Master of Science or MSc in information technology IT is a 2 years long post-graduate level master degree program. MSc IT aims to provide theoretical as well as practical knowledge on topics like software development, data mining, computer systems, analytics etc.
The candidates willing to join the MSc IT program should possess a Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines like BSc in IT/ CS, BCA, BE/ BTech in IT or CS from a recognized university.They must also score a minimum of 50% percent marks in graduation to be eligible for the course. See: MSc IT Admission 2023
The total cost of pursuing the course ranges from INR 80,000 to INR 3,00,000 depending upon the college of choice. Some of the MSc IT Colleges offer admission on the basis of entrance test, while some other institutes offer admission on the basis of marks obtained during graduation.
The MSc IT Syllabus includes important topics like web-development, OS, database management, project management, cybersecurity, object-oriented programming languages and other related concepts.
This course is also available through distance learning mode. Many reputed universities like Sikkim Manipal University Distance Education (SMU-DE), Anna University, among others, provide this course through distance learning mode.
After completing this course, the candidates are generally offered job positions like technical analyst, software developer, programmer, among others.
The average MSc IT salary package received by the students after completing the course typically ranges from INR 3 lakhs per annum to INR 8 lakhs per annum.
If the student wants to go for higher studies rather than doing the popular MSc IT jobs, there are many options available. MSc IT scope allows candidates to pursue an MPhil or a PhD in IT and related fields. If the candidate is looking to upgrade to managerial positions, they can study MBA Information Technology.
Table of contents
1.1 What is MSc IT?
1.2 Why study?
2.1 Eligibility
2.2 Entrance exams
2.3 How to prepare for the Entrance exam?
2.4 How to get admission in a good college?
7.1 Future Scope
MSc IT Course Details
We have tabulated some important points about MSc IT below.
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Full-Form | Master of Science |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination type | Semester |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized university. |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based and Entrance. |
| Course Fee | INR 80,000- 3 lakh annually. |
| Average Salary | INR 3 LPA |
| Top Recruiting Companies | TCS, IBM, Infosys, Concentrix, HCL, Accenture etc. |
| Job Positions | Software Developer, IT analyst, Maintenance Engineer, Application programmer etc.. |
MSc IT: What is it about?
After graduation, this is a very popular option amongst the students who want to build their career in the field of Information Technology.
- This course provides knowledge about programming, database management, projects management, object-oriented programming (OOP), OS etc.
- Through this course, students will learn to solve various types of problems through computer programming and application designing.
- MSc IT Syllabus also covers many topics of cybersecurity. So, students also are trained in ethical hacking and hacking prevention.
- The candidates are also given insights of data analysis and various techniques involved in data science.
- As we all know, the future of the world lies in the IT sector, hence the future prospect of this degree is pretty bright.
Why pursue an MSc IT?
There are many benefits of pursuing MSc IT, some of them are mentioned below.
- Great Job opportunities- There are numerous jobs in the IT sector as it is one of the fastest-growing industries. After MSc IT, one can work in different roles like Software Developer, IT analyst, Maintenance Engineer, Application programmer, etc in top MNCs.
- Demand for the course is expected to increase in the future - The IT sector is expected to grow at a rate of 15% to 20% in the coming years. Hence, the industry-related skills will be handy in future too.
- Opportunities of working in different fields: After completing this course, the candidates can not only get employed in the IT sector, but they can find very good jobs in finance, banking, data analytics, and teaching sectors as well.
- Bright future scope - After this course, one can not only switch to many other sectors but also study further and do a PhD. Students can also opt to work as a researcher once the course is completed.
- Higher Salary- Due to various options and various roles of choice, one can get a decent salary after the completion of the course. The median MSc IT salary lies around 3 LPA but it can go as high as 15 LPA.
- Entrepreneurship- Many students opt to be an entrepreneur after completing the course, thus exploring the field of Management and Administration.
- Renowned Recruiters- Students with this degree get the opportunity to work for top IT firms like TCS, Infosys, IBM, Accenture etc.
MSc IT Admission Process
- Admission to this course is done on the basis of entrance examination or marks scored in graduation or both, depending on the institute of choice.
- Many universities organize their own entrance examination.
- All the universities publish notifications regarding their admission process, students can apply for the admission once the notification is published.
Merit-Based Admission Process
- Institutes like Barkatullah University provide direct admission to the candidates on the basis of marks scored by them during their Graduation degree.
- In this type of admission process, once the admission notification is published, students should visit the online portal and apply for the admission.
- The institutes will release merit lists depending on the availability of seats.
- The top candidates will be called for counselling and document verification.
- Finally, the eligible candidates will be given admission to the course.
Entrance Based Admission Process
- Institutes like Stella Maris College, Anna University, provide admission based on an entrance examination.
- The candidates will need to apply for each entrance exam separately through the websites of the conducting body.
- The institute or the conducting body will publish admit cards and date of examination in some time.
- Candidates who will be able to crack the examination will be given the opportunity to take admission in the institute.
To apply to the MSc IT institutes, candidates should follow the steps mentioned below-
Step 1- Visit the official admission portal of the university and register with proper phone number and email id.
Step 2- Read the instructions and fill up the application form carefully.
Step 3- Upload the scanned copy of photograph, signature and other required documents.
Step 4- Check if the application form is properly filled and the uploaded documents, photograph, and signature are legible.
Step 5- Final submit the application form and pay the prescribed application fee to complete the application process.
MSc IT Eligibility
To apply for the MSc Information Technology course, the candidate should fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria, as mentioned below.
- Candidates should have passed graduation from a recognized university in a relevant discipline.
- Some of the examples for relevant disciplines are BSc in IT/ CS, BCA, BE/ BTech in IT or CS, BCom with IT as a subject.
- Though the minimum marks requirement criteria varies from university to university, most of the top universities demand for minimum 50% marks in graduation.
Other eligibility criteria like the minimum age, etc. can vary depending on the institution. The candidate must confirm the eligibility criteria from the official website of the institute.
MSc IT Entrance Exams
How to prepare for MSc IT Entrance Exams?
The entrance exams for admission to MSc IT generally have questions from the following topics:
- Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning
- English
- Mathematics
- C Programming
To crack the MSc IT exams, the candidate must be well versed with each of these topics. One can follow the points mentioned below to prepare well for the entrance exams.
- One should have clear concepts regarding topics like Mathematics, C programming, Quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning to score well in the exam.
- The duration of the examination is 3 hours, hence one should allocate proper time to each section.
- It will be beneficial for an aspirant to maintain a separate notebook where they can compile important formulas and points for a quick revision.
- The C programming section can prove to be hard considering the time limit. So, the candidates must practise to solve coding problems very quickly.
- Candidates are advised to solve previous year question papers and at least 20-30 mocks before sitting for the actual examination.
- Aspirants should not panic and write the exam with calmness and positivity in mind.
How to get admission in a good college?
These are the few tips candidates should follow to get admitted to top MSc IT colleges.
- For colleges offering direct admission, the candidate should focus on their graduation and score very good marks.
- Though the minimum eligibility percentage required is 50%, the cutoff of the top institutes generally ranges between 80% to 85%.
- For colleges that offer admission via entrance examination, the candidates should prepare for the entrance meticulously, solve past year papers and revise all the topics to score a decent mark.
- The candidate should try to attempt at least 80% of the question paper. Only then they will be able to fetch safer ranks.
MSc IT Syllabus
MSc IT covers most of the important topics related to computer science like data structures, object oriented programming, cyber security, among others. Below is the semester wise breakup of the MSc IT Syllabus in most of the colleges in India.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of IT & Programming | Operating System |
| Data & File Structures | Database Management System (DBMS) |
| Object-Oriented Programming | Analysis and Design of Algorithms |
| Software Engineering | Data Communication and Networking |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Web Technologies | Cyber Security |
| Data warehousing and Data mining (Elective) | Software Architecture (Elective) |
| Network Security (Elective) | Managing Big Data (Elective) |
| Open Source System (Elective) | Project |
MSc IT Top Colleges
Apart from the university, many colleges also provide MSc IT courses. Below is the list of the Top MSc IT Colleges in India.
| College Name | City | Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Stella Maris College | Chennai | 25,000 |
| Hindustan College of Arts & Science | Coimbatore | 23,750 |
| VELS Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies | Chennai | 36,600 |
| DAV college | Chandigarh | 58,000 |
| SIES College of Arts Science and Commerce | Mumbai | 50,000 |
| Kishinchand Chellaram College | Mumbai | 5,400 |
| PSGR Krishnammal College for women | Coimbatore | 2,258 |
| Ramnaran Ruia | Mumbai | 34,595 |
| Bishop Heber College | Tiruchirapalli | 55,540 |
| BK Birla College of arts, Science and Commerce | Thane | 34,795 |
| Women’s Christian College | Chennai | 1,01,464 |
MSc IT College Comparison
MSc IT is offered by almost all the top colleges in India. We have compared some of the top colleges for MSc IT below on a number of parameters.
| Parameter | Stella Maris College | DAV College |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Stella Maris College is located in Chennai, the capital city of the state Tamil Nadu. It is an autonomous college for the higher education women, it is affiliated to the University of Madras. Stella Maris College offers numerous numbers of UG and PG courses in various disciplines. | DAV College is located in the city of Chandigarh. The college was established in 1958. It is affiliated to the Punjab University, Chandigarh. The institute offers various UG programs like BA, B.Com, BSc., BBA, BCA, B.Voc. |
| Location | Chennai | Chandigarh |
| Admission Process | Entrance-based | Merit-Based |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 25,000 | INR 58,000 |
| Average Annual Package | INR 3.25 LPA | INR 2.87 LPA |
| Top recruiters | Deloitte, Wipro, Goldman Sachs, Cognizant | Tech Mahindra, TCS, Airtel, Vivo |
Source: College Websites and NIRF data
MSc IT vs MCA
While MCA mainly focuses on industry-specific skills, MSc IT focuses on both academic and practical knowledge. Below is the comparison table, highlighting key points of both the courses.
| Parameter | MSc IT | MCA |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Master of Science in Information Technology | Master of Computer Application |
| Stream | Science | Computer Application |
| Degree Type | Academic | Professional |
| Duration | 2 years | 3 years |
| Overview | This course deals mainly with programming, database management, cybersecurity, projects management, object-oriented programming (OOP), OS, etc. | This course deals with everything related to software, hardware and networking with the studies of IT, Data structures & Mathematics. |
| Focus Area | It focuses more on theoretical knowledge. | It focuses more on practical knowledge. |
| Examination Type | Semester | Semester |
| Average Course Fee | INR 80,000-3 lakh | INR 3 lakh-5 lakh |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3-4 LPA | INR 3-5 LPA |
Read the full list of Top MCA Colleges in India
Source: College Websites
Source: College Websites and NIRF data
MSc IT Distance Education
The course can be pursued by the mode of distance education also. Many universities offer this course through distance mode.
- The colleges generally grant admission to the course on the basis of marks obtained in graduation.
- The candidates will have to apply to the colleges through the official university website.
Here we have provided the list of top institutes providing MSc IT course through distance learning mode.
| Name of the University | Average Annual Fee | Course Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sikkim Manipal University Distance Education | INR 40,000 | 2 years |
| Anna University Distance Education | INR 25,000 | 2 years |
| Institute of Distance and Open Learning, University of Mumbai | INR 15, 700 | 2 years |
MSc IT Job and Career Prospects
After completing MSc IT, students can look for jobs in different sectors or they can pursue higher education. Professionals with an MSc IT one can work in different roles like Software Developer, IT analyst, Maintenance Engineer, Application programmer in the IT sector.
Students can also opt to move to other industries like teaching, banking, Analytics too. They can apply for various open positions in the government sector. The table below shows some of the common MSc IT Jobs which the graduates choose.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| IT Analyst | Designing and implementing information systems which improve the efficiency of software and applications. | 3.5-5 lakh |
| Software Developer | Developing new software with innovative technology. | 3-4 lakh |
| Application Programmer | Ensuring the smooth function of applications and programming data. | 4-5 lakh |
| Maintenance Engineer | Handling all the customer queries and logged issues related to maintenance of different hardware and software. | 2.5-3 lakh |
| Voice Team Leader-Technical | Handling all the queries on client calls related to the technical systems of software. | 4-4.5 lakh |
| Software Engineer | Analysing and debugging different software. | 4-5 lakh |
| Technical Operations Analyst | Preparing system specifications and ensuring the security and safety of software. | 3-3.5 lakh |
| Network Planning Manager | Establishing and Maintaining the planning process of networking and its routing system. | 4-4.5 lakh |
| Testing Engineer | Finding and handling all the challenges in the execution of the software and testing them from time to time to avoid all the nuances. | 3.5-4 lakh |
Below graph depicts the annual median MSc IT salary of different roles that one can work in after doing this course.
MSc IT Future Scope
After completing the course the candidate will have a vast number of opportunities to start a professional career. As the IT industry is still growing the students will enjoy a great career progression if they work hard.
Government sectors as well as private sectors offer jobs to the students once they complete the course. We have discussed some of the career options after MSc IT below.
- Research- Students can complete the course and join a reputed organization’s R&D department and work as a researcher.
- Higher Education- Students can opt to pursue a PhD after completion of this course.
- IT Sector Jobs- After MSc IT, students can work for different MNCs as a Software Developer, IT analyst, Maintenance Engineer, Application programmer and many other roles.
- Other Private Sectors- If anyone possesses the required skill, they can easily switch to industries like Analytics, Banking and Teaching.
- Government Sector Jobs- There are also many opportunities in government PSUs, many government departments for a Master in IT.
- Entrepreneur- After completing the course one can explore the management and administration industry by starting their own company.
MSc IT: FAQs
Ques. What are some subjects in MSc IT?
Ans. Some of the subjects that are taught in this course are Data & File Structures, Object-Oriented Programming, Software Engineering, DBMS are some of the subjects taught in MSc IT.
Ques. What after MSc IT?
Ans. You can go for a job in the IT sector after MSc IT, you can also pursue a PhD to become a researcher or lecturer. You can also prepare for different government job exams after completing the course.
Ques. What are the top recruiters after MSc IT?
Ans. The top recruiters after MSc IT are- TCS, Infosys, IBM, HCL Technologies etc.
Ques. Can I become a Data Scientist after MSc IT?
Ans. Yes, one can become a data scientist after MSc IT but the students have to ensure that they possess a sound knowledge of Machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Ques. After the outbreak of COVID 19, what is the current scenario?
Ans. Currently, many universities have postponed their admission process, entrance examination dates due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Ques. What is the difference between MSc IT and MCA?
Ans. MSc IT is an academic course with the main focus towards theoretical knowledge while MCA is a professional course with more emphasis on practical knowledge.
Ques. What are the government jobs that one can get after MSc IT?
Ans. There are many opportunities after MSc IT in the government sector, PSUs like Indian IOCL, C-DOT, BBNL, PGCIL, ONGC recruits students with MSc IT. Many Public Sector Banks like SBI, PNB, BoB, UBI also recruit MSc IT pass-outs as IT officers. Except for these specialized jobs, candidates can also write exams like Bank PO and SSC CGL after this degree.
Ques. Is it a good idea to pursue a PhD after MSc IT?
Ans. One can definitely go for higher studies after MSc in IT, pursuing a PhD will open the doors for the student to join the field of research. They can also work as a professor/ lecturer after PhD.
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