Psychology Courses: Eligibility, Top Exams, Career, Jobs

Psychology Courses: Eligibility, Top Exams, Career, Jobs

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Updated on Dec 27, 2021 11:01 IST

Psychology is understanding of human mind and nature. Colleges/institutes offer many Psychology courses at different levels (both undergraduate and postgraduate levels). Read to know more about courses in Psychology, admission process, and career scope.

Psychology is the study of human mind and behavioural pattern. It is a multifaceted stream that involves human development, mental health, social behavior and cognitive processes. Those who study Psychology are called Psychologists. They have expertise to find out how people think or act by studying different determinants responsible for the same including social pressures, and environmental factors.

There are a range of Psychology courses offered by colleges to make students gain required skills for this field. Students can do Psychology courses at various levels including Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s and Master’s, and Doctoral. In addition, there are various short term online courses in Psychology also available. Students can start working as full time Psychologist after completing B.Sc in Psychology. The basic eligibility criteria for admission in Psychology courses is passing of class 10th and 12th with at least 50 percent marks.

As mental health has emerged as a major issue among the urban people, Psychology offers a myriad f job opportunities to students. Demand of skilled professionals are always high in this field. After completing courses in Psychology, students can choose to work as Psychologist, Career counsellor, Motivational speakers, and Rehabilitation expert.

Psychology Courses Highlights

Particulars

Details

Level

Certificate, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Doctoral

Basic eligibility

10+2 passed from a recognised board or university with at least 50% marks

 

Popular exams

DUET, BHU PET, CUCET, MET

Top colleges/universities

AIIMS Delhi, Delhi University, St. Xavier's College, Christ University, Presidency College, Chennai

Job profiles

Career counsellors, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Social Psychologist

Average salary

INR 3-4 lakh

Specialisations in Psychology

Psychology is a broad and diverse field which involves various facets of human mind. Some of the specilisations in Psychology are given below:

  • Clinical Psychology

  • Cognitive Psychology

  • Social Psychology

  • Developmental Psychology

  • Forensic Psychology

  • Personality Psychology

  • Biological Psychology

Psychology Courses and Eligibility criteria

Different Psychology courses at various levels along with the duration and the eligibility requirements are given below:

Psychology course

Duration

Eligibility Criteria

Certificate

1-2 month

  • 12th Pass

Diploma

1-2 years

  • 12th pass for regular diploma

  • Undergraduate degree is must for PG diploma

Undergraduate course

3 years

  • Candidates should have passed 10+2 with 50% marks

Postgraduate course

2 years

  • Must be graduate in Psychology

Doctrol

3 years

  • Should have Master’s degree to pursue Ph.D

Types of Psychology Courses

Certificate courses in Psychology

There are different short duration online/offline Psychology courses available in different specialisations. Most of these courses are free. Students are charged a nominal amount for providing the certificate.

Online certificate courses

Students can do online certificate courses in Psychology offered by various platforms such as Coursera, edX, and Udemy. Anyone who has passed class 12th can do the course. Some of the online certificate courses in Psychology and fee structure are given in the table below:

Name of the certificate

Duration

Fees

The Psychology of Criminal Justice

8 weeks

Free (Certificate for INR 7240)

Introduction to Clinical Psychology

7 weeks

Free (Certificate for INR 7240)

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

8 weeks

Free (Certificate for INR 7240)

Forensic Psychology - Accredited Certificate

2 hours 30 minutes

INR 592

Child Psychology- Accredited Certificate

2 hours

INR 572

Offline certificate courses

There are some institutes where students can take admission for offline certificate course in Psychology. Women's Christian College, Chennai offer certificate course in Psychology while JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore offer certificate course in Principles of Clinical Psychology. The course fee is in the range of INR 5,000 to 10,000.

Diploma courses in Psychology

Students can do general diploma or PG diploma courses in Psychology as per their eligibility. The table given below mentions name of the Postgraduate diploma courses and colleges offering the course.

Course name

Colleges

Average Fees (in INR)

PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology

  • Bishop Heber College,Tiruchirappalli

  • Amity University, Noida

22,000

PG Diploma in Clinical Psychology

  • Amity University, Noida

1,70,000

PG Diploma in Criminal Psychology

  • Amity University, Gwalior

32,000

PG Diploma in Counselling

  • Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi

15,500

Undergraduate course in Psychology

Institutes provide admission in B.Sc in Psychology and B.A in Psychology at undergraduate level. While B.Sc course explores scientific aspects of Psychology, B. A programme focuses on social issues pertaining to the subject. The courses fee is in the range of INR 5,000 to Rs 50,000. Admission is provided on the basis of the scores in the entrance exams. The table enlists undergraduate courses and colleges offering the course.

Undergraduate Psychology courses

Course name

Colleges

Average Fess (In INR)

BA in Psychology

  • St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

  • Fergusson College, Pune

5,000 to 15,000

BA (Hons.) in Psychology

  • Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi

  • Amity University, Noida

  • Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

30,000 to 40,000

BSc in Psychology

  • Presidency College, Chennai

  • Stella Maris College, Chennai

  • Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

10,000 to 15,000

BSc (Hons) in Psychology

  • Bethune College, Kolkata

1,371

Postgraduate courses in Psychology

Those who want to become specialist are advised to go for Postgraduate or Master’s courses in Psychology. At postgraduate level, students have choice to either do M.Sc in Psychology or MA in Psychology. Colleges/institutes conduct entrance exams to provide admission in these courses in Psychology. Candidates can check the table given below mentioning the names of the Master’s courses in Psychology and top colleges for the same.

Course name

Colleges

Average Fess (In INR)

MA Psychology

  • Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi

  • Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar

20,000 to 30,000

MSc in Clinical Psychology

  • Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar

  • Christ University, Bangalore

60,00 to 80,000

MSc in Applied Psychology

  • St Francis College for Women, Hyderabad

30,000 to 35,000

MSc in Counselling Psychology

  • Christ University, Bangalore University of Madras

60,000 to 80,000

Psychology Courses Top Exams

Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET): The National Testing Agency conducts this national level entrance exam for admission to various courses in Psychology. The test paper comprises 100 multiple choice questions and candidates get 2 hours to answer them.

Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET): The entrance exam is conducted by BHU in computer-based mode. BHU UET paper comprises 120 multiple choice questions.

Manipal Entrance Test (MET): The exam is conducted in online mode by Manipal Academy of Higher Education for admission in various courses. The exam paper comprises 200 objective type questions and candidates get 2.5 hours to answer them. There is a provision of negative marking for wrong answer.

Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET): This exam is conducted for providing admission in several central universities and state universities of India. The score is valid for courses at various levels, both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Career and Jobs in Psychology

Psychology provides wide spectrum of career opportunities to students. As mental health has become a major issue nowadays especially in urban areas, the Psychology professionals are in demand. This field holds a great future to those who have expertise to understand human mind and certain behavioural anomalies. These professionals not only work as Psychologists after completing the degree but they can also choose to work in other domains including media, human resources, career counselor, motivator, neuroscientist, and psychotherapist. Some can also opt for teaching job as lecturer. The average annual income of Psychology graduates is around INR 3-5 lakh which increases as per the role and responsibilities.

Average Salary in Psychology 

The average annual income of fresh Psychology graduates is around 3-5 lakh which increases as per job responsibilities. The table below mentions the average salary as per the job profiles in Psychology field.

Job profiles

Average salary per annum (Approx)

Psychologist

INR 6-8 L

Psychiatrist

INR 6-10 L

Lecturer

INR 3-8 L

Career counsellor

INR 1-3 L

Rehabilitation expert

INR 2-4 L

Psychology Courses: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q What is Psychology?

A. Psychology is the study of human mind and behaviour. Those who study Psychology are called psychologists. They have expertise to find out how people think or act by studying different determinants responsible for the same including social pressures, and environmental factors.

Q What are the available courses in Psychology?

A. Students who want to make career in psychology can do courses in Psychology as per their eligibility. They have options to do certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Psychology.

Q What is the eligibility criteria for undergraduate courses in Psychology?

A. Candidates should have passed 10+2 with at least 50 percent marks for admission in Bachelor’s courses in Psychology.

Q Is a science graduate eligible to do postgraduate course in Psychology?

A. Yes, but he/she has to qualify the entrance test for admission in Master’s course. Institutes/colleges conduct own exams for providing admission in Psychology courses.

Q What are top entrance exams for admission in courses in Psychology?

A. The tops exams for admission in Psychology courses are mentioned below:
  • Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET)
  • Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET)
  • Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET)
  • Manipal Entrance Test (MET)

Q. What are the job profiles in Psychology?

A. After completing courses in Psychology, candidates can work as Career counsellors, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Social Psychologist. They can also opt to go in teaching line as lecturer.

Q. What is the average salary of Psychology graduates?

A. The average salary of graduates in Psychology is INR 3-5 lakh which increases with experience and responsibilities.
 
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