PhD in Psychology: Course Fees, Admission 2026, Syllabus, Top Colleges, Career Scope

A Psychology course at the doctoral level is called PhD in Psychology, or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. The scientific study of psychology focuses on how the human mind works and how those processes affect behaviour in various situations. Psychologists study human behaviour both individually and in groups.

Psychologists are involved with the treatment of mental illnesses. They offer advice to clients in order to help them achieve emotional stability. They observe patient behaviour by using research procedures such as interviews and observing their actions. Attention, perception, personality, emotions, behaviour, relationship, subconscious, and intelligence are all areas of study in psychology. 

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Clinical Psychology

The interested students must have completed postgraduate degree in psychology, applied psychology, or a comparable discipline from an accredited university with at least a 55% grade point average. The candidate should have done their MA in Psychology with a specialisation or MPhil in Psychology from a recognised University. Some colleges also look for some work experience.

Universities conduct entrance exams for admission to PhD, or accept UGC NET scores if students are able to get the desired scores. Through UGC-NET, students can get a scholarship in either JRF or SRF. Followed by the entrance exam, students will have to appear for a Personal Interview (PI), where they will also have to present their thesis or synopsis of their field of specialisation.

Of course, it is. For the past few years, mental health has been a significantly growing concern, and people have started considering it as a big deal, leading to the growing demand for Psychology professionals. Meanwhile, a doctoral degree is the highest form of education, and if you plan to invest your 5-6 years in Psychology research, it is going to benefit you in many ways. 

• You'll not only get a variety of career options, but also research-based roles, and more.
• A PhD badge will automatically enhance your credibility and recognition in the field, after which it'll be easier for you to start your own work as an entrepreneur. 
• Not only will you be eligible for research grants and fellowships, but you'll also get financial support for your work. 

For a PhD in Psychology at IGNOU, you'll need to have a:

• Master's degree in Psychology (For example, MA in Psychology)
• The degree must be UGC-recognized
• With a minimum of 55% aggregate score
• 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/PwD/EWS categories

Yes, a few college options are available for a PhD in Psychology in Delhi:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Here are options for the best University for PhD in Psychology in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

See, earlier, the conventional path to apply for an RCI licensure was the MPhil, which has been phased out. So now, what you can do is to search for the institutes that are RCI-approved. They will provide the training and professional courses in fields related to rehabilitation and special education, for example, Clinical Psychology.
Some top RCI-approved institute options you'll find for a PhD in Clinical Psychology are:

• National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
• Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi
• Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
• Christ University, Bangalore
• Delhi University, New Delhi
• Amity University, Noida

Yes, you can. Here are some college options you can consider for a Part time PhD in Psychology in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Yes, you can pursue PhD in Psychology after service retirement at any age. There is no minimum or maximum age limit to pursue the course. However, the maximum age limit for UGC NET JRF Fellowship is 30 years. Make sure that you possess the required qualifications such as a graduate and postgraduate degree in Psychology. You can apply through entrance exams or through direct admission.

Students can go for undergraduate courses in Humanities and Social Sciences after 10+2. Later, they can also pursue a postgraduate degree for enhanced knowledge. Humanities programmes teach students to think creatively, reason critically, and ask the best questions, all of which are necessary skills for success in a variety of fields ranging from art and music to business and politics.

They also teach about civilisations and how they have changed through time, allowing kids to learn about communication, the production of ideas and information, how society functions, behaviour patterns and problems, historical and cultural events, and human interactions and relationships.

The eligibility criteria for a PhD in Psychology is a Master's degree in Psychology or a related field (e.g., Counseling, Clinical Psychology) with a minimum required percentage (usually 55% for general category and 50% for reserved categories).

Some universities may require a valid score in national or university-level entrance exams. 

The selection process is quite the same, like other courses only, here are some general steps to follow:

Step 1: Entrance Test

Step 2: Personal Interview or Counselling 

Step 3: Review of Research Proposal (if required by the university)

No, Work experience is not always mandatory or required for PhD in Psychology courses, also it depends on the type of course you are going to pursue, and also on the institutions, but it can be beneficial, especially for specializations like organizational or clinical psychology.

The minimum duration for PhD in Psychology course is 3 years. In some colleges it is completed in four years. Those who have had an interest in psychology since a young age should take the course to fulfill their desire. It is advantageous for a candidate obtaining a PhD in Psychology to have someone in their family who is an expert in a particular subject.

A doctorate degree requires a lot of hard work and patience. One must be very curious to learn new things and come up with new findings to successfully complete the PhD program.

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The syllabus for PhD in Psychology entrance exam is given below.

• General Aptitude: This section tests logical reasoning, numerical ability, and analytical skills. Psychology Topics.
• Research Methodology
• Psychological Theories
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical and Counseling Psychology
• Behavioral Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Current Trends in Psychology: Topics related to the latest developments in psychological research and practices.

Yes, you can pursue PhD in Psychology course in distance mode. There are over 280 colleges in India that offer distance PhD in Psychology.  Given below are some colleges that offer PhD in Psychology in distance mode:

College Fees is an important criteria that you may consider before securing admission to PhD in Psychology course. Here are some colleges that offer the course with an affordable fee structure:

There are several colleges that offer lucrative placement packages to students of PhD in Psychology course. Some of these colleges are as follows:

Both psychologists and psychiatrists deal with mental health issues, but their approaches are different. The difference is:

• The psychiatrist studies for a medical degree to become a doctor of medicine (M. D. in Psychiatry). They have to appear in the NEET UG exam to attain MBBS and are called doctors. On the other hand, a psychologist studies for an M.Sc or MA in clinical psychology. He or she may also study further to attain a PhD. They will also be required to take the RCI exam to gain the RCI license to practice.
• Psychiatrists have the authority to diagnose and treat patients with medication. whereas psychologists usually have to enlist the help of therapy. 
• Psychiatrists are mostly employed at hospitals as doctors. Whereas psychologists work as counsellors. 
• Psychiatrists are usually consulted when a person is experiencing severe mental issues. However, a psychologist can be consulted whenever the need arises for counselling. For example, in the case of phobia, you can go to a psychologist.

Yes, PhD is the highest level of degree in courses offered in India. It provides in-depth knowledge to students about any subject and prepares them to face the challenges of the industry. Candidates for the PhD in Psychology must have extensive scholarship as well as the capacity to perform independent research and analysis. 

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The skills required to pursue PhD in Psychology are:

The role of Educational Psychology is to guide teachers about how learning takes place, about the learning process, etc. The world needs more specialists who are familiar with the human psyche.

Making time for ourselves, our human connections and our inner lives gets more and more challenging as our society becomes faster, more digitalized, and more competitive. Compared to prior decades, people are more likely to seek professional help to address these concerns. Obtaining the necessary education and certification will provide you with the knowledge and abilities to contribute to global healing. Know Specialisations in Psychology.

Psychometric Assessment is a method that is used to assess the cognitive abilities and personality traits of a person. Through this assessment we can analyse the personality, thought process, aptitube and behaviour of a person. There can be various typef psychometric tests, some of the main two are personality tests and ability tests.