Social Service has always been given a prominent place at Sophia College. Before N.S.S. was introduced by the University of Mumbai in 1969, there was already a full-time Programme Officer at Sophia and an emphasis on social work. Students have always been encouraged to reach out to the underprivileged and they are made aware that help has to be extended to them because they do not lack the talent or ability but have not been given an opportunity to develop.

This understanding leads to action that in turn enhances not only the lives of those to whom they reach out, but also their own. It changes the way they look at the world and themselves. Students learn the importance of freedom and responsibility, and it also gives them a sense of identity. They learn to interact with different kinds of people and this helps in making them self-confident.

The aims of the N.S.S. may be broadly stated as follows :
(i) to be of some service to society of which the University community forms a privileged but integral section;
(ii) to instil a feeling of social concern for the underprivileged and handicapped;
(iii) to create a respect for the dignity of labour especially through participation in manual work;
(iv) to train students towards responsible and responsive leadership by making them familiar with human skills, social work tools and techniques relevant to the needs of modern times.

These aims are to be carried out through a wide variety of service projects selected and operated by the students themselves under the guidance of the Director of the N.S.S., a full-time social worker on the staff of the College.

Students who wish to join the N.S.S. should select the project or projects in which they wish to participate. They must also agree to fulfill the conditions of participation in the N.S.S., viz., be willing to put in 120 hours of service in the year, for which 10 marks are awarded at the College and University examinations.

Guidance and Supervision: The Social Worker meets each student for individual guidance. She also visits the agencies from time to time in order to keep an eye on the student-agency relationship. There is also a student-secretary, in charge of each category of N.S.S. service, who has more frequent contact with the College Social Worker.

Periodic "problem-solving" sessions, "evaluation" sessions and "camp reviews" are also included as part of the guidance and supervision programme.