Psychology: Courses, Eligibility, Admission 2025, Syllabus, Entrance Exams 2025, Top Colleges, Jobs, Salaries, Career

Psychology is a broad term. It is the study of the mind and behavior. It is the study of the mind, how it works, and how it affects behavior. There are different types of psychology such as cognitive, forensic, social & developmental psychology. 

Psychology courses are vast course and they can be divided into several specialisations. Both Arts and Science streams are offered in this domain. Psychology is rarely offered as a five-year integrated course in colleges. The duration of the Psychology course varies according to the programme level (undergraduate or postgraduate) and type (full-time, part-time, certificate, etc.).
For a full-time programme, the UG level programmes are of three years duration, whereas the PG programmes are of two years duration. The pedagogy of Psychology courses involves both theories as well as practical lessons.

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, exploring how people think, feel and act both individually and within groups. It aims to understand and explain emotions, thoughts, perceptions and actions.

To make a career in the field of psychology, students need to first have the intrinsic characteristics mentioned above. The higher the degree a person has, the better their career options are. In the field of Psychology, theory and practicals go hand in hand and with the demand growing for practitioners, a career in Psychology is highly rewarding. Psychologists can work as counsellors at universities, hospitals, schools, clinics, government agencies etc.

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Psychology is rapidly growing to become one of the most sought-after degrees in India and abroad. Studying Psychology courses at the UG, PG and PhD levels can be a great option for students who are interested in the human mind, its working, patterns, perceptions and actions. If your interest and career goals align with this field or comprise of human interaction, a degree in Psychology can prove to be of immense value. 

It also certifies you with a degree, which can open up many career opportunities and new options. Psychology career scope is not limited to just India. Students can also pursue a psychology career abroad.

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Yes, a student from any stream can apply for a BA in Psychology. All that is required of the candidate is that they must have graduated from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% in their boards. However, the requirements for admission to various universities and institutes offering psychology courses may differ.

Yes, a student from any stream can apply for a BA in Psychology. The candidate just needs to have passed their Class 12 from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 50 per cent in their boards. However, different colleges/Institutes for psychology courses may have their own set of eligibility criteria.

Psychology courses are a list of disciplines and topics that a candidate must study in order to pursue a profession in this field. The study of the human mind and behaviour patterns is known as psychology. It is a broad field encompassing human development, mental health, social behaviour, and cognitive processes. 

Generally, universities require the student to have studied a subject in a related field. However, IGNOU offers students MA in Psychology and the eligibility criteria are such that the aspirants need to have a Bachelor’s degree (in any stream) from a recognised university. Apart from IGNOU, other top universities offering Psychology courses include the University of Calcutta, the University of Pune, Central University, and Karnataka, among others. So you can pursue MA Psychology from IGNOU after completing BSc in Biology.

Yes, you can pursue MA Psychology after completing BTech or a graduation in any field. Though there are some colleges that may give preference to candidates who have completed BA Psychology or BSc Psychology. Since MA Psychology is an advanced degree you would be expected to be familiar with the basic terminology and fundamental concepts related to 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.

The steps involved in admission to Developmental Psychology are:

B.A. Psychology eligibility demands the students to have pursued a 10+2 examination with 50% or higher from any recognised boards. The students are supposed to pass the entrance exam for eligibility. The major exams are CUET or merit based etc. for course eligibility. B.A. Psychology has an immense career scope as students can explore a wide range of careers across several employment areas from Clinical Medicine, Counseling to Health and Education. Licenses Clinical Psychologists who hold doctoral degrees will likely find the best career opportunities, entering well paying positions in health care or mental health organizations, schools, government and non-profit agencies etc. The average B.A. Psychology salary ranges from INR 1.2 to INR 3 LPA on average.

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. 

Yes. There is a negative marking in the CUET exam. For each wrong answer, one mark is deducted. Negative marking will not be applicable in case of unattempted questions. The marking scheme as per NTA is given below.

i. Correct answer or the most appropriate answer: Five marks (+5)
ii. Any incorrect option marked will be given minus one mark (-1).
iii. Unanswered/Marked for Review will be given no mark (0).
iv. If more than one option is found to be correct then Five marks (+5) will be awarded to only those who have marked any of the correct options.
v. If all options are found to be correct then Five marks (+5) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question.

vi. If none of the options is found correct or a question is found to be wrong or a question is dropped, then all candidates who have attempted the dropped question will be given five marks (+5) marks.

The CUET PG exam is conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode. This means that the exam is taken on a computer, and the questions and answers are displayed on the screen. Candidates use a mouse or keyboard to select their answers.

The CUET PG exam is held in multiple sessions throughout the day, and candidates are assigned to a specific session during registration. The exam is two hours long and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions.

The following table brings the structure of the expected CUET PG question paper.

Candidates must note that the Language Comprehension/Verbal Ability section is compulsory. The General Test also has to be taken by candidates opting for all test papers except Education (PGQP01).

The UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) is a national-level exam conducted by the National Testing Agency NTA on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The exam is conducted twice a year to determine the eligibility of candidates for the post of Assistant Professor and for awarding Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exam is conducted in two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Here are the details of the UGC NET exam pattern: Paper 1: a) Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes combining both papers) b) Total marks: 100 c) Number of questions: 50 d) Type of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) e) Marking scheme: Each question carries 2 marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. F) Syllabus: Teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness. Paper 2: a) Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes combining both papers) b) Total marks: 200 c) Number of questions: 100 d) Type of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) e) Marking scheme: Each question carries 2 marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. f) Syllabus: Based on the subject selected by the candidate. The UGC NET exam is conducted in online mode. The questions in both papers are in English and Hindi except for languages other than English and Hindi. Candidates need to secure the minimum qualifying marks in both papers to be eligible for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

Some of the best online courses in Psychology are stated in the table below:

Yes, Integrated M.Sc. A PhD in Psychology course is offered in India. Out of all the colleges best colleges are listed below. The list of colleges offering this course is as follows. University of Hyderabad, Telangana Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala Jawaharlal Nehru University, Kerala Palamuru University, Telangana Ahmedabad University Seacom Skills University, Kolkata Auro University of Hospitality and Management Hope it helps.

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 minimum duration for PhD in Psychology course is three years. In some universities, it is completed in four years. Those who have had an interest in psychology since a young age should take the course to fulfill their desire. It is advantageous for a candidate obtaining a PhD in Psychology to have someone in their family who is an expert in a particular subject.

A doctorate degree requires a lot of hard work and patience. One must be very curious to learn new things and come up with new findings to successfully complete the PhD program.

Click to learn:  Psychology courses

On pursuing a course in Psychology, students get to learn about human behaviour and society. Students are taught on a statistical, fundamental and analytical level to understand the human mind deeper. Subjects taught in a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology are as follows:

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:

AUCET 2018 Syllabus Andhra University prescribes elaborated AUCET syllabus for each paper. However, AUCET 2018 syllabus is not out yet. Therefore, given below is AUCET 2017 syllabus for each paper: Life Sciences Physical Sciences Mathematical Sciences Chemical Sciences Geology Humanities & Social Sciences English Telugu Candidates are recommended to go through each topic thoroughly mentioned under their particular paper in order to perform well in the exam. Use the link provided below for a detailed syllabus of the AUCET exam: https://www.shiksha.com/university/Andhra-university-Visakhapatnam/exams/aucet/syllabus.

 Psychology is a great field to embark upon, Jobs directly related to your degree include

• Clinical psychologist
• Counselling psychologist
• Educational psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Further education teacher 
• Health psychologist
• Occupational psychologist
• Primary care graduate mental health worker
• Psychological well-being practitioner
• Sport and exercise psychologist

In order to pursue a particular psychology course, candidates need to have the required skill set to be successful in the field. Some of these required skills are as follows:

• Analytical ability
• Verbal and written communication
• Patience
• Passionate
• Compassionate
• Pragmatic
• Problem-solving ability

Colleges that provide Criminal psychology course in India are :-

1. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar.

2. University of Lucknow, Lucknow. 

3. CMS College of Science and Commerce, Coimbatore.

4. Patna University, Patna. 

5. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi.

6. Allahabad University.

7. Bangalore University.

8. Dwarka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College, Chennai.

9. Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar.

10. Government Institute of Forensic Science, Aurangabad.

Yes, DU does offer Psychology courses, you can refer to the table below for the best Psychology colleges under DU:

I hope this answer will help you.

 There are several colleges and universities in Patiala that offer a clinical psychology programme. Here are some of them: Punjabi University - This university offers a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology programme. The duration of the programme is two years. Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital - This college offers a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology programme. The duration of the programme is two years. Khalsa College - This college offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology programme, which can be a good foundation for pursuing a master's degree in clinical psychology. Multani Mal Modi College - This college offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology programme, which can also serve as a good foundation for pursuing a master's degree in clinical psychology. DAV College - This college offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology programme. Please note that these are just some of the colleges and universities in Patiala that offer clinical psychology programs. It is always best to gather as much information as possible before making a decision. Good luck with your studies!

 These are the top colleges who offers psychology:

Lady Shri Ram College for Women- Jesus and Mary College- Mata Sundari College for Women- Indraprastha College for Women- Kamla Nehru College- Gargi College Zakir Husain College Keshav mahavidyalaya.

Hi, you can refer to the table below for the best Psychology colleges in India and for more information you can visit this page: Best Psychology Colleges in India.

Psychology is considered to be one of the respectable professions as it involves helping a person’s bad state of mind. A career in psychology offers different pathways from being a psychiatrist to a child counsellor. Psychology is a field that is expected to expand at a rate of 14% per year because it assists in understanding the root causes of issues in individuals as well as their solutions.

A psychologist's "good" career depends on a number of variables, such as your hobbies, abilities, and preferences. Psychology may be a fulfilling career choice for you if you have a sincere desire to comprehend why others think, feel, and act in certain ways. Check Psychology Career.

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. 

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.

As of March 8th, 2019, the average monthly pay for a psychologist in the United States is $8,854 a month. While ZipRecruiter is seeing monthly salaries as high as $15,500 and as low as $3,583, the majority of Psychologist salaries currently range between $6,458 (25th percentile) to $9,833 (75th percentile) across the United States. The average pay range for a Psychologist varies little (about $3,375), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Psychologist job market in both Bhopal, IN and the surrounding area is not that active, but at the state level, companies are hiring. People working as psychologists in your area are making an average $8,854 per month or the same as the national average monthly salary of $8,854. Ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for psychologist salaries.

The qualifications required to become a clinical psychologist can vary by country and institution, but there are some general steps and qualifications that are typically followed to become a clinical psychologist. 

Here are the common qualifications and steps:

• Bachelor's Degree: The first step is to complete a BSc Psychology, BSc Clinical Psychology or a related field. 

• Master's Degree: After completing a bachelor's degree, aspiring clinical psychologists usually pursue a master's degree in Clinical Psychology or a closely related field. 

• Doctoral Degree: The most common qualification for clinical psychologists is a doctoral degree. 

Psychologists are not doctors but psychiatrists are. Psychologists are not allowed to administer drugs whereas psychiatrists can. A psychiatrist diagnoses and oversees therapy for patients with complex and significant mental illnesses.Patients receive psychotherapy or talk treatment from psychologists.

Psychology is a vast field and there are various exciting specialisations one can opt for and make a career in. From Clinical Psychologists to Counsellors to Child Psychology there are various specialisations one can opt for in Psychology courses and excel in.

A required internship is a component of certain psychology courses. However, it might not be relevant to every academic programme. Nevertheless, doing an internship would be a benefit for applicants looking to launch their careers in this industry, regardless of the mandate. The applicant needs to finish a two-year internship. Due to the fact that they will obtain on-the-job training, many students will gain from this experience.

Additionally, a student will know if the specialisation is a good fit for them. The candidate will benefit from the fulfilment of helping others throughout this period. Since professions in mental health institutions may require an approved internship, internships in clinical and counselling psychology may need approval from some respectable bodies.

Psychology is a highly rewarding and lucrative field of study. A psychologist's salary depends on many factors including his/her qualifications, area of specialisation and experience in the profession. Professional psychologists with M.Phil and PhD degrees earn quite handsomely. Those engaged in private practice have more scope for earnings.

The requirements to become a licensed psychologist are: pass the 10+2 exam preferably with Psychology as one of the subjects complete a Bachelor (BA or BS) in Psychology degree (the curriculum of which focuses on personality development, psychotherapy, stress management and neuro-psychology) specialization at the postgraduate level, where one can get an MA or M.Sc in either Psychology, Social Work, or Counselling.

Further specialisation at the doctoral level is available as well via PhD or M.Phil The postgraduate and doctoral programs focus their studies more on research, which is great for pursuing either a research or teaching job, whereas the graduate degrees (Bachelors) emphasise practice, such as counselling.

To practice Counselling Psychology, you only need to have a BA/ BS in Psychology, or a related field (like Education or Social Work). Graduate (Bachelor) degree programs are 3 years, Postgraduate (Masters) degree programs are 2 years, and Doctoral (MPhil or PhD) programs are 2 years long.

If you believe you have any of the valuable required characteristics and skills, you can relate to the theoretical and practical parts well. In general, the student needs to understand the concepts and basics of human behaviour to have a genuine interest.

The field of psychology is vast, with numerous branches to explore. When a candidate completes their study and becomes a psychologist, their real job obligations will vary depending on their specialisation and other factors. Click to know Scope of Psychology.