BA Psychology Course: Full Form, Admission 2025, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

BA Psychology is a 3-year bachelor’s programme that is mainly offered in regular and distance mode. It is an Arts degree that is offered with Psychology as a specialization.

There are certain basic skills that a professional has to possess in order to be good in their profession.The candidates who have studied Applied Psychology and would like to pursue their career as a Psychologist are expected to have the below mentioned skills:

BA in Psychology courses are undergraduate degrees that can be pursued by students after completing their high school education (10+2) and securing at least a 45% aggregate score. BA Psychology course duration is 3 years. Recently, after the NEP of 2020, students can also pursue 3+1, 4-year BA Psychology courses, including 1 year of research. However, it is not mandatory to pursue research work for a year.

There are various reasons why students should choose to pursue BA Psychology courses. Some of these reasons have been mentioned below:

• Psychology is a young Science with a vast scope in research and experimentation. Students may find a career in psychological research fascinating and satisfying, as it will help them grow in their personal lives as well as in their careers.

• A career as a psychologist or therapist can be very fulfilling for someone who wants to help people grow and live their best life.

There are many benefits to studying a BA Psychology course. Some of these benefits have been listed below:

• A BA in Psychology will help the students develop a research-oriented, analytical, and critical mindset. It will help them acquire empathy and understand human behavior.

• There is a big demand and a huge job market for psychology graduates in hospitals, schools, organizations, and government agencies. Their grasp on behavior and mind patterns can help in making the work systems more efficient and the organizations more progressive.

BA Psychology, or Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, is a 3-year undergraduate course that is offered by many colleges and universities in India. The basic eligibility for pursuing this course is a 10+2 qualification. The student should have qualified senior secondary with a minimum of at least 45% marks. Students don't need to study Psychology at the school level, but most colleges require students to have studied English as a core subject.

Yes, those candidates who have not studied Psychology as a subject in Class 11 and Class 12 can pursue a BA Psychology course. As per the basic eligibility criteria for the course, those who have completed Class 12 in any stream can apply for the Psychology course. Psychology is an interesting subject and many candidates who do not have any background in Psychology often pursue an undergraduate programme in Psychology. Those who want to understand the basic concepts of the subjects can refer to the Psychology NCERT books.

Yes, a commerce student can do clinical psychology! The good news is that your commerce background doesn't hinder your pursuit of clinical psychology. While it's a different field, the ability to analyze data, understand human behavior (in terms of economic decisions), and possess strong communication skills can be valuable assets in clinical psychology.

Psychology courses are open to students from many disciplines. Applicants who have finished 10+2 from a recognised board of education are eligible with the requirement of scoring at least 55%. A few colleges may also state additional eligibility criteria during admission. 

Candidates for master's level Psychology courses must have a bachelor's degree in courses such as BA Psychology or equivalent from a recognised educational institution, as well as the minimum required aggregate as specified by the college. Know more about Psychology Admissions.

Candidates who have scored less than 50% in Class 12 can get admission to the BA Psychology course offered by several colleges. However, such candidates would be able to choose from a limited number of colleges since most colleges prescribe higher marks criteria.

Many colleges offer admission based on the combined scores in entrance exams and board exams. Therefore, the candidates who have performed well in entrance exams stand a better chance of admission to reputed colleges. They can secure admission to private institutes that offer direct admission. They can enroll themselves in a distance BA Psychology course which usually does not have any marks criteria. For example,  IGNOU offers admission to BA Psychology to those who have completed Class 12 irrespective of their marks.

You may be interested in:

• BA Online Courses
• BSc Online Courses

Students who want to pursue a BA in Psychology course will have to get admission to a college that offers the degree. The BA Psychology admission procedure requires students to submit some documents along with their online application fees. Some documents that are commonly asked for during the BA Psychology admission procedure are:

• Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Passport, etc.)

• Class X, XII Marksheet

• Transfer/Migration Certificate

• Character Certificate

• Entrance Exam Score Card

• Passport-size Photos

• Documents related to SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD, etc. (if applicable)

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is an entrance examination conducted for admission to undergraduation programs offered by various central, state, private and deemed universities. Candidates willing to take admission to undergraduation programme in streams like Science, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Management must appear for the CUET UG exam when conducted.

The entrance examination assesses candidates at various levels: Language, domain knowledge and general aptitude. CUET UG is conducted annually in computer based mode. CUET UG scores are accepted by more than 300 universities across India. 

Identify all the topics that you need to focus on. Make a strategic plan to cover those topics. Revise the topics that you find more difficult. Go through the mock tests. Go through the previous year's question, and find out the important topics. Try to understand the pattern of the paper.

You can pursue Psychology courses at various course levels. In India Psychology is available as a specialisation in Arts and Science courses. Given below are the various Psychology courses:

The books followed in the BA Philosophy course may vary depending on the colleges offering the course. Moreover, the syllabus and the university the college is affiliated with also determine the books followed for the course. Given below are some of the important books in a BA Philosophy course:

The elective subjects that you will be taught in BA Psyhology course will depend on the college in which you take admission. But, there are some elective subjects that are present in UGC model curriculum. These afre as follows:

There are many colleges that offer BA Psychology courses at affordable fees. Some of the popular BA Psychology colleges have been mentioned below:

Hope this helps you!

Several colleges offer lucrative, high placement packages to the students of BA in Psychology courses. Some of the colleges with a high average placement salary have been mentioned below: 

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.

A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional who specializes in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental illnesses and behavioural disorders. They use a combination of psychotherapy and psychological testing to help patients manage their symptoms, improve their mental health, and enhance their overall well-being. 

Clinical psychologists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices. They may work with individuals, couples, families, or groups to address a range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, and learning difficulties. 

To become a clinical psychologist after completing your 12th grade, you'll need to follow a specific educational and training path. 

Begin by earning a bachelor's degree. While it's common for students to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology, candidates can also consider related fields such as Sociology, Biology, or even Social Work. After completing a bachelor's degree, the next step is to enrol in a Master's programme in Clinical Psychology.