Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) — Description

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is a deemed-to-be university and a grant-in-aid institution under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Established in 1936, TISS has developed into a multi-campus institution with its main campus in Mumbai and additional campuses in Tuljapur, Guwahati and Hyderabad. The institute focuses primarily on social sciences, management, public policy, social work, health systems and related interdisciplinary areas. TISS holds an A+ NAAC grade with a CGPA of 3.33.

For students researching TISS MBA, TISS management courses or TISS admission through CAT, the flagship management programme relevant to the CAT route is the M.A. in Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR) offered by the School of Management and Labour Studies at the Mumbai campus. TISS officially describes HRM & LR as a professional management programme combining human resource management with a broader understanding of management, industrial relations and the social, economic and political environment in which organisations operate. The programme has an intake of 60 students.

The TISS HRM & LR programme is a two-year postgraduate programme with a strong combination of classroom learning, fieldwork, internships and dissertation work. Its curriculum covers areas such as human resource management, industrial relations, labour law, organisational behaviour, financial management, operations management, labour economics, performance management, learning and development, reward management, organisational development, change management, HR analytics and business ethics. Students also undertake internships and a dissertation as integral parts of the programme.

For the 2026–27 admission cycle, TISS used CAT 2025 for admission to its CAT-PG programmes, including M.A. HRM & LR. The admission process consisted of CAT-based shortlisting followed by an Online Assessment comprising the applicable assessment components. For HRM & LR, the published selection framework gave 97% weightage to CAT score and 3% to gender diversity for shortlisting to the Online Assessment. The final merit list used 70% CAT score and 30% Online Interview weightage.

The published minimum CAT percentile for Online Assessment shortlisting for General/KM/AF/EWS candidates was 70 overall, with a minimum of 60 percentile each in VARC, DILR and QA. The corresponding thresholds were 63 overall and 54 in each section for NC-OBC candidates, and 53 overall and 45 in each section for SC/ST candidates. These are minimum shortlisting cutoffs, not guaranteed final admission cutoffs.

TISS's latest official NIRF ranking available in the sources reviewed is 72nd in the NIRF 2025 University category. NIRF 2026 data submission was underway earlier in 2026, but a published 2026 ranking was not available in the official NIRF source reviewed.

For placements, the latest official HRM & LR final placement report is for the 2024–26 batch. The programme recorded a highest CTC of ₹66 lakh, mean CTC of ₹28.69 LPA and median CTC of ₹28 lakh. The report also recorded 65 participating students, 34 companies making offers and 20 PPOs.

TISS therefore combines management education with social-science perspectives, field-based learning and industry exposure. For students searching for TISS admission, TISS CAT cutoff, TISS fees, TISS HRM & LR placements or TISS management courses, the Mumbai HRM & LR programme is the principal CAT-based management offering to examine for the 2026 admission cycle.

TISS Important Dates 2026

For TISS M.A. Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR), the 2026–27 admission cycle was conducted through the CAT 2025 route. TISS officially included HRM & LR among the postgraduate programmes for which admission was based on CAT 2025 scores and subsequent TISS assessment stages. The admission cycle therefore needs to be understood as a CAT 2025 examination followed by TISS's programme-specific admission process during 2026.

TISS CAT-PG Admission Timeline 2026

The TISS admission calendar identifies 3 November 2025 as the opening date for applications to the three CAT-PG programmes. The portal was subsequently reopened from 3 to 11 January 2026, giving eligible CAT candidates an additional application opportunity. The final deadline was 11 January 2026 at 5:00 PM.

The next major milestone was the announcement of candidates shortlisted for TISS's Online Assessment on 13 February 2026. For HRM & LR, TISS scheduled the programme-specific admission orientation on 16–17 February 2026. Candidates then had to complete the Detailed Application Form between 23 February and 7 March 2026, while online document verification took place from 24 February to 8 March 2026.

The HRM & LR Personal Interview and Extempore Reflection Test were scheduled between 9 and 27 March 2026. TISS subsequently published multiple merit lists for the CAT-PG admissions. The official admissions portal shows that Merit List 6 for CAT-PG programmes was published on 2 June 2026, confirming that the admission process continued through multiple selection rounds after the initial assessment stage.

For candidates considering the following admission cycle, the process has already moved forward. TISS published a separate announcement on 17 August 2026 stating that admission to the 2027–28 HRM & LR programme will use CAT 2026 scores. This is a future admission cycle and should not be confused with the completed 2026–27 admission process.

Accordingly, students looking for “TISS admission 2026 dates” should use the dates above for the 2026–27 HRM & LR cycle. Dates from the 2026–27 process should not be reused as dates for the 2027–28 admission cycle, for which the detailed TISS selection schedule may be announced separately.

TISS Courses Offered 2026

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) offers postgraduate programmes across several academic schools and campuses. For students specifically researching TISS MBA, TISS management courses and CAT-based admission, the principal programme is the M.A. in Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR) at the Mumbai campus. TISS formally awards an M.A. rather than an MBA or PGDM degree for this programme.

M.A. in Human Resources Management & Labour Relations

The M.A. HRM & LR programme is offered by the School of Management and Labour Studies through its Centre for Human Resources Management and Labour Relations. The current official programme page lists an intake of 60 students. TISS describes the course as a management programme intended to develop professionally competent and socially sensitive management graduates with knowledge of HRM, management functions and labour relations.

The programme uses a combination of classroom instruction and practical exposure. Teaching methods include discussions, case studies, presentations, simulation exercises and assignments, while fieldwork and internships provide exposure to organisational environments. Students also complete a dissertation as part of the academic structure. TISS states that internships generally provide students with opportunities to learn from and contribute to organisations across different industry sectors.

The curriculum contains 88 credits distributed across four semesters. Core subjects include Management of Human Resources, Industrial Relations & Trade Unions, Labour Law, Organisational Behaviour, Financial Management, Organisation Theory and Design, Operations Management, Labour Economics, Performance Management and Development, Learning and Development, Reward Management, Employee Resourcing and Selection, Marketing and Sales Management, Organisational Development, Change Management, Organisational Economics and Business Ethics & Corporate Governance.

The programme also includes specialised academic areas through electives. Current listed electives include Mental Health and Wellbeing at Work, Strategy and Business Environment, HRM in International Settings, Strategic Adaptive Learning and Career Resilience, Employer Branding, Entrepreneurship and HR for Startups and the Gig Economy, Conflict Management and Negotiations, Comparative Industrial Relations, Labour Administration, Talent Management, Executive Compensation and Taxation, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belongingness and HR Consulting. These are curriculum electives rather than separately advertised MBA-style specializations.

Fieldwork and internship components are substantial parts of the programme. The current structure assigns credits to multiple internships across the four semesters, along with dissertation work. This distinguishes the programme from a purely classroom-based management qualification and connects academic learning with organisational practice.

Other CAT-PG Programmes at TISS

For the 2026–27 CAT-PG admission cycle, TISS also offered:

• M.A. in Organisation Development, Change and Leadership

• Master of Hospital Administration

However, these programmes have different academic objectives and should not be combined with HRM & LR when discussing TISS HRM fees, seats, curriculum or placements. TISS's 2026–27 CAT admission brochure specifically identifies all three programmes as CAT-PG programmes.

For the subsequent 2027–28 cycle, TISS announced that CAT 2026 scores would also be used for M.Sc. Analytics in addition to HRM & LR, ODCL and MHA. This is relevant to the next admission cycle but does not change the programme structure for the 2026–27 HRM & LR batch.

TISS Admission Process 2026

Admission to the TISS M.A. Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR) programme for the 2026–27 academic year was conducted through the CAT-PG route using CAT 2025 scores. TISS officially identified HRM & LR as one of its CAT-PG programmes and published a separate programme-specific selection framework.

1. Check Eligibility

Candidates applying for HRM & LR were required to have successfully completed a bachelor's or master's degree of at least three or four years' duration, or an equivalent qualification satisfying the required formal education pattern, from a university recognised by the UGC. Candidates in eligible degree programmes could apply subject to the semester-passing requirements specified by TISS.

2. Appear for CAT

For the 2026–27 cycle, candidates were required to appear for CAT 2025. TISS used CAT performance as a major component of the admission process. The CAT score was used first for shortlisting and subsequently as part of the final merit calculation.

3. Meet the Minimum CAT Shortlisting Cutoff

For MA HRM & LR, the published minimum CAT percentile for Online Assessment shortlisting was:

• General/KM/AF/EWS: 70 overall; 60 each in VARC, DILR and QA

• NC-OBC: 63 overall; 54 each in VARC, DILR and QA

• SC/ST: 53 overall; 45 each in VARC, DILR and QA

These figures represent the minimum CAT cutoffs for shortlisting to the Online Assessment, not a guaranteed final admission cutoff.

4. TISS Shortlisting

For HRM & LR, the Online Assessment shortlisting formula assigned 97% weightage to CAT score and 3% to gender diversity, with the applicable additional marks specified by TISS for eligible female and transgender candidates.

5. Complete the Online Assessment

Shortlisted candidates proceeded to TISS's Online Assessment. For HRM & LR, the 2026 admission calendar listed the Personal Interview and Extempore Reflection Test during 9–27 March 2026. Candidates also had to complete the Detailed Application Form and undergo document verification.

6. Final Merit List

For MA HRM & LR, the published final merit framework assigned 70% weightage to CAT score and 30% to the Online Interview. TISS subsequently published merit lists for the CAT-PG admissions, including multiple lists during 2026.

7. Fee Payment and Admission Confirmation

Candidates offered admission must follow TISS's prescribed fee-payment and document-verification requirements within the applicable admission schedule. The programme's official fee structure lists semester-wise charges and the total course fee.

Important Cutoff Clarification

The 70-percentile overall CAT figure should not be interpreted as the final admission cutoff. It is the published minimum threshold for consideration for the Online Assessment. Final admission depends on the complete selection framework, including CAT performance and the subsequent assessment components. TISS also states that the Admissions Committee reserves the right to modify selection parameters and cutoff criteria.

For the next admission cycle, TISS has announced that CAT 2026 scores will be used for HRM & LR admission for 2027–28. Therefore, candidates planning for the next intake should follow the new CAT 2026/TISS notification rather than relying on the completed 2026–27 schedule.

TISS Fees Structure 2026

The official TISS programme page for the M.A. Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR) programme lists a total course fee of ₹2,03,500 for the four-semester programme. Since this is a two-year course, the published fee corresponds to approximately ₹1.02 LPA when expressed as an annual equivalent. The official figure, however, is the total programme fee and should remain the primary reference.

Semester-Wise TISS HRM & LR Fees

The official page gives the yearly fees as ₹1,19,900 for the first year and ₹83,600 for the second year, resulting in a total course fee of ₹2,03,500.

The ₹11,000 caution deposit is refundable at the time of programme exit, subject to submission of the required No Dues Certificate. It should therefore be distinguished from non-refundable academic and institutional charges.

Hostel, Fieldwork and Other Costs

The official HRM & LR fee page notes that certain schools may organise practicum, study tours, rural fieldwork, urban fieldwork or winter institutes. Expenses associated with such activities, where applicable, are to be borne by students separately. Therefore, these costs should not automatically be added to the published ₹2,03,500 programme fee.

TISS also provides hostel facilities at its Mumbai campus, but hostel availability and related accommodation arrangements are separate from the academic fee structure. The institute's student-services information describes multiple hostels on the Main and Naoroji campuses.

For eligible SC/ST students under the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship scheme, TISS specifies a different payment arrangement for fee components marked with an asterisk, with remaining components payable when the scholarship amount is received.

Students searching for TISS MBA fees should note that the flagship CAT-based programme is formally an M.A. in HRM & LR, not an MBA. The ₹2,03,500 figure therefore refers specifically to the HRM & LR programme and should not be used for other TISS master's programmes.

TISS Placements 2026

The latest official placement report for the TISS M.A. Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR) programme is the Final Placement Report for the 2024–26 batch, released for the 2026 placement cycle. TISS identifies HRM & LR as its flagship programme within this placement report, making these figures the appropriate placement data for students researching TISS management placements.

TISS HRM & LR Placement Highlights 2026

The highest CTC recorded for the batch was ₹66 LPA, while the mean CTC was ₹28.69 LPA and the median CTC was ₹28 LPA. The report states that 51 of the 65 participating students received packages of ₹20 LPA or above.

The report also recorded 20 Pre-Placement Offers, representing 30.77% of the 65 participating students. PPOs are separate from the final placement package statistics and should not be added to the number of companies making final placement offers.

Recruiters and Hiring Areas

The 2024–26 placement process included regular recruiters such as Accenture India, Accenture Strategy & Consulting, Aditya Birla Group, Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto, BPCL, Citi, Dr. Reddy's, ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Nestlé, Reliance Industries, Samsung R&D Institute India, Tata Administrative Services and Varroc.

Aditya Birla Group made the highest number of offers during the reported process, followed by Deloitte, Accenture Strategy & Consulting, Citi, ITC and Reliance Industries. The placement report also records several first-time recruiters, including BlackRock, CRED, Egon Zehnder, Navi, Titan and other organisations.

In terms of employment domains, the largest group of candidates was expected to join Consulting, followed by BFSI/NBFC, Conglomerates, FMCG/FMCD, Manufacturing and IT/ITES. The report also records 58 offers in the HR domain, reflecting the direct relevance of the programme's HR and labour-relations curriculum to corporate recruitment.

TISS's official placement page separately lists the HRM & LR final placement report and the summer internship placement report. The summer placement report for the 2025–27 batch recorded a highest two-month stipend of ₹5 lakh and a mean stipend of ₹3.47 lakh. These figures relate to summer internships and should not be confused with final placement CTCs.

For students comparing TISS placements, the most relevant final-placement figures are therefore the 2024–26 HRM & LR results: ₹66 LPA highest CTC, ₹28.69 LPA mean CTC and ₹28 LPA median CTC. No separate placement percentage should be inferred from these figures because the official report specifies the number of participating students and other placement metrics rather than presenting a universal placement-rate figure.