Difference Between BSW and MSW

The UG course in social work is known as Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) while post-graduation course in social work is called as Masters in Social Work. Social work is the discipline of Social Science which deals with the improvement of the social structure of society. Read the article below to in detail about the difference between BSW and MSW course.

Social Work is one of the emerging career choices among students in India. In order to become a social worker, candidates need to pursue the course related to social work. There are numerous course available for candidates interested in social work field. Candidates can pursue both bachelor or master’s degree in social work. The UG course in social work is known as Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) while post-graduation course in social work is called as Masters in Social Work. Social work is the discipline of Social Science which deals with the improvement of the social structure of society. The role of the social worker is working with individuals, families and communities to deal with issues such as poverty, unemployment and education. Read the article below to in detail about the difference between BSW and MSW course.

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BSW Highlights

Candidates can check more details of BSW course in the table given below. After the completion of BSW, candidates can pursue additional education by earning a Master of Social Work degree.

Particulars	Details
Course Name	Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Course Level	Undergraduate
Duration	3 Years
Eligibility	10+2 from recognised university with 50 per cent marks
Entrance Exams	CUCET, PUBDET, TISS NET, Jamia Milia Islamia Entrance Exam etc.
Fees	INR 25,000 -5 lakh
Average Salary	INR 3-5 LPA
Job Profiles	Teacher, Researcher, Social Activist, Project Coordinator etc.
Top Recruiters	CRY, UNICEF, Goonj, Help Foundation, Gateway Soultions
Top Colleges	Aligarh Muslim University, Amity University, St. Joseph's University etc.

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BSW Course Eligibility Criteria

Candidates interested in pursuing BSW course are required to check the eligibility criteria of BSW course below. In India the educational qualifications needed to pursue a BSW course are as follows:

Aspirants need to pass Class 12 from a recognized institute.
The minimum qualifying score needed by most of the institute is 50 percent. Meanwhile, there is no minimum score in some colleges.
For UG: There is no preference for the stream studied in Class 12. However, candidates who have a background in the field of social work, sociology, psychology, or any related field are preferred if they want to pursue a BSW course.

Top Colleges for BSW Courses

Candidates can check the table below to know about the top colleges for BSW courses.

Name of BSW College	BSW Course Fee (in INR)
MCC - Madras Christian College	----
Aligarh Muslim University	----
IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University	18,000
University of Mumbai	----
MSU, Vadodara	2 lakh
CSJM, Kanpur	67,000
Visva Bhararti University, West Bengal	3,000
VMOU, Kota	14,000
DAVV - Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore	24,000
Dr Bheem Rao Ambedkar University, Agra	----

MSW Highlights

Candidates who have completed bachelor degree in Social Work can pursue MSW course. However, BSW is not mandatory for candidates to pursue MSW course. The MSW course details are mentioned below in the table:

Particulars	Details
Course Full Name	Master of Social Work
Degree	Postgraduation
Duration	2 Years
Eligibility	Graduation with 50 per cent marks
Entrance Exams	SAT, JNUEE, DUET, PUBDET, TISSNET
Fees	INR 20,000 to 2 lakh
Average Salary	INR 3 to 5 LPA
Job Profiles	Social Worker, Child Development Manager, HR Manager, Fundraiser, Professor, etc.
Top Recruiters	Goonj, CRY, Accenture, Flipkart, Amazon, Just Dial and so on
Top Colleges	Amity University, Noida, Loyola College, Chennai, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Lucknow, etc.

MSW Eligibility Criteria

In order to pursue MSW course, candidates are needed to meet the eligibility criteria. Candidates can check the space below to know about the academic qualification required for MSW course. Candidates can pursue MSW after completing graduation from a recognised board with a 50 percent marks. Notably, the minimum qualifying score is defined by the MSW colleges offering the course.

Top 10 Colleges for MSW Course

The list of some popular government colleges offering MSW course are:

Name of College	Fees (in INR)
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh	----
Bangalore University, Bangalore	10,000
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, Indore	13,000
IGNOU, Delhi	36,000
Madras Christian College, Chennai	63,000
MSU, Vadodara	17,000
NSOU - Netaji Subhas Open Univesity, Kolkata	10,000
Panjab University, Chandigarh	58,000
University of Lucknow, Lucknow	28,000 to 1 lakh
University of Madras, Chennai	68,000

Difference between BSW and MSW

Candidates can check the main difference between BSW and MSW course below:

Particulars	BSW	MSW
Aim	The course focuses on foundational studies in social work. It allows candidates to work with individuals, community etc.	MSW course is the higher degree that helps candidates in clinical practice. Candidate with MSW degree can become a LCSW
Job Opportunities	After pursuing BSW candidates can work as a manager, child welfare specialist, client advocate, probation officer etc.	Candidates with MSW degree can work in the clinical settings or can practice privately. They can also work in child welfare.
Course Duration	The duration of BSW course is four years.	The duration MSW course is of two years.

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