Master of Social Work course admissions is done through entrance exam scores or on a merit basis. Some institutes conduct their own entrance exam. Admission procedure varies across different MSW Distance Education colleges in India.

How to Apply?

MSW course Distance Education details and procedures for admission can be found on the college's official websites. To apply for the course, visit the official university admission portal and register for the entrance exam. After that fill the application form by providing the required details.

Selection Process

Admission is strictly offered to only those students who clear the minimum cut-off in graduation level examination and in entrance exams. The shortlisted list of candidates for admission can be availed through the college’s official website or the individual will be informed regarding the result and the further admission process via email.

Popular Entrance Exams for Distance MSW

Admission to the MSW Distance Education Universities is mainly through entrance examinations. Admission to a majority of the colleges offering Master of Social Work courses in India is on the basis of an entrance examination. The most common exams that most candidates apply to are as follows:

• TISSNET
• PUCET 
• DUET
• BHU PET
• DUET
• JMIET
• AMUET

A Quick Glance at the Distance MSW Entrance Exams

To get admission into Master of Social Work Education, a candidate needs to clear the test. Students should study the exam pattern and syllabus well before time. This will assist students in timely preparation for the entrance exams. Listed below is the general pattern for the entrance exams:

• The exam consists of two sections, one is objective and the other is subjective.
• It includes topics from Reading and Language Comprehension, Logical and Analytical Reasoning, and General Knowledge & Current Affairs.
• The exam will be offline or online with a duration of a maximum of 3 hours.

Top 10 Distance MSW Colleges in India

Students can opt for the best college depending upon their merit and specialization needed. Some of the top colleges are listed below:

Fee Structure for Distance MSW

MSW Distance Education fees range from INR 11,790 - 36,000 PA. The fees may vary according to the college or university based on the type of institute, location, infrastructure, faculties, and facilities available. Below listed are the fee structure of some colleges:

Syllabus and Subjects for Distance MSW

MSW in Distance Education is a 2 years degree program that teaches students about professional social work. The course provides a candidate an in-depth knowledge about the work put into the development of humanity and social welfare. The major subjects are History and Philosophy of Social Work, Human Growth and Development, Visual Culture, etc.

The subjects that are included in the curriculum of the course is listed below:

• Social Work Profession
• Social Group Work
• Social Case Work
• Community Organisation
• Concurrent Field Work including Social Work Camp
• Concurrent Field Work including Study Tour

Read More About Distance MSW Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose Distance MSW?

Students often wonder about Distance MSW details before choosing the course. Before deciding on a career, students come across queries like, "What is Distance MSW course?" and "Why choose Distance MSW?”. To clearly understand answers to these questions, we have framed the following three pointers:

What is Distance MSW All About?

MSW Distance Education is a post-graduation course in the field of social work which is usually of two-year duration. After completing Distance Education for MSW, the graduates are employed in various organizations which are indulged in social work and other aspects of development and the betterment of society.

What Does a Distance MSW Graduate Do?

The graduates of the Distance MSW course have various job opportunities that are available in NGOs and Research Organizations. Some of the major operations that are carried out by the graduates of the course are social service and working for the betterment of welfare.

Social Worker: A social worker provides appropriate resources, advice, and support to individuals who are facing difficulties or problems in their personal/ professional life. In other words, a social worker helps individuals cope with their monetary, emotional, or social needs.

Reasons Why Distance MSW Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

With social work booming in the current scenario, the need for professionals in the field is growing day by day. Candidates pursuing Distance MSW can make their career in the field of Medicine, Psychiatric Social Work, Human Resource Management, Criminology, Correctional Administration, NGOs, and many welfare communities.

Career Scope and Options: The graduates of the distance MSW course have a wide range of opportunities that are available in some of the major organizations in the world such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO. Candidates also have an opportunity to start up their own NGO and take up programs that can be set up for the betterment of welfare.

Read More About Distance MSW Jobs

Preparation Tips for Distance MSW

Some of the course preparation tips for the distance MSW course are listed below:

Prepare A Time Table: The Distance course needs a lot of interaction with the subjects in the course as well as practical aspects, therefore, a candidate should prepare a timetable so that students can stay updated with the modules and subjects that are taught during the duration of the course.

Connect With The Peers: Connect with fellow students, this would help a candidate to acquire and exchange more knowledge.

Connect With The Faculty: Get to know the faculty of the course from the college offering the course which helps students to prepare early at the time of the examination.

Scope For Higher Education

MSW graduates have the option to go for higher studies as well. These include research degrees such as MPhil, Ph.D., management degrees such as MBA, professional certificate courses, and relevant PG Diploma courses. An additional degree in the same field or in a completely different field improves job opportunities. Some higher education options are:

• PhD in Social Work
• Phil in Social Work
• MBA in Social Work Management
• Certificate course in Social Work & Criminal Justice System

Salary of a Distance MSW Graduate

The salary paid for the graduate of the Distance MSW course in India may vary based on the experience and the skill set that is obtained by the candidate at the period of employment. The average course salary paid to the graduate of the Distance MSW course ranges from INR 2.8 - 5 LPA (Source: PayScale). Graduates can increase their salary by obtaining work experience or doing certificate courses.

Read More About  Distance MSW Salary

Career Options After Distance MSW

The career opportunities for graduates of MSW are quite high. All jobs in this field are related to social service or charity work. There are abundant jobs in Government Sectors, NGOs, Educational Institutes, Rural Areas, and many International Companies.

• Project Coordinator
• Professor/Lecturer
• Program Coordinator
• Junior Research Fellow
• District Consultant
• Research Assistants
• Project Fellow
• General Manager

Skills That Make You The Best Distance MSW Graduate

Distance MSW course is apt for candidates who are interested in social work and social service. The candidates who want to pursue the MSW course need to have good communication skills. Some other key skills that an aspirant should possess are listed below:

• Good communication Skills
• Good Listener
• Critical Thinking
• Social Perceptiveness
• Ability to Coordinate