MSW (Master of Social Work) Course: Fees 2023, Admission, Top Colleges, Distance Learning & Online

Updated on Feb 24, 2022 07:27 IST

MSW course or Masters of Social Work is a postgraduate degree. There are more than 550 MSW colleges in India imparting the two-year degree course. The course is divided into four semesters of theoretical and practical training in the field of Social Work. MSW course is imparted in a full-time mode, distance learning mode, part-time mode and online mode. The full-time MSW course is recognised by the Universities Grants Commission offered under the Humanities stream. Candidates who hold a BSW degree pursue MSW courses as the successor of their bachelor’s degree.

Studying MSW from India goes economically in pockets as compared to other master's courses; most of the MSW colleges in India have a course fee of less than INR 1 lakh. Scroll down to know more details about MSW courses including types of courses, Distance MSW courses, part-time MSW courses, and more.

Table of Contents
  1. Types of MSW Courses
    • 1.1 Popular MSW Courses
  2. MSW Degree Courses
    • 2.1 Top MSW Degree Courses
  3. Distance MSW Courses
    • 3.1 Top Distance MSW Courses
  4. Online MSW Courses
  5. FAQs on MSW Courses

Types of MSW Courses

Types of MSW courses can be categorised based on the mode of study. Educational institutes in India including universities, colleges, stand-alone institutes and MOOC platforms deliver MSW with a different mode of education. Space below mentions the types of MSW courses based on the mode of education.

MSW Courses: Different Mode of Study

Nearly 550 colleges in India offer MSW courses with different education modes. Candidates can pursue an MSW course based on their academic needs, obligations and eligibility criteria. MSW courses with different modes of education are as follows:

  • Full-time MSW: Classroom-based MSW course offered by traditional universities. Full-time MSW course follows the age-old education type imparted under the recognition of UGC.
  • Distance/Correspondence MSW: This course is identical to a full-time MSW degree course; however, students can complete a distance MSW course and get the degree credential without studying at a college.
  • Online MSW: These courses are generally offered by MOOC platforms in collaboration with global leading universities. Some universities have also established a distinct university offering an online degree course.
  • Part-time MSW: These courses have an identical course curriculum, yet the candidates can complete the course by attending the college on a part-time basis. The lectures under a part-time or short term MSW course are delivered on the weekends or any day of the week to lower the stress of attending the college five days a week.

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Popular MSW Courses

Full-time MSW course is among the most popular courses as it is offered by almost all the universities offering the course in the field. Besides a full-time MSW course, several universities and colleges offer a distance MSW course followed by part-time MSW and online MSW as the least popular courses in line.

MSW courses often help in some related fields including:

MSW Degree Courses

MSW is a two-year degree course offered by several universities across India. Under the UGC recognised MSW curriculum, the course is divided into four semesters. The table below mentions the key highlights of the MSW Degree course:

Course Features

Course Details

Name of course

MSW

Duration of course

2 years

Course fees

Annual college fees for an MSW course typically ranges below INR 1 lakh

Eligibility

Candidates passing bachelor’s degrees in any discipline are eligible for the course. However, BSW graduates are preferred at the time of admission

Admission process

Merit-based/Entrance-based

Subsequent course to pursue

PhD in Social Work

What after an MSW degree?

Candidates can pursue a doctorate course. Job positions include Community Outreach Worker, Human Services Specialist, Rehabilitation Case Worker, Child and Family Social Worker, Therapist, etc.

Top MSW Degree Courses

Candidates can find a few of the top MSW degree courses along with the college offering the course in the table below:

Name of MSW College

Name of MSW Course

AIMS Institutes

Master of Social Work (MSW)

PSG College of Arts and Science - PSGCAS

Masters in Social Works

Social Sciences Centre (M.S.W.), Bharati Vidyapeeth

Master of Social Work (MSW)

IISWBM - Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management

Masters in Social Welfare (MSW)

Christ University

M.S.W. in Human Resource Development and Management

M.S.W. in Clinical and Community Practice

NSOU - Netaji Subhas Open University

Master of Social Work

Hindustan College of Arts and Science

Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)

St Xavier's University, Kolkata

Master of Social Work (MSW)

MGU Kerala - Mahatma Gandhi University

Master in Social Work (M.S.W.)

MCC - Madras Christian College

Master of Social Work in Human Resource Management

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Distance MSW Courses

Courses offered under distance learning mode do not require the students to attend the college. Candidates who do not wish to attend classes yet wish for an MSW degree can get one via the distance MSW course. The table below mentions key highlights of a Distance MSW degree:

Course Features

Course Details

Name of course

Distance MSW, also known as Correspondence MSW

Duration of course

2 years

Course fees

Most of the colleges offering distance MSW course have a course fee less than INR 1 lakh

Eligibility

Candidates must have passed a bachelor's degree course or equivalent. BSW graduates are preferred for the course.

Admission process

Merit-based

Subsequent course to pursue

PhD

What after a Distance MSW degree?

Candidates can pursue doctorate courses, or go for a job. Job profiles include Community Outreach Worker, Human Services Specialist, Rehabilitation Case Worker, Child and Family Social Worker, Therapist, etc.

Top Distance MSW Courses

The table below mentions the top MSW courses along with the universities/colleges offering the course in Distance mode:

Name of Distance MSW College

Name of Distance MSW Degree

NSOU - Netaji Subhas Open University

Master of Social Work

IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Master of Social Work (Counselling)

School of Distance Education, Bharathiar University

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Wisdom School of Management

Masters of Social Work

Directorate of Distance Education, Alagappa University

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Utkal University

Master of Social Work

Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University

Master in Social Work (MSW)

YES Education

Distance MSW ( Master of Social Work)

IGNOU Ahmedabad Regional Centre

Masters in Social Work

ANU CDE Guntur

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Online MSW Courses

Besides distance MSE, an online MSW course helps aspirants pursue the course without going to college. One can pursue an Online Master of Social Work (MSW) at ANUCDE Guntur. Alternatively, a BSW graduate can go for a certification course in the field of Social Work. Several MOOC platforms offer certification courses related to Social Work. Some of these certification courses include:

FAQs on MSW Courses

Q: What is an MSW course?

A: MSW is a PG degree course recognised by UGC. The course majors in the field of Social Work.

Q: What is the full form of the MSW course?

A: MSW course stands for Masters of Social Work. This is among the top choices for the candidates who complete the BSW course.

Q: What is the duration of the MSW degree course?

A: MSW degree is imparted at PG level with a duration of two years. Two years of the MSW course is divided into four semesters.

Q: Can I pursue an MSW degree in an online mode?

A: Yes. ANU CDE Guntur offers MSW courses in an online mode. Alternatively, candidates can go for certification courses majoring in Social Work offered by MOOC platforms.

Q: Can I pursue MSW in distance mode?

A: Yes. Several open universities and distance education departments offer distance MSW courses, also known as correspondence MSW.

Q: What is the basic eligibility criteria to pursue the MSW course?

A: Candidates who have passed the bachelor’s degree exam are eligible for the MSW course.

Q: I completed a bachelor’s course in the Science stream. Am I eligible for the MSW course?

A: Yes. Candidates, irrespective of their bachelor’s degree discipline, can pursue MSW courses. However, several universities only offer the course to candidates who hold a BSW degree.

Q: Can I pursue MSW with a specialisation?

A: Yes. Several MSW courses are offered with specialisations including counselling, human resources, community medicine, etc.

Q: I do not hold a BSW degree, can I still pursue an MSW degree course?

A: Candidates can go for MSW degree courses irrespective of their stream at bachelor’s level courses.

Q: Do I only get a job in an NGO after completing an MSW course?

A: No. Several organisations other than NGOs hire MSW graduates. One can become a lecturer after completing the required skill set in the field of Social Work.

Popular MSW (Master of Social Work) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular MSW (Master of Social Work) Colleges in India. Learn more about these MSW (Master of Social Work) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
2.76 L
65.2 K
4.6 LPA
62.91 K
3.5 LPA
2.2 L - 2.64 L
3.53 LPA
1.65 L
7.5 LPA
2.48 L
3.2

Popular Private MSW (Master of Social Work) Colleges in India

2 L
6.75 LPA

MSW Applications open. Apply Now

MSW Applications open. Apply Now

2.52 LPA

MSW Applications open. Apply Now

2 L

MSW Applications open. Apply Now

1.25 L
3.5
60 K

Popular MSW (Master of Social Work) Specializations

Following are the most popular MSW (Master of Social Work) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 11 hours ago

Social work is the specialisation that falls under MSW course, it is a profession and practice dedicated to improving the well-beings of families and communities, especially those in vulnerable or social, emotional, economic, and environmental challenges to promote equity, inclusion and empowernment

...more

S

SHRUTI TIWARI

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 11 hours ago

See the table below for top private MSW colleges in Mumbai with their total course fee and eligibility:

College Name

Total Tuition Fee

Eligibility

YES University, Mumbai Admissions INR 1.4 LMerit-Based
YES Education AdmissionsINR 10000Merit-Based

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

N

Nitesh Anand

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 12 hours ago

There are different colleges for MSW courses in Mumbai but mumbai university is the No1 college according to the popularity basis. 

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Nishtha Sinha

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 12 hours ago

The aspirants need to fulfil certain educational factors and criteria to pursue MSW at the post-graduation level. The basic eligibility criteria to be fulfilled by the MSW aspirants are as follows: 

  • Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline, ideally in Social Work or related subjec

...more

V

Vikram Sharma

Beginner-Level 4

Answered Yesterday

The table below shows the top MSW Colleges in Kerala along with their average placement package and the prominent recruiters:

College NameAnnual Median PackageTop Recruiters 
Amrita School of Arts and Sciences Placements INR 4.83 - 7.13 LPAIBM, Wipro, Oracle, Google, SAP, Dell, Amazon etc.
Rajagiri College of Social Sciences Placements INR 7.25 LPAHP, HCL, Infosys, IBM, Wipro, Mphasis, Axis Bank etc.
Kerala University Placements INR 3.15 LPAGE Capital Services, IBM, TCS, Nest developers, Infosys etc.
Amrita Department of Social Work Placements INR 4.7 LPAAzim Premji Foundation, Times of India, Indian Express, Jeevan Hospital etc.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.

A

Anshuman Saxena

Beginner-Level 4

Answered Yesterday

The table below shows the affordable top Best MSW Colleges in Kerala that have fees of less than INR 1 lakh:

Low-cost CollegesTotal Tuition Fee
Kerala University FeesINR 3,360
CU Kerala Fees INR 4,720
Rajagiri College Fees INR 4,380
Calicut University Fees INR 5,280
Christ College Irinjalakuda Fees INR 9,700

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

R

Rupali Garg

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 3 days ago

Hello!

Document Verification is an important part of the admission process. Students are required to submit identity proof documents like Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Drivers Licence, Voter ID, etc. 

Students are also required to submit Class X certificate and marksheet, class XII certificate and marksheet

...more

m

muskan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 days ago

Students who wish to pursue the MSW course from IGNOU must fill out the online application form on the official website of IGNOU. Students have to submit their personal details and the required documents along with the application fee.

Students are eligible for MSW courses if they have completed thei

...more

m

muskan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 days ago

Students who wish to pursue MSW courses can pick from various specializations and fields of social work. Some popular ones are:

  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work: They work with people suffering from mental health disorders or addiction issues.
  • Health and Medicine Social Work: They work in

...more

m

muskan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 days ago

The MSW degree is pursued at the post-graduate level. Generally, the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree course duration is of two years, if it is being pursued from a regular, full-time college. A distance/correspondence MSW degree course duration can extend to 4 years, depending on the student. 

m

muskan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 days ago

MSW is an abbreviation of Master of Social Work. It is a 2-year postgraduate degree in the field of Social Work. Students who have completed their undergraduate degree in any specialisation can pursue this degree, if they secured at least 45% marks. Students who wish to serve the community can go fo

...more

m

muskan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

The total tuition fee for Stella Maris College MSW is INR 65,100This information is sourced from official website/ sanctioning body and is subject to change. Candidates opting for hostel have to pay an hostel fee. Once the selection is completed, selected aspirants need to pay course fee to confir

...more

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Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

For an MSW, it's always a good deal to go for the North Eastern Regional Institute of Management as such, is a good deal among choices. The course emphasizes practical ability and involvement in the community with all the preparation offered in preparing students for careers as workers in social ser

...more

K

KUMKUM BASWAL

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

Even if you have pursued the Master of Social Work (MSW) course through distance mode in India, it can still help you land a job abroad. However, the level of recognition and job possibilities depends on various other factors such as:

  • Accreditation: Your MSW degree should be granted from a UGC (Unive

...more

D

Divya

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

MSW course (full form Master of Social Work) is a postgraduate degree with a duration of 2 years, usually comprising 4 semesters.

To pursue MSW course in India, one should have a BSW degree or a Bachelor Degree in Humanities/Social Science/Science, commerce or management studies.

Specializations in So

...more

D

Divya

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

According to Osmania University's official website, a graduate from any discipline can apply for the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree through CPGET. 

A

Aayushi Madavi

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

IISWBM Kolkata offers MSW or Master in Social Welfare as a 2 year programme affiliated by the University of Calcutta. The programme involves summer internship and field work as a part of the curriculum and is divided in 4 semesters. One of the salient feature of the IISWBM Kolkata MSW is the dual sp

...more

A

Aashi Rastogi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

See the table below for top private MSW colleges in India with their total course fee and eligibility:

College Name

Total Tuition Fee

Eligibility

Amity University, Noida Admission

INR 2.6 lakh

Merit-Based

Christ University Admission

INR 2.48 lakh

Merit-Based

LPU Jalandhar Admission

INR 2 lakh

CUET-PG

Loyola College Admission

INR 65,200

Merit-Based

Amity University Mumbai Admission

INR 1.4 lakh

Merit-Based

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

See the table below for top government MSW colleges in India with their total course fee, seat intake and eligibility:

College Name

Total Tuition Fee

Eligibility

IGNOU

INR 32,400 - INR 36,000

Merit-Based

University of Lucknow Admission

INR 28,000- INR 1.12 lakh

Merit-Based

PSG College of Arts and Science PSGCAS Admission

INR 24,000

Merit-Based

MSU Admission

INR 18,200

Merit-Based

Panjab University Admission

INR 57,730 

PU CET (PG)

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, MSW colleges in India do offer distance courses and you can refer below for some of them:

College NameTuition FeeEligibility / Exams
IGNOUINR 32,400 - INR 36,000Merit-Based
NSOUINR 10,400Merit-Based
Tamil Nadu Open UniversityINR 6,000Merit-Based
School of Distance Education Bharathiar UniversityINR 21,120Merit-Based
KSOUINR 34,290Merit-Based

Hope this helps!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Hi, please refer below for the top specialisations offered by best MSW colleges in India:

Top SpecialisationsNo. of Colleges
Human Resources10+
Psychiatry6
Personnel Management2
Community Medicine Nursing1
Counselling1

Hope this answered your question!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Hi, it can be observed that pursuing MSW in India can be quite inexpensive as most of the colleges have an average tuition fee of less than INR 1 lakh.

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Hi, listed below are the top MSW colleges in India with their tuition fee and eligibility criteria:

College NameTuition FeeEligibility / Exams
Amity University, NoidaINR 2.6 lakhMerit-Based
IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityINR 32,400 - INR 36,000Merit-Based
Christ UniversityINR 2.48 lakhMerit-Based
University of LucknowINR 28,480 - INR1.12 lakhMerit-Based
LPU INR 2 lakhCUET-PG

Hope this helps!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

India is home to 800+ best MSW colleges of which 400+ colleges are owned privately180+ colleges are owned by the government and the rest 80+ colleges are owned by semi government institutions. CUET-PG, CPGET and AP PGCET are the top entrance exams for admission to best MSW colleges in India. Amity

...more

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

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