MSW (Master of Social Work) Course: Fees 2026, Admission, Top Colleges, Distance Learning & Online

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.

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:

• Social Work
• Human Resources
• Psychiatry
• Community Medicine Nursing
• Personnel Management

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:

• Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change offered by the University of Michigan
• The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs by University of Toronto
• Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners by Columbia University
• Psychological First Aid by Johns Hopkins University
• Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers by Yale University
• Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice by Harvard University

FAQs on MSW Courses

Q: What is an MSW course?

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

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

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

Q: Can I pursue MSW in distance mode?

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

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

Q: Can I pursue MSW with a specialisation?

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

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

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.

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.

Following are the most popular MSW (Master of Social Work) courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in MSW (Master of Social Work).