BA Social Work is a three-year undergraduate course offered in many government and private universities in India. To pursue this course, the student must have completed his/her 10+2 from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% in his/her aggregate subjects. As such, no specific subject combination is required. The student must also appear for entrance examinations like CUET UG, etc, and must participate in further counselling.
Various colleges that offer this course are Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Aditi Maha Vidyalaya, Jamia Millia Islamia, Amity University, Gautam Buddha University, and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), where the total fee ranges from INR 29,970- 5,85,000. These colleges focus on teaching students subjects like Fundamentals of Social Work, Contemporary Social Concerns, Introduction to the Society for Social Work, Understanding Psychology for Social Work, Working with Individuals and Communities, and Research in Social Work.
After graduating with a BA Social Work degree, the students are often employed in companies, where various job roles include Social Worker, Child Welfare Officer, Program / Project Coordinator, Community Health Worker, Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical / Medical Social Worker, often employed in areas such as Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Cankids Kidscan, Salaam Baalak Trust, Vikalpa Foundation, Brainrootz Labs, Govt. Health Centres, NGOs, mental health NGOs, Hospitals, and clinical settings. The annual salary of a BA Social Work graduate typically ranges from INR 1.2 - 7.2 LPA.
Table of Contents
- BA Social Work Key Highlights
- What is a BA Social Work?
- Why Study a BA Social Work?
- Who should study the BA Social Work course?
- BA Social Work Eligibility Criteria
- BA Social Work Entrance Exams 2025
- BA Social Work Colleges in India
- BA Social Work Admission Process 2025
- BA Social Work Syllabus
- BA Social Work Job Opportunities in India
- BA Social Work FAQs
BA Social Work Key Highlights
The Bachelor in Social Work degree is a three-year undergraduate course offered in many government and private universities in India. The details for the subjects, entrance examination, course fees, top colleges, and job profiles are mentioned in the table below:
What is a BA Social Work?
A BA in Social Work is a three-year undergraduate program that is offered across many colleges and universities in India. The course focuses on understanding how humans behave, social systems, working towards human welfare, etc., thus equipping students with knowledge about society and how it functions. The course enhances the well-being of the communities, groups, and society by training them on how to address social issues. The field is a multifaceted one as it draws information from and blends different fields, which include psychology, sociology, community development, etc.
The program equips the students with skills such as communication, teamwork, collaboration, empathy, emotional intelligence, advocacy, and critical thinking. The course also emphasizes developing value systems, core values, and principles that are essential in the field of social work. Hence, equipping students with certain skills and knowledge and preparing them for roles in social sectors, NGOs, hospitals, etc.
Why Study a BA Social Work?
The BA Social Work is the most relevant course offered in different colleges, institutes, and universities, both government and private, in India. The reasons to opt for a BA in Social Work are given below:
- Social work- The BA Social Work degree focuses on making a positive impact in society by increasingly working towards the welfare of the people at large, helping the vulnerable groups and discriminated communities, which aids in engaging in social work. Hence, it is a good reason to opt for a BA Social Work degree.
- Career opportunities- There are multiple diverse career opportunities that are associated with a BA Social Work course. Students, after completing their graduation in this course, can be employed in NGOs, schools, hospitals, social sectors, rehab centres, etc., which would ensure working increasingly towards the welfare of the people.
- Field-based learning- The course emphasises working towards the welfare of society at large by engaging with NGOs and organisations, etc., which equip students with field-based learning. Such experiences and internships offer real-world experience to the students.
- Skill development- The students learn several skills by engaging with communities and organisations. These skills include collaboration, empathy, emotional intelligence, and advocacy.
Who should study the BA Social Work course?
Many reasons, which include who might be a good fit for pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in different colleges in India, are mentioned below:
- Students wanting to serve the community- Students who are inclined to engage in social work and want to serve the community should opt for a BA Social Work degree.
- Compassionate individuals- Students who genuinely care about helping people and contributing towards their well-being, and wish to further assist them voluntarily, should choose a BA Social Work course.
- Students aspiring to become public servants- The students who wish to become public servants, work in government-led welfare programs and community work, etc., should choose this course as it provides all the skills that are required to be a good public servant.
- Students wanting to pursue higher education- Students who want to go for further higher education after completing their graduation should choose the course of BA Social Work course. The course serves as an excellent foundation for public policy, Master’s in Social Work, etc.
BA Social Work Eligibility Criteria
To secure a seat in the top colleges and institutes in India for the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work course, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria to be selected for further application and the admission process. The detailed eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
- The student must have completed 10+2 from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% or more in aggregate subjects.
- For this course, no specific subject combination is required to be mandatory as such.
- The student is also required to appear for entrance examinations like CUET UG, JMI Entrance test, and must appear for further counselling.
- Students belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PwD categories are often given relaxation in different government-affiliated and private universities.
BA Social Work Entrance Exams 2025
To secure a seat in the top colleges and universities in the country for the BA Social Work degree, the student has to appear for different entrance examinations. Some top entrance examinations have been listed in the table below:
BA Social Work Colleges in India
A Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is a highly chosen field by several students. Hence, it is offered by several colleges and universities across India. Colleges offering this course are listed in the table below:
BA Social Work Admission Process 2025
To secure a seat in the top colleges of BA Social Work in India, the student must follow a few steps first. Initially, the student must meet the eligibility criteria of the course and then have to appear for the entrance examinations. The detailed procedure for securing admission in Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, DU is given below:
Step 1- The students have to first choose several entrance exams that they want to appear for, which may include CUET UG, JMI Entrance exam, etc.
Step 2- The students must fill in their personal and academic details on the application form. Once they have filled in the details, they must proceed with uploading all the relevant documents.
Step 3- Proceed with the payment of the application fee.
Step 4- The students must check for the dates on the official website of the entrance examination and then must compulsorily appear for the examination on the specified date.
Step 5- After the students have appeared for the examination, they must check the website again for their results. Once the results are announced, they must download the scorecard and save it for future reference.
Step 6- Qualified candidates must compulsorily appear for the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) on the CSAS portal. This portal ensures the choice filling and preference of colleges, due to which the students will be allotted colleges.
Step 7- It is important to note that seat allocation will depend on the choice filling, preference selection, the merit score, category, etc, of the student.
Step 8- The students will be allotted colleges as per the Common Seat Allocation System.
Step 9- The students must confirm their admission to the respective college by paying the admission fee.
Documents Required
- 10th and 12th grade mark sheet
- Identity proof such as an Aadhar card, PAN Card
- An entrance exam scorecard
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Category certificate, if applicable
- Bank details
- Domicile certificate, if applicable
- MIgration certificate
BA Social Work Syllabus
A BA in Social Work is a three-year full-time course that covers different subjects and concepts of social work, welfare, development, etc. The subjects taught during the entire course at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, DU, are mentioned below:
BA Social Work Job Opportunities in India
Multiple job opportunities and careers are associated with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work in India, as mentioned below in the table:
BA Social Work FAQs
Is it possible to work in international companies and organisations after completing a Bachelor's degree in Social Work?
Yes. It is possible to work in international organisations after completing a BA in Social Work. The students with strong internships and field experience can apply for positions in international agencies. Many organisations like UNICEF, UNDP, etc. accept students with the relevant skills and background in social work to work in jobs globally.
Is BA Social Work limited only to working in Non-governmental organisations?
No. The field of BA Social Work is not just limited to working in NGOs and welfare organisations. After completing a BA in Social Work, the students have the opportunity to work as public servants, Social Workers, Child Welfare Officers, Program coordinators, and Community Health Workers, etc., in different companies and government offices. The graduates can also work in schools, hospitals, and mental health organisations etc.
Is it possible for BA Social Work to work as counsellors?
The Bachelor's degree in Social Work lays a strong foundation for further studies and certifications, etc. To become an effective counsellor, a student must choose certification and can even opt for a master’s degree in counselling or psychology to become and start working as a counsellor.
How is the course of BA Social Work any different from B.A Sociology?
The Bachelor's degree in Social Work focuses on understanding human behaviours and engaging in welfare and community work, etc. The field is more theoretical, field-oriented, and skill-based, involving practical experience. Whereas a BA Sociology is a more theoretical and research-based field.
Are there any scholarships available for students who wish to pursue this course?
Yes. Numerous government-affiliated and private scholarships are available for students to pursue different courses, even a BA in Social Work. The colleges and universities often give merit-based scholarships to students, offer grants and relaxations to students belonging to SC/ST/OBC/ EWS categories, etc. Moreover, many private organisations give scholarships to students based on their scores in the 12th standard and an aptitude test.
