Last Updated: July 2026

Madras School of Social Work ("MSSW," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, enroll in our programs, or interact with MSSW.

By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

a) Personal Information

• Name, date of birth, gender, and contact details (email, phone, address)
• Educational qualifications and academic records
• Government-issued identification (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.) where required
• Photographs and identity documents
• Payment and billing information

b) Non-Personal Information

• Browser type and version
• IP address and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on the website
• Referring website addresses

c) Sensitive Personal Data

• Caste/category certificates (for reservation purposes)
• Medical information (where relevant for program participation)
• Financial information for fee payments

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information through:

• Online application and registration forms
• Direct communication (email, phone, in-person)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies
• Third-party payment gateways
• Social media interactions

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Admissions & Enrollment: Processing applications, verifying eligibility, and managing student records.
• Academic Administration: Maintaining attendance, academic performance, and examination records.
• Communication: Sending updates, notifications, newsletters, and event invitations.
• Payments: Processing fees, scholarships, and refunds.
• Research & Analytics: Improving our programs, website, and services.
• Legal Compliance: Fulfilling statutory and regulatory requirements (UGC, University of Madras, NAAC, etc.).
• Security: Protecting against fraud, unauthorized access, and other illegal activities.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze website traffic and user behavior
• Improve website functionality and performance

You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect certain features of the website.

5. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With Academic Partners: University of Madras, UGC, NAAC, and other regulatory bodies as required.
• With Service Providers: Payment gateways, IT service providers, and cloud hosting services under strict confidentiality agreements.
• For Legal Reasons: When required by law, court order, or government regulation.
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share your information.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, accidental loss or destruction, and unlawful processing.

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, including:

• Duration of your enrollment and academic program
• Statutory retention periods as mandated by Indian law
• Alumni records for networking and institutional development

After the retention period, your data will be securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal obligations.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation on how we use your data.
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data for specific purposes.
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another organization.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at principal@mssw.in.

9. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are primarily intended for individuals aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Grievance Officer for MSSW is:

Madras School of Social Work
32, Casa Major Road, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008, Tamil Nadu, India
Email: principal@mssw.in
Phone: 044 28194566

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy, please reach out to us:

Madras School of Social Work
32, Casa Major Road, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008, Tamil Nadu, India
Email: principal@mssw.in
Phone: 044 28194566