TISS BAT (Bachelor Admission Test) was the entrance examination conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences for admission to its BA Social Sciences and BA Social Work programmes at TISS Mumbai, TISS Hyderabad, TISS Tuljapur and TISS Guwahati. Since 2023, TISS UG admissions have been integrated into CUET-UG - candidates take CUET-UG and TISS uses CUET scores for shortlisting, followed by a TISS-specific interview/Group Discussion. TISS is one of India's most prestigious institutions for social sciences with strong placement in development sector, public policy and academia.
Exam Pattern
Mode:Now integrated with CUET-UG (Section IA English + Section III General Test) + TISS Personal Interview/GD
Duration:CUET-UG duration + interview/GD
Total Marks:450 (CUET) + interview/GD assessment
Marking Scheme:+5 for correct, -1 for wrong (CUET); interview qualitative
Sections
CUET-UG Section IA (English)
50 (attempt 40) Questions•200 Marks
CUET-UG Section III (General Test)
60 (attempt 50) Questions•250 Marks
TISS Personal Interview / Group Discussion
Holistic Questions•Holistic Marks
Syllabus
English & General Test
Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar
Current affairs (focus on social issues, development, Indian society)
General knowledge, basic reasoning, quantitative awareness
Eligibility Criteria
Passed Class 12 with minimum 50% aggregate (45% reserved)
Strong demonstrated interest in social work/social sciences (assessed in interview)
Indian and international applicants accepted
Important Dates
CUET-UG application
February 2027 (tentative - confirm on tiss.edu)
TISS UG application
April 2027 (tentative)
Interview/GD
June-July 2027 (tentative)
Application Process
Register for CUET-UG and select TISS as one of your universities
Take CUET-UG with Section IA (English) + Section III (General Test)
Apply separately on tiss.edu after CUET scores are out
Shortlisted candidates attend Personal Interview / Group Discussion at TISS campus
Final admission based on CUET score + interview
💡 Preparation Tips
Read about social issues, development economics, public policy - TISS interview probes social awareness
Volunteer with NGOs or do social projects in Class 11-12 - shows demonstrated interest
Practise GD on topics like child labour, gender inequality, poverty alleviation, climate justice
Write a clear, sincere personal statement explaining why social sciences/social work
Stay updated on government welfare schemes (MGNREGA, Ujjwala, PM-AY, NREGA, etc.)
❓ FAQs
Is TISS BAT still a separate exam?
No. TISS BAT was discontinued in 2023. TISS now uses CUET-UG scores for shortlisting plus its own interview/GD. The TISS-specific evaluation is the personal interview / group discussion.
Which TISS campus offers BA programmes?
TISS Mumbai (main campus, BA Social Work + BA Social Sciences), TISS Tuljapur (BA Social Work - Rural Development), TISS Hyderabad (BA Social Sciences + BA Vocational), TISS Guwahati (BA Vocational).
What career paths do TISS BA graduates have?
Strong placements in development sector (UN agencies, NGOs like Pratham/Akshara/CRY), public policy think tanks (CPR/IDFC Institute), government welfare schemes, social enterprises, journalism, academia (MA/PhD), and management consulting (firms recruiting for development practice).