Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Master of Social Work (MSW) at Pondicherry University is a 2-year, full-time postgraduate programme established in October 2007, offered by the Department of Social Work under the School of Social Sciences and International Studies. The programme offers three specializations: Community Development, Human Resource Management, and Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. With 65 seats, the MSW at Pondicherry University is one of the most sought-after social work programmes in South India, combining rigorous classroom teaching with concurrent and block fieldwork in government and non-government organizations, industries, and hospitals. The total fees for the programme are approximately Rs. 38,142 for the entire 2-year course, making it highly affordable for a NAAC A+ accredited central university. Admission is based on CUET PG scores. The programme is popular for its interdisciplinary approach, strong fieldwork component, and the wide career scope it offers across development, government, health, corporate, and international sectors.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are based on CUET PG 2026 scores. The CUET PG 2026 exam was conducted from March 13 to April 1, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. Pondicherry University is expected to release its MSW 2026-27 admission notification after CUET PG results, tentatively in May-June 2026. The 2025-26 admission cycle is now closed.

Key Points

The programme offers three specializations: Community Development, Human Resource Management, and Medical and Psychiatric Social Work.
Seat intake is 65 seats per batch.
Admission is based on CUET PG scores; no separate university entrance exam is conducted.
The curriculum was last revised in 2025 and includes concurrent and block fieldwork in government and non-government organizations, industries, and hospitals.
70% attendance is mandatory to appear for examinations.
Graduates have been placed in leading organizations such as BHEL, TCS, Ford, ISRO, JIPMER, NIMHANS, HelpAge India, and Intelligence Bureau.
Differently abled students are fully exempted from all fees (except refundable caution deposit and group medical insurance).
SC/ST candidates who have passed the qualifying examination are eligible to apply irrespective of percentage.

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15 Apr, 2026 CUET PG 2026 Results are expected to be released by First week of May @exams.nta.nic.in. To know more, click here.

PU MSW Fees

The MSW programme at Pondicherry University is one of the most affordable postgraduate social work programmes in India. The total course fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 38,142, spread across four semesters. The first semester fee is the highest due to one-time charges such as the Amenities Development Fund, Alumni Association Fund, and University Development Fund. Subsequent semesters are significantly lower.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester I (Rs.)	Semester II (Rs.)	Semester III (Rs.)	Semester IV (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	3,000	3,000	3,000	3,000	12,000
Registration Fee	300	-	-	-	300
Matriculation Fee	100	-	-	-	100
Recognition Fee	400	-	-	-	400
Sports Fund	500	-	500	-	1,000
Medical Examination / Facilities Fund	600	-	600	-	1,200
Library Fund	1,500	-	1,500	-	3,000
Computer Lab Fund	2,000	-	2,000	-	4,000
Amenities Development Fund	6,000	-	-	-	6,000
Students' Welfare Fund	400	-	400	-	800
Alumni Association Fund	200	-	-	-	200
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000	-	-	-	1,000
Placement Activity Fund	200	200	200	200	800
Academic Activity Fund	1,000	-	1,000	-	2,000
Digital Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000	-	4,000
Group Medical Insurance	142	-	-	-	142
University Development Fund	1,200	-	-	-	1,200
Semester Total	20,542	3,200	11,200	3,200	-
Total Fees (Course)					Rs. 38,142

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university after clearing all dues.
Hostel fees are charged separately; hostel accommodation fee is approximately Rs. 700 per semester; mess fee is approximately Rs. 75 per day (compulsory for hostel residents). Annual hostel fee is approximately Rs. 4,975.
Female students may benefit from a hostel fee waiver; students should confirm current policy with the university.
Differently abled students are fully exempted from all fees except the refundable caution deposit and group medical insurance premium.
SC/ST students eligible for Post-Matric scholarships may pay fees within 90 days of admission upon submission of an undertaking.
Late payment fine: Rs. 10/day for the first 15 days, Rs. 25/day thereafter.
For NRI students, the total course fee is approximately Rs. 2.1 lakhs.

PU MSW Admission 2026

Admissions to the MSW programme at Pondicherry University are based on CUET PG scores. The CUET PG 2026 exam was conducted from March 13 to April 1, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. The university is expected to release its MSW 2026-27 admission notification after CUET PG results, tentatively in May-June 2026. In 2025-26, the provisional select list was released in July 2025. The 2025-26 CUET PG cutoff for MSW (Round 1) was: General - 170, OBC - 151, ST - 125, EWS - 114, SC - 105, PwD - 55.

Pondicherry University MSW Admission Dates

Event	2025-26 (Reference)	2026-27 (Tentative)
CUET PG Registration	Dec 2024 - Jan 2025	Dec 2025 - Jan 2026 (Done)
CUET PG Exam	Mar-Apr 2025	Mar 13 - Apr 1, 2026 (Done)
CUET PG Result	May 2025	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
PU Admission Notification	Jun-Jul 2025	Jun-Jul 2026 (Tentative)
Provisional Select List (Round 1)	July 2025	July 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date to Pay Admission Fees	July 2025	July 2026 (Tentative)
Commencement of Classes	August 2025	August 2026 (Tentative)

CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Registration	December 14, 2025 - January 25, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Admit Card	March 9, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Result (Tentative)	May 6, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised university.
SC/ST candidates who have passed the qualifying examination are eligible to apply irrespective of percentage.
Candidates awaiting results of the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply; they must produce mark sheets/degree certificates before the notified date.

Admission Process:

Register and appear for CUET PG 2026 (conducted by NTA); select the relevant subject paper for Social Work.
Apply to Pondicherry University through the official admissions portal (admissions.pondiuni.edu.in) after the university releases its notification.
Selection is based on CUET PG scores; merit list is prepared category-wise.
Selected candidates must report to the Department of Social Work with original certificates and pay the prescribed fees by the notified date.
Admission is provisional, subject to verification of documents.

Pondicherry University: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 4 Reviews

In the final semester, campus placements featured companies like Tata Consultancy Services and Federal Bank, with two students each securing positions at these firms. The college provides a merit-based scholarship for the top 10 students after their semester exams. Female students benefit from a waiver on hostel fees. The academic fees are structured as follows: 20,542 INR for the first semester, 3,200 INR for the second, 11,200 INR for the third, and 3,200 INR for the fourth semester.

Tuition fees rise by about 1,000 INR annually. Hostel accommodation costs approximately 700 INR per semester, with a mandatory mess fee of 75 INR per day. Students may also qualify for various scholarships from Central and State governments, such as Egrants and the Central Sector Scholarship, subject to eligibility criteria. Campus placements are available for MBA students, but not for those in Social Work programs.

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PU MSW Scholarships 2026

Pondicherry University offers several scholarships for PG students, including MSW students. The university's Merit Scholarship and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship are available to deserving students based on academic performance and parental income. Additionally, government scholarships from UGC and state/central governments are available for eligible categories. Students have also benefited from Central Sector Scholarships and state e-grant schemes.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Remarks
PU Merit Scholarship	Top 3 rank holders in CUET PG / semester	Rs. 2,000 / Rs. 1,500 / Rs. 1,000 per month	Continued each semester based on SGPA rank
PU Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (MCM)	20% of PG students; parental income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Rs. 750 per month	Based on SGPA and parental income; 70% attendance required
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (UGC)	Single girl child pursuing PG programmes	Rs. 3,100 per month	Applied through UGC portal
PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders	UG rank holders from recognised universities	As per UGC norms	Applied through university
Government of India SC/ST/OBC Post-Matric Scholarship	SC/ST/OBC students	As per state/central norms	Applied through respective state portals
Central Sector Scholarship	Students with family income below Rs. 8 lakh/year	Rs. 10,000 per year (UG); Rs. 20,000 per year (PG)	Applied through National Scholarship Portal
Government of Puducherry Merit and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	Residents/natives of Puducherry	As per UT government norms	Applied through Government of Puducherry
PM-Vidyalaxmi Education Loan	All admitted students	Collateral-free loan	Apply at pmvidyalaxmi.co.in; Toll-free: 1800-1031

Students are eligible for only one scholarship at a time.
Continuance of scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progress, proper conduct, and 70% attendance.
The department provides a merit-based scholarship for the top 10 students after each semester exam (as reported by students).

PU MSW Placement 2026

The MSW programme at Pondicherry University has a strong track record of graduates being absorbed across diverse sectors including development, government, health, corporate, and international organizations. The department's official page highlights placements at organizations such as BHEL, TCS, Ford, ISRO, JIPMER, NIMHANS, HelpAge India, Intelligence Bureau, Power Grid Corporation, and Central University of Karnataka. The median salary for MSW graduates from Pondicherry University is approximately Rs. 6.5 LPA. It is important to note that formal campus placement drives are primarily organized for MBA students; MSW students largely secure positions through fieldwork networks, alumni connections, and self-placement.

Placement Details

Placement Metric	Details
Median Salary	Rs. 6.5 LPA (approx.)
Key Recruiters	BHEL, TCS, Ford, ISRO, JIPMER, NIMHANS, HelpAge India, Intelligence Bureau, Power Grid Corporation
Sectors	Development, Government, Health, Corporate, NGOs, International Agencies
Formal Campus Placement	Limited; primarily through fieldwork networks and alumni connections

PU MSW FAQs

Ques. What are the specializations available in MSW at Pondicherry University and which one should I choose?

Ans. The MSW programme at Pondicherry University offers three specializations: Community Development, Human Resource Management, and Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. Community Development is ideal for those interested in grassroots work, NGOs, and rural development. Human Resource Management suits those aiming for corporate social work and HR roles in industries. Medical and Psychiatric Social Work is best for those interested in healthcare settings like hospitals and mental health institutions. The choice depends on your career goals and fieldwork interests.

Ques. Is CUET PG the only entrance exam for MSW admission at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Yes, admission to the MSW programme at Pondicherry University is based solely on CUET PG scores. There is no separate university-level entrance exam. Candidates must register for CUET PG through the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/) and select the Social Work subject paper. The 2025-26 CUET PG cutoff for MSW (General category, Round 1) was 170 marks.

Ques. Is there campus placement for MSW students at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Formal campus placement drives at Pondicherry University are primarily organized for MBA students. MSW students largely secure positions through their fieldwork networks, alumni connections, and self-placement efforts. However, the department has a strong track record of graduates being placed in reputed organizations such as BHEL, TCS, Ford, ISRO, JIPMER, NIMHANS, and HelpAge India. The median salary for MSW graduates is approximately Rs. 6.5 LPA.

Ques. What is the fieldwork component in the MSW programme at Pondicherry University?

Ans. The MSW programme includes both concurrent fieldwork (ongoing throughout the programme) and block fieldwork (intensive placement periods) in various government and non-government organizations, industries, and hospitals. This practical training is a core component of the programme and enables students to acquire professional social work skills, values, and ethics. The fieldwork placements are organized by the department based on the student's specialization.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for MSW students and is mess compulsory?

Ans. Yes, Pondicherry University has 21 hostels on campus (13 for boys, 8 for girls). Hostel accommodation is available for MSW students subject to availability. Dining in the hostel mess is compulsory for hostel residents; the mess fee is approximately Rs. 75 per day. Female students may benefit from a hostel fee waiver; students should confirm the current policy with the university at the time of admission.

Ques. What are the career prospects after MSW from Pondicherry University?

Ans. MSW graduates from Pondicherry University have wide career scope across development organizations, government departments, public sector undertakings, healthcare institutions, corporate HR departments, and national and international funding agencies. Graduates have been placed at organizations such as BHEL, TCS, Ford, ISRO, JIPMER, NIMHANS, HelpAge India, and Intelligence Bureau. The degree also qualifies candidates to appear for UGC NET in Social Work for assistant professor positions and to pursue Ph.D. in Social Work.

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Why To Join Pondicherry University - Reviews & Rating

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Kesav PS

4.4Helpful

MSW

Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

Life in Pondicherry University

Fees and Financial Aid:

For each semester there are seperate amounts to be paid as tuition fees. For the first semester it's about 20000 and for the second and fourth semester fees is around 3500. The tuition fees for the third semester is around 9700 rupees. There will be considerable increase in tuition fees for each year which is atmost 1000 rupees. For those who seek hostel facility has to pay mess fees and hostel accomodation fees. For each semester, the hostel accomodation fees is around 700 and the mess fees is for a day is 75 rupees which is paid as a sum for the whole semester. The caution deposits are included in both mess and semester fees which is returned when the student completes the course. Various scholarships provided by both Central and State governments are available for the students based on eligibility such as Egrants, Central sector scholarship etc. Campus placement is provided for the students of other departments such as MBA. But no campus placement for Social work students.

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Malavika

4.1

MSW

Reviewed on Feb 24, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

Review of Pondicherry University

Fees and Financial Aid:

The fee is subsidised but still a substantial amount of 23000 per year. The biggest expense however is the mess, which is compulsory to avail if one wants hostel facilities. This is an absurd rule since the quality of the mess is terrible.

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Anonymous

3.8Helpful

MSW

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2023(Enrolled 2021)

Pondicherry University, Puducherry review

Fees and Financial Aid:

For girls there is no hostel fee. The academic fee for one semester is 20,542/- which should be paid at the time of admission. The 2nd semester fees was 3200/- for fourth semester it is 11200/- and for fourth semester it is 3200/-. The department provides scholarship based on merits after the semester exams for the first 10 Students who scored high on the exams.

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Zagou Haokip

3.6

MSW

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2020

Zagou Haokip's Review On Pondicherry University - [PU], Pondicherry

Course Curriculum Overview:

MSW is an interesting course with a human values imbedded in itself. I recommend this course to individuals whose interest is to restore humanity in this modern self-centre world. The department of MSW includes fieldwork and internship to various institutions based on one's specialisation. The students and faculties shared warm relationships fitting well for teaching-learning experiences.

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