5 Best MA in Psychology Distance Education Programs from India and Abroad

Thinking of levelling up your academic journey in the discipline of psychology? Consider an MA in Psychology in distance education mode. Online MA in psychology courses qualify you to pursue your doctoral education or help you find employment in the business, education, and healthcare sectors.

Pursuing a suitable MA in Psychology in distance education mode gives you a better idea of what type of career in psychology will suit your further interests. 

Let’s review the available options for the best institutions offering good online MA psychology programs, including admission requirements, fees, and more. 

Do stick around if you are also trying to find answers to the few additional questions many of our readers have.  

1. Are online MA psychology courses in India UGC-approved?
2. What are the requirements for enrolling in an MA in psychology through distance education mode for a graduate from another discipline?

Overview of MA in Psychology Distance Education Programs

An MA in Psychology in distance education mode is a two-to-four-year postgraduate program. 

Some trusted institutions in India and abroad offer MA psychology online degrees with various specialisations. 

Think of IGNOU, DU-SOL, Arizona State University, University of Canterbury, Chandigarh University Online, etc. 

Specialisations a few of these universities offer are in 

1. Clinical Psychology
2. Organisational Psychology

Other than that, there are general and comprehensive MA psychology degrees in the distance education mode. 

Best MA in Psychology Distance Education Programs from Reputed Universities

Have a look at the syllabus, fees, and eligibility before enrolling in these programs.  

1. IGNOU’s MA in Psychology (MAPC)

The School of Social Sciences department of IGNOU offers this MA in psychology in the distance mode. 

It includes practicals, internship, and project, spanning over 36 modules of learning in two years. You can also complete this psychology degree in four years. 

The modules follow a credit based system. Here is the syllabus. 

First Year
Course Name	Credits
Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory	4
Life Span Psychology	4
Personality: Theories and Assessment	4
Advanced Social Psychology	4
Research Methods in Psychology	4
Statistics in Psychology	4
Practicals: Experimental Psychology and Psychological Testing	8
Second Year
Course Name	Credits
Psychopathology	4
Psychodiagnostics	4
Psychotherapeutic methods	4
Practicum in Clinical Psychology	6
Internship	8
Project/Applied Positive Psychology	6
Counseling Psychology	4
Assessment in Counselling and Guidance	4
Interventions in counseling	4
Practicum in Counselling Psychology	6
Internship	8
Project/Applied Positive Psychology	6
Organisational Behaviour (OBY)	4
Human Resource Development (HRD)	4
Organisational Development (OD)	4
Practicum: Industrial and Organisational Psychology	6
Internship	8
Project/Applied Positive Psychology	6

Eligibility for IGNOU’s MA in Psychology Distance Education

You just need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. There is also no age limit to enrol in this course. 

Fees for IGNOU’s MA in Psychology Distance Education

The revised fee for this program in 2024 is INR 19,200. The per year fee is INR 9600. 

Is this UGC Recognised?

Yes, UGC recognises this program. 

2. Online Master of Arts in Political Psychology from Arizona State University

This is an interesting interdisciplinary degree, suitable for those who are interested in how psychology and politics go together. 

With curriculum designed and delivered by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of ASU, you learn the interrelationship among cognition, emotion, biology, personality and intergroup relationships with politics. 

There are core and elective courses with a capstone project towards the end. 

Here is the syllabus. 

Core Subjects	Electives	Capstone Included (Y/N)
Attitudes and Persuasion	Advances in Media Effects	Yes
Biopolitics	Campaigns and Elections
Cognition and Emotions in Political Thinking	Elite Decision Making
Experimental Design	Political Polarization
Fundamentals of Political Psychology	Public Opinion
Prejudice, Stereotypes and Intergroup Relations

Eligibility for ASU’s MA in Political Psychology 

English proficiency for non-native speakers is a must, preferably with a letter of recommendation from a previous academic institution or employer. 

A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally recognised institution is a must, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

Fees for ASU’s Online MA in Political Psychology 

You will have to contact the university for it. 

What’s the Accreditation?

The Higher Learning Commission accredits this.

3. Master of Organisational Psychology from University of Canterbury 

A fully remote online course from New Zealand’s University of Canterbury is for 18 months in the full-time mode or three years in part-time mode. 

You can expect an interactive learning experience with the university’s video conferencing tools and online discussion forums. 

The application dates, as shown to be available, are until July 15, 2024. 

The syllabus includes the following. 

Subjects	Research Project (Y/N)
Organisational Psychology	Yes
Recruitment and Selection
Psychology of Stress
Health and Wellbeing at Work
Training and Development
Performance Management and Appraisal
Leadership in Organisations
Organisational Change: Directions for Organisational Psychology Practice
Contemporary Issues in Organisational Psychology
Research Methods for Organisational Psychology

Eligibility for UC’s Master in Organisational Psychology 

The minimum requirement of this master’s course in psychology is a bachelor’s degree with psychology as a subject or having work experience in human resources or psychology. 

Fees for University of Canterbury’s Master in Organisational Psychology

While the fees for international students outside New Zealand in $63,300, there are student loans and scholarships available based on defined eligibility criteria. 

Is There Any Accreditation?

This program is not accredited to enable a student to become a psychologist.   

4. MA in Psychology from Chandigarh University Online

CU’s online education centre - Chandigarh University Online offers this two-year program divided into four semesters.  

Here is the syllabus for the distance MA psychology program. 

Semesters	Subjects	Credits
Semester 1	Systems and Theories	4
	Experimental Psychology	4
	Physiological Bases of Behavior	4
	Social Psychology	4
	Advanced Counseling Skills – I	4
	Practicum –I	1
Semester 2	Life Span Development Psychology	4
	Cognitive Psychology	4
	Clinical Psychology : Psycho Diagnostics	4
	Advanced Counseling Skills – II	4
	Research Methods and Statistics – I	4
	Practicum –II	1
Semester 3	Clinical Disorders I	4
	Child Psychopathology-I	4
	Psychotherapies	4
	Organizational Psychology	4
	Formulation of Two Case Studies of Different Mental Disorder	1
	Elective— Positive Psychology and Well Being	2
Semester 4	Clinical Disorders II	4
	Child Psychopathology-II	4
	Health Psychology	4
	Research Methods and Statistics – II	4
	Dissertation	1
	Elective – Psychology of Disaster Management	2

Eligibility for CU Online’s MA in Psychology

You just need a bachelor’s degree in any subject with passing marks to pursue this online MA in psychology degree from Chandigarh University Online. 

Fees for CU Online’s MA in Psychology

The total fees is INR 49,900. 

Is There Any Accreditation?

It has the A+ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). 

5. DU SOL Distance MA Psychology

This two-year master’s degree in psychology from DU SOL comes from the Department of Psychology, School of Open Learning. It is also a flexible one where you can conveniently complete within four years. 

The syllabus is offered from the website after connecting with the online counsellor, which you can get after consultation. 

Eligibility for DU SOL’s MA in Psychology

The student must have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from a recognised institute with 60% marks. 

Fees for DU SOL’s MA in Psychology

The total fee is around INR 20,000. 

Is There Any Accreditation?

It is accredited by UGC and DEB

Master Psychology Conveniently with a Suitable MA in Psychology Distance Education Program

These are among the best universities offering MA in psychology in the online mode. Pick anyone of them, this year in fall, or check the undisclosed admission dates on the official websites after filling up some forms to enrol right away.

Also, enhance your learning of human behaviour and mind with the best psychology courses online to advance your career.

And, to further your interests in academia, go check out the curated list of the 200+ online MA courses from the best universities.