MSc Nursing: Course, Fees, Eligibility, Admissions, Colleges, Exams, Syllabus, Scope

M.Sc. in Nursing is a two-year postgraduate degree programme in nursing. In India, around 10 government colleges and 67 private colleges provide M.Sc. in Nursing course. The average salary package of a Registered Nurse in India is Rs 4.2 LPA.

Candidates need to complete B.Sc. Nursing with a minimum of 55 per cent score to get the M.Sc. in Nursing admission. The nursing course covers topics like nursing management, paediatric nursing, intensive care nursing, and medical-surgical nursing. The graduates can pursue career opportunities like Staff Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Nursing Managers.

Highlights: M.Sc. in Nursing

MSc in Nursing Course Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must ensure that they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria before applying for MSc in Nursing. The MSc Nursing eligibility criteria can differ from college to college. The eligibility criteria for the MSc Nursing course are as follows:

• Candidates must have completed B.Sc. Nursing with an aggregate of at least 55 per cent marks from a recognised university. The subject must be from the Science stream.
• If they meet the eligibility criteria, they can apply for admission to the college. However, some universities might also require students to sit for common entrance examinations.

M.Sc. Nursing Admission

Admission to the PG course is provided on both an entrance and merit basis. Students may need to get the required cut-off score in the entrance exams to get admission to M.Sc. Nursing. Below is the step-wise process of M.Sc Nursing admission:

• Candidates must go through the eligibility criteria of the college/university that he/she is looking forward to taking admission to.
• If they meet the eligibility criteria, they are next required to sit for the entrance examinations. Some of the important exams are AIIMS Nursing and INI CET.
• If they qualify for the examination, the next step is to enrol in the college.

M.Sc. Nursing Entrance Exam

Candidates will be required to appear in the relevant entrance tests and get the prescribed score to get admission into M.Sc. in Nursing. Here, the details of the top M.Sc in Nursing entrance examinations are tabulated below.

Cutoff for Top Colleges

The MSc Nursing cutoff of entrance tests is taken into consideration during the admission process for M.Sc. Nursing. The MSc Nursing cutoff varies annually, depending on factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, total seat availability, and the number of applicants.

M.Sc. Nursing: Skills Required

Several specific MSc Nursing skills are required for a student to be successful in the field. Apart from having an inbuilt caring nature and a humble attitude towards people, an aspiring nurse must have a deep interest in the field. Below are some of the required M.Sc Nursing skills mentioned for a nurse to have:

• Dexterity
• Strong Mental Frame
• Presence of Mind
• Medical Knowledge
• Organisational Skills
• Observational Skills

Syllabus/Subjects of M.Sc. Nursing

The MSc Nursing subjects of every college/university differ. However, common subjects are being covered in almost all colleges/universities. The MSc Nursing syllabus includes both theoretical and practical. Below are the MSc Nursing subjects taught at the colleges affiliated with the Indian Nursing Council.

Fee Structure of M.Sc. Nursing

The MSc Nursing fee structure depends on the college that the candidates are opting for. The MSC nursing course fees of public colleges are much lower than that of private colleges. The average MSc Nursing fees range from Rs. 57, 000 to Rs. 3 Lakhs.

Scope of MSc Nursing

Due to the changing lifestyle in India and around the world, health has become one of the biggest concerns of people all around. With the arrival of an unforeseen pandemic situation, people are growing more and more conscious about their health. Consequently, the need for healthcare workers is ever-increasing.

Students, in great numbers, opt for a course like M.Sc. in Nursing. They have lucrative work opportunities in front of them post-completion of the course. They can work as Registered Nurses, Staff Nurses, Nurse Educators, Clinical Nurse Managers, and various other profiles as well.

Career Options After M.Sc. in Nursing

Students who have completed their M.Sc in Nursing have several work opportunities available to them. They can find opportunities in sectors like NGOs, hospitals, schools, healthcare centres, and orphanages. Below are some of the MSc Nursing job roles in detail.

Registered Nurse - A registered nurse is responsible for providing health-related assistance to patients. They take care of the families, communities, and individuals. Their chief aim is to promote health and help in preventing illness.

Staff Nurse - He/She is responsible for assessing the needs and requirements of the patients. She assists them in making beds, providing medicines, changing patient’s positions, back care et cetera. The main objective of a staff nurse is to ensure the comfort of the patients.

Nurse Educator - A nurse educator is responsible for educating and instructing aspiring students. They provide them with the necessary knowledge about being a nurse. They teach them the theories as well as help them in practising the learning.

Clinical Nurse Manager - The Nurse Manager is responsible for leading the nursing staff. They are required to lead the staff and provide them with guidance to ensure patient health care. They make sure that the best patient care is being provided.

Top Recruiters

• Fortis Hospitals
• Apollo Hospitals
• AIIMS
• Medtronic
• CMC
• Medanta

Benefits of Studying MSc in Nursing

Having an MSc in Nursing can be an add-on to a resume and open up many opportunities. It can help them stand out from the crowd and can open up profitable opportunities in hospitals, and health care centres. Also, they can opt for a Ph.D. or an M.Phil. in the same field.

Salary after M.Sc in Nursing

Factors like skills and experience that a candidate possesses, the job location and the like decide the MSc Nursing salary that he/she may be paid. Below are the average MSc Nursing salaries according to the experience listed:

Source: Payscale

Note: The salary might vary depending on various factors.

List of Top M.Sc. in Nursing Colleges in India with Fees

To pursue an M.Sc. in Nursing, there are a multitude of colleges offering the course. Both government and private universities provide the course to the students. A list of the top ten MSc in Nursing colleges in India is mentioned below:

List of Private M.Sc. in Nursing Colleges in India with Fees

Many private colleges in India offer M.Sc. Nursing degree programme. Private universities promise their students the best learning experience and environment. Here are some of the top MSc Nursing private colleges/universities listed.

List of Government M.Sc. in Nursing Colleges in India with Fees

Government M.Sc Nursing colleges charge a much lower fee than private universities and offer an exclusive learning experience to their students. Some of the top MSc Nursing government universities are:

With a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in nursing, graduates of MSc Nursing are prepared to excel in specialised healthcare roles. M.Sc. in Nursing expands career opportunities for nurses, offering advanced knowledge and skills in areas such as healthcare leadership, research, and specialised clinical practice.