Master of Social Work [MSW] (Counselling)

The Master of Social Work: Counselling (MSWC) is a two-year, 72-credit Open and Distance Learning (ODL) postgraduate degree programme offered by the School of Social Work (SOSW) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. The programme provides both academic learning and professional education and training in counselling, extending beyond theoretical knowledge. It is tailored to suit counsellors working in a wide range of organisational and community contexts, including corporate sectors, schools, hospitals, family courts, rehabilitation centres, de-addiction centres, and NGOs. The total programme fee is Rs. 18,500 per year (Rs. 37,000 for the full programme), and the programme is offered exclusively in English medium through the ODL mode. MSWC is popular among social work professionals, NGO workers, teachers, and graduates seeking to specialise in counselling, a field with growing demand across India.

Admissions for the January 2026 session are currently open, with the last date for application submission being 30 March 2026. The programme has a unique structure where 40% of the total credits (32 out of 72) are devoted to Field Work Practicum, including concurrent field visits, block placement, and internship, making it a highly practice-oriented postgraduate degree.

Since MSWC is offered exclusively in Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, students study through self-learning print material and attend counselling sessions and field work at designated study centres. Unlike most IGNOU programmes, MSWC is available only at select study centres under each Regional Centre (not all regional centres), including centres in Bangalore, Cochin, Bhopal, Pune, Shillong, Aizwal, Jaipur, Agartala, Delhi (Delhi 2, Delhi 3, Noida), Srinagar, Dehradun, Ranchi, Nagpur, Guwahati, Trivandrum, Jabalpur, Madurai, Varanasi, Patna, Chandigarh, Panaji, Vatakara, Visakhapatnam, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad. Students are allotted a study centre based on their place of residence and availability of seats.

Key Points

• MSWC is the first Master's programme in Social Work with specialisation in Counselling offered through the ODL mode in India, offered by IGNOU's School of Social Work (SOSW).
• The programme has a strong practice orientation: 40% of the total credits (32 out of 72) are devoted to Field Work Practicum, including Social Work Practicum-I and II, Block Placement, and Internship.
• The medium of instruction is English only; the programme is not available in Hindi.
• Students can complete the programme in a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years.
• Completion of first-year field work practicum (MSWL-046 and MSWL-047) is mandatory before starting second-year field work practicum.
• Each student is supervised by a professionally qualified social worker (MSW/MA Social Work) for field work; this is mandatory.
• The programme is available only at select study centres (not all IGNOU regional centres), so students must verify availability at their nearest centre before applying.
• The MSWC degree is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is at par with MSW degrees from all Indian universities.

IGNOU MSWC Fees

The MSWC programme fee is Rs. 18,500 per year, payable at the time of admission for Year 1 and at the time of re-registration for Year 2. In addition, students pay a one-time Registration Fee and Development Fee as applicable. The examination fee is Rs. 200 per course, payable at the time of submitting the examination form. The total programme cost over two years is approximately Rs. 37,000 plus examination and other fees.

Fee Components

• Programme fee is to be paid in lump sum at the time of registration for each year.
• Fee once paid is not refundable under any circumstances.
• Year 2 re-registration fee must be paid as per the schedule notified by the university (typically by 30 September for July session and 31 March for January session).
• Late re-registration attracts a late fee of Rs. 200 to Rs. 1,000 depending on the delay.
• No hostel facility is applicable for this ODL programme.
• Fee can be paid online via Credit Card (Master/Visa), Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay), or Net Banking.

IGNOU MSWC Admission 2026

Admissions to the MSWC programme are open twice a year - January session and July session. For the January 2026 session, the admission portal is currently active and the last date for submission of the application form is 30 March 2026. The programme is available only at select study centres under each Regional Centre; students must verify availability at their nearest centre before applying. The admission process is entirely online through the IGNOU Admission Portal (ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in).

Important Dates

Note: Students admitted in the January 2026 session will be eligible to appear in the December 2026 TEE for Year 1 courses for the first time. Completion of Year 1 field work practicum is mandatory before starting Year 2 field work.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree or a higher degree from a recognised university in any discipline.
• There is no minimum age bar for admission to the MSWC programme.
• The programme is offered in English medium only; candidates must be comfortable reading, writing, and communicating in English.

Admission Process

• Visit the IGNOU Admission Portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in and click on New Registration.
• Fill in the online application form with personal, educational, and programme details.
• Upload scanned copies of photograph (less than 100 KB), signature (less than 100 KB), educational qualification certificate (less than 200 KB), and category certificate if applicable (less than 200 KB).
• Pay the Year 1 programme fee, registration fee, and development fee online via Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
• Keep the APAAR ID ready before starting the application process.
• After confirmation of admission, study material in English will be dispatched by registered post.
• Students are allotted a study centre based on their place of residence and availability of seats.
• Attend the Induction Programme organised by the study centre after enrolment.
• Complete field work practicum (MSWL-046 and MSWL-047) in Year 1 under the supervision of a qualified social worker (MSW/MA Social Work) assigned by the study centre.
• Submit assignments to the study centre within the stipulated time frame.
• Fill the online examination form on the IGNOU Student Portal (Samarth Platform) within the prescribed dates to appear in the TEE.
• Pay Year 2 programme fee and submit re-registration form as per the schedule notified by the university.

IGNOU MSWC Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students enrolled in the MSWC programme are eligible for a range of government scholarships. Students from SC, ST, OBC, EBC, and PwD categories can apply for scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of admission. SC/ST students are required to pay the full fee at the time of admission and subsequently apply for reimbursement through their respective State's Directorate of Social Welfare.

Scholarship Details

• SC/ST students must pay the full fee at the time of admission and then apply for reimbursement through the concerned Regional Director of IGNOU to the State Directorate of Social Welfare.
• Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria may vary by state; students should check their respective state scholarship portals as well.
• Application deadlines for scholarships vary; students should check the National Scholarship Portal regularly for updates.

IGNOU MSWC Placement 2026

Dedicated placement data exclusive to the MSWC programme is not publicly available, as this is an ODL postgraduate programme. However, the demand for trained counsellors in India is growing rapidly across sectors including corporate, education, healthcare, NGOs, and government. MSWC graduates are well-positioned to enter this growing field.

Graduates of the MSWC programme can pursue careers in the following areas:

Career Opportunities

IGNOU MSWC FAQs

Ques. Is the MSWC programme available at all IGNOU study centres?

Ans. No. Unlike most IGNOU programmes, MSWC is available only at select study centres under each Regional Centre. Not all regional centres have activated study centres for MSWC. Students must verify availability at their nearest centre before applying. The list of activated study centres is available on the IGNOU Admission Portal.

Ques. Is field work mandatory in MSWC? How many hours are required?

Ans. Yes, field work is mandatory and constitutes 40% of the total credits (32 out of 72 credits). In Year 1, students must complete Social Work Practicum-I (MSWL-046, 8 credits) and Block Placement (MSWL-047, 8 credits). In Year 2, students must complete Social Work Practicum-II (MSWL-048, 8 credits) and Internship (MSWL-049, 8 credits). Minimum 45 concurrent field visits are required in Year 1. Completion of Year 1 field work is mandatory before starting Year 2 field work.

Ques. Who supervises the field work in MSWC?

Ans. Each student is supervised by a professionally qualified social worker who holds an MSW or MA in Social Work degree. The study centre coordinator assigns a supervisor. If a qualified supervisor is not available at the study centre, students should contact the programme coordinator (Ms. N. Ramya, mswcinfo@ignou.ac.in).

Ques. Can I pursue MSWC if I have a non-social work background?

Ans. Yes. The eligibility for MSWC is a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognised university. You do not need a background in social work or psychology. However, the programme is intensive and practice-oriented, so a genuine interest in counselling and social work is important.

Ques. What is the difference between MSWC and the regular MSW (Generic) programme at IGNOU?

Ans. MSWC (Master of Social Work: Counselling) is a specialised programme focused on counselling theory and practice, with 40% weightage for field work practicum. The regular MSW (Generic) programme covers a broader range of social work methods and specialisations. MSWC is offered only in English, while MSW (Generic) is available in both English and Hindi. Both are 2-year, 72-credit ODL programmes.

Ques. Is the MSWC degree valid for government jobs or higher studies?

Ans. Yes. The MSWC degree awarded by IGNOU is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is at par with MSW degrees from all Indian universities. It is valid for government jobs where MSW is a required qualification and for pursuing M.Phil./Ph.D. in Social Work at IGNOU or other universities.