Updated on Jul 15, 2025 05:07 IST
Diya Nihalani

Diya NihalaniContent Author

One of the most widely used office programs in India is Microsoft Office Excel, thanks to its variety of functions. Excel is among the most in-demand skills in management and administrative positions for data analysis and management. Among its range of capabilities is the management of tables, formats, and mathematical formulas, as well as pre-programmed functions and their corresponding conversion to graphics of various kinds. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, we invite you to continue reading, as we will explain what Excel is, what it is for, and how it works.

An Overview of MS Excel

What is MS Excel? 

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet software developed by Microsoft, designed to help users store, organise, and manipulate data. Excel provides tools for performing mathematical calculations, creating complex formulas, analysing data through charts and graphs, and automating tasks. It supports a wide range of functions for various purposes, including financial analysis, statistical operations, and data visualisation. 

Excel is widely used in business, finance, and any field requiring data management, offering basic and advanced data analysis features. It also facilitates collaboration and sharing by allowing multiple users to simultaneously work on the same document through cloud services.

Relevant Links to MS Excel:

Latest Updated Syllabus for MS Excel

Introduction to MS Excel

Q:   What are the key highlights of MS Excel?
Q:   Why Should You Learn Excel?
Q:   Are Excel courses online worth it?
Table of content
  • Top MS Excel Courses
  • MS Excel Syllabus
  • MS Excel Career Scope: Salary, Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
  • FAQs for MS Excel course
  • Popular MS Excel UG Courses
  • Popular MS Excel PG Courses
  • Popular Exams
  • Popular MS Excel Colleges in India
  • Popular Private MS Excel Colleges in India
View More

Top MS Excel Courses

If you are not sure how to learn MS Excel, then start by practicing calculations first and start using some of the most basic functions like SUM, IF, VLOOKUP, COUNTIF, and CONCATENATE, etc. Then, gradually learn more advanced Excel Concepts by leveraging some of the most accessible, affordable, and flexible online/offline MS Excel courses. Interested readers are suggested to read the article further to have more information on how to learn MS Excel.

Top Courses to Learn Excel

We have listed some of the best MS Excel courses below. Depending on your skill level and objectives, you can choose the course that best suits your requirements.

MS Excel Courses

Platforms

Course Description

Microsoft Excel - Excel from Beginner to Advanced 

Udemy

Course Level: Beginner

Rating: 4.7

Description: Master MS Excel skills from Beginner to Advanced; Build a solid understanding of the Basics of Microsoft Excel.

Excel Skills for Business: Essentials 

Coursera

Course Level: Beginner 

Rating: 4.9

Description: Learn how to perform basic calculations with formulas and functions, professionally format spreadsheets, and create data visualisations through charts and graphs.

Using Basic Formulas and Functions in Microsoft Excel 

Coursera

Course Level: Beginner 

Rating: 4.7

Description:  Write formulas to perform simple calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; Use the SUM and SUMIF functions to analyse data; Calculate averages and percentages.

Data Visualization with Advanced Excel 

PwC

Course Level:  Beginner 

Rating: 4.8

Description:  Learn to use PowerPivot to build databases and data models; Perform simulation analysis using Excel built-in tools; Learn how to visualise data, tell a story, and explore data by reviewing core principles of data visualisation and dashboarding. 

Excel Tips and Tricks

Great Learning

Course Level: Beginner 

Rating: 4.62

Description: Learn advanced MS Excel techniques and best practices, including advanced formulas and functions, data analysis and modelling, charting and graphing, and macros and automation.

Microsoft Excel - Advanced Excel Formulas & Functions

UDEMY

Course Level: Advanced 

Rating: 4.2

Description: Learn how to use the advanced MS Excel formulas and functions 

Must Read:

How to Calculate Age in Excel

 

Q:   What are the most important MS Excel skills?
Q:   What are the eligibility criteria for getting MS Excel Certification?

MS Excel Syllabus

MS Excel is one of the most versatile software programs where you can organize, calculate, and analyze data through features like formulas, charts, and pivot tables. As handy as it is, it also has a vastness to its syllabus which can be extensive to cover if you are aiming for advanced expertise in this software. 

Interested candidates can refer to the table below to know more about the syllabus of MS Excel courses for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, respectively.

MS Excel Beginner Course Syllabus

Basic Formulas/Functions (SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX)

Data entry and formatting 
Basic chart creation (pie, bar, line)  Use of simple filters and sorting 
Basic data manipulation (copy, cut, paste, autofill) Page layout, Headers/Footers, Scaling for print
MS Excel Intermediate Course Syllabus

Complex formulas and functions (VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH

Custom formatting and conditional logic (IF statements)
Conditional formatting  PivotTables and PivotCharts 
Basic macros and introduction to VBA Data validation 
MS Excel Advanced Course Syllabus

Mastery of array formulas and dynamic arrays 

Advanced PivotTable (slicers, calculated fields) 

Power Pivot for data modelling and DAX formulas 

Integration with external data sources (SQL, Power BI

Automation with VBA and complex macros 

Advanced charting and data visualisation techniques

Advanced data analysis with Power Query

Password protection, Workbook automation, Error handling

Suggested Readings:

Colleges offering MS Excel Courses

MS Excel: Core Concepts

Here is a detailed look at the fundamental concepts of MS Excel:

Core Concepts Description
Workbooks and Worksheets
  • Workbook: An Excel file containing one or more worksheets.
  • Worksheet: A single spreadsheet within a workbook consisting of cells arranged in rows and columns.
Cells, Rows, and Columns
  • Cell: The basic unit for storing data, identified by a column letter and a row number (e.g., A1).
  • Row: A horizontal group of cells identified by a number.
  • Column: A vertical group of cells identified by a letter.
Formulas and Functions
  • Formulas: Expressions used to perform calculations on data in cells, starting with an equals sign (e.g., =A1+B1).
  • Functions: Predefined formulas that simplify complex calculations (e.g., SUM, AVERAGE).
Conditional Formatting
  • Allows users to change the appearance of data in cells, including font size, colour, cell borders, and background colour, to improve readability and presentation.
  • Automatically format cells based on your specified criteria, such as highlighting cells with values above a certain threshold.
Charts and Graphs
  • Visual tools that represent data graphically, such as bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts, help to illustrate trends and patterns.
PivotTables
  • PivotTable is a powerful feature for summarising, analysing, exploring, and presenting large amounts of data. 
  • PivotTables can automatically sort, count, and total the data stored in one table or spreadsheet and create a second table displaying the summarised data.

Sorting and Filtering

  • Sorting refers to when a user rearranges data in a specific order, either ascending or descending.
  • Allows the display of only the rows that meet specific criteria, hiding the rest.
Data Validation
  • Ensures the integrity of your data by setting rules that dictate what data can be entered into a cell.
Protection and Security
  • Features that allow you to protect your data from unauthorised access or alterations. 
  • Includes locking cells to prevent editing and password-protecting your workbooks.

Learn more about Excel courses:

Formula and Functions

Tools Similar to MS Excel

The first alternative to Excel from Office is Excel itself. This online alternative to Excel is a bit more limited than the desktop version, but it also has several advantages over it. Some of the alternate choices can be used directly from the browser, without the need to install any additional software, but others will have to be installed on the PC. Also, it is not possible to install the alternative to Excel independently, so in most cases, users are advised to install the complete Office suite.

Interested readers can refer to the table below to know more about some of the alternatives to Microsoft Excel.

Tools Description
Excel Online
  • We can use it for free just by having a Microsoft Account, and it also allows us to save all our documents in the cloud so that they will be protected, and we can access them from anywhere.
Google Drive (Sheets)
  • Google Drive is the successor to Google Docs, Google's office suite in the cloud. Within Drive, we can access Google applications completely free of charge, just like with Excel online.
  • All the documents we make will be saved in the Drive cloud, thus always being safe.
LibreOffice Calc
  • LibreOffice is the closest open-source alternative to Office. This office suite, developed by The Document Foundation, allows most users to replace Office with a completely free alternative that has practically the same functions and features as the Microsoft suite.
  • LibreOffice Calc is fully compatible with spreadsheets created with Office, so you shouldn't have a problem switching from one application to another.
Zoho Sheet
  • Zoho Sheet is an excellent alternative for small businesses and end-users.
  • It focuses on group work on the cloud and is free for a maximum of 25 users.  
Only Office
  • OnlyOffice is 100% compatible with Office and is open source. This suite has a free version, aimed at users, and a paid version, hosted on its servers, focused on companies.
  • This way, users can choose the edition that best suits them based on their needs. Among its features, we can highlight data security, the administration of all corporate documents, and a large number of productivity functions.

Must Read links for MS Excel Courses:

Microsoft Excel vs. Google Sheets

 

Q:   What are the Pros and Cons of using Excel?
Q:   How Does Excel Work?

MS Excel Career Scope: Salary, Job Profiles and Top Recruiters

MS Excel's primary work is to manage large datasets in a grid of rows and columns (cells), making it invaluable for tasks such as financial analysis, accounting, budgeting, data visualization, project tracking, and other data-driven operations across various industries. There is no specific career path in Excel per se, but since it is a critical tool in many industries, a number of top-rated companies seek MS Excel experts. Here are some of the potential career paths for MS Excel experts, including real-life examples of companies in India actively seeking such talent.

Job Profiles

Description

Average Salary

Project Manager

Planning, executing, and closing projects. Excel helps in tracking project progress, budget management, and resource allocation.

INR 4.2 - 30 LPA

Operations Manager Overseeing operational activities, ensuring efficiency, managing supply chain operations, and analysing performance metrics.

INR 2.9 - 20 LPA

Business Analyst

Bridging the gap between IT and the business using data analytics to assess processes, determine requirements, and deliver data-driven recommendations.

INR 2.8 - 16.4 LPA
HR Analyst Handling workforce data analytics, employee performance tracking, and HR planning. Excel creates detailed reports, manages employee databases, and analyzes recruitment metrics.

INR 2.4 - 9 LPA

Financial Analyst Assessing the financial health of businesses to guide decision-making. Tasks include analysing industry trends, preparing financial forecasts, and evaluating investment opportunities. INR 2 - 12 LPA
Marketing Analyst Evaluating marketing campaigns, consumer demographics, and market conditions. Utilising Excel to manage databases, visualise data trends, and forecast marketing ROI. INR 2 - 14 LPA
Data Analyst Interpreting data, analysing results using statistical techniques, and providing ongoing reports. INR 1.8 - 13 LPA 
Accountant Managing financial accounts, budgeting, and auditing. Excel is essential for accountants for financial reporting, tax preparation, and ledger management. INR 0.9 - 6 LPA

Note: The above information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Excel Uses in Various Industries

The use of MS Excel is highly prevailed in various industries like Finance and BankingAccountingMarketingHuman ResourcesManufacturing and EngineeringHealthcareEducation and Research

Industry

Usage

Finance and Banking

Accounting

Marketing

  • Market analysis
  • Budgeting
  • Campaign performance tracking
  • Customer data analysis

Human Resources

  • Employee data management
  • Payroll management
  • Performance tracking
  • Resource planning

Manufacturing and Engineering

  • Project management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Quality control
  • Engineering calculations

Healthcare

  • Patient records management
  • Medical billing
  • Clinical data analysis
  • Scheduling

Education and Research

  • Student data compilation
  • Academic scheduling & budgeting
  • Managing educational resources.

Note: The above information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

MS Excel Top Recruiters 

There is no specific career path in Excel per se, but since it is a critical tool in many industries, a number of top-rated companies seek MS Excel experts. Here are some of the potential career paths for MS Excel experts, including real-life examples of companies in India actively seeking such talent.

Job Profiles

Top Recruiters
Data Analyst TCS, Infosys, and Wipro regularly hire data analysts with strong Excel skills for their ability to manipulate and analyse data efficiently.
Financial Analyst HDFC, Reliance Industries, and ICICI Bank seek financial analysts proficient in Excel for financial modelling and analysis.

Marketing Analyst

Hindustan Unilever, Procter & Gamble India, and Flipkart hire marketing analysts with Excel expertise to optimise marketing strategies and analyse consumer behaviour.
Accountant Deloitte India, KPMG India, and PwC India are among the top employers of accountants with advanced Excel skills for their auditing and consultancy services.
Business Analyst Accenture, Capgemini India, and Cognizant Technology Solutions frequently hire business analysts with strong Excel skills for project management and process improvement.
Operations Manager Amazon India, Flipkart, and Reliance Retail are looking for operations managers proficient in Excel for inventory management, logistics planning, and operational analytics.
HR Analyst TCS, Infosys, and Wipro use Excel for HR analytics and workforce planning.
Project Manager Larsen & Toubro, Tata Projects, and Mahindra Group hire project managers with Excel proficiency for their expertise in managing timelines and budgets efficiently.

Note: The above information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Read More:

Top 10 Highest Paid Jobs in the IT Sector in 2025

Most Popular and Powerful Formulas in Excel

 

Q:   What are the Applications of MS Excel?
Q:   Which are the job profiles one can join after getting MS Excel certifications?

FAQs for MS Excel course

Interested Candidates can check out the FAQ Section to know the most asked questions about the MS Excel course:

Q:   Which are the popular MS Excel certifications and courses?
Q:   What are the contents of basic and advanced MS Excel courses?

Popular MS Excel UG Courses

Following are the most popular MS Excel UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular MS Excel PG Courses

Following are the most popular MS Excel PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for MS Excel. Students interested in pursuing a career on MS Excel, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Apr '26 - May '26

NIMCET 2026 Application Form

TENTATIVE

May '26

NIMCET 2026 Application Form Correction Facility

TENTATIVE

Dec '25 - Feb '26

MAH MCA CET 2026 Registration

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

MAH MCA CET 2026 Application Correction Facility

TENTATIVE

29 Sep ' 25 - 3 Oct ' 25

PGCET Counselling: Facility to Edit Exercised Opt...

3 Oct ' 25

Karnataka PGCET First Round Allotment Results (Pr...

1 Mar ' 26 - 24 Mar ' 26

CUET 2026 Application Process

15 May ' 26 - 3 Jun ' 26

CUET 2026 Exam

Popular MS Excel Colleges in India

 

 

 

 

0
0
0
3.0
0
0
380 - 11.2 K

Popular Private MS Excel Colleges in India

1.4 L - 2.6 L
0
0
0
3.0
0
0
qna

Student Forum

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

Answered 2 months ago

Beginner Level Skill: Lay the foundation for effective spreadsheet management, focusing on essential functionalities for daily tasks.
Intermediate skills: Can elevate a user's ability to analyse and present data, making them valuable for data interpretation and preliminary analysis roles.
Advanced Lev

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

MS Excel syllabus for the basic course includes - basics of Microsoft Office Excel, calculations, worksheet modification, formatting a worksheet, and printing and managing workbooks. The advanced MS Excel course syllabus includes - working with multiple sheets and workbooks, sharing and protecting w

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Some of the popular MS Excel certifications and courses include:

  • Excel Certification Courses (E-LearnExcel)
  • Microsoft Excel Certifications (Microsoft)
  • Introduction to Data Analysis using Excel (Coursera)
  • Excel Certification (LinkedIn Learning)
  • Excel Essentials: The Complete Excel Series (Udemy)
  • Microsoft

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

If one wants to go for the Excel certification, there are no educational prerequisites. Anyone can learn excel and get a certificate as long as they find it interesting and want to make some career growth by upskilling, MS Excel is one of the most fundamental skills freshers can mention in their res

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The job profiles one can join after getting MS Excel certifications are - MIS Executive, Data Analyst, Financial Analyst, Metrics and Analytics Specialist, Market Research Analyst, Big Data Solution Architect, Big Data Analytics Architect, and Big Data Engineer.

MS Excel is a vast field offering vari

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The usage of MS Excel includes - task management, time management, data entry, data management, programming, charting and graphing, accounting, financial analysis, CRM, and financial modeling. It caters to hundreds of corporate, government, academic institutes administrations on a daily basis. It ha

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Excel Applications:
Excel stands out from other office programs because it allows us to organize data in rows and columns. By entering numeric and alphanumeric data in Excel spreadsheets, we can perform basic arithmetic calculations, apply more complex mathematical functions, and use statistical or l

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

  • MS Excel has a cell-based structure. It organizes data in cells across rows and columns, facilitating easy data entry and formatting.
  • Excel offers a vast library of built-in statistical, financial, and text data manipulation functions.
  • PivotTables enable quick summarisation and analysis of large data

...Read more

D

Diya Nihalani

Contributor-Level 10

Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else

On Shiksha, get access to

  • 65k Colleges
  • 1k Exams
  • 688k Reviews
  • 1800k Answers