Admissions to Career opportunities in M.Sc: Everything you need to know

M.Sc or Masters in Science is a two-year postgraduate programme that is often pursued by students who wish to become specialised professionals in the science field. The course is eligible for those who already have an undergraduate degree in Msc and have studied subjects Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with Mathematics. 

Currently, a wide range of private as well as government colleges and universities offer this course. Students can select a college based on their preference and apply for M.Sc. However, they need to get proper information regarding the admission process and eligibility criteria. 

Some colleges also conduct entrance exams to offer admission to students. That can vary based on the college you have opted for and the specialisation. For instance, students often opt for M.Sc in Chemistry or Physics. Similarly, there are special M.Sc courses in Agriculture, Nursing, Biology, Computer Science, Biotechnology, etc., You can select any of the specific subjects and pursue a career in that field. 

If you or someone you know has been planning to pursue M.Sc, we have the perfect guide. It contains all the information pertaining to M.Sc admission process, best colleges, eligibility criteria, and counselling. Read on: 

Top Colleges offering M.Sc Courses

A vast number of colleges offer M.Sc across India. Many also conduct entrance exams such as BHU PET, DUET, TISS NET, BITSAT, IIT JAM, etc for offering admission in M.Sc. Other than that, some colleges also offer direct admission based on merit. 

Here is a list of some of the top colleges along with their eligibility criteria and the application deadline for the 2022 session. 

Note: The application deadlines are tentative and can be changed due to the covid-19 pandemic. It is best to refer to the official website of colleges/universities for the latest updates. 

M.Sc: Admission Process

While the admission process can change based on the college and university you apply for, there are some basic steps every candidate must follow for M.Sc admission. These include: 

• Select the college you wish to take admission to. Visit their website and check the application process, eligibility, and the last date to fill online admission form for 2022. 
• If you opt for a college that offers admission via an entrance exam, you need to register and apply for the test first. That can be done by paying an application fee and filing the form with the required details. 
• After the form is filled out and submitted, you will have to stay updated on the exam dates. Prepare and crack the exams. 
• In case you are opting for a college that does not require entrance exams and is solely based on merit or marks in graduation, check the cut-off list to see if you are eligible or not. 
• If you are qualified, you will be then called for an interview session (in case of direct admission) to finalise the admission process. 
• The counselling session will ensure if you are the right candidate and later, you will be notified of the admission. 
• The last step would be securing the seat by paying the college fee. 

Eligibility Criteria for M.Sc

The eligibility criteria for M.Sc programmes are not the same for all colleges. But the basic criteria often remain the same. You are eligible for admission in M.Sc if you: 

• Have cleared class 12 exams from a recognised board in the science stream with at least 50% marks. For SC/ST categories, the minimum aggregate is 45%. 
• Have a Bachelor's degree in Science from any recognised university/ college.

To know the exact eligibility criteria, refer to the official websites.

Documents Required for M.Sc Registration

During admission, the college or the university requires various documents to fill out the application form. These include:

• 2 Passport sized Photos
• Education Qualifications (Both Class 10 & Class 12)
• School Leaving Certificate
• Undergraduate Certificate
• Extra-curricular Activity Certificates (if Any)
• Caste Certificate if belonging to the SC/ST or OBC category.
• Physical Disability Certificate by an authorised Medical Officer. (in Any)
• Domicile Certificate

You may need to carry both the original and a photocopy of these documents for verification. 

M.Sc Admission Entrance Exams

Here are some of the popular entrance exams that are conducted every year to offer admission to M.Sc aspirants: 

• BITSAT or Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test
• BHU PET or Banaras Hindu University Post Graduate Entrance Test
• JNUEE or Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination
• DUET or Delhi University Entrance Test
• IIT JAM or IIT Joint Admission Test For Masters

M.Sc Entrance Exam Schedule

While the exam dates can vary, due to the COVID-19 situation in India, many colleges and organisations have released tentative schedules for exams. Some of them are listed below: 

M.Sc Entrance Exam Syllabus

There is not one exam syllabus since many are based on the specialisation you will pick. Thus, it is important to check specific syllabus and paper patterns for the entrance exam. There will, however, be some similarities such as Multiple-choice questions on Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and based on the concerned subject.

Preparation Tips for M.Sc Entrance Exams

No doubt that scoring high in the entrance exam is a difficult thing but if you have proper tips and practise hard, you can increase your chances of success. Below, we have gathered some of the best and easiest preparation tips for cracking M.Sc entrance exams and getting admission to your dream college. Read and follow: 

• Prepare a Study Plan: To start anything, you need to have a proper plan telling you what to study when. This will result in better execution of the preparation. Also, you can dedicate sufficient time to each topic, taking away the chance of skipping any particular concept. What more? A study plan also ensures you stay on track and also save time for final revision without any hurry. 
• Jot Down Your Strengths and Weaknesses: You have to know the areas where your expertise lies and areas where you find difficulty. And once you have the list, you will know which topics can help you score higher and which ones need to be dealt with carefully so that you can sail through them easily in the final examination.

• Get The Sample Papers: Make sure you get the previous year’s papers and samples for your preparation. Most of them are easily available online. Sample papers and previous year’s papers are great to acquaint yourself with the paper’s pattern. Moreover, some questions often get repeated in the entrance exams. You should also try to solve these papers and see how much time you take to solve one question and then focus on increasing your speed so that you complete the exam in time. 
• Revise Formulae Creatively: Formulae or theorems can be tough to remember but there are always some hacks to memorise them. Cheat sheets are among the best. Make a sheet with all the essential notes and get it printed for regular revisions.  
• Take Care of Your Health: It is a common fact that exams can give you a lot of stress. Sometimes to an extent that it can impact your physical and mental health. This, in turn, can affect your performance in the exams. Therefore, make sure you take proper rest,  eat a balanced diet, and perform regular exercises to stay fit. 
• Read Questions Carefully: Many times, you end up giving the wrong answer because you did not read the questions carefully. So, even though it is not a preparation tip, try to pay full attention to the question paper. Improve your concentration power and save yourself from silly mistakes. 

M.Sc Admission Counselling Process

The M.Sc counselling is done to grant admission to students after they have cleared the entrance or have qualified on the merit list. The process also requires you to submit various documents for verifications. These include:

• Registration slip
• Admit card issued by the college
• 2 colour passport size photograph
• Relevant degree or certificate from a recognised university 
• Certificate from the Board showing date of birth
• Certificate showing registration as a nurse and midwife from Indian Nursing Council (in case you are applying for M.Sc Nursing candidates)
• NOC if the candidate is already employed with the Central / State Govt / Public Undertaking
• Proof of passing the qualifying examination
• Category certificate (if applicable)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)

Finally, the admission is given on the course preference of the student and availability of the seats.