UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025: Latest Unit Wise Topics, Free PDF, Exam Pattern & More
University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2025 ( UGC NET )
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the Psychology subject exam on June 28, 2025. The UGC NET 2025 exam will be conducted from June 25 to June 29, 2025 for the June Session. The candidates appearing for the upcoming exam can check the NTA UGC NET Psychology syllabus in the article.
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus @ugcnet.nta.ac.in
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the UGC NET Psychology exam on June 28, 2025. The authority released the detailed schedule for the June session. The UGC NET 2025 June session will be conducted from June 25 to 29, 2025. The candidates appearing for the upcoming exam must go through the syllabus & exam pattern to ensure a good preparation strategy. The UGC NET Psychology syllabus comprises two sections: UGC NET Paper 1 Psychology syllabus & UGC NET Paper 2 Psychology Syllabus.
The subject code of UGC NET Psychology Paper is 04. The NTA NET Psychology syllabus comprises ten units- The Emergence of Psychology, Research Methodology and Statistics, Psychological Testing, Biological Basis of Behaviour, etc. The candidates can check the detailed syllabus below in the article.
Also Read:
- UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025 Overview
- UGC NET Psychology Syllabus PDF 2025
- UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025: Chapter Wise
- UGC NET Psychology Paper 2 Syllabus 2025
- UGC NET Psychology Paper 1 Syllabus 2025
- UGC NET Psychology Exam Pattern 2025
- UGC NET Psychology Exam Preparation Tips 2025
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025 Overview
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology syllabus 2025 overview in the table below:
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
CSIR NET
1 Feb '26
11 Nov '25 - 30 Apr '26
30 Aug '26
31 Aug '26
30 Jan '26
| UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025 Overview | |
|---|---|
| Exam Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| UGC NET Psychology Exam Date 2025 | 28-Jun-2025 |
| UGC NET Psychology Application Form 2025 | 16-April-2025 to 12-May-2025 |
| UGC NET Psychology Application Correction Window 2025 | 14-May-2025 to 15-May-2025 |
| UGC NET Psychology Syllabus Paper 2 |
|
| Exam Mode | Online (CBT) |
| UGC NET Exam Pattern | Total Questions: 150
Total Marks: 300
|
| Marking Scheme |
|
| Official website | ugcnet.nta.ac.in |
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus PDF 2025
The candidates can download the UGC NET Psychology syllabus PDF below in the article It will help them keep things handy while preparing for the UGC NET 2025 exam. The candidates merely have to click the PDF link and the syllabus will appear on the screen. The candidates can download the NTA NET Psychology syllabus PDF and use it for preparation purposes.
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus PDF 2025: Click Here
Also Read:
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025: Chapter Wise
The UGC prescribes the syllabus for the NTA NET JRF exam. The UGC NET Psychology syllabus was revised in 2019, which was applicable from the June session. The syllabus comprises ten units. Check the chapter-wise syllabus for the UGC NET Psychology exam below:
- Unit 1: Emergence of Psychology
- Unit 2: Research Methodology and Statistics
- Unit 3: Psychological Testing
- Unit 4: Biological Basis of Behaviour
- Unit 5: Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting
- Unit 6: Thinking, Intelligence, and Creativity
- Unit 7: Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Stress, and Coping
- Unit 8: Social Psychology
- Unit 9: Human Development and Interventions
- Unit 10: Emerging Areas
Also Read:
UGC NET Psychology Paper 2 Syllabus 2025
The candidates can check the unit-wise detailed syllabus for the UGC NET Psychology exam below
Unit 1: Emergence of Psychology
Based on the development of psychology in India, the study of human behaviour and mental processes is used to address societal concerns and disciplinary identity crises. This subject covers the history of psychology, including its development in the Western, Greek, medieval, and contemporary eras, as well as various knowledge paradigms and the importance of self-awareness in Indian psychology. Check the topics and subtopics of the UGC NET Psychology unit 1 syllabus
Topic 1: Psychological Thought in some Major Eastern Systems
- Bhagavad Gita
- Buddhism
- Sufism
- Integral yoga
Topic 2: Academic Psychology in India
- Pre-independence era; post-independence era; 1970s
- The move to addressing social issues; 1980s
- Indigenization; 1990s
- Paradigmatic concerns
- Disciplinary Identity Crisis; 2000s
- Emergence of Indian Psychology in Academia
- Issues: The colonial encounter; Postcolonialism and psychology
- Lack of distinct disciplinary identity
Also Read:
Topic 3: Western
- Greek Heritage
- The Medieval Period and the Modern Period
- Structuralism
- Functionalism
- Psychoanalytical
- Gestalt
- Behaviorism
- Humanistic Existential
- Transpersonal
- Cognitive Revolution
- Multiculturalism
- Four founding paths of academic psychology - Wundt, Freud, James, Dilthey
Topic 3: issues
- Crisis in Psychology due to strict adherence to experimental analytical paradigm (logical empiricism)
- Indic Influences on Modern Psychology
Also Read: UGC NET Education Question Paper
Topic 4: Essential Aspects of Knowledge Paradigms
- Ontology
- Epistemology and Methodology
- Paradigms of Western Psychology: Positivism, Post-Positivism, Critical Perspective, Social Constructionism, Existential Phenomenology, and Co-operative Enquiry
- Paradigmatic controversies
- Science and Spirituality (Avidya and Vidya)
- The primacy of self-knowledge in Indian Psychology
Also Read: UGC NET Computer Application Syllabus 2025
Unit 2: Research Methodology and Statistics
This Unit in the UGC NET Psychology syllabus deals with the research methodologies and statistical methods of researching for investing the concepts of Psychology. Check the topic-wise syllabus.
Topic 1: Research
- Meaning of Research Purpose, and Dimensions
- Research Problems
- Variables and Operational Definitions
- Hypothesis
- Sampling
- Ethics in Conducting and Reporting Research
Also Read: UGC NET Sociology Syllabus 2025
Topic 2: Paradigms of Research
- Quantitative
- Qualitative
- Mixed Methods Approach
Topic 3: Methods of Research
- Observation Survey [interview, questionnaires]
- Experimental
- Quasi-Experimental
- Field Studies
- Cross-Cultural Studies
- Phenomenology
- Grounded Theory
- Focus Groups
- Narratives
- Case Studies
- Ethnography
Also Read: UGC NET Political Sciene Syllabus 2025
Topic 4: Statistics in Psychology
- Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
- Normal Probability Curve
- Parametric [t-test] and Non-Parametric tests [Sign Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Friedman]
- Power Analysis
- Effect Size
Topic 5: Correlational Analysis
- Correlation [product moment, rank order]
- Partial Correlation
- Multiple Correlations
Topic 6: Special Correlation Methods
- Biserial
- Point Biserial
- Tetrachoric
- Phi Coefficient
Topic 7: Regression
- Simple Linear Regression
- Multiple Regression
Topic 8: Factor Analysis
- Assumptions
- Methods
- Rotation and Interpretation
Also Read: UGC NET English Syllabus 2025
Topic 9: Experimental Designs
- ANOVA [One-way, factorial]
- Randomized Bloock Designs
- Repeated Measures Design
- Latin Square
- Cohort Studies
- Time series
- MANOVA
- ANCONA
- Single-subject designs
Unit 3: Psychological Testing
Check the UGC NET Unit 3 Psychology syllabus below in the table:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Types of Tests | Test construction: Item writing, item analysis |
| Test Standardization | Reliability, validity and norms |
| Areas of Testing | Intelligence, creativity, neuropsychological tests, aptitude, personality assessment, interest inventories |
| Attitude Scales | Semantic differential, staples, Likert scale. Computer-based psychological testing |
| Applications of Psychological Testing in Various Settings | Clinical, organizational and business, education, counseling, military, career guidance |
Unit 4: Biological Basis of Behaviour
The candidates can check the topic and subtopic wise syllabus for the UGC NET Psychology exam below in the table:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Sensory Systems | General and specific sensations, receptors and processes |
| Neurons | Structure, functions, types, neural impulse, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters |
| The Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems | Structure and functions, neuroplasticity |
| Methods of Physiological Psychology | Invasive methods – Anatomical methods, degeneration techniques, lesion techniques, chemical methods, microelectrode studies. Non-invasive methods – EEG, scanning methods |
| Muscular and Glandular system | Types and functions |
| The Biological Basis of Motivation | Hunger, thirst, sleep and sex |
| The Biological Basis of Emotion | The limbic system, hormonal regulation of behaviour |
| Genetics and behaviour | Chromosomal anomalies; nature-nurture controversy [Twin studies and adoption studies] |
Unit 5: Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology syllabus for unit 5 below in the table:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Attention | Forms of attention, models of attention |
| Perception | Approaches to the study of perception; gestalt and physiological approaches, perceptual organization: gestalt, figure and ground, law of organization perceptual constancy: size, shape, and color; illusions perception of form, depth and movement role of motivation and learning in perception |
| Signal Detection Theory | Assumptions and applications of subliminal perception and related factors, information processing approach to perception, culture and perception, perceptual styles, pattern recognition, ecological perspective on perception |
| Learning Process and Fundamental Theories | Thorndike, Guthrie, Hull Classical Conditioning: procedure, phenomena and related issues instrumental learning: phenomena, paradigms and theoretical issues; reinforcement: basic variables and schedules; behaviour modification and its applications of cognitive approaches in learning: latent learning, observational learning. Verbal learning and discrimination learning recent trends in learning: Neurophysiology of learning |
| Memory and Forgetting Memory Processes | Encoding, storage, retrieval stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory (Working memory), long-term memory (Declarative – Episodic and Semantic; Procedural) theories of forgetting: Interference, retrieval failure, decay, motivated forgetting |
Unit 6: Thinking, Intelligence and Creativity
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 6 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Theoretical Perspectives on Thought Processes | Associationism, gestalt, information processing, feature integration model concept formation: Rules, Types, and Strategies; Role of concepts in thinking types of reasoning language and thought |
| Problem-Solving | Type, strategies, and obstacles |
| Decision-Making | Types and models |
| Metacognition | Metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive regulation |
| Intelligence | Spearman; Thurstone; Jensen; Cattell; Gardner; Stenberg; Goleman; Das, Kar & Parrila |
| Creativity | Torrance, Getzels & Jackson, Guilford, Wallach & Kogan Relationship between intelligence and creativity |
Unit 7: Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Stress, and Coping
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 7 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Determinants of Personality | Biological and socio-cultural approaches to the study of personality: Psychoanalytical, neo-Freudian, social learning, trait, and type, cognitive, humanistic, existential, and transpersonal psychology. Other theories: Rotter's Locus of Control, Seligman's Explanatory styles, Kohlberg’s theory of moral development |
| Basic Motivational Concepts | Instincts, needs, drives, arousal, incentives, motivational cycle. Approaches to the study of motivation: Psychoanalytical, ethological, S-R cognitive, humanistic |
| Exploratory Behaviour and Curiosity Zuckerman's Sensation seeking Achievement, affiliation, and power motivational competence self-regulation flow |
|
| Emotions | Physiological Correlates Theories of Emotions: James-Lange, Canon-Bard, Schachter and Singer, Lazarus, Lindsley emotion regulation |
| Conflicts | Sources and types of stress and coping: Concept, models, type A, B, C, D behaviours, stress management strategies [biofeedback, music therapy, breathing exercises, progressive muscular relaxation, guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, yoga asana, stress inoculation training] |
Unit 8: Social Psychology
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 8 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Social Psychology | Nature, scope and history of social psychology |
| Traditional Theoretical Perspectives | Field theory, cognitive dissonance, sociobiology, psychodynamic approaches, social cognition |
| Social Perception | Communication, Attributions, attitude and its change within a cultural context, prosocial behaviour |
| Group and Social influence | Social Facilitation; Social loafing, Social influence [Conformity, Peer Pressure, Persuasion, Compliance, Obedience, Social Power, Reactance]. Aggression, Group dynamics, leadership style and effectiveness. Theories of intergroup relations [Minimal Group Experiment and Social Identity Theory, Relative Deprivation Theory, Realistic Conflict Theory, Balance Theories, Equity Theory, Social Exchange Theory] |
| Applied Social Psychology | Health, environment and law; personal space, crowding, and territoriality |
Unit 9: Human Development and Interventions
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 9 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Developmental Processes | Nature, principles, factors in development, stages of development. Successful ageing. Theories of development: Psychoanalytical, behavioristic, and cognitive various aspects of development: Sensory-motor, cognitive, language, emotional, social and moral |
| Psychopathology | Concept, mental status examination, classification, causes |
| Psychotherapies | Psychoanalysis, person-centered, Gestalt, existential, acceptance commitment therapy, behavior therapy, REBT, CBT, MBCT, play therapy, positive psychotherapy, transactional analysis, dialectic behaviour therapy, art therapy, performing art therapy, family therapy |
| Applications of theories of motivation and learning in school factors in educational achievement teacher effectiveness guidance in schools: needs, organizational setup and techniques. |
|
| Counselling | Process, skills, and techniques |
Unit 10: Emerging Areas
The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 10 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Issues of Gender, Poverty, Disability, and Migration: Cultural bias and discrimination. Stigma, marginalization, and social suffering; Child abuse and domestic violence. | |
| Peace Psychology | Violence, non-violence, conflict resolution at the macro level, the role of media in conflict resolution |
| Wellbeing and self-growth | Types of wellbeing [Hedonic and Eudemonic], character strengths, resilience and post-traumatic growth |
| Health | Health-promoting and health-compromising behaviours, lifestyle and chronic diseases [Diabetes, Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease], psychoneuroimmunology [Cancer, HIV/AIDS] |
| Psychology and Technology Interface | Digital learning; Digital etiquette: cyberbullying; Cyber pornography: Consumption, implications; Parental mediation of digital usage |
UGC NET Psychology Paper 1 Syllabus 2025
The candidates appearing for the UGC NET exam can check the Paper 1 syllabus below in the table. The UGC NET Paper 1 syllabus is common paper for all the subjects that comprises topics from Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Maths, Reasoning & more:
- Research Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
- Communication
- Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- Information and Communication Technology
- People and Environment
- Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration
UGC NET Psychology Exam Pattern 2025
The exam pattern for the NTA NET Psychology exam is provided below in the table:
| UGC NET Paper |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 |
50 |
100 |
| Paper 2 |
100 |
200 |
| Total |
150 |
300 |
UGC NET Marking Scheme
The UGC NET does not follow any negative marking scheme. The candidates are awarded +2 marks for every correct answer whereas no marks are deducted for incorrect answers or unanswered questions. The candidates can check the marking scheme below:
| UGC NET Marking Parameters |
Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
| Correct answer |
+2 |
| Incorrect answer |
0 |
| Un-attempted question |
0 |
UGC NET Psychology Exam Preparation Tips 2025
The candidates can check the preparation tips for the UGC NET Psychology exam below. It will help the candidates to secure maximum marks in the exam:
- Go through the detailed UGC NET Psychology exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
- Undertake deep studies initially to cover the whole syllabus.
- Prepare study notes for quick revision at a later stage.
- Practice more with the help of UGC NET previous year’s question papers
- Solve more and more UGC NET mock tests 2025
- Revise the UGC NET important topics on a daily basis.
Read More:
Role: Editorial Domain
Education: Mass Com & Journalism, MSC Mathematics
Expertise: Sarkari Exam Expert
About
Shikha Goyal is a double post graduate with more than 12 years of experience in education domain, journal
Read Full BioNews & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jan '26 | CSIR NET 2025 Dec Result |
30 Jan '26 | CSIR NET 2025 Dec Final Answer... |
19 Dec '25 | SSC JE Tier 1 Provisional Answ... |
19 Dec '25 - 22 Dec '25 | SSC JE Tier 1 Answer Key Objec... |
4 Oct '25 - 6 Oct '25 | Application Correction |
1 Oct '25 - 3 Oct '25 | HP TET Nov 2025 Application Wi... |
Aug '25 | Kerala SET 2025 July Exam |
12 Jun '25 | Kerala SET 2025 July Applicati... |
29 Sep '25 | KTET Answer Key |
18 Sep '25 - 19 Sep '25 | KTET Exam Date |
30 Aug '26 | SBI PO Notification 2026 |
24 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25 | SBI PO Group Exercises & Inter... |
17 Dec '25 | OTET Exam Date |
10 Dec '25 | OTET Admit Card |
1 Feb '26 | IBPS RRB Clerk 2025 Mains Exam |
28 Dec '25 | IBPS RRB 2025 Single Online Ex... |
30 Jan '26 | TSTET Initial Answer Key 2026 |
3 Jan '26 - 20 Jan '26 | TSTET Exam Date |
Nov '25 | UPSC IAS Main Result 2025 |
22 Aug '25 - 31 Aug '25 | IAS Main 2025 Exam Date |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
No, UGC-NET is not a mandatory entrance exam for FPM admissions at Delhi School of Business. Other than UGC-NET, candidates can appear for any one of CAT, MAT, GMAT or CMAT to qualify for Delhi School of Business FPM admissions.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
No, both are not same. CUET PG is conducted for admission to postgraduate courses offered at central universities, state universities and other participating institutes. While UGC NET is an eligibility test for junior research fellow (JRF), assistant professorship and PhD admission.
V
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates can crack or clear the UGC NET exam in first attempt with regularity, dedication, hard work, proper study plan, etc. He or she should also solve previous year papers and give mock test.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
The NTA will release the UGC NET 2026 notification for the June session on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. All the important dates related to the exam like application form start date and all will be mentioned in the notification. It is advised to the candidates to read the notification ca
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
The NTA is expected to release the UGC NET notification in April 2026. It will be announced in the form of PDF at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The notification or information brochure consists the details about the exam including the registration form, exam duration, pattern, etc.
I
Contributor-Level 6
B
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 4 weeks ago
The authority will release the NTA UGC NET provisional answer key after the conclusion of an exam in a few days along with the question paper and response sheet. It will help the candidates to verify their responses, estimate the probable scores and evaluate their performance in the examination.
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
No. candidate can not submit the UGC NET application form offline. It was released on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The application form was released online on October 7. All the process of the online form including the registration, document upload, fee payment, confirmation, etc. must
K
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
In the UGC NET exam, two marks are awarded for every correct answer. There is no negative marking in the exam. For every correct answer, two marks are awarded. Scroll down to know the marking scheme.
UGC NET Marking Parameters | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
Correct answer | +2 |
Incorrect answer | 0 |
Un-attempted question | 0 |
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
The NTA released the UGC NETadmit card 2025 for the December session exam. It was released on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The admit card is a mandatory document thata needs to be carried at the examination centre by the candidate.
J
Contributor-Level 6
UGC NET Notifications
Analysis is important for candidate in NTA NET exam. It helps in preparation, understand paper structure, difficulty level, topics asked or high weightage areas, expected cutoff. By analyzing mock tests and previous years papers students can prepare well.