Tata Institute of Social Sciences is offering 57+ PG Degree programmes from its Mumbai, Tuljapur, Guwahati, and Hyderabad campuses. The postgraduate programmes range from Social Work with Criminology and Justice Disability Studies and Action, Dalit and Tribal Studies, Mental Health, Women Centred Practice, Counseling, Children and Family, Community Organisation and Development Practices, Livelihood and Social Entrepreneurship, Public Health, Rural Development; Climate Change and Environment oriented programmes like Environment Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, Ecology-Environment-Sustainable Development; Public Health courses in Hospital Administration, Social Epidemiology, Health Administration; Public Policy oriented programmes like Public Policy and Governance, Cities and Governance, Natural Resources and Governance, Urban Policy and Governance, Regulatory Policy and Governance, Water Policy and Governance; Mental Health specialisations in Applied Psychology (Counseling and Clinical), Global Mental Health, Animal Assisted Therapy; Human Resource Management and Social Entrepreneurship; Peace and Conflict Studies; Development Studies, Women Studies; Education; Sociology and Social Anthropology; Disaster Management; Media and Cultural Studies et al.
Placements : Government schemes, missions, ministries and departments like NITI Aayog, Ministry of Social Empowerment and Justice, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Kudumbashree, Telangana State Development Authority; Multilaterals like UNICEF, WHO, UNDP; CSR verticals of PSUs like NTPC, Oil India, GAIL; large corporations like Reliance Foundation, Piramal Foundation, Zydus Cadilla; consulting firms like KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY; tech companies like Uber, Indigene, Infosys; Healthcare organisations like Cloud Nine Hospitals, Apollo Group of Hospitals; social enterprises and grassroot level organisations like PRADAN, Save The Children, PRAYAS, Naz Foundation, Oxfam International, Apni Shala and many impact driven initiatives have hired graduates from TISS for internships during the course and final job placements after graduation. As per data submitted by TISS with National Institute of Ranking Framework (Ministry of Education) the median salary of PG Programmes is Rs 6 Lakhs per annum across the aforementioned courses. Starting salaries offered in recent years have gone up to Rs 20 - 23 Lakhs per annum depending on the job profile and competence of the graduates. Young Professionals, Program Managers, Monitoring and Evaluation, CSR Executive, Quality Assurance Manager, Policy Advocate and Researcher are few of the many job profiles offered during campus placements. A significant number of graduates apply for further education like pursuing PhD every year at TISS.
Selection Procedure : The application for PG Programmes at TISS usually go live from the first week of December till the end of January next year. Candidates can apply for a maximum of three programmes across any of the two campuses indicating the order of preference. TISS shortlists candidates initially through TISSNET (TISS National Entrance Test) conducted in 40 different towns/cities. The shortlisted candidates have to appear for Online Assessments (OA) comprising an Online Extempore and Online Personal Interview specific to the programmes they have been shortlisted for the final selection.
TISSNET Structure : TISSNET is a computer based MCQ test of 100 minutes duration with no negative marking applicable for single or multiple preferences of programmes submitted by candidates during their application. The medium of TISSNET is English.
The basic structure of TISSNET is:
40 Questions on General Awareness: Questions are asked from Politics, Social Studies, Science & Technology, Environment, Sports, Art & Culture, Indian History to assess awareness about current affairs, developmental, socio-political issues. Sectional cut-off for General Awareness (GA) is applied for qualifying the
TISS-NET. Candidates not scoring the minimum cut-off mark for the General Awareness as above will not be qualified for TISS NET irrespective of the aggregate score
Sectional Cut Off (SCO) applied : GN, EWS, KM, and AF – 35% i.e. 14 Marks; PWD and OBC(NC) – 30% i.e. 12 Marks; SC and ST– No sectional cut-off applied
30 Questions on Mathematics and Logical Reasoning: Basic Arithmetic, Basic Geometry, Basic Trigonometry, Basic Statistics, Number Series, Data interpretation, Logical reasoning with a preparation level up to Class X
30 Questions on English Proficiency : The broad type of questions are asked from Word choice/sentence correction, Odd-one-out, Analogies, Synonyms & Antonyms, Grammar, Verbal reasoning, Reading comprehension with a preparation level up to Class X
TISSNET Tips : Aspirants need to optimise their preparation by filtering out current affairs and static GK contexts using the lens of intersectionalities like gender, caste, religion; livelihood and entrepreneurship schemes, environmental awareness, sustainable and inclusive policies, disasters, historical reforms etc.
Analytical and Problem Solving skills feature amongst the top requirements in employability and TISSNET tests a candidate’s basic comfort in reading and interpreting charts and tables with fundamental calculations on percentage, profit and loss, ratio proportion, probability, geometry and logical reasoning questions on games and puzzles, arrangements, direction sense, syllogisms to highlight a few. The ability to apply working English with grammatically correct constructions is a core focus in the English proficiency section. Agreement of the subject to the verb, tenses, correct usage of articles, prepositions, singular and plural verbs, contextual reasoning out synonyms and antonyms and the ability to summarise and synthesise comprehension passages are the usual pattern noticed in previous years. NCERT updated text books for General Awareness and Mathematics, Government of India and affiliate Ministry websites are useful sources of learning resources. Grammar books Wren and Martin, “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis help in formulating approaches to prepare well for the English proficiency questions.
Online Assessment Tips : A candidate’s compatibility with the shortlisted programme(s) is assessed with an extempore topic that they are required to reflect upon for 2 - 3 minutes followed by 15 - 20 minutes of interview by a three panel member of the TISS faculty. It’s important to highlight that knowing the prospect of programmes and their learning outcomes forms the framework to prepare for TISS Online Assessments. Exposure that can be integrated, lived experiences, attitude, mindset are few of the many attributes that the TISS faculty welcomes in a candidate to be exhibited during the interactive rounds.
TISSNET 2023 will be held on 25 February from 2pm - 3:40pm.
About the author: Sauraveswar Sen (12+ years of experience) is the founder of Catalyst Learning Services based in Kolkata. He is a mentor for placements at TISS, St Xavier’s College Mumbai, University of Calcutta and several institutes of eminence. Students and working professionals are trained online and offline at Catalyst for careers in the social sector - preparing for Bachelors and Masters Entrances and Interviews of Social Science programmes, Fellowships and Social Sector Jobs.
