What is Clinical Psychology?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Clinical Psychology is not usually a BSc or BA course when you do undergrad. It’s a special part of Psychology that you usually study after bachelor, like in PG.

Doing bachelor in Psychology or similar subjects give you basic knowledge that help you when you study Clinical Psychology later.

You can see below why doing Clinical Psychology course is good:

• Interest in Mind: These course help you learn lots about how people think and behave.
• Jobs to Do: Clinical psychologists can work in many places like hospitals, clinics, schools, or even research labs. More people need help for mental health, so lots of job options.
• Different Special Areas: You can choose what you like more, like kids mind, law stuff, health mind, brain study, and more.
• Happy Feeling: Helping people and see them get better make you feel really good.

The things you need to become a clinical psychologist can be different in different countries and colleges, but mostly people follow some steps.

Here are the normal steps:

Bachelor Degree: First you do BSc Psychology, BSc Clinical Psychology, or something similar.

Master Degree: After bachelor, people usually do master in Clinical Psychology or something close.

Doctor Degree: Most clinical psychologists do doctor degree for full qualification.

No, a Clinical Psychologist don’t need MBBS degree. Clinical Psychologists and doctors (MBBS) study different stuff.

Doctors go to medical school, do internship and residency, and can treat all kinds of medical problems, even some mental health problems. Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists usually work together to help people with mental health problems.

If you want to become a clinical psychologist after 12th, you need to follow some steps.

First, do a bachelor degree. Most people do BA or BSc in Psychology, but you can also do similar subjects like Sociology, Biology, or Social Work. After bachelor, next step is to join master course in Clinical Psychology.

The common entrance exams for Clinical Psychology in India are as follows:

• CUET

• CUET PG

• NEET PG

Candidates can check the pointers below to apply for entrance exams of Clinical Psychology courses in India:

• Check Eligibility

• Choose the Exam

• Register Online

• Upload Documents 

• Pay Fees

• Download Admit Card

• Prepare for the Exam

• Appear for the Exam

• Check Results 

The syllabus for Clinical Psychology course is different in different colleges in India. It depend on things like how the course is made, what special area they focus, and college rules. Core subjects like abnormal psychology, counselling, and testing people’s mind are common, but some colleges teach more about brain stuff, cognitive therapy, or psychoanalysis.

Some colleges give lot of practical training, internships, and research, and some focus more on theory. Also, what optional subjects, case studies, or fieldwork you get can be different, so each college syllabus is a bit special.

Students of Clinical Psychology courses study key areas such as abnormal psychology, which focuses on mental disorders and their symptoms, and psychological assessment, which includes diagnostic tests and evaluation methods. 

They also learn counselling and psychotherapy techniques, covering cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, and humanistic approaches. Neuropsychology explores the brain's impact on behaviour, while developmental psychology examines psychological changes across the lifespan. 

The syllabus of Clinical Psychology course is mostly medium to hard. You need to really understand how people think, mental health problems, therapy ways, and counselling practice.

Skills that students should have is that they need to be good at thinking, caring about people, and doing research. Some topics like psychopathology and advanced therapy can feel really hard. But if you study regular and do practice, it become easier little by little.

The best courses in Clinical Psychology are:

• MSc Clinical Psychology
• Master of Psychology
• MA Counselling Psychology
• MSc Behavioural Science
• MSc Developmental Psychopathology
• MA Developmental Psychology (Research Methods)
• MA Ed Curriculum Instructional and Educational Psychology

People who finish Clinical Psychology mostly work with people who have mental health problems, feel sad, or have mind disorders.

Health psychologists study how mind things affect body health. They see how feelings, actions, and social stuff change our overall health.

One is not better than other. It depend on what you like and want to do. 

Clinical Psychology and industrial psychology are two different fields of psychology. According to a source, clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health disorders, working with individuals across various settings. On the other hand, industrial psychologists study human behavior in the workplace, including employee selection, training, and development, performance evaluation, and organizational development.

Therefore, the two fields differ in their focus. Additionally, A master's degree in psychology opens the door to a variety of careers and focus on specialty areas that appeal to their interests. The demand for psychological services is always on the rise, and the three job areas which are expected to be in high demand are clinical psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. Therefore, candidates are advised to consider their interests, career goals, and job prospects before deciding which field to opt for in M.A. They should also research the universities and colleges offering the course, their admission process, eligibility criteria, courses offered, fees, cutoff, and other relevant details.

The 5 popular BSc Clinical Psychology colleges in India are as follows:

Yes, Clinical Psychology courses can be offered in an online mode in these colleges:

Clinical Psychologists can do PhD in Psychology, same like in many other countries. But using “Dr” for clinical psychologists in India is not always same.

Some clinical psychologists in India use “Dr” if they have PhD in Psychology.

The rules for title can be different depending on what person wants, college they work, and local rules. It’s important to check a psychologist’s papers and qualifications before seeing them.

People sometimes say Clinical Psychologist and psychologist like same, but they are little different. The main difference is what work they do and which part of psychology they focus on.

All Clinical Psychologists are psychologists, but not all psychologists are Clinical Psychologists. Clinical Psychologists focus on checking and helping people with mental health problems. Other psychologists can do research, teaching, or counselling in other areas.

Candidates can follow the given steps:

• Have a doctorate PhD in Psychology.
• Complete an internship.
• Have at least one to two years of supervised professional experience.
• Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.
• The field of Psychology continues to adapt and advance, and a clinical psychologist needs to stay well-informed about new methods and theories. 

There are many options for pursuing a clinical psychologist career, including starting your own private practice or pursuing one of the many jobs that will likely be available.

If you are deeply interested in human behavior, mental health, and enjoy helping others, Clinical Psychology could be a great choice. Students who are patient, empathetic, and good listeners tend to perform best in this field.

• Students who enjoy psychology, counseling, and research.

• Those who are emotionally strong and compassionate.

• Students willing to work hard during long internships and clinical hours.

• Candidates who have an interest in mental health care and therapy.

Choosing Clinical Psychology should be based on your personality and passion. If you like problem-solving, listening to people's issues, and are curious about emotional and mental health, this course could fit you well.

• You are curious about how the human mind works.

• You are comfortable listening and supporting others without judgment.

• You have an interest in research, therapy techniques, and psychological tests.

• You are willing to invest time in understanding emotional and behavioral health.

A Clinical Psychology course builds both academic knowledge and real-world professional skills. Here are some major skills you will develop:

• Communication and counseling skills

• Critical thinking and psychological analysis

• Research and scientific writing abilities

• Empathy, patience, and emotional resilience

• Ethical decision-making and professional conduct

Before joining the Clinical Psychology course, try to explore your interest through internships, volunteering, or self-study. Observing real-world mental health settings can also help you decide if you are passionate enough.

• Volunteer at a mental health helpline or hospital.

• Attend workshops or seminars on psychology and therapy.

• Talk to the people who are already in this field.

• Try reading beginner-level psychology books and see if the subject excites you.

Yes, a number of universities in India accept students from any stream into undergraduate Clinical Psychology courses, regardless of whether they studied Psychology in Class 12 or not. Yes, prior study of Psychology does give you some background in the subject.

Some top colleges may prefer students with a psychology background, however, the majority of UG courses are written with the intention that they will be teaching students who have no previous experience studying psychology.

The most common stream that candidates engage with to pursue psychology at the undergraduate level is the Arts (Humanities) stream because most Arts (Humanities) programs have Psychology in the curriculum. Also the Arts (Humanities) stream offers students the privilege of recuperating into theories and ideas associated with mental health. 

Science and Commerce students can also apply to Clinical Psychology courses. It's just a matter of interest in human behavior and willingness to learn about and help human mental wellness.

You cannot operate a mental health clinic as a Certified Clinical Psychologist unless you are licensed by the RCI and, to obtain that, you need to complete an MPhil in Clinical Psychology from an RCI accredited institution. 
However, if you have a Master's degree, you may work as a counsellor or psychologist as part of some private systems or under supervision but not independent, as a Clinical Psychologist.

Yes, in India, anyone who is going to practice as a Clinical Psychologist has to be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Being an RCI registered psychologist is mandatory for working in hospitals, as part of the clinic, or as an independent Clinical Psychologist. 
To register, you must have finished an MPhil in Clinical Psychology from an RCI recognised institute. Otherwise, your degree will qualify you for counselling, but not for clinical diagnosis or psychotherapy.

A Clinical Psychologist is trained to do therapy and assess mental health. They can use psychological methods like CBT, counselling, and behavioural therapy to treat emotional and psychological disorders - they cannot prescribe medicines.

A Psychiatrist is a medical practitioner (MBBS + MD Psychiatry) with the ability to prescribe psychiatric medication, and to treat severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychosis, using a medical treatment approach.

General Psychology includes aspects of human behavior, cognition and emotional development. You will find different branches like developmental, social and organizational psychology under this umbrella.
If you look at Clinical Psychology it is all about mental health, psychological disorders, assessments and therapies. It prepares you to work in clinical or therapeutic settings and help people manage their mental and emotional issues.