What is TISSNET?

TISS National Entrance Test (TISSNET) is a national level entrance exam conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai for admission to its postgraduate courses. TISS offers as many as 53 Master’s Degree programmes at its Mumbai, Tuljapur, Guwahati, Hyderabad campuses and other locations. The MA programmes offered at TISS campuses are at par with the management programmes offered by top MBA colleges in India. The entrance exam is held in online mode and the exam paper comprises questions from English Proficiency, Mathematical Skills & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness. TISSNET 2021 exam dates have been announced on November 12 and the exam will be held on February 20, 2021. Although the application process was scheduled to commence from November 20, 5 pm onwards, it has been postponed and started from December 3. The last date of application is January 15, 2021.

TISSNET Exam Highlights

Features Details 
Exam NameTata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test
Conducting BodyTISS Mumbai
Exam LevelNational
Exam FrequencyOnce a year
Exam ModeOnline
Exam Duration100 minutes
Exam SyllabusEnglish Proficiency, Mathematical Skills & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness
Exam Pattern100 questions in MCQ format
LanguageEnglish
Exam FeesRs 1,030 per course (for the unreserved category) and Rs 260 per course (for reserved category)
Exam PurposeAdmission to TISS Mumbai, TISS Tuljapur, TISS Hyderabad and TISS Guwahati
Course OfferedMBA/PGDM, MA in Education, MA, MA-MSc, MHA, MPH, MPH-HPEF, MPH-SELL, MMA in Social Work, MLIS
No. of Test Cities39
Exam Helpdesk No. 022-2552 5000
Exam Website https://tiss.edu/

TISSNET Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for appearing in TISSNET 2021 exam has been given below:

Academic Qualification

  • The candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognised university
  • Candidates who will complete their final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent by June 2021, can also apply
  • Candidates pursuing 3-year bachelor’s degree should have passed all the 4 semesters at the time of filling TISSNET application form whereas those pursuing four-year bachelor’s degree must have cleared all the subjects up to the sixth semester
  • Shortlisted candidates should produce original certificates and mark sheet on the date of personal interview. Those who are in the final year of the degree programme are required to produce the mark sheets of all previous semesters

Age Limit

  • There is no defined age limit for appearing in TISSNET 2021 exam.

Work Experience

  • Candidates applying for Master of Arts in (Organisation Development, Change and Leadership) should have at least 2-year work experience in any field (after graduation)

TISSNET 2021 Important Dates

TISSNET 2021 exam schedule was announced on November 12. However, the first event, i.e. application process has been started from Dec 3. Take a look at the tentative schedule of TISSNET 2021 in the table below:

EventsTISSNET 2021 DatesSalient Features
Registration starts03-Dec-2020 Online registration open, no change in registration fees and the application process 
Online registration ends15-Jan-2021Last date to submit application and exam fee
Last date of submitting
the offline application
form
20-Jan-2021Offline application is available only for candidates coming from remote areas where internet facility is not available like north-east, Jammu & Kashmir Jharkhand
TISSNET admit cards
downloading begin
05-Feb-2021
To Be Announced
To be downloaded from
TISS website
Pre-admission orientation Programme for
SC/ST/OBC/Minority and PWD candidates
To Be AnnouncedThis is to introduce
candidates to the entire
process of the entrance test, Pre-Interview Test / Group Discussion and personal interview.
TISSNET 2021 exam date20-Feb-2021To be held at approximately 100 exam centres in 39 cities in one session
TISSNET 2021 Result announcement To Be AnnouncedTo be downloaded from the official website
Pre-Interview Test and
Personal Interview dates
To Be AnnouncedPIT consists of a written test conducted before the Personal Interview. 
Displaying list of
selected candidates
To Be AnnouncedCandidates will be eligible for admission subject to the availability of all the required documents

TISSNET Exam Pattern and Test Structure

TISSNET question paper is divided into three sections:- English Proficiency, Mathematical Skills and Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness. While English Proficiency and Mathematical Skills & Logical Reasoning carries 30 marks each, General Awareness Section has a weightage of 40 marks. Given below are the highlights of the TISSNET exam pattern.

TISSNET Exam PatternDetails
Exam ModeComputer-Based Test mode
Exam Timings2:00 pm to 3:40 pm
Test Duration1 hour 40 minutes
Total Questions100 questions
Sections/Subjects3 sections based on:English ProficiencyMathematics and Logical ReasoningGeneral Awareness
Total Marks100 marks
Type of QuestionsMultiple choices based questions
MediumEnglish
Negative MarkingNo

TISSNET 2021: Selection Process

Candidates should check below the step-by-step selection process for TISSNET 2021:

Step 1: Fill the Application form

Candidates have to register for TISSNET exam by filling the online application form available on the official website of TISS Mumbai.

Application fees: 

Number of coursesGeneral CategorySC/ST/OBC(NC) Category
For one courseRs 1,030Rs 260
For two coursesRs 2,060Rs 520
For three coursesRs 3,090Rs 780

 The application fee for TISSNET exam can be paid in online mode using:

  • Net Banking
  • Credit Card
  • Debit Card

Step 2: Download TISSNET 2021 Admit Card

Candidates who register successfully for the exam will receive their TISSNET admit cards. The same can be downloaded from the official website of TISS. Candidates must remember that the admit card is an important document that needs to be carried to the examination hall.

Step 3: Appear for TISSNET 2021 Exam

Candidates are required appear for the entrance test on the scheduled date. The test duration is one hour and 40 minutes, and test-takers will be asked questions based on English Proficiency, Mathematics & Logical Reasoning and General Awareness

Step 4: Check TISSNET 2021 Result

TISSNET result will be declared tentatively in the fourth week of February on the official website of TISS. Candidates can view their scorecards by entering their user ID and password.

Step 4: Pre-Interview Test / Group Discussion (GD)

Candidates who clear TISSNET exam are called for the Pre-Interview Test (PIT) / Group Discussion round. The varsity may conduct the Pre-Interview Test in the form of a Written Test or a Group Discussion. The duration of PIT is generally 35-40 minutes. For some courses, the PIT consists of two sections- essay writing and a short case study with questions based on it.

Step 5: Personal Interview (PI)

Candidates who clear the PIT/GD round are called for the Personal Interview. Here, candidates are asked questions about their past academic record, the programme for which they have applied for and their future plans.

TISS Mumbai Campus

TISS Mumbai SchoolsCoursesSeats
School of EducationMaster of Arts in Education (Elementary)51
School of Development StudiesMA in Development Studies51
MA in Women’s Studies28
School of Habitat StudiesMA/MSc in Climate Change and Sustainability Studies23
MA/MSc in Regulatory Governance23
MA/MSc in Urban Policy and Governance23
MA/MSc in Water Policy and Governance15
School of Health System StudiesMaster of Hospital Administration (MHA)51
MPH – Health Administration39
MPH – Health Policy, Economics, and Finance23
MPH in Social Epidemiology  28
School of Human EcologyMA in Applied Psychology (Clinical and Counseling Practice)51
School of Law, Rights and Constitutional GovernanceLLM (Access to Justice)39
School of Management and Labour StudiesMA in Globalisation and Labour23
MA in Human Resource Management & Labour Relations68
Master of Arts/Master of Science(Analytics) (Self Financed)34
MA in Organisation Development, Change and Leadership34
MA in Social Entrepreneurship34
School of Media and Cultural StudiesMA in Media and Cultural Studies29
School of Social WorkMA in Social Work (Children & Families)23
MA in Social Work (Community Organisation & Development Practice)34
MA in Social Work (Criminology & Justice)34
MA in Social Work (Dalit & Tribal Studies and Action)29
MA in Social Work (Disability Studies & Action)28
MA in Social Work (Livelihoods and Social Entrepreneurship)29
 MA in Social Work (Mental Health)23
MA in Social Work (Public Health)23
MA in Social Work (Women-Centred Practice)26

TISS Tuljapur Campus

TISS Tuljipur SchoolCoursesSeats
School of Rural DevelopmentMA/MSc in Development Policy, Planning and Practice34
MA/MSc in Sustainable Livelihoods and Natural Resources Governance34
MA in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship34
MA in Social Work in Rural Development34

TISS Hyderabad Campus

TISS Hyderabad SchoolsCoursesSeats
Azeem Premji School of Education  Master of Arts in Education34
School of Public Policy and GovernanceMA in Public Policy and Governance34
School of Livelihoods and DevelopmentMA in Development Studies 34
MA in Natural Resource and Governance34
MA in Rural Development and Governance34
School of Gender StudiesMA in Women Studies34

TISS Guwahati Campus

SchoolCoursesSeats
School of Social workMaster of Arts in Social Work (Community Organisation & Development Practices)23
MA in Social Work (Counselling)17
MA in Social Work (Livelihoods and Social Entrepreneurship)17
MA in Social Work (Public Health)17
School of Social Science and HumanitiesMA in Ecology, Environment and Sustainable Development17
MA in Labour Studies and Social Protection17
MA in Peace and Conflict Studies17
MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology23

Banayan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM), Chennai 

CourseSeats
Master of Arts in Applied Psychology (Clinical Psychology)20
Master of Arts in Applied Psychology (Counseling Psychology)20
Master of Arts in Social Work (Mental Health)20

TISSNET 2021 Test Cities

TISSNET 2021 will be conducted at more than 100 exam centres in 39 cities across India. Candidates have to select their choice of exam cities for TISSNET 2021 while filling up the application form. Check below the list of test cities for TISSNET 2021 for all the regions:

TISSNET Syllabus 2020

All important topics of the 3 sections in TISSNET are given below. Make sure you leave no stone unturned while you prepare for the exam. Practice as many TISSNET Sample Papers as possible, so that you get a hang of the most recurring questions.

Awareness of Social
and General Issues
Logical ReasoningEnglish Proficiency
Recent social issuesTime and workReading comprehension
Economic processesTime andDistanceVocabulary
HistoryBasic geometryAcronyms
GeographyRatioAnalogy
General GeologyPercentage, AveragePairing of words
Meaning of termsSquare root and Basic algebraSynonyms and antonyms
PersonalitiesSimple and compound interestFill in the blanks
Sociological awarenessProperties of shapesRearrange the sentences
Social activities and
movements
Mixtures and Allegations –
FilmsHCF, LCM –
Fine arts and musicSpeed-distance-time –
LiteratureAreas, Volumes –
Current AffairsBasic set concepts – –

Must Check:TISSNET Previous Year Question Papers

Must Read Books for TISS-NET & TISS-MAT 2021

TISSNET Selection Procedure 2021

Stage 1: TISS-NET (TISS National Entrance Test)

TISS-NET is a computer based common screening test for all Masters Programmes across all the campuses. It is a 100mins test and consists of 100 objective type multiple choice questions (MCQ). TISS-NET is conducted to shortlist candidates for Stage 2 based on the TISS NET Mark and the ratio on the number of seats announced for individual programmes under each category. Hence it is a shortlisting process no reservation rules are applied at this stage. All rules related to reservations of seats under different categories and priorities will be applied only at the time of final seat allocation through merit list / wait list.

Stage 2:

Stage 2 of the selection process is aimed at assessing the interest and suitability of the candidate for the programme selected.

a.    Programme Aptitude Test (TISS-PAT)

The TISS PAT is conducted for the candidates shortlisted from Stage 1. PAT is a 45 mins test conducted for individual programmes. The duration of the PAT is 45 minutes if candidates selected only one programme. If candidates selected two programmes the duration of the PAT will be 90 minutes and for three programmes the duration will be 135 minutes. The details of PAT will be announced soon.

Management Aptitude Test (TISS-MAT) (Only for HRM&LR and ODCL)

Candidates applying for two programmes (i) MA Human Resource Management & Labour Relations (HRM &LR) and (ii) MA Organisation Development, Change and Leadership (ODCL) of Mumbai Campus, the Programme Aptitude Test will be known as Management Aptitude Test (TISS-MAT).  The TISS MAT will be a computer based MCQ type test with a duration 45 minutes and 50 Marks.

b.   Online Personal Interview (OPI):

OPI is conducted separately for each programme applied. Schedule of OPI will be announced after the shortlisted candidates are notified. Candidates can attend the Online Personal Interview (OPI) only after attending the TISS-PAT / TISS-MAT as the case may be. Those who do not attend TISS-PAT / TISS-MAT shall not be eligible for attending the OPI and names of such candidates will be eliminated from the OPI list.

Aggregated Final Score

The aggregated Final Score is calculated based on the table given below:

Marks and Weightage for the different components:

ProgrammesStage IStage II             Ratio
 TISS-NETTISS-MATTISS-PATOPIFinal Score
All Programmes (except HRM & ODCL)100 Marks(30% Weightage)NA50 Marks(40% Weightage)100 Marks(30% Weightage)30:40:30
Only for HRM & ODCL100 Marks     (30% Weightage)50 Marks (40%Weightage)NA100 Marks      (30% Weightage)30:40:30

 Final Merit List preparation:

1.    Open (Unreserved) Merit List (OML) is prepared based on the aggregate mark obtained by the candidates for a specific programme without considering any reservation category. This provides opportunity for candidates across all categories to get selected in the OML depending on their aggregate score.

2.    After considering candidates in OML, separate Category wise Merit List (CML) will be prepared for the number of seats reserved for each category as per the Government of India / University Grants Commission regulations on the matter. All reservation rules will be applied at Final merit list/seat allotment stage.

Previous Year TISSNET Cutoff (2020)

TISSNET 2021 Cutoff will be released after the conclusion of the exam. Meanwhile, candidates can check previous years’ cutoff to know approximately how much they will need to score in upcoming exam. The cutoff for year 2020 are given below:   

TISSNET ProgramTISSNET Cutoff 2020
MA Human Resource Management74
MA Globalisation and Labour67
MA Public Health61
MPH Social Epidemiology50
MA Applied Psychology57
MA Culture and Media Studies65
MA Mental Health54
MA Women Studies48
MA Social Entrepreneurship62

TISSNET: Course Wise Cut off

Important Links

  • To Apply for the TISSNET Click Here
  • To Go to the Official Site, Click Here
  • To Go to the about the Official Site for Selection Procedure, Click Here