The Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Science (IHBAS), Delhi, is one of India’s most well-known mental health care, training, and research institutions. Established by the Governments of India and the NCT of Delhi in 1993, it was originally known as the Hospital for Mental Diseases, Shahdara, Delhi.

It is an autonomous hospital-based academic institution known for its high inpatient and outpatient volume among other mental health institutions in the country.

Psychology Programs offered by IHBAS Delhi

Instead of offering undergraduate or graduate programs in psychology, IHBAS Delhi focuses more on advanced, professional training in psychology. Currently, it offers a postgraduate program in clinical psychology:

• The MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology).

MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)

The MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Program at IHBAS combines clinical practice, theory, and research. The program is offered in regular mode and is recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), which makes it so that after completing the course, candidates become eligible to apply for a license to work as clinical psychologists in India.

Course Duration and Number of Seats

The duration of the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program at IHBAS Delhi is 2 Years and offers a total of 12 seats (subject to change every year). The following is a classification of seats by category:

• UR/Gen: 5
• EWS: 1
• OBC: 2
• SC: 2
• ST: 1
• PwD: 1

Eligibility Criteria for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

Candidates will have to meet certain eligibility criteria to apply for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at IHBAS Delhi:

• Applicants must have their Bachelor’s in Psychology (4 Years) or Bachelor’s in Psychology (3 Years) + Master's (1 Year) in Psychology/Clinical Psychology/Applied Psychology or other relevant specializations for admission into the course.

Method of Selection, Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Admission to IHBAS’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly known as MPhil Clinical Psychology) program will be based on an Entrance Exam comprising a Written Exam and a Counselling & Document Verification session. There will be NO interview.

Entrance Exam Pattern for MA Clinical Psychology at IHBAS Delhi

• The written test will have 100 Multiple-Choice Questions.
• Total time allotted will be 90 Minutes (1.5 hrs).
• There will be no negative marking.
• Final selection will solely be based on the candidate’s performance in the written test.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be called for counselling and document verification.

Syllabus for IHBAS Entrance Exam for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

• General Psychology - 10 Marks
• Personality - 10 Marks
• Social Psychology - 10 Marks
• Developmental Psychology - 10 Marks
• Physiological Psychology - 10 Marks
• Clinical Psychology - 25 Marks
• Abnormal Psychology - 15 Marks
• Statistics & Research Methodology - 10 Marks

Application Process, Fee and Center Allotment

To apply for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program at IHBAS, Delhi, candidates must download the application form from the official website. Then, the duly filled application form along with all the necessary documents should be sent to:

“Head, Department of Clinical Psychology, Room No. 122, Academic Bloc, 1st Floor, IHBAS, Dilshad Garden, Delhi-110095” only by registered/speed-post or delivered personally on or before the last date of application submission.

(Application sent through e-mail/online submission will not be accepted.)

The application fee is Rs 3000 for General category candidates and Rs 1500 for Reserved category candidates. The application fee is to be deposited into IHBAS’s Bank Account. The completed application form must be submitted along with proof of fee payment via Net or Online Banking.

(The application fee is non-refundable & non-adjustable)

Document Required

Please enclose the following documents with the application form:

• Self-attested copy of the mark sheet of either bachelor’s (if you’ve done 4 years of bachelor’s) or Master’s (if you’ve done 3 years of bachelor’s & 1 year of master’s) examinations,
• SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PH certificate (if applicable),
• Copy of the fee deposit slip or SBI Collect reference number.

Bank Details

• Account Holder Name: Director, IHBAS
• Bank Name: State Bank of India
• Account No: 10172504586
• IFSC Code: SBIN0009370

Exam Center Allotment

The entrance exam for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) is conducted by University of Delhi (DU), as the program is affiliated with DU. IHBAS functions as the training center while the entrance exam and administration are handled by the DU.

A few important points aspirants should keep in mind:

• Exam center allotment comes under DU. Candidates are typically assigned examination centers from among DU’s designated colleges or examination venues. Important Dates for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)
• Since DU conducts the exam, the center location may differ from the final institute of admission.
• The allotted center is mentioned on the admit card, and requests for changes are generally not entertained.

Important Dates

The IHBAS, Delhi’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) entrance exam is held every year. The tentative dates are as follows:

• Applications Form: July - August
• Date of the Exam: September
• Declaration of Result: September
• Counselling & Document Verification: Immediately after the deceleration of result (within 2-3 days)

Fee Structure and Stipend

The following is the Fee Structure for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) at IHBAS Delhi:

• University Fee (Charged as per University of Delhi norms): It covers Admission & enrolment, Examination & mark sheets, Degree issuance, NSS, athletic activities, etc. Payment can be made online via the University of Delhi portal.
• Refundable Caution Deposits
  • Library Membership (Rs 2,000) – refundable after course completion
  • Clinical Psychology Lab (Rs 4,000) – refundable after course completion
• Monthly Deductions (only for candidates who receives stipend): These are deducted from the stipend, not paid separately.
  • Hostel charges (Rs 470/month) – includes water & electricity
  • MA Clinical Training Development Fee (Rs 1,000/month)
• One-time / Miscellaneous Fees
  • Ex-Student Fee: Rs 500
  • Other charges (if any) are notified by the institute at the time of admission

Stipend

IHBAS pays a stipend of Rs 25,000 per month to the selected candidates of the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) programme, excluding in-service and foreign candidates.

Sample Questions for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Exam

1. A key distinguishing feature of dementia vs. delirium is:

(A) Delusions in dementia but not delirium
(B) Onset is gradual in delirium vs. acute in dementia
(C) Hallucinations in dementia but not delirium
(D) Impaired memory in dementia vs. fluctuating consciousness in delirium

2. Cyclothymia is best defined as:

(A) Alternating manic and depressive episodes of equal severity
(B) A single hypomanic episode without depression
(C) Recurrent dysthymic episodes lasting 6 months
(D) At least 2 years of fluctuating hypomanic and depressive symptoms not meeting criteria for bipolar disorder

3. Which of the following describes introversion?

(A) Enjoying large social gatherings
(B) Being talkative and outgoing
(C) Gaining energy from solitude
(D) Being aggressive and dominant

4. An adolescent struggling with role confusion is in Erikson's psychosocial stage of:

(A) Intimacy vs Isolation
(B) Identity vs Role Confusion
(C) Industry vs Inferiority
(D) Generativity vs Stagnation

5. Which version of the DSM is currently in use (as of 2025)?

(A) DSM-IV
(B) DSM-V
(C) DSM-III
(D) DSM-6

6. The ability to adjust to new experiences by changing one's way of thinking is called:

(A) Assimilation
(B) Conservation
(C) Accommodation
(D) Habituation

7. Which therapy focuses on changing maladaptive thought patterns?

(A) Humanistic therapy
(B) Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
(C) Psychoanalysis
(D) Play therapy

8. Multicollinearity occurs when:

(A) Predictors are highly correlated
(B) Dependent variable is categorical
(C) Variances are equal
(D) Assumptions are violated

9. The Crespi effect in learning experiments refers to:

(A) Loss of previously learned behavior due to retroactive inhibition
(B) Increase in motivation when the magnitude of reinforcement increases
(C) Decrease in response strength after extinction training
(D) Sudden improvement in performance due to insight

10. The Jonah Complex refers to:

(A) Fear of aging
(B) Fear of realizing one's full potential
(C) Fear of social judgment
(D) Fear of early childhood trauma

11. Mischel's critique of personality traits mainly emphasized that:

(A) Situational factors often override traits in determining behavior
(B) Personality is entirely biologically based
(C) Traits are more important than situations in predicting behavior
(D) Traits cannot be measured reliably

12. The "Strange Situation" experiment was done by:

(A) Mary Ainsworth
(B) Piaget
(C) Harlow
(D) Erikson

13. Which of the following is most appropriate for measuring the relationship between two continuous variables?

(A) Chi-square test
(B) Independent t-test
(C) Pearson's correlation coefficient
(D) Mann-Whitney U test

14. During embryonic development, the nervous system begins forming at the:

(A) Zygote stage
(B) Morula stage
(C) Gastrula stage
(D) Blastocyst stage

15. According to Marcia's identity theory, an adolescent who explores options and makes commitments demonstrates:

(A) Identity foreclosure
(B) Identity diffusion
(C) Identity achievement
(D) Identity moratorium

16. A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory impairment, language difficulties, and visuospatial deficits, with an insidious onset and gradual progression, is:

(A) Lewy Body Dementia,
(B) Vascular Dementia
(C) Alzheimer's Disease
(D) Frontotemporal Dementia

17. The arcuate nucleus, a hypothalamic region, plays a key role in:

(A) Fine motor coordination
(B) Long-term memory consolidation
(C) Appetite regulation and energy balance
(D) Circadian rhythm control

18. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is crucial for:

(A) Memory consolidation
(B) Circadian rhythm regulation
(C) Language processing
(D) Pain perception

19. "Third-wave CBT" includes all EXCEPT:

(A) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(B) Dialectical Behavior Therapy
(C) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
(D) Psychoanalysis

20. Which of the following is a key legal provision under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017?

(A) Suicide attempts are decriminalized, recognizing mental illness as a contributing factor
(B) Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be administered without consent in all cases
(C) Only psychiatrists can provide therapy; psychologists are excluded
(D) Mental health establishments are exempt from registration if government-run

Recommended Books to Prepare for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

Students preparing for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) entrance exam of IHBAS Delhi may find the following books helpful in their preparation. These texts cover core areas such as psychopathology, assessment, research methodology, statistics, and clinical theories.

• Introduction to Psychology (8th-10th Edition): Rita Atkinson and Hilgard
• Social Psychology: Baron Robert
• Human Development: Papalia and Sally Olds
• Cognitive Psychology: Robinson-Riegler / Sternberg and Sternberg
• Statistics: Quinn McNemar / Minium
• Biopsychology for Psychology Entrance Examination: Arvind Otta
• Research Method: James Goodwin / Lewin & Fox / A. K. Singh
• Psychological Testing: Ronald Jay Cohen and Mark E. Swerdlik
• Abnormal Psychology: Sarason and Sarason / R. Comerc
• Clinical Psychology: Alan Carr / Hecker and Geoffrey
• Psychology Question Bank: Arvind Otta

ALSO READ: Biopsychology for Psychology Entrance Examinations: A Practical Guide by Arvind Otta

Students’ Reviews

• UPS education was my first step towards my mphil preparation and today I am one step ahead..So thank you UPS education. (Dorje Yangzom, IHBAS Delhi)
• I took online virtual mphil clinical psychology entrance course from UPS. They provided proper guidance and support throughout my preparation journey and Arvind sir played a major source of motivation. His immense knowledge in this field and the generosity to share it with others made my journey a little easier. They not only guided me in the preparation but also extended their support till the enrollment of the course. I highly recommend UPS for aspiring psychology students. (Kanchana Giritharan, IHBAS Delhi)
• UPS has really helped me with my MPhil entrances. Regular classes and notes that they provide are very comprehensive and yet to the point, written from examination point of view. (Himanshi Rangi, IHBAS Delhi)
• Their coaching services are great! Arvind sir is an amazing mentor and the MCQ portal is really helpful. The entire team is not just helpful with preparation but also keeps a check on your mental health which is the best part. (Ananya Pant, IHBAS Delhi)
• (Nirmiti Naikwade, IHBAS Delhi)
  
  

Need More Help?

If you need more information regarding the application process, dates, or any other aspect of the program, or require guidance with preparation, application strategy, or interview readiness, you can connect with UPS Education using the details below:

Contact no: +91-9990717772

Website: upseducation.in

References

1. M.Phil Clinical Psychology, Prospectus for the session (2025-27) | Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences. (n.d.). https://ihbas.delhi.gov.in/ihbas/mphil-clinical-psychology-prospectus-session-2025-27
2. Education, U. (2025, October 6). IHBAS MPHil in Clinical Psychology Admissions 2025. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/mphil-clinical-psychology-ihbas-2025/
3. Education, U. (2025, December 30). How to prepare for IHBAS Delhi’s entrance exams. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/ihbas-delhi-ma-clinical-psychology-entrance/